Showing posts with label karen yiu. Show all posts
Showing posts with label karen yiu. Show all posts

Saturday, 31 October 2026

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. 

Monday, 17 August 2026

Is Karen Yiu Hong Kong's most creative makeup artists? Or the world's?!

Renowned for her transformative, avant-garde editorial work and high-concept body art, Hong Kong-based makeup artist Karen Yiu is one of the regional beauty industry’s most creative talents. Those who work with her regularly - magazine editors, top tier photographers, models and muses - swear she's the very best in the biz. When you see her versatile portfolio, it is hard to argue. 

Before defining aesthetics on fashion sets and magazine covers, Yiu earned a degree in social work and served as a social worker. While it may not have taught her how to brush and powder - it her studies helped her understand people, particularly navigating the myriad moods and faces she comes across on a daily basis. How her calm reserve, skillset and sheer excellence translates from concept to editorial page has to be studied to be believed. She is incredible. 

Driven by a desire for artistic expression, she pivoted to fashion design at the London College of Fashion before discovering her true calling in the art of makeup, where she could draw and experiment daily. 

Yiu’s background informs her uniquely empathetic approach. Rather than applying a rigid template to a subject, she takes time to converse with individuals, understanding their personalities and preferences before translating those cues into visual expression. 

Her career gained rapid momentum through key collaborative partnerships, notably with Chicago-born photographer Ike. Together, they collaborated on projects such as the Second Skin exhibition and the photo book Oriental Eye, where Yiu used creative makeup and body art - ranging from delicate face painting to gold dust detailing - to form striking human landscapes. 

Her digital footprint reflects the dual dimensions of her artistry: @karenpaint: Showcases her vibrant, high-concept body painting, theatrical transformations, fine-art canvas work, and elaborate face art. 

@karenyiumakeupart: Highlights her editorial beauty portfolios, high-fashion campaign styling, bridal makeup, and sophisticated commercial work. 

Preferring to draw inspiration directly from life rather than mimicking trend cycles or existing magazines, Yiu prioritises original editorial projects that push boundaries. 

Whether crafting avant-garde looks for conceptual photo shoots or executing polished, radiant skin for commercial features, her work continues to combine meticulous technique with genuine creative passion.


香港化妝師 Karen Yiu 以其具顛覆性的前衛雜誌造型及高概念人體藝術聞名,是本地區美妝界最具創意的天才之一。與她長期合作的夥伴——雜誌編輯、頂尖攝影師、模特兒及靈感繆斯——一致公認她是業界的頂尖代表。只要看過她多元化的作品集,便難以否認這點。

在時尚拍攝現場和雜誌封面定義美學風格之前,Karen 取得社會工作學士學位,並曾任職社工。雖然這段學歷沒有教她如何掃粉化妝,卻讓她深入了解人性,特別是應對日常工作中遇到的各種情緒與面孔。她沉穩的氣質、精湛的技藝以及極致的專業表現,如何將概念轉化為雜誌頁面上的震撼視覺,唯有親眼目睹才能領略。她的才華令人驚嘆。

出於對藝術表達的追求,她轉至倫敦時裝學院(London College of Fashion)修讀時裝設計,其後發現彩妝藝術才是自己的真愛,因為在那裡她可以每天繪畫與探索。

Karen 的背景造就了她獨特且具同理心的造型手法。她不會將僵硬的範本套用在對象身上,而是花時間與對方溝通,了解其性格與喜好,再將這些特質轉化為視覺表達。

得益於關鍵的合作夥伴關係,特別是與芝加哥攝影師 Ike 的合作,她的事業迅速蓬勃發展。他們共同合作了《Second Skin》展覽及攝影集《Oriental Eye》等項目;在這些作品中,Karen 運用創意彩妝及人體藝術(從精緻的面部繪畫到金粉點綴),打造出令人矚目的「人體風景」。

她的社群媒體展現了其藝術創作的雙重面貌:

