RYAN CHUA | THE BLOG

Convos

2012-02-08T23:13:00.001-08:00

Kate Wang: I dunno what to weaaar.

Me: You're sitting on front row. All eyes on you.

Me: Dress to kill. Dress like an ASTONISH Art Director.

Kate Wang: Alright. That helped me decide ^^

My Life Through Instagram

2012-02-07T22:47:00.000-08:00

This is a glance of my life from the past couple days:

The view coming out of the subway: downtown San Francisco

At a cafe meeting with Alicia.

ASTONISH Editor HollyJane busy preparing for Issue Three.

HollyJane taking a break and smiling for the camera.

Roya and I brainstorming.

Running into Tania randomly.

Roya, Molly, and Marie partaking in something I did not want to partake.

Marie gets to go home with the balloons after GirlPowerHour.

At the Boditecture Fashion Show.

All eyes on the runway.

My favorite Chicagoan Mika and my love Steph.

Wonder Woman aka "Jennifer Kim Van Hustlin Nguyen"

Another awesome publication: Hyphen Magazine.

I can never tell what Sassy is thinking.

What's up!

Beautiful weather, interrupted.

Making new friends!

Rush hour. Without Jackie Chan.

Till next time!

Journeys

2012-02-02T23:24:00.000-08:00

It's been a pretty interesting week. Never the same as the last, nor the week ahead. It keeps my life in suspense with its dose of surprises and disappointments.

I've met some great people this week. Some friendships and relationships that will definitely make a big impact in my goals and upcoming projects.

No matter what the week throws at me, I know I just need to find ways to tackle each and everyone of the challenges, even if there are five all at once, and then keep pushing.

I had coffee with the Founder of Gymboree, Joan Barnes. As she told me her journey, she left me with a piece of advice: "AAA". What's "AAA?" I said. She said, "Accept and Adapt." Or as my business partner Gary translated it, "Roll with the punches." It makes sense.

I also met another individual that have what I call "super powers" - she seems to be able to do almost anything and a lot of things. Could be good, could be bad. But her life motto is "Pay it Forward." I don't really meet that many people - but I believe this concept is a very powerful one and has lasting effects in many people's lives.

Visual Overload

2012-01-28T21:46:00.000-08:00

In the world of visual overload, Tumblr and Instagram are the king and queen of providing this visual overload to my generation. And I am in love. Here are snapshots from my Instagram.

Yulya Mango

2012-01-20T23:06:00.001-08:00

From the Love+Keep photo shoot.

Remember When ...

2012-01-18T22:53:00.001-08:00

Photo by Mike Polce

Remember when I used to do so many photo shoots? I decided to choose a different path. But I still love photography like no other.

Mentors and Advisors

2012-01-18T00:51:00.000-08:00

Photo by Rendy Lai

I am very lucky to have several mentors and advisors who are helping me steer into the right direction. As the saying goes, "stand on the shoulder of giants."

My Top Ten Shoots for 2011

2011-12-26T07:00:00.000-08:00

I did not do as many shoots as 2009 and 2010, but I did have some many memorable shoots with several amazing models, makeup artists, hairstylists, wardrobe stylists and designers. As tradition (see last year's) here are this year's top ten memorable shoots:

10. Amalie - This was shot in Copenhagen. I had four shoots during my stay in that wonderful city, and my favorite was with Amalie. It was a very simple shoot and Amalie rocked it! She did her own makeup and hair, brought her clothes, it rained too but we made the most out of the day and shot at Hotel Denmark.

9. Love + Keep - I got to finally do a shoot with my friend Van Kim Le who is an amazing jewelry designer, all handcrafted with love! I also brought out model Yulya Mango out of retirement as well. And I was finally reunited with Christina Chen and made her and the team some amazing crepes during hair and makeup!

8. Maxime - former Miss Pacifica and one of my favorite models to work with, Maxime has such a beautiful face. Always a special time each time I do a shoot with her. And great outcomes as well! More

7. Ropa Pura - Photoshoot with designer Jumpei Ando, model Deborah, and makeup artist Justine T. in Paris!! This was my first shoot in Paris and it was an incredible experience doing a shoot with an amazing team and in an amazing Parisian neighborhood. Jumpei was also a designer I've been in contact with for months, and it was surreal actually doing a shoot together.

6. Anastasia Hisel - In the midst of the ASTONISH launch event and New York Fashion Week, I had the opportunity to sneak in a photo shoot with Anastasia at our rented loft in Little Italy. Despite not having a prep team and limited daylight, we pulled of a pretty fun shoot. I wish I could do another shoot with this amazing model, who now grace the pages of Cosmopolitan Magazine December Issue.

5. Boditecture - I teamed up with architect and designer Wen Guo of Boditecture for a fashion show onboard a yacht party hosted by Peanut Labs. I casted models Yulya Mango, Maxime Kumler, Bethany Pifer, Liana Estillore, and Alexis Hutt for the fashion show and did a fun shoot on the yacht beforehand.

4. Danielle Lo - I shot with her about a year ago, and it took us a long time to finally shoot again. I had the pleasure of doing a shoot, a very fun one, with the beautiful exotic Danielle Lo with makeup artist Diana Su. She's super famous now - already on the cover of several publications and the 2012 Import Tuner calendar! More

3. Morgan O'Marro - Funny story, Morgan messaged me back in 2009 to do a shoot - and it took me two years to finally say yes - but I wish I did say yes awhile back because she is one of the best models I've ever worked with!! All I can say is, cannot wait to do another shoot with her again! This one was styled by Diana Su and makeup by the wonderful Regard Tang.

