Overview
Photography had always been something that piqued my interest in high school. Seeing creative directors such as Louisa Meng or Chogiseok turn their visions into a reality for others to percieve at had always inspired me in many different ways. These projects, executed on minimal budgets, relied heavily on creativity, Photoshop skills, and boundless ambition to bring my own concepts to life.
Role
Creative Direction, Model
Worked With
Vivian Si (Photographer + Editor)
Camera
Canon EOS RP (24-105mm)
Brief
Vivi had messaged me on Instagram randomly after following me through mutual friends. She asked if I was ever interested in modeling for a shoot, to which I instantly said yes. I then realized this was a huge opportunity for me to tap into creative direction and finally work on the ideas I had brewing at the back of my mind, yet had never gotten around too. Thankfully, Vivi was extremely supportive of this and allowed me to take the reins on the vision for the shoot (love you fr).
‘Comic Sans’ refers to a specific font style used frequently used in the 1990s. I drew huge inspiration to incorporate elements reminiscent of that era, particularly within the workplace context, where technological advancements were continuously shaping the landscape.
Role
Camera
Samsung Galaxy Note 9
Brief
I was curious in terms of exploring constructionist portrait photography, which involved creating or directing a moment with their subjects. This generally meant to capture emotions or draw a specific mood within these photos.
In terms of the emotion I wanted to capture, simply, I was extremely tired of school while taking these photos. Therefore, no ‘acting’ was required to express my frustration even if the set design was (“:
(No, I haven’t actually read 10% happier either. I’ve been putting it off. My bad.)
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Role
Camera
Samsung Galaxy Note 9
Brief
As much as I would love to say I pulled large sources of inspiration from some niche interest of mine, I truthfully had no specific thoughts creating the set design to this shoot in addition to actually taking the photos. The only reason I titled it 'VILLAIN' and included visual assets to compliment that was because I was repeatedly listening to a song called 'Villain' by Stella Jung. While this song undeniably influenced the vibe of the photoshoot, the overall concept stemmed from pure curiosity and experimentation with set design, as I will elaborate on below.
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Role
Camera
Samsung Galaxy Note 9
Brief
All these other shoots did not have much intention or planning behind them. They were either created due to the fact I wanted good Instagram photos or I was simply inspired by a song lyric I heard. In addition to that, all these shoots also did not have a high budget whatsoever. The sets were created by either taping up Bristol boards, my bed sheets, or some kind of blank non-patterned fabric in order to have a cohesive backdrop.
If you're reading this and have been wanting to capture your own photos for Instagram, I hope this inspires you to do so. You have the power to bring your vision to life, regardless of your budget, and there's no need for elaborate explanations behind your creative choices. Simply have fun and give life to your visions (:
