The Shot: Behind the Scenes

The shot... 

And behind the scenes lols. 

One of my all time fav cover girls - lovely Kelly - on set and on screen! 

Cover shoots are long and tedious - get yer laughs when and where ya can. 

Shot at Galaxy Macau... 

The crew behind the scenes for that single solo cover shot... 

Tasha Ling - stylist. 

Karen Yiu - hair and makeup team. 

At Galaxy Macau with Ana R

Behind the scenes with Ana R; 

At Galaxy Macau with photographer Until Chan and HK's very own model-icious... Ana R. 

Ana Rivera, widely known as Ana R., is an international model, actress, and entrepreneur who established herself as a prominent figure in Hong Kong’s fashion industry. Born in Texas to a Korean mother and a Puerto Rican father, she began her modeling journey at the age of 13 after winning a talent contest in Orlando, Florida. Her career quickly took off, leading to international modeling opportunities in Canada and other countries and capitals worldwide.

Rivera moved to Hong Kong after opening a major runway show for Gucci. Her distinct look and strong professional presence rapidly made her one of the region’s most sought-after models, appearing in numerous campaigns for high-profile luxury brands, fashion magazines, and commercials over the decades.

Leveraging her extensive experience within the fashion industry, Rivera transitioned into talent management and business leadership by founding Model One, a top modeling agency based in Hong Kong. As the co-owner and director of Model One, she plays an active role in scouting, mentoring, and developing local and international models, helping shape the landscape of Asia's modeling sector.

In addition to her modeling and business endeavors, Rivera is married to Brad Garland and is a mother of two children, Maya and Ryan. Balancing the demands of managing an agency, public appearances, and family life, she continues to maintain Hong Kong as her permanent home base while remaining a key personality in the local entertainment and fashion scenes.

Hot in Hong Kong: Steaming in Macau:

Outtakes and behind the scenes shots from a magazine cover shoot. 

Just Roll with it: Rolls-Royce

 

When we were doing the first shoot at The Regent in Hong Kong, the Rolls-Royce swung into view and the model said, matter of fact, "No one's going to look at me - they'll all be looking at the car."

True.

One of the shots was a double-page-spread. 

Supreme collab: Outtake from a photoshoot

Outtake from a shoot with HK model Jonathan W. 

Agency: Model One. 

Catalogue shoot with Samantha Sin: Behind the scenes of a brand photoshoot

Behind the scenes of a shoot for a brand. 

Location courtesy of a lovely friend - her triplex apartment in Mid Levels, with the highest ceilings I've seen in a looooong time, provided ample light. The images turned out great - thanks to Samantha Sin. MUA by Karen Yiu, Model Lenka.

The final images came out great. Team work... makes the dream work! 

 

Throwback Thursday: Galaxy Macau magazine vs Vogue

One of these shots was for the magazine I edited, Galaxy Macau. 

The other was published in Vogue. 

One of 'em is wearing Chanel. The other.. not sure actually.

Well, we had this wildly rushed shoot at the hotel and resort in Macau - and somehow got this magical image - the one on the far left BTW. 

It was a strange time as the weather suddenly changed and temperatue dropped, the model was freezing and somehow the team wasn't getting the lighting right. If I vaguely remember, it was after a long and painfully tedious day and the model had had it. She walked off set after the hour and we were praying we got the shot. There was some mild panic that we didn't have enough looks for the pages but my clever art director said, not to worry, we'll make a single shot a double-page-spread in case we fall short. Well, we didn't fall short, the picture came out great and... we never worked with that model again. 

Behind the scenes shenanigans of a cover shoot are a barrel of laughs... on occasion. 

 

Oh what the Grok: The Image edit and photoshoot

As default art director and photoshoot producer over the years, doing entire production for features, fashion, cover have been part and parcel of the game. Recently, was working on a jewellery shoot for a private client and was playing around with Grok; "insert ring onto image", typed in the client brief and within about 4 seconds, came out with the images and options above... 

No more photographers, stylists, models, hair and makeup teams, studio rentals and per diem. 

Diabolical. 

Have friends who work for tech companies and its peripheral industry complex who've been saying,--particularly when I moan about on set tantrums-- asking, why bother when AI can do the shots in milliseconds and at a fraction of the cost. 

How do I explain...the artistic endeavour, the camaraderie on set while working with friends and colleagues, and gifted artists and visionaries, and the human touch, the soul.... all those words sound hollow when facing budget constraints and the ticking deadline.,. 

