First Person: Adam Raby of Mazu Resortwear

Profile, interview, feature and shoot with Adam Raby for my First Person column in the magazine. 

Shot by Dino Busch. 

 

First Person: Ballroom dancer David Klar,

 

Photography by Dino Busch.
My monthly column.

Wardrobe: Intimissimi Uomo 

Parting Shot: Photoshoots in the streets of Hong Kong

The reference was obvious; the execution, perfection.

Photographer Olivier Yoan and our model and muse for the day — the incomparable Diane d’Arenberg — brought their A-game to a shoot that wrapped in just 15 minutes. We shot in the middle of the night in some forgotten corner of Sai Ying Pun/Sheung Wan, chasing the right street, the right lights, the perfect tone and texture — all while keeping Helmut Newton’s iconic 1966 portrait Le Smoking firmly in mind.

Calls were made to the powers-that-be at Yves Saint Laurent (hoping they’d loan a full menswear look akin to the original). Unfortunately, (re-named-) Saint Laurent didn’t have anything similar to the look… but d'Arenberg did. Because that’s exactly how she rolls. To pilfer a quote from her Insta (@post_ism)," Wearing my own hashtag#vintage and sustainable + unisex Berlin designers @estherperbandt on the streets of my beloved hashtag#HongKong. (I don’t smoke, so no ciggie with le smoking)."

Nicoline assisted with the lights, Olivier lay on the unwashed streets to get that shot and angle. I was prayin' the cops won't shoo us away. We'll do just about anything for the parting shot...

TBT: Charlotte Robinson of Caelum Greene

Charlotte Tsuie/Robinson of Caelum Greene. Outtakes from a shoot we did for my column First Person. 

Olivier Yoan photographs. 

You can read the feature up at PrestigeOnline.com here.

First Person: Behind the Scenes Video and interview with Charlotte Tsuei

 

 

For my monthly column First Person, a shoot and chat with Charlotte Tsuei. 

You can read the entire interview at PrestigeOnline.com

A fun shoot with the gifted Olivier Yoan. 

An archive of all the videos I worked on (with my dream team) here. 

Video interview with Olivia Dawn

 Interview with the gifted Olivia Dawn. 

BTS: Behind the Scenes with Payal Shah: Bling it On: Indian Jewellery Designer

My chat and shoot with Payal Shah for the magazine. The crew behind the scenes - Olivier Yoan photographer, Megumi for makeup. Yes, I'm often criticised for using the same crew again and again. When you work with the best, why settle for less?! Although I should give more opportunities to young, new talent... 

With over 82,000 followers on social media, her account is a visual treat: https://www.instagram.com/p/CDOabtTpi-7/

You can read part of the feature and see the published shots online at https://www.prestigeonline.com/hk/people-events/inside-the-world-of-payal-shah/

 

Fashionable Friday with Avni Jhunjhnuwala

And now for a chapter I'd like to call, omg I'm old! I interviewed Sarika Jhunjhnuwala for South China Morning Post and later for Crave magazine and when I first met the family, the kids were... well, kids.

Fast forward a few years and now the kids are all grown up and have their own businesses and I'm still slaving away over deadlines and dreams.

Speaking of, dreamy looking Avni for a feature and shoot. As mentioned in earlier post, we were wildly distracted by their family pet who did not want to come near any of us!  After this shoot and feature, we had a lot of inquiries about how to get into the column - sadly, on account of a wildly unpopular editor (who has since excited the company), the column First Person was dropped. The loss was entirely the magazine's. Oh well. C'est la vie. 

Outtakes: Utah Lee by Ruby Law

Photography: Ruby Law

Outfit: S Nine by Susanna Soo

Jewellery: Butani 

Outtakes from a shoot for First Person column with lovely Utah Lee. Read up on her here at PrestigeOnline. 

This was a fun and challenging shoot to do - and we couldn't have done it without so many things falling into place at the same time. 

Below, the shot that went to print.

Artem Ansheles: The most famous Russian in Hong Kong? Indubitably!

This Russian export shows us what hard work really is!

Check out my chat with the most famous Russian in Hong Kong here. 

Portraits by Yana Vilkina. Fellow Siberian. And my fav! 

Behind the Scenes: Avni Jhunjhnuwala: Dog gone it...

Canine Companion

It may come as no surprise, but we are easily distracted during a shoot. Throw a kitten or dog into the proceedings and work pretty much comes to a standstill. So between shots for our First Person page, as Dino Busch tried to find just the right angle of reflective light, who should come ambling into the frame but the Jhunjhnuwalas’ little munchkin Sparkle? The Yorkshire terrier really wanted to take part, but, averse to strangers, refused to be manhandled by anyone but Avni. Lord knows, photographer Dino Busch tried his best to get a quick cuddle – but, for someone with such tiny legs, Sparkle sure could do a mad dash out of the picture. Not so dim, that little Sparky.

Check out my full chat with Avni at PrestigeOnline - here.

