Monday 31 August 2020

Relatable.


Nothing cheers me up or makes me think as much as Bill Watterson. 

Calvin and Hobbes forever. 

Tuesday 25 August 2020

When Aishwarya Rai Bachchan messaged back...

 ... and I lost my mind. OK, in all probability, the official Instagram account of the Indian actress is probably managed by a PR team. But for one shining moment, am indulging the thought she's aware I exist. 

Follow the iconic Indian beauty at https://www.instagram.com/aishwaryaraibachchan_arb/?hl=en

Monday 24 August 2020

BTS: Behind the Scenes of a cover shoot: Model, Photographer and a mini fashionable army

For the shot below, the crew above were on set. Three others not in pic. 
It takes a village... for that one shot in print. 

With some of my fav people above, photographer Olivier Yoan (a name that crops up frequently on this blog and my professional  life) and model-icious Mia Kang. She's even more gorgeous in person.


 

Sunday 23 August 2020

Calvin and Hobbes was/is EVERYTHING


The first thing I bought after my first major paycheck, the entire - and I do mean THE ENTIRE - Calvin and Hobbes collection of books. The box set prices were breathtaking... but best money I ever spent. 
 

Saturday 22 August 2020

The Bored Meetings... Then Dogue happened.

Magazine life, with its long list of perks, also comes with budget planning, endless meetings, transcription, deadlines, delays, flighty subjects, PRs, dealing with agents, demanding clients, xl sheets galore and... well, the entire rigmarole of glossy publication production. 

The long arduous week before print was made infinitely better when pets were allowed into office. Esp this pupper. 

Would buy Hong Kong Dogue over Vogue any day! ;0) 

Happy days. 

Friday 21 August 2020

Isn't she lovely? Rosemary Vandenbroucke

I could not tell you exactly when I met model/actress/singer/yogi Rosemary Vandenbroucke but I'm sure some magazine has a record of the first shoot we did for.... Kee magazine I think waaaaay back when. 

Sadly Kee club's gone, the mag's gone but Rosemary is still rockin'. 

From an event for.. DVF? I think. The definitive yummy mummy, Rosemary. 

Follow her on Instagram at 

https://www.instagram.com/rosemary_vdb/?hl=en



Thursday 20 August 2020

Hong Kong KOL: Kayla

 

One of my fav gals in the Kong, gorgeous (and FIT!) Kayla Lau striking a pose for me for a project. 

Follow this hot Hong Kong gal at https://www.instagram.com/kayla.lau/?hl=en

Fitness influence-r and all-around cutie pie. 

Wednesday 19 August 2020

TBT: Jessica Jann

Not that I have a favourite person to work with... but..  Jessica Jann (now Mrs.King) is an eternal fav. 

Outtakes from a shoot. One of many we've done together. 




 

Working with David and Ruby


Shot by Ruby Law - fav female photographer in Hong Kong. 

With model David Oshry aka David O at Model International GZ.  


 

Thursday 13 August 2020

TBT: Sridevi in South China Morning Post

Left: Sridevi's first portrait in South China Morning Post back in the 90s when she came to the city for a Bollywood concert. She was accompanied by other stars like Anil Kapoor and Manisha Koirala, Nagma... but all eyes were on Sri. 

Well, mine were. My lovely parents got me front-row seats to go see the show. At a whopping $1000 ticket - way back when! 

Met her decades later for a Post magazine cover story. My heart was stilled. 

She would have turned 57 today, if the stars hadn't so misaligned. Drowned in a Dubai bathtub at age 54... It still defies belief and logic. 

I suppose its some consolation that "Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale / Her infinite variety..." etc etc etc. 



Wednesday 12 August 2020

Magazines in Hong Kong, 2020

How well are luxury magazines and glossies doing in Hong Kong? 

Well, these are unprecedented and challenging times - as anyone with a pulse and news app knows. 

Working with a brand, they were looking for stats and numbers to help decide where to place their ads and investment (be it in print/online) and we had to settle on Instagram followers to gage the magazine's popularity and the arbitrary notion of its success. 

Some look at ad sales, circulation and then newsstand sales, but in these trying times, it's the all-mighty scroll that lets people know what's up? And what's tragically down. 

Clearly this is not a hard and fast rule. 

With the print circulation of SCMP averaging around 347,000, Post magazine is probably seen and read more than its 269 followers on Instagram - far more than the titles in the list combined, but we aren't looking for nuance and analysis here. Just a quick eye over what's happening in magazine world in the 852 in an hour!   

Style magazine comes out every month with the paper, and similarly has a far greater reach than its social media stats indicate. 

Will be updating the list with other titles and updated numbers, but as of today, the figures are;



* Post magazine isn't a glossy monthly like most of the other titles, but as it covers lifestyle, luxury, design and fashion, it was a must-have on the list. 

PS: Do let me know of corrections, amendment, names to add to the list, in comments below. Esp as HK media, y'all know me and can Whatsapp me! 

Wednesday 5 August 2020