MEEEET TED MIN!! A SOUTH KOREAN-BORN FASHION & ADVERTISING PHOTOGRAPHER COMING IN HOT. HIS PLAYFUL & ENTERTAINING PHOTOGRAPHY BRINGS CHARACTERS TO LIFE WITH IRONY AND HUMOUR. OUR CHAT WITH TED TOUCHES ON CREATIVE FREEDOM, INFLUENCE, GETTING INTO PHOTOGRAPHY AND SHOOT RITUALS.
HOW DID YOU GET HERE?
Well, I started my studies at a fine arts school in Korea. However there was a very narrow spectrum of what is considered art there. I felt very restricted there as they were heavily focused on perfecting technical ability rather than fostering creativity. So I generally lost interest.
Then a friend from the U.S told me about all the fun he was having in his degree and showed me his portfolio and I felt inspired to branch outside of Korea to study. At the same time I went on a working holiday to Perth and so began looking into studies in Perth and broader Aus. Then I landed on RMIT where I studied photography