Associate Wedding Photographer

Heaven forbid something happens that prevents me from being able to photograph you as planned. But in the event that I am unable to be there myself, I am prepared. I have trusted high-quality photographers with whom I work to ensure you get the photos you expect from me. 

There are several photographers I work with in the event of an illness or other such tragedy, but Kai Hayashi is my regular, stand-up, stand-in guy. He has the same ability to capture your love as I do, and I feel comfortable placing you in front of his lens. 

Hey! I’m Kai.

I’m a Japanese-American wedding photographer based in Portland, Oregon. I was born in Tokyo, Japan, but my family moved to the states when I was a baby and settled in Portland in 1993. I consider myself a Pacific Northwest native, but I still cherish my Japanese heritage and make a yearly trip to visit friends and family. 

My father, Makoto Hayashi, was a traveling photographer in the ’70s and documented some of the most iconic bands of his generation—bands like The Rolling Stones, Grateful Dead, and Frank Zappa. He passed away before he had the chance to teach me about photography, but he’s still a huge part of what inspired me to pick up a camera when I was 18.

Since then I’ve had an eclectic career as a photojournalist, music photographer, event photographer, and wedding photographer. Each job has reinforced to me the absolute power and importance of telling a story.

Beyond photography, I’m a seasoned partner dancer. For the last decade, I’ve had the opportunity to dance swing, blues, and fusion all over the world. Learning how to dance has been incredibly impactful on my life and I want all my couples to experience the joy of dance. If you want a crash course on how to dance during your wedding, feel free to ask! I’d love to show you the basics.