Personal one - Jeremy Choh interview
To begin, could you introduce yourself and tell us a little about your journey as a photographer?
My name is Jeremy Choh, and I’m a photographer based in Los Angeles/New York. I started back in my hometown of Perth, Australia, where I was studying commerce and shooting weddings and university events on the side. While working a fast-food job, I met a model at the counter and asked if I could photograph her—she ended up connecting me to her agency which opened the door to the fashion world. From Perth, I moved to Sydney to keep growing my career, and about three years ago I made the leap to the U.S. to continue pushing my photography.
How would you describe your style or approach to photography?
It’s hard to describe but my style is always evolving with where I am in life and the experiences I’m having. At the heart of it, I love photographing people and fashion. I like to challenge myself with new lighting techniques, but I also enjoy working with what’s available in the moment. For me, it’s about staying curious, creating as much as I can, and learning along the way. One day I’m thinking about a full production avant-garde studio shoot and the next a simple natural light across the road after being inspired by the talent. I think from my very first shoot to my most recent one all these years later there are still some similarities so hopefully I would want my style to convey emotion and effortlessness.
“ The connections and experiences you make along this long career, I want my work to reflect that
When did you first hear about this exhibition? I first heard about the exhibition back when I moved to Sydney.
If you’ve attended in past years, what’s your strongest memory of the
exhibition? Every time I shot at Lunar Studios, I’d see the exhibitions and loved how everyone’s work was showcased. I feel really honoured to be part of it again this year after participating last year.
How did it feel to see all the works displayed together on the wall in past
editions? What I enjoy most is how each piece feels so personal and unique—you really get to see a bit of each artist in their frames.
What do you hope audiences will take away from experiencing your work here? That anything really is possible if you have a camera and a dream. I want them to hopefully feel what I was feeling at that time. The connections and experiences you make along this long career, I want my work to reflect that.
How do you see the photography scene today, especially with younger generations coming through? I find the photography scene really inspiring, especially with younger generations coming through. They’re always experimenting—whether it’s with color grading, lighting, hand printing or just their perspective—and it keeps everything we see online fresh. What I love about fashion photography is that there really aren’t any rules, and you can see that in the range of styles out there. I feel like there’s always something new to learn from emerging artists and I’m always taking something in from them.
Has the exhibition influenced or inspired your perspective on photography in any way? What I love about the exhibition is seeing a whole room full of work—everyone using a similar camera, all in Australia—and yet the results are so different. For me, it’s a reminder to trust my own vision. In the creative industry it’s easy to feel a bit of imposter syndrome, but once you see your work printed and up on the wall, it’s really cool to have it appreciated as art.
“ Sometimes you’re stuck in a bubble in your hometown and a quick trip away really helps refresh the juices
What projects have you been working on recently (If you can tell)? Being based in Los Angeles, I love how at a moments notice you could be working with a celebrity talent for a magazine cover, or the next you’re in the head office of Nike shooting their new products. But in the midst of the chaos there is still time to personal projects where I’m currently looking to build a beauty book project of some sort!
Looking back, is there a past project you consider a milestone or turning point in your career? I always say there isn’t one single project that changes your career, but each one helps you grow. That said, my first trip to New York was a real turning point for me personally. I had just moved from Perth to Sydney and was feeling creatively burnt out, so I decided on a whim to finally visit the States. That trip led to an incredible opportunity—working with Adriana Lima for Maybelline during NYFW. Someone from the Maybelline team had been following my work on Instagram, noticed I was coming to New York, and connected me to the project. I think more than shooting the talent Adriana, the trip opened my eyes to see what really is out there in terms of opportunities and the range of creatives you get to meet along the way. Sometimes you’re stuck in a bubble in your hometown and a quick trip away really helps refresh the juices.
How has your photography evolved from when you first started until today? I’ve always stayed true to what I love—capturing people in a way that feels cinematic and a bit poetic. Over time my style has grown through life experiences and by pushing myself to experiment more with lighting to get the look I want. These days I feel a lot more confident and intentional, from scouting locations and choosing the right time of day to shoot, to communicating my vision with the team. At the same time, I’ve learned the value of staying flexible and leaving space for spontaneity and collaboration—it’s often where the best ideas and magic come from!
What inspires you right now—whether in photography or beyond? I’m a pretty simple guy. Being happy and content in life really reflects in my work. Finding the balance between commercial and personal projects mixed in with my personal life is really important to me. I want to travel more. Every time I come back I feel refreshed and inspired with my own creative work. I want to meet more people with unique stories, especially in the AAPI community.
What equipment are you currently using, and why? In my kit, I rotate between the Fujifilm GFX 100s and the Canon R5. The Canon’s been a workhorse for years—super reliable and flexible when it comes to delivering a client’s vision. Lately, I’ve been leaning on the Fujifilm for personal projects because it slows me down in a way that feels a bit like shooting film. I also keep a Mamiya RZ67 and a Contax T2 around for fun outtakes. And my Contax is with me everywhere!
How does your gear shape your process or the kind of results you aim for?
I think being smart in the gear you use is important to achieving what you’re shooting. Start with a storyboard and vision and practice what gear to use to achieve the results. Most of the time less is actually more and some of my favourite shots have been taken on my contax T2 with natural light. Think less about the lighting you’re using and more about the feeling you are trying to convey with the image.
Is there a photographer, work, or experience that has been especially influential in your path? Ever since I started photographing faces, I’ve been inspired by photographers like Peter Lindbergh and Patrick Demarchelier. I love how they effortlessly capture the moment—there’s something cinematic and poetic about their work, yet it still feels raw and timeless. Back home in Perth I was lucky enough to be introduced to fashion photography by a great photographer Meiji Nguyen who made photography fun and creative. I remember the first shoot I assisted on was a fashion shoot in a church and cemetery. He used probably 6 different lights. I was super overwhelmed but loved every moment and from that moment on I knew this was the path I wanted to go on.
What advice would you give to amateur photographers visiting the exhibition? I’d say, first and foremost, find the work that really resonates with you—and don’t be afraid to reach out! Email the photographers you admire and offer to assist. There’s no better way to learn than hands-on experience. Even if you don’t have much experience, many established photographers are always working on personal projects and often need an extra hand—and are happy to teach while on set. In fashion photography, collaboration is everything, and networking is key—whether it’s at exhibitions like this or online. I’ve found most of my assistants through Instagram DMs. Beyond that, just create and shoot. Don’t let limitations hold you back—I still learn something new on every single shoot. If you’re figuring out your style, start simple: just you, a camera, and natural light. The more you shoot, the more it will come naturally. Most importantly, have fun with it. I never thought as a kid from Perth all those years ago that one day I would be living in Los Angeles photographing some pretty cool people for covers of magazines and getting to travel the world doing what I love.
Don't forget to check Jeremy's web.
