#1: Lenne Chai (@lenneigh)
Who: The 25-year-old, whose Instagram feed features dreamy, feminine images of fashion and travel snaps (from local label Exhibit‘s latest collection to moody landscapes), started out in the photography business seven years ago. Amongst her biggest sources of inspirations at the moment: British fashion photographer Glen Luchford and Slovakian visual artist Michal Pudelka.
What she’s been up to: Chai has worked with numerous fashion and makeup brands such as H&M, RMK and Puma, and has collaborated with brands like Canon Asia, Sony Music and Universal Music. Her most memorable stint? Shooting for magazines like Nylon Japan, Elle Girl Japan and Danish brand Bang & Olufsen while she was living in Japan at the age of 21.
Why she’s one to watch: The young photographer has recently stepped into film directing, and conceptualised the music video for local musician Charlie Lim’s single “Conspiracy”, which launched last December. Her next project, a music video shot in China for breakout indie artiste Linying, will debut next month.
#2: Walter Tan (@waltertan)
Who: The 24-year-old National University of Singapore business administration undergraduate counts photography as a hobby, and ventured into videography just last year. He lives by the rule “less is more”, which is why his works – and his Instagram account – convey a minimalist appeal.
What he’s been up to: Projects with fashion and beauty brands such as American label Fossil and skincare and makeup brands like Loreal and Garnier. He also produced a film featuring music wunderkind Nathan Hartono last year.
Why he’s one to watch: If his slick video productions are anything to go by, we’re predicting that more brands will come calling. Plus, expect more visual fodder on his Instagram as he heads off to Europe in July for a five-month-long exchange programme.
#3: Audrey Kwok (@avdrvyk)
Who: The 22-year-old law student and freelance photographer first became interested in photography after taking a compulsory studio photography module as part of her art class in junior college. Describing her work as “dreamy and detached”, she takes inspiration from fine art photographers such as Oleg Oprisco and Laura Zalenga.
What she’s been up to: Kwok has shot for local names like wedding gown designer Indra Murak, womenswear label Klarra and watch brand Hypergrand.
Why she’s one to watch: Clean yet evocative, her images tend toward the arty and surreal, a look and feel that’s gaining popularity (just take her photo series “Dreamers”, which involved a girl suspended in mid-air while engaged in activities like reading). She’s also continuing to work with Singapore fashion enthusiasts like Venezuelan-born Manolly Castillo and London-based blogger Andrea Cheong.
#4: Joel Lim (@limxjoel)
Who is he: The 23-year-old Nanyang Technological University (NTU) undergraduate picked up photography in 2011 when he was accidentally enrolled into his school’s photography club. And with veteran fashion and portrait photographers Annie Leibovitz and Mario Testino as his inspirations, it’s not difficult to see why his feed is peppered with black-and-white pictures.
What he’s been up to: His previous stint as the Dapper Editor at The Nanyang Chronicle, NTU’s campus newspaper, saw him coordinating fashion shoots with local musicians Benjamin and Narelle Kheng of The Sam Willows. Outside of school, he’s also shot images of Singapore-based American actor Bobby Tonelli and local hip-hop artist Shigga Shay.
Why he’s one to watch: Portraiture isn’t the only thing Lim is good at – his latest venture, Zyrup, is an online youth culture magazine that reports on trends and tastemakers in the local entertainment scene.
Main image: Audrey Kwok
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