PASSION TURNED PROFESSION
Photography began as a hobby for Mr Hoong, who discovered his passion while studying media and communications in polytechnic. Inspired by visuals on Instagram, he began replicating shoots to sharpen his skills, sharing his progress on social media and gradually building a portfolio.
His first paid gig came unexpectedly when a lecturer referred him to a restaurant in need of a videographer. “I shot a video for them and they referred me to another client. That’s when I realised – I could make a living doing what I love,” he recalled.
Just as his travel content was gaining traction, the COVID-19 pandemic brought globe-trotting to a halt. Turning his lens to Singapore, he uncovered hidden corners of the city but soon began craving a new creative challenge.
When live events began returning, concert photography piqued his interest. Determined to break into the scene, Mr Hoong reached out to artists, promoters and managers online. His persistence paid off when Luke Olson from American indie band The Walters accepted his offer to shoot its Singapore show, opening the door to something bigger. “Now, I’m on a world tour with XG and that is the biggest highlight of my concert photography journey. I’m most excited for the group’s Coachella show in April and its final concert at Tokyo Dome in May,” he said.