  • @karenpaint:展示她色彩斑斕、具高概念的人體繪畫、戲劇化造型轉變、純藝術畫布創作以及精細的面部藝術。

  • @karenyiumakeupart:呈現她的時尚雜誌美妝作品集、高端時裝廣告造型、新娘美妝以及高雅的商業作品。

相比起盲目跟風潮流或模仿現有雜誌,Karen 更喜歡直接從生活中汲取靈感,並優先投入能打破常規的原創時尚項目。

無論是為概念大片打造前衛造型,還是為商業拍攝呈現精緻透亮的肌膚,她的作品始終將嚴謹細緻的技巧與純粹的藝術熱情完美結合。

Simplified Chinese (For Mainland China - 简体中文)

香港化妆师 Karen Yiu 以其颠覆性的前卫杂志造型及高概念人体艺术闻名,是本地区美妆界最具创意的天才之一。与她长期合作的伙伴——杂志编辑、顶尖摄影师、模特及灵感缪斯——一致公认她是行业的顶尖代表。只要看过她多元化的作品集,就很难否认这一点。

在时尚拍摄现场和杂志封面定义美学风格之前,Karen 取得了社会工作学士学位,并曾担任社工。虽然这段经历没有教她如何打粉施妆,却帮助她深入了解人性,特别是应对日常工作中遇到的各种情绪与面孔。她沉稳的气质、精湛的技艺以及极致的专业表现,如何将概念转化为杂志页面上的震撼视觉,唯有亲眼目睹才能领略。她的才华令人惊叹。

出于对艺术表达的追求,她转至伦敦时装学院(London College of Fashion)攻读时尚设计,随后发现彩妆艺术才是自己的真爱,因为在那里她可以每天绘画与探索。

Karen 的背景造就了她独特且具同理心的造型手法。她不会将僵硬的模板套用在对象身上,而是花时间与对方沟通,了解其性格与喜好,再将这些特质转化为视觉表达。

得益于关键的合作伙伴关系,特别是与芝加哥摄影师 Ike 的合作,她的事业迅速蓬勃发展。他们共同合作了《Second Skin》展览及摄影集《Oriental Eye》等项目;在这些作品中,Karen 运用创意彩妆及人体艺术(从精美的面部绘画到金粉点缀),打造出令人瞩目的“人体风景”。

她的社交媒体展现了其艺术创作的双重面貌:

  • @karenpaint:展示她色彩斑斓、具高概念的人体绘画、戏剧化造型转变、纯艺术画布创作以及精细的面部艺术。

  • @karenyiumakeupart:呈现她的时尚杂志美妆作品集、高端时装广告造型、新娘美妆以及高雅的商业作品。

相比起盲目跟风潮流或模仿现有杂志,Karen 更喜欢直接从生活中汲取灵感,并优先投入能打破常规的原创时尚项目。

无论是为概念大片打造前卫造型,还是为商业拍摄呈现精致透亮的肌肤,她的作品始终将严谨细腻的技巧与纯粹的艺术热情完美结合。

Thursday, 22 June 2023

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. 


Saturday, 9 May 2020

Behind the Scenes: Magazine cover shoot


The crew behind Lifestyle's cover shoot. My last cover shoot with my dream team.


Thursday, 31 October 2019

Halloween special: Hong Kong's most famous MUA: Karen Yiu

All Hallow's eve cometh....

When in doubt, head to Karen Yiu, my all-time fav makeup artist and person in the industry.

She's so gifted in transforming the ordinary to the extraordinary. Her vast portfolio is incredible, esp body painting work and her epic makeovers.

But give the girl any reference or mood board and she delivers. Fav shoots we ever did were those when we asked her to come up with something...  Beyond expectations, the final look has always been incredible. She's a superstar. Adore her. Book her now

https://www.karenyiu.com/beauty


Friday, 26 August 2016

A Romance in Style: Galaxy Macau's Cover Shoot with Wilson, Amanda G and Olivier Yoan

For a Throwback Thursday, a shoot we did for Galaxy magazine in the Spring of 2015!

With a perennial favourite, photographer Olivier Yoan, art directed by Tasha Ling (ably assisted by Amber Choy - who we miss since she moved to China!), styled by Bhisan Rai, with makeup by Karen Yiu (there are literally odes to her in this blog!) and hair stylist Jean Tong.