Interview hack; Make 'em Laugh!

For the uninitiated, photoshoots and interviews can be unnerving. Key hack; make 'em laugh. After that, it gets easier. Kinda...

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...

The best of Menswear and Style: Ferragamo: Robb Report Hong Kong's Best of the Best 2025

From the Ferragamo spring 2025 collection unveiled months ago in Milan, we present a striking ensemble curated by Maximilian Davis—because every distinguished gentleman requires a luxurious leather jacket for those moments of leisure. Davis drew upon his profound connection to the world of ballet as the cornerstone of his creative vision, reflecting on a poignant photograph of late founder Salvatore Ferragamo fitting the renowned African-American dancer and choreographer Katherine Dunham with his inaugural pair of ballerina shoes in the 1930s.

Photography: Dino Busch
Stylist: Bhisan Rai
Location: Island Shangri-La, Hong Kong
Hair and Make-up: Karen Yiu
Make-up assistant: Bonnie Cheung
Styling assistant: Galvin Chi
Model: Taner from Model One

Read the entire feature here at Robb Report Hong Kong.

Jewellery Shoot in Hong Kong: Closed set in the city

Above: On set at The Hive Studio in Kennedy Town

Below: Final Shot

Lenka K at Model One

and Leo Mendez

The makeup and hair; Karen Yiu, as always 

 

A jewellery and accessories shoot from... 2017/2018

Personally thought all the images came out great but by then editor didn't and refused to expense or sign off on it. Instead of a kill fee of 15-25%, I paid the entire team out of pocket. 

Lessons learned. Trust your own taste and conviction. That editor didn't last that long. Poor judgement and choices tarnished her rep. 

The images did.  

TBT: On set with Actor Bipin Karma: Nepal Represented in Hong Kong

Throwback: this shoot and interview is easily one of the best and more defining moments in feature writing. 

PS: Kid is 20 years younger than me. How annoying... 

TBT to 14 June 2015: Post magazine fashion shoot with Olivier.

Incredible shoot in Post magazine by the amazing Olivier Yoan Passebecq Buyse!

To get this done... a lottttt went on behind the scenes. TBT to 2015

Shot in Hong Kong, Olivier made it look like we had the budget to shoot somewhere exotic.. 

The full shoot is up at SCMP.Com 

Some of the shots and outtakes are in the archive here.

 

Outtakes from a photo shoot: Kayla Lau: Hong Kong's Top Fitness Influencer: Mother! Wife! Babe! with Baby!

 Photographer: Natalie Dunn @natdunn_photography

 Hair and makeup: Karen Yiu @karenpaint

 Wardrobe: Metanoia @metanoia.thelabel

 Accessories: AS29 Jewellery @as29finejewellery

 Model: Kayla Lau-Wong @kayla.lau

One of my favourite shoots  - with my dream team all listed above. Kayla is possibly fitter now than she was then. 

David Oshry in Mazu Resortwear: Photographer Ruby Law

click to enlarge

Waterfalls.

Shot in Hong Kong... somewhere far from the madding crowd.

With my fav Ruby Law behind the camera - she's amazzzzzzzzing. 

 Model: David Oshry at MI 
 Shot by Ruby Law

 Shorts: Mazu Resortwear

Follow them all at 

https://www.instagram.com/rubylaw/

https://www.instagram.com/mazuresortwear/

https://www.instagram.com/davidoshry/

My fav KOLs in Hong Kong: These Instagram Influencers rock a Loro Piana Scarf

Above: Jessica Jann and Cara G

Below: Faye Tsui and Jessica C

A photo essay for the magazine, featuring some of the most popular fashionistas and gorgeous girls of Hong Kong;  

Jessica C: 166k followers

https://www.instagram.com/jesscambensy/

Jessica Jann: 72.1k followers

https://www.instagram.com/jessjann/

Cara G 60.5k followers 

https://www.instagram.com/caragmcilroy/

Faye Tsui 40.3k followers

https://www.instagram.com/faye_tsui/

 

TBT: Timothy Skinner by Dino Busch: Looks Calvin Klein

Top Calvin Klein: Shorts model's own

Outtakes from a shoot. For a feature in SCMP; Health Post. Fitness column. 

Looks from Zalora.com } but mostly Calvin Klein. 

Briefs and top: Calvin Klein

Outtakes here.

Feature and portrait published in South China Morning Post

Photography: Dino Busch
Model: Timothy Skinner

Below: Outtakes!