First Person: Jackie Au

First Person: JACQUELINE AU

“If you’re coming in here looking for drama, then I’m not the girl for you,” says Jacqueline Au, creative director of The Lab of Fairy Tales Bridal, indicating the exquisite collection of dresses hanging in her three-month-old showroom. “I offer something unique to brides on the biggest day of their life. If you’re looking for a big, poufy statement outfit, this is not the place for you.” Duly noted.

Au studied politics and graduated from the London School of Economics with a degree in international relations, and went on to do her Masters “even though I knew I wanted to be in fashion”. Her CV boasts stints at Gucci, Céline and Lane Crawford. Did her education inform her career?

“Most definitely. I’m very straightforward. I had my first interview at Gucci, and my boss asked, ‘Why should I hire you? You don’t do any fashion.’ I said, fashion in the end is a business and I have that analytical side for you and I love fashion so I’m the best person you can hire.” She was hired on the spot.

She went on to Lane Crawford and then Céline, where she had time to breathe and think, while simultaneously preparing for her own wedding. “Fashion in Hong Kong is in line with all the capitals – except in bridal. Here, it’s very dated. Even the set-up, the way they sell you the gown, is very much like, ‘Say yes to the dress!’ – very stuck in the ’80s. Every day we’re wearing, Haider, Givenchy, Céline – and on your wedding day, you’re wearing a cupcake!”

Her boutique stands in defiance of that confectionery trend and you’ll find yourself mesmerised by the gossamer gowns, the elegant silhouettes and the finesse of her finely curated collection. “My job defines me. I have the privilege of saying that.”

BEHIND THE SCENES:

We Were Working in the Lab...

Held up in Central’s congested arteries, the crew arrived late at Jacqueline Au’s studio. We felt so grubby and under-dressed … and common as muck. Au’s studio – The Lab of Fairy Tales Bridal – is as chic as she is. In our (not even designer) denims, we felt unworthy. But while Au had her make-up done we had a fantastic, informed and informative chat, as photographer Ruby Law set up an entire set behind our backs. When the shoot started, within minutes we had “the shot”, but kept clicking away anyway as our lovely subject changed outfits, whirling and twirling for the portrait. Check out our chat on page 10.

Published in Prestige Hong Kong, January 2018

 My all time fav behind the scenes shot - Jackie towering over me! Always wanted a woman to look up to... ;0)  #lols

FIRST PERSON: Pirate

Portrait by Olivier Yoan

Constant run ins with the ever-affable “Pirate” (not her baptismal name – that would be Tanya Bennett) at fashionable events have finally led us to her studio. There’s a glorious dichotomy to this young lady; glamazon in pretty ensembles at a corner of a designer label event versus sweaty marathoner, in well-used trainers passing lesser athletes by in a flash of neon and Nike.

“Well, in Hong Kong, you can be both; anything and everything. No judgement,” she says. “Well, maybe a little.” We laugh.

Since graduating in 2007 with a degree in clothing design and manufacture (specialising in illustration and fashion advertising), she’s been working in the field of art, design for years. Her sketches have a whimsy and personal stamp that’s unique and so lovely, even the biggest brands have taken note and hired her for collaborations.

The paths of corporate guidelines and creative enterprise often bifurcate, but as luck would have it, she’s had few bumps on the road, “I’ve been fortunate to work with a number of incredible brands, such as Christian Louboutin, Fendi and Cartier, among others. Each of which have granted me the creative freedom to interpret their brief, allowing us to deliver a beautiful visual that best represents the brand. Being able to use my paintbrush to collaborate with these fashion juggernauts is a dream come true. The only downside is that lead-times are notoriously tight, especially in a fast paced city such as Hong Kong. I have had to pull several all-nighters and work through creative blocks in order to reach a deadline. “

With her Lamma apartment as gloriously quaint and colourful as one would expect from an artist of her calibre, with the most precocious trio of rescued cats included, the trail runner has a long map of goals she’s set herself. “I am keen to finally find time to draw a series of influential women I admire, both in my personal life and in a broader sense. Plus, I am intensely passionate about being in the mountains and running. Personal or professional, this year, I plan to climb every mountain.”

For so much more, log on to PrestigeOnline

First Person: These Fine Folks in Hong Kong!

One of the great joys of writing the column First Person is doing a quick portrait and asking the subject what they are passionate about. Usually conversation goes on for a while and upon playback, it gets distilled down to the essence of these fine characters.

Its been great fun collaborating with my favourite photographer Olivier Yoan, who has shot all but one in the series. Check out First Person in Prestige Hong Kong.

Read up at http://prestigeonline.com/hk/People/Personalities/Arthur-de-Villepin-talks-business-and-pleasure

Read up at http://prestigeonline.com/hk/People/Personalities/Ning-Lau-on-fashion-dolls-and-following-her-dreams

Read up on http://prestigeonline.com/hk/People/Personalities/Kayla-Wong-Goes-Basic

Read up at http://prestigeonline.com/hk/People/Personalities/Harris-Chan-talks-Moiselle-and-Michael-Jackson

Read up at http://prestigeonline.com/hk/People/Personalities/In-the-studio-with-Pirate