+1 (415) 889-9031
chriscckao99@gmail.com

Hello, this is Christine Kao! Born and raised in suburban Taiwan, I’m a Central New York-based photojournalist whose work amplifies community-driven narratives and queer experiences.

In May 2025, I concluded a 32-month part-time role as a photo editor assistant at STAT News to begin my M.S. in Multimedia, Photography and Design, with a concentration in photography, at Syracuse University.

I discovered photography’s memorializing power at 14, when urban rezoning uprooted part of my childhood home, an impact I continue to trace and document in my long-term photo project “Yunalin.” My passion for photojournalism blossomed at UCLA’s Daily Bruin, where I served as a staff photographer from 2019 to 2023. I combined this dive into reporting with my love for bookmaking to create four photo books on cultural preservation and community building.

I bring an intersectional lens, cultural competence, deep empathy and playful curiosity to my sphere. My goal is to spread hope through visual storytelling, capturing serene moments and decisive acts of resilience to inspire a compassionate world.

Outside of my creative endeavors, I find the most joy in writing postcards, learning queer theory, volunteering at community events, talking to strangers and sharing ice cream with friends.

Selected Awards

2025 International Photography Awards — Jury Top 5 Selection
2024 Diversify Photo’s Photos of the Year — Selectee
2024 American Photographic Artists Awards — Third Place, Sports/Adventure
2024 California College Media Association Awards — Second Place, Best Magazine Photo Series
2023 Associated Collegiate Press Best of Show Awards — Fourth Place, News/Feature Photo
2023 Associated Collegiate Press Individual Awards — Second Place, Magazine Cover; Honorable Mention, Sports Game/Action Photo; Honorable Mention, Environmental Portrait
2022 California College Media Association Awards — First Place, Best Photo Illustration
2021 DMA Undergraduate Exhibition Awards — Winner

Workshops

2025 Eddie Adams Workshop XXXVIII
2025 Tacet Eye Workshop

Education

UCLA B.A. in Design Media Arts, Chancellor’s Marshal of the Class of 2023
Syracuse University M.S. in Multimedia, Photography and Design, Class of 2026

Photos Used by

LA Times, STAT News, Nature Journal, Vogue Hong Kong, TaiwanPlus News, Knock LA, LA Public Press, LA LGBT Center, EdSource, Fruitslice

Affiliations

AAJA, NPPA, NLGJA, Diversify Photo (Up Next Member)

Press

UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture, Central News Agency, China Times

Languages

English, Taiwanese, Mandarin