Dear Stranger

Run for the Runway

PVC Transparent Blouse, Dark Navy Linen Pants & Accessory : Sunyao Jiang; Shoes: Zara; Light Blue Socks: COS

Open Back Organza Top & Frayed Cotton Skirt: Sunyao Jiang

Hi Sunyao! How’s it going?

I am actually a designer rather than a photographer, this set of editorial was shot by my friend Christina who has collaborated with me for many collections.

How did you started taking photos and since when are you taking photos?

Well I started taking photos from middleschool, at that time my father bought me aCanon digital camera. I wasn’t interested inshooting fashion editorial but I really like totake photos of people, random people onthe street. I went to Parsons for Fashion, andI met my partner Christina at that time.

Tell us a bit about your process before shooting an editorial.

I am a very nostalgic person, my inspirationfor shooting an editorial always came fromold school style. I want my editorials to tellstories not only just photographing the garments.In my fashion editorial, the peopleare more important. We planned the storiesahead of time. Like this set, we shot it withfilm camera. And all the shots are not snap shots, we created the set and atmosphere, and tell the model to act certain way. Trying to make it more like a scene in the film. And we never go back to reshot an angle, it is how it is. I never end up with 300 similar captures, we shot like 70 shots and choose from that.

What does your future look like?

I currently work as a bridal designer, Christina and I are planning on our next “Story”. I like how photography is only a part of my life. It gives me more space to create. There so many things I want to shot, I always want to create editorials that based on theme “Memory”. I have a very emotional approach. Still working on how to present it.