Photographer Diana King has joined ContagiousLA (CLA) for representation on fashion lifestyle and advertising projects. Relatively new to the scene, King has garnered attention for a style that is quirky and colorful with a touch of cinematic flair. Recent subjects include actresses Jamie Chung and Natalie Morales, comedy powerhouse Mindy Kaling and Transparent creator Jill Soloway. That work is complemented by editorial spreads and ad campaigns for Samsung and Wet Seal. King’s first assignment with CLA is the print component for a multi-platform client-direct Alphaeon campaign; CLA’s Andrew Laurich wrote/directed the broadcast work, airing now.
“Diana’s photographs are a colorful celebration of beauty and diversity, they’re inspiring,” said CLA Co-Founder/Executive Producer Natalie Sakai, who met King almost a decade ago when they were working together at Anonymous Content. “I’ve been fortunate to witness Diana's photography grow and blossom over the years. In addition, it’s a happy coincidence that she’s in line with the diversification of our roster. She certainly empowers other female artists, as well as myself.”
“I walked into the (CLA) office recently and on the whiteboard someone had scrawled: ‘Diana King is the new Queen of Color!!!’,” King laughed. “I thought, ‘Well, you can’t argue with the whiteboard.’” Like the photographer herself, the exclamation conveys boundless energy and a distinct point of view. “The fun, enthusiasm and deep talent at ContagiousLA is so special. I’m psyched to be on board!”
Born and bred in the Bay Area, King migrated down to Los Angeles to study film production and cinematography at Chapman University. Upon graduation, she worked in commercial production and assisted award-winning commercial director Nicolai Fuglsig. Transitioning to photography, King assisted British fashion photographer Kayt Jones before branching out on her own. “Growing up in an Asian family, the only goal in life was to go to college, get a good job, and buy a house,” King recalled. “At the same time, I was artistic and not great at math. I couldn’t study art because it was impractical. So I dabbled in art classes and photography on the side. When I worked on my first film shoot, I thought, ‘Hey this is an industry!'” King worked in film production, but “I always had photography in the back of my mind,” she said. “Shooting on film was expensive and the process felt further from creating. Photography removed some of the obstacles – crew, scope – yet allowed me to still reflect my identity.”
King set her sights on assisting internationally renowned photographer Kayt Jones. “Somehow, I had the balls to email Kayt and to offer my help for free,” she said. After a period of alternating between the internship and paid PA gigs, King was hired by Jones. Two years later, King was testing with modeling agencies, freelance assisting, doing production work for photo shoots, and eventually submitting to magazines for editorial assignments.
King’s latest projects include a bridal story for the Summer issue of California Wedding Day and a fashion lifestyle spread in Family Circle. Of her educational and work experiences in photography and film, King concluded, “When you come from filmmaking, you’re story-driven. With fashion and portraits, I see the whole story in that one image.”
About ContagiousLA (CLA)
ContagiousLA is presided over by Co-Founder/Executive Producer Natalie Sakai. The artist roster is comprised of directors Andrew Laurich, Jeff Jenkins, Ben Ketai and Andrew Renzi, and photographer Diana King. Campaigns for Carhartt, City of Hope, Farmer’s Insurance and Mercedes-Benz are complemented by projects such as the award-winning short film Art & Corny – starring advertising luminaries Lee Clow, Gerry Graf and Jeff Goodby – and A Reasonable Request, which recently screened at SxSW and Sundance, becoming one of the most lauded comedy shorts of the year. www.contagiousla.com