We rarely repeat models but we did with gorgeous Amanda G and Wilson C.





 


 



Monday, 12 January 2015

Galaxy Magazine cover shoot: 2015: Hong Kong supermodel stuns in Cover Shoot with Andy Cheung



Thrilled that the latest issue of Galaxy magazine has received such a great response. Great to be back at work and get the positive feedback!

Kudos to the incredible team, led by photographer Olivier Yoan (who, after Olaf Mueller, has shot more covers for the mag than any other).

Karen Yiu, the magical make-up artist, did the looks yet again. As the archives will show, we've done maximum number of shoots together. Seifert Cheung tagged along to do hair. Bhisan Rai styled [i.e. did wardrobe and accessories] for the mag once again. Rai has the patience of a saint and just the nicest fella to work with.   

Tasha Ling oversaw the entire shoot as Art Drirtor! I usually don't head to location if she's there, as I know the entire process is in safe, well-manicured hands. But I did tag along for this one as I got a chance to spend the day with gorgeous Rosemary Vandenbrouke; part of the holy Hong Kong supermodel click, that barely includes seven gorgeous people! 

Iconic Hong Kong model Rosemary Vandenbrouke was a dream to work with [our third shoot over the past decade] - and its been a dream of mine for aaaages to get that girl on the cover. And she rocked it out! Usually, we line up all the shots and cherry pick the best shot for cover - there were several options during this shoot. 

As a fellow model pointed out [think it was Mia...], if you're going to be shot with Rosemary, you've got to step it up as she'll take over the picture. In an image, you'll remember her and no one else... so it was a tall task for co-model Andy Cheung [at Lotus models] to pose and preen with Rosey-posey!

I love this shoot. Do I say that after every shoot? Er... maybe! But I 'seriously' love this shoot!!










Tuesday, 22 October 2013

Galaxy, Fall 2013: Hotel and Resort Cover Shoot: Fashion, Location, Macau and Magic

It's here!

Fall 2013 issue of Galaxy magazine is out at last. With,  I firmly opine, the finest cover in the history of the publication.

Shot by Rex Tsui, styled by Jolene Lin, makeup by Karen Yiu.

Cover girl Masha G from Style management and Song from Genesis.

Cover outfit from Leonard, jewellery from Piaget.

My favourite cover of all time, shot at the lobby of Galaxy Hotel. Just gorgeous.

Masha G, model based in China (I think...) did amazing work and it was also my first shoot with model Song (aka Duhwan Song) who is possibly one of the nicest guys in the industry, apart from being a great model. He was so pleasant to work with, he ended up doing another wedding shoot for Galaxy Macau, did  catwalk event at the hotel and resort and more.

Have noted a trend, all the top models are easy to work with and have littl' attitude. Generation next should learn from 'em! (We've had diva issues before - people we never want to see or work with again!).



Sunday, 22 September 2013

Playlist: Karen Yiu



It is my profound joy to shed light on the incandescent talent that is Karen Yiu. Over the past decade in media, I've met many wonderful people but no one as good and bril as Karen Yiu. Make-up artist extraordinaire, body painter, artist... She. Is. Magic.

Earlier interview with Karen in a magazine here.

An archive of some of the shoots we've worked on here.

Archive of Playlist here.


Thursday, 24 January 2013

Tuesday, 22 January 2013

Step Out in Style

Cover shoot for Galaxy magazine. Fall 2012.
Shot with Olaf Mueller for this issue. One of many we've worked on.
Karen Yiu for hair/makeup. Amazing to work with her as always.  She brought along Adam Wong for hair/make up.
My first shoot with the loverly Tasha Ling - she styled the shoot.
Yet another shoot with David O.

And Melanie Z knocked it out of the park. She's soooooo beautiful and was so wonderful to work with. Can't wait to work with her again. Now a face in popular ads on tv and billboards across HK, was thrilled to work with her before fame that's inevitably about to hit her.
Rama