How long you can continue to be good at something is how much you believe in yourself and how much hard work you do with the training.
– Jason Statham
Vincent Ko is a fashion photographer, stylist, and creative director based in Toronto. An active social media influencer, he delivers refreshing and alluring content daily across multiple channels. His love for design, architecture, and food is shared with the sole intention to inspire others through his lens.
Vincent specialises in editorial photography and portraiture, working with clients such as TAG Heuer, Sony, Calvin Klein, and Le Labo Fragrances. His scale of work doesn’t limit him, however, and he continues to challenge his own boundaries, paving the way for personal growth. We asked Vincent to share his thoughts on the creative process, how self-expression manifests in his work, how his priorities have changed over time, and what he does to stay inspired when encountering any roadblocks along the way.
How is your personality reflected in your work?
My personality plays a big role in all of my work, especially in everything related to creativity. I portray a different persona when I’m in front or behind the camera. If I’m in front of the camera, I tend to be more outgoing and not as shy. I used to be very shy when it comes to socializing and taking photos but now not as much. When I’m the subject of the photo, I exude a more dramatic persona. That usually translates in my poses, facial expression, and the outfit I’m wearing.
How have your priorities changed over time?
They have changed quite a bit actually. As I’m growing older, I’ve learned to prioritize things more efficiently. Being a digital creator and having a full-time job at the same time taught me to be more efficient with my time and what I do. Learning how to prioritize has been a challenge for me but over the past few years, I’ve worked on it and have improved quite a bit. When it comes to my work, I’m very particular with the content that I create and put out. I like to do something different and challenge myself. Having said that, not everything always goes to plan and sometimes I have to remind myself to take a breather and come back to it with a clear head.
How do you overcome creative blocks?
That’s a very good question. Depending on what they are, I usually have a few different mediums that I go through to come up with new ideas. Before I start, I usually create a mood board so that it’s easier to find what I’m looking for. For poses, location and outfit inspirations, I usually go to Instagram and Pinterest to find some ideas and then use them to create new ones. These two mediums are like one massive library filled with endless resources. For photography or video style, I usually watch film noirs to get some inspiration, which is good to use if I’m looking to create cinematic content. I never really got into film noirs until I took a film class at university. If you’re into suits and dressing dapperly, they’re also a great source of inspiration for that. ■
Photos courtesy of Vincent Ko, Cynthia Nguyen, and Wayne Tsaur.