2. Paula Newlands - This was two birds with one stone: I was dying to do another shoot with my favorite Brazilian model Paula Newlands and also shoot in Los Angeles again. It was like an itch finally being scratched. Also I discovered the wonderful Ashley Gomila, who is an amazing professional makeup artist based in Los Angeles! We were also joined by Carlos Jamieson, who is also one of the best Hollywood-based hairstylist! Very solid team. We shot this in Santa Monica on a beautiful November day!

1. Sille Sepp - Paris. Enough said.
I messaged a modeling agency in Paris to send me someone to test with, I did not realize they would send me an angel. Sille is perhaps the most amazing model I've ever shot with. I was also joined by an amazing design student Anh Duong from Ecole de la Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne, one of the most prestigious fashion schools in the world. On top of that, Mika Asoh was our talented makeup artist from Japan. It was a shoot I'll never forget - shooting in front of the Eiffel Tower, the pebble-stoned pathways, amazing alleyways, beautiful weather ... I'll be back in Paris someday.

Goodbye 2011. It was a pretty memorable year. I look forward to what 2012 brings!

This is my dream office space

2011-12-06T13:57:00.001-08:00

Models Telling Jokes

2011-11-30T11:18:00.001-08:00

Models Telling Jokes

By Brendan Norman and me!

(okay, Brendan did most of the work but it was my idea! LOL)

Valeska & Lauren - Malibu Shoot

2011-11-29T11:07:00.001-08:00

I was dying to update my portfolio after so many busy months of running ASTONISH. I also wanted to take advantage of the amazing Los Angeles weather - 82 degrees over the Thanksgiving Weekend. I was able to get the amazing MUA Ashley Gomila and Hollywood Hairstylist Carlos Jamieson as part of my team. This was shot in Malibu, California (can't get any better) in a really nice beach-view property. I was joined by Brendan Norman and Judy Lien as part of my posse.

Here is a first look.

I am Thankful for ...

2011-11-24T12:56:00.000-08:00

I am thankful for everyone who is part (or was a part) of the ASTONISH Team - past, present, and future - particularly those that believed since the beginning and continue to do so.

LOVE + KEEP

2011-11-24T00:01:00.001-08:00

Van Kim Le is a very talented and passionate jewelry designer. I met her at a trade show in San Francisco. Walking past by her booth, I couldn't stop but notice the fine hand-crafted and intricate work that she puts into her jewelry. Since then we've blossomed into really good friends and also helping each other with our individual projects. Click here for more LOVE + KEEP.

Take a peek at our collaboration with my one of my favorite models Yulya Mango and the fabulous makeup artist and crepe-hungry machine Christina Chen.

Anastasia Hisel

2011-11-23T12:07:00.001-08:00

Test shoot with Anastasia Hisel (MAJOR Model Management NYC)

Morgan O'Marro

2011-10-26T00:07:00.001-07:00

A couple more of Morgan O'Marro.

Letting Go...

2011-09-26T23:30:00.000-07:00

One night in Berlin, on my way back to my hotel, I decided to get off a random subway stop, tossed away my map, and tried to figure out how to get home on my own accord. No cell phone, no knowledge of the German language, no friends or acquaintances, in the dark... But It was a way for me to get out of my comfort zone, to start following my instincts, and to learn to let go and know that one way or another, I'll be able to make it in one piece. And I made this my tradition every time I visited a new city.

I repeated this in Copenhagen, Paris, London, and New York. It feels liberating to conquer your fear of getting lost and not making it home. Idiotic? Yes. Liberating? Definitely. Just Let Go and Know Everything Will Be Okay In The End.

ASTONISH MAGAZINE IN NEWSSTANDS SEPT 27!

2011-09-21T01:32:00.000-07:00

I am proud to announce that ASTONISH Magazine's Issue One: LOVE LUST DESIRE will be out in the newsstands in the United States, Europe, and Brazil on September 27, 2011!!

LIKE their Facebook fan page

Fashion Magazines vs. Fashion & Art Magazines

2011-08-27T11:26:00.001-07:00

Q: What's the difference between fashion magazines and fashion&art magazines?
A: Fashion magazines you toss at recycling bins. Fashion&art magazines you keep on your coffee table.

#TRUTH

Morgan at the Beach

2011-08-19T00:23:00.001-07:00

One of my newest favorite sets!

Danielle Lombard

2011-08-17T22:52:00.000-07:00

This is a shoot I did with Danielle Lo (aka Lola Danielle) at Ocean Beach.

She's a Handful

2011-08-15T00:57:00.000-07:00

She's a handful. My photo shoot with Morgan. Just a preview. More coming.

Melanie Iglesias: My Latest Obsession

2011-08-09T01:57:00.000-07:00

HOT RIGHT NOW: Melanie Iglesias!!
I am completely mesmerized by how beautiful she is!

And... I'm so inspired to do a video shoot like this one! And by "inspired" I mean, to totally copy the idea. LOL Now to find the perfect model.

TRANSFORMERS!!

2011-07-23T21:51:00.000-07:00

My shoot with Maxime, featuring wardrobe by BODITECTURE and makeup by Diana Su!

Part II

For more, visit boditecture.com

Quote for Truth

2011-07-16T23:49:00.000-07:00

There's a difference between interest & commitment. When you are interested in something, you only do it when circumstances allow you to. When you are committed, you make it happen regardless of the circumstances.

QFT. Where do you fall?

I Feel This Man's Pain. Someday He Will Get His Dream Job.

2011-07-13T21:39:00.001-07:00