So Alex, tell us about how your journey into becoming a videographer.
I guess I have to go back to give you context. I was born in Korea, and after two and a half years of military service, I came to the UK to study. While I was here, I met my (now) wife, who is a banker. Back then, her company offered her a promotion opportunity in Hong Kong, so we packed up and moved out. The original plan was to be there for a couple of years, and it ended up as 15 instead!
I also took a job in banking, doing mergers, acquisitions and IPOs. About ten years ago, one of my friends in Hong Kong and I shared a passion for photography. So we decided to become business partners and create a photography and videography company as a side hustle.
Did you start a business based on your hobby?
Exactly that! We started in the industry that way, sometimes doing unpaid work for clients to build a portfolio. However, we must have been doing something right as we were both part-time, had yet to put marketing behind our company and somehow managed to land work with FMBE Hong Kong.
Eventually, my partner and I sat down because I was eager to know what I could make of the company if we both committed and pursued this passion full-time.
And how did that turn out?
Pretty good! My entrepreneurship started properly, and Blink Productions HK was born. The company had five full-time employees, with 15 freelancers working across the three main sectors of the videography and photography industry. My business partner oversees the company in Hong Kong now that I’m in the UK, and I occasionally advise when they need guidance. But I’m leaving the team and closing that chapter entirely soon.
You mentioned “three sectors” of the industry – what are those?
So one is the commercial sector, creating promotional content for clients to highlight services or products. The second is documentaries and interview-style footage. And the third is lifestyle events – think weddings or conferences, for example. Usually, a company will specialise in one of those three sectors, but the beauty of Blink Productions HK is that we do all three. And we do them well.
What are some of the highlights of working full-time at Blink?
We worked with some massive brands, from Adidas to Chanel and some global companies like Edelman and Ogilvy.
I created and directed a documentary called “Wing Chun” about Chinese Martial Arts – essentially the story of Bruce Lee’s teacher, a grandmaster in Wing Chun (thus the name!) It had a full house premiere in Macau with local press coverage.
Over the past three or four years, I’ve received about 40 awards for my photography and videography work.
That’s very impressive! So what brings you back to the UK?
My wife is British and moved back here with my children a year ago; I followed up earlier this summer. When I arrived, I was unsure whether to stay self-employed or join a company. But with life commitments (kids!) putting a fresh perspective on things, I decided I was open to working for a company again – if the right job came about.
So how did you end up at N2O?
Well, I won awards for my work in Hong Kong without really planning it. So when the position came up here, I thought – it’s time to join a bigger wave and see what I can do!
Besides N2O working at such a high level, the projects they use videographers for are really fun, so I was sold.
That’s fantastic; glad to hear it. And how have you found it so far?
The team here are so welcoming, and everyone is lovely, which makes a huge difference. I’ve only been here four weeks, but it feels like four months (in a good way!) I’ve already been out to Wembley to shoot footage for Coke at the Capital Summertime Ball, plus I’m heavily involved in some exciting pitch work which is incredibly enjoyable. Honestly, it doesn’t feel like work because I enjoy what I’m doing.
Anything you’re particularly proud of so far?
I’ve implemented a new system to organise photography folders to make life easier for the Campaign team and anyone needing quick access to specific images. I created subfolders under each campaign, so photos are sorted into categories such as “Crowd”, “Product Shot”, or “Aerial View”, for example. It makes finding images for clients so much easier. It may seem like a small change, but it’s been very beneficial for me in the past – hopefully, it is for everyone in N2O too!
I started doing this in Hong Kong for UBS’s five-day annual financial conference in Shanghai. I was chosen as the “second photographer” for the event, but in the end, they used all of my images simply because of the convenience of my folder structure.
What is it that you like most about what you do?
Although I love both, my heart lies with videography. I like the story-making process. With the footage I capture, I can dictate the story to guide how I want the viewer to feel, using the video, music, and sound effects to create a whole narrative. It always feels like a project is complete. It’s a longer process than photography jobs but worth it. I often hear people say, “I’m a visual storyteller” – and it might be cringe, but it’s the right description for me.
Where do you find your inspiration?
When I’m not physically at work, I keep my finger on the pulse of any new trends. Being Korean and in touch with the culture there helps me add a unique perspective and put fresh ideas on the table. My motto is “Normal is boring, and I don’t do boring!”
Do you have time to do anything outside of work?
I love cycling. Back when I first lived in the UK, I asked my sister-in-law what would be crazier – to cycle London to Paris or London to Edinburgh. She said London to Edinburgh with a route through the Lake District. Before I went, I had no idea that the Lake District was so hilly, but I found out the hard way as I set off on my fixed single-gear bike. It took four days, sleeping outdoors wherever I stopped that night, and I’m proud of it. I still cycle a lot now.
Back in the day, I was also in the top 20 CrossFit athletes in Hong Kong. That shows my nature – when I put my mind to something, I go 500% and master it!
