BIOGRAPHY
Jason King, Photographer
Creativity ran through Jason King's blood from an early age.
Born & raised in Chehalis, WA, Jason grew up with the tranquility of life on a farm. From this serene childhood, his love for photography — as well as art and music — developed.
Jason segued his love for music into a career that began in radio. That career started over 20 years ago, and took him from beginning with work on a radio street team to becoming a board operator, and then a sales assistant, an event coordinator, and eventually a project and traffic manager.
He had stops at KISS-FM (Clear Channel) in Vegas, as well as KZLA, KMVN & KPWR all with Emmis Communications in Los Angeles. He worked at Premiere radio in LA for syndicated shows, including After Midnite, Coast 2 Coast and The Leo Laporte Show.
But Jason felt that he needed more of an outlet for his creative energy and that's when he began to take his passion for photography more seriously. What started just as a hobby soon became something much bigger.
"I've always enjoyed doing photography since I was a little kid," Jason explains. "I love taking pictures. I love happy memories of the past on paper. (and now, of course, digitally too!) I started doing photography professionally because several years ago people told me that I should start taking it more seriously. So I pursued it a lot more and here I am."
But the decision to make the jump wasn't easy. In fact, it was downright scary.
"I had a full-time job I'd had for ten years and that was my safety and my security," Jason says. "There was a lot of 'Should I do this, or should I not?' — but I was working 5 days at my radio gig and doing 5 to 6 nights a week of photography and I felt that I'd reached my max at the job I had, and it was time to just jump and do it."
Since then, he hasn't looked back on the decision.
"Being an artist now full-time is amazing. I love being my own boss and doing what I want whenever I want. I get to make my own schedule this is just all around more about being more creative."
Jason loves to shoot both outdoors and in, but he has a particularly affinity for the freedom that comes with shooting outside. Again, it goes back to that life growing up on a farm. But the inspiration flows through him, no matter the environment.
"My favorite thing about photography is being creative and trying to change and not always do the same thing. Trying to think of different poses and backgrounds. I love it when someone I photograph is happy with the results — that's the amazing feeling I live for."
I love the feeling of shooting for a couple of hours and having everything come together — having it all just jive so. It has a lot to do with making a connection with the subject that you're shooting. There's nothing like that feeling of completion for me."
Jason's body of work includes individual subject photography, pet photography and event photography. Jason has photographed for events including Sydney Australia Mardi Gras, White Party, Matinee, Marco Marco Fashion Show, Gay Days in Orlando, Los Angeles PRIDE, San Diego PRIDE, Las Vegas PRIDE, Denver PRIDE and the Mile High City's famous Pink Party, Elevation Gay Ski Weekend – Mammoth, corporate events and various LA Confidential magazine events. Jason's pictures have been featured in such magazines as Edge, Odyssey, Frontiers, Gloss & LA Confidential.
"I love what I do now," Jason says assuredly. "I want to do this professionally for a very long time."