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Hong Kong photographer Leung Yat-ting, aka Leungmo, has worked with Nikon, fashion magazines and celebrities including singer Joyce Cheng. She opens up about what inspires her and gives tips for those starting out in photography. Photo: courtesy of Leungmo

She’s worked with Adidas, Canon and Mirror: hot Hong Kong photographer Leung Yat-ting on why taking pictures is only ‘half of the job’

  • Leung Yat-ting, aka Leungmo, is a rising star in Hong Kong’s fashion photography scene and has taken photos for Elle, Vogue, Puma and stars such as Eason Chan
  • She talks about how nature and a Cambodian monk with Facebook inspired her, why photography is about communication, and her advice for budding photographers
Photography

When Hongkonger Leung Yat-ting was a young girl she spent hours setting up shoots with her beloved doll, Blythe, snapping photos with a digital camera her family had given her.

“I’d dress up the doll and put together a small shooting set,” says Leung. “So I suppose that was my first exposure to fashion photography.”

She has come a long way.

Now aged 30, Leung – who works under the name Leungmo – has her creative fingerprints all over the city, with some of her best work gracing the pages of fashion magazines Vogue HK, Grazia and Elle Men.

A photo by Leung. Her work has graced the pages of fashion magazines Vogue HK, Grazia and Elle Men. Photo: courtesy of Leungmo

Her vast range of styles is best seen on her studio’s Instagram account (@tooboredstudio) – mostly commercial work – and her personal account, @Leungmo, where she unleashes her more whimsical aesthetic.

The body of work is clear proof of why she is one of the city’s most in-demand photographers.

 
Big names in the music business – Eason Chan Yik-shun, Terence Lam Ka-him, Kenny Kwan Chi-bun, Mirror, Joyce Cheng Yan-yee – have worked with Leung on album covers and concert posters, while brands including Canon, Nikon, Puma and Adidas have also put their trust in her creative hands.

“I’m fortunate that clients give me creative flexibility and a great deal of trust,” she says. “Upon gaining more experience in this field, I realised that photography only makes up half of the job; the other half is about communication with clients and crew, and understanding their needs.”

Travel is one way Leung, who has a sharp eye for the quirky, keeps her mind open. She recalls a 2016 trip to Cambodia, where she had an unforgettable encounter with a monk. “He took me to a meditation hall and I remember seeing a tiny printer and computer in the corner that didn’t fit the environment.

A photo by Leung. Photo: courtesy of Leungmo
“He printed some Buddhist scriptures in English for me and I took portraits for him and we chatted for a while. I still remember his last words to me: ‘See you tonight on Facebook!’ which completely changed my conventional assumptions.”

While Leung sees inspiration everywhere, nature is her biggest source.

“The intricate patterns on trees, flowers and leaves never cease to astound me,” she says. “Upon closer inspection, I discovered that nearly every natural object on Earth possesses a pattern of design. Everywhere you look – on flowers, human beings, animals and fruits – you can see the spiral and radial patterns.

While Leung gets inspiration from everywhere, nature is her biggest source. Photo: Leungmo

“It has to do with how the universe is shaped. Everything comes from the spiral,” says Leung, who uses a Nikon camera for work and a Ricoh GR camera for daily snaps.

She enjoys great support from her family, she says, in particular from her father, who gave Leung her first professional DSLR camera as a gift for her 18th birthday.

“My family’s encouragement and support, especially my dad’s, has fuelled my enthusiasm for photography,” says Leung, who in 2022 hosted an exhibition, titled “All Good”, featuring photos of people in the city wearing protective gear during the Covid-19 pandemic.
A photo from Leung’s All Good exhibition, which featured photos of Hongkongers wearing protective gear during the Covid-19 pandemic. Photo: Leungmo

And her advice for budding photographers? Follow your passion no matter what people might say.

“Everyone has a unique way of seeing the world and that is what life is about – sharing love and creativity.”

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