Vincent Paul Yong

Mon, 12/05/08 - 16:13PM Filed in Fashion by tongueinchic | Comments: 0

Tags: Fashion,photography,vincent paul yong

By: Joyce

Long before this blog was brought to life, we wanted to interview and expose more of the people who were at work behind the scenes in the fashion industry. The ones who passionately designed for respected labels, curled and teased models’ hair backstage, slaved away at styling a mind-blowing shoot, traveled overseas to bring back must-have items and crouched behind the lens trying to get that perfect shot.

Behold our first KL interviewee for Tongue in Chic - Vincent Paul Yong. I first took notice of his name when a sunny inspiring fashion spread shot in the KL Hilton for Oxygen magazine (April 2006) caught my eye. Who was this photographer? His pictures were gorgeous! His acute sense for lighting and the diverse moods that are created across his shoots are magnetic.

We were inevitably introduced and bumping into him at the Fashion 2201 Spring/Summer show last week, got him to make love to our little sign.

Vince is wearing hand-painted shirt by Thai artist Peach

How long have you been taking photos for?

I’ve been taking photos since I was young, got my first Yashica point and shoot film camera when I was in Primary 5. Most of those pictures or my subjects were animals at the time. I remember there was this one time during a lawatan sambil belajar (school field trip) to the National Zoo, I shot 5 rolls of 36s on animals. Not on my friends, not on me, but on the animals! My dad got so furious and banned me from photographing animals ever again ha ha! Too much NGEO I guess… but on a professional level, I’ve been taking photos for four years now.

What made you venture into fashion photography?

Fashion has always been an interest of mine since young, but you know lah… boys and fashion? Urm…. not widely accepted in those days from Chinese red-neck conservative families. They want you to be engineers, doctors, accountants et cetera… boring! I started covering a lot of fashion events for fashion brands and houses as an event photographer, and made my very first break with Oxygen Mag shooting fashion. From there, my work has since graced Men’s Folio, V Mag, New Tide, New Icon and others. What interests me most in fashion is in its design, the challenge to relate to a piece of garment and turning it into a beautiful image, not something you just hang on a rack.

Oxygen April 06, November 06

Did you train under anyone?

I’m self-taught. That’s why many people out there say my work of being somewhat ‘experimental.’ I do not know if that’s a compliment or otherwise, haha. I am more of a mood creator and try not to be too technical, being too technical sometimes kills off the passion.

Who’s your favourite photographer?

There are many… all with such different styles. My all time favourite photographer has to be Juergen Teller. I love the way he tells a story through his lens - raw, not necessarily sexual but with a tad of quirkiness and tragic comedy.

Which is your favourite shoot you’ve done so far?

I actually have two. The first is the spring/summer 2008 campaign for Khoon Hooi. He wanted something romantic with the feel of a breezy evening, as ‘making waves’ was the collection’s theme and inspiration came from the ocean and subjects relating around it. The second is the “Yellow, blue is this” editorial for Oxygen… that was one of the most fun shoots ever.

What work are you up to now?

At this moment I am working on various editorials and some commercial stuff. In between, I am also working on some things for an exhibition. Its not going to be a photo exhibition per se… but something different.

Besides taking photos, what else do you get yourself up to?

Besides taking photos? I’ve always loved travelling, getting to know new cultures, their art and their food! Hee hee, that’s when you get two months off from work! However, on a day-to-day basis, I’d go window shopping, web surfing, FACEBOOK! Urm…. sitting at starbucks sipping a good cuppa latte while observing the people that surround me. Also I am finally returning to writing, as in composing songs, very psyched over it now!

Click on *Studio Verve* to view more of his work.

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