The talent in fashion photography is getting terrifyingly young these days, and a new generation of local creatives have started to take their places on the pages of magazines. Some influences stay evergreen – like films and music from decades past – but get renewed continually through fresh interpretations. The creative well is endless. 

From the New Bohemia issue, here are three such photographers who are giving fashion photography here a much needed shot of newness and perspective – letting us in on their creative influences, approaches, and most importantly, on-set music choices. 

Feed Beng

photographers

On top of being a photographer, you’re an illustrator too – how do you bridge these two? 

The common thing is the feeling I want to elicit with my work. It can be a cackle [or] an intense, furrowed-brow moment. Both of which are equally great in my opinion. 

How would you describe your approach to your work?

A large part of it is about the duality of who I am. I like loud colors, textures and shiny stupid frivolous things, and the notion of not taking things too seriously. But at the same time, I also enjoy taking time alone to be deep in my thoughts. 

Who or what are you obsessed with right now? 

I’m obsessed with people who are brave and courageous enough to speak their truth in their work. 

Fantasy fashion shoot dream team (stylist, hair and makeup, set designer, models etc): go! 

I have so many in mind, but I think a project with Katie Grand, (the stylist and founding editor of Love Magazine), and Lizzo would be absolutely insane. 

What is your on-set playlist like? 

it really depends on the shoot but it’ll most probably be an extensive playlist of Diana, Whitney, Cher, Aretha, Patti and Tina. With a good sprinkling of Lizzo, of course. 

What are some of your favourite fashion references? 

Anything Tim Walker. I think good fashion always treads between reality and fantasy and I always prefer images that have a message, concept or story. 

What’s keeping you excited about your work? 

The concept that feelings and emotions are universal to every one, and being able to condense whatever I want to say into visuals and have people look at it and feel any way they feel is a very exciting thing to me. 

 How did you find your visual style? 

I think good work should either be a reflection of what’s happening right now, or be an escape for people from their current state of mind. I honestly think we’re really living in some dire times right now and I guess my pessimism is also my own form of optimism. 

Neo-Hippie Florals As Captured By The Wildly Surrealist, Kitsch And Technicolour-Loving Feedbeng

Lucas Jong

photographer

What’s the story of the first time you picked up a camera?

I don’t remember it vividly, actually… I just got a little jaded with everything I was doing and needed to find an outlet when I was 15 or 16. I really wanted to get into music but I always felt like I didn’t have what it took to enter that industry. So, I picked up photography. Simply because it seemed a lot easier than most creative pursuits.

What do you tend to look to for inspiration?

NATURE! I love nature. Sunsets and all that. I also really like to draw inspiration from music and films! A lot of coming-of-age stuff. I always felt that I didn’t exactly have the best or most exciting childhood growing up. Coming-of-age films give me a sense of idealism about my adolescence.

What is most important to you when you’re shooting?

The vibe is usually what’s most important to me. I get really excited when everyone’s just having fun and loves what they’re doing. Oh, and of course the expensive clothes too!

Can you describe your creative process, where your ideas come from and how you develop them?

My creative process is pretty spontaneous. The ideas usually come when I’m in the shower or travelling around. Other than that, I like to figure things out as I go. I don’t have a lot of equipment so I’ll sometimes climb a tree or something to get a higher angle, or find a street lamp to light photos.

What’s keeping you excited about your work?

To be honest, I’m still figuring a lot of things out. I’m just happy to shoot whatever I can! I’d consider myself pretty spiritual so what I’m excited about is the plan God has for me!

How did you arrive at this filmic and nostalgic aesthetic?

Early on in my ventures into photography, I was really inspired by Petra Collins. It started when I found out about how Petra started out in photography and I identified with it a lot. She began as a teen just taking photos of her friends because that was the easiest way she could express herself. I related to that a lot so she became my favourite photographer for a while by default.

Your photos are quite filmic and nostalgic. What are 3 of your favourite movies of all time?

If you’re talking movies I really love Wes Anderson’s films. Namely, Moonrise Kingdom and The Grand Budapest Hotel. Number three right now would be I, Tonya.

And what are you nostalgic for?

Most of my inspiration is drawn from American Road trips. Weirdly enough, I’ve never been on one. I got the inspiration from the movie Paris, Texas. I guess I really like the idea of enjoying the journey along the way. Even in my own life, I’m trying to enjoy the process so that theme really interests me. Or, anything old and colourful gets me inspired.

REFORMED MILITARY CHIC AND DENIM DRESSING BY THE FILM-BASED, NOSTALGIA-OBSESSED LUCAS JONG

Zantz Han

photographer

What is your fantasy fashion shoot dream team?

My dream team would be: makeup artist Chiao Li Hsu, hairstylist Minghu Zhang, stylist Michelle Li, and model Sara Grace Wallerstedt.

Who are some of your most important artistic inspirations?

My inspiration has always been Zhang Jingna, [who] was one of the reasons I picked up photography and also the reason why I keep striving. She once came to give a lecture and I was immediately drawn to her aesthetics, the way she captured beauty and how her work has this sense of [a] painterly look to it, a little dark and fantasy.

What is your on-set playlist like?

I always like to play a mixture of 90s, Pop and also sometimes just a playlist from Kool and Klean.

What are your current obsessions?

I’m currently obsessing with plants and going green.

What is your approach towards photographing and lensing beauty today?

I always like to keep it candid and try to take myself less seriously. Recently, I’ve been thinking [about] how I would like to convey my message through my pictures and how I can better express [that] through the medium before the actual shoot, so there is more context to it. On set, I like to keep myself open to new ideas and experimenting [with] new poses or light.

What’s keeping you excited about your work?

Having the opportunity to shoot some of the brands that I have been wishing for.

Is there a shoot bucket list?

I would like to shoot a beauty campaign, say Chanel, Dior, SK-II [or a] Unilever campaign. And Stella McCartney, I’ve always like their brand aesthetics and [how] they’re always doing things differently. 

How did you arrive at your “classic meets artistic” photographic aesthetic?

I would like to think that [I came] to this visual aesthetic because I’ve always been very obsessed with crafting light, shaping it and trying to see light as an organic form. I always try to keep my subject very mellow and vulnerable.

THE NEW EVENING UNIFORM & “B.E.D” AS CAPTURED BY THE CLASSIC-MEETS-ARTISTIC ZANTZ HAN