Don’t let the smiley and bubbly persona of Shavonne Wong fool you; she is highly trained in Krav Maga and can probably take you down in the blink of an eye. Combined with a keen eye for photography, she has taken the world by storm, from London to New York and even Israel – Shavonne has shot for brands such as Sephora, Lancôme, Cosmopolitan HK, and is a returning guest photographer on Asia’s Next Top Model. She is an ambassador for Profoto’s newest product, the A1, and also received a gold award at the Graphis Photography Annual 2015.
Credits : Shavonne Wong
She can be quite shy and withdrawn but offer her a beer at 2 p.m. and she gets bright-eyed and chatty. We met her at PIXERF’s studio to talk a little about photography and what inspired her to pick up a camera and do what she does.
“Photography has allowed me to basically get paid to create something beautiful. The first time I ever picked up a camera, I dragged my sister to a studio and started taking pictures of her for fun, and that’s where it all started.”
Credits : Shavonne Wong
She fancies herself an adventurous soul and loves to translate that energy into her work. Shavonne is known for adjusting and sometimes pushing the boundaries of a brief to great effect. She loves working with brands that give her free reign to interpret a scene or even use the energy of her subject to create something spectacular.
Credits : Shavonne Wong
“I made a lot of mistakes, but that taught me not just what to do but what more I can do. I’m also not afraid to talk to those around me and learn from their experiences. Let’s be honest, no one is sure what to do the first time they step into a professional photo shoot. Sometimes you have to feel your way through till you get it right.”
Credits : Shavonne Wong
She’s come along way to being an ambassador for a top lighting brand, as well as a globe-trotting photographer doing work in some of the most renowned cities in the world. Close to a decade in the game, and we know she has plenty more to offer.
“I remember the first time I was paid to do a photo shoot. My friend needed images for a final year project. The money was not great but I can remember feeling amazed that I could be paid doing something like that, and I’ve never looked back since.”
Credits : Shavonne Wong
You can catch her on 24 November 2018 as one of the official judges, alongside seven other world-renowned photographers, at the annual Images of Asia (IOA) photo competition held by Asian Geographic and supported by PIXERF. You can learn more about the event here.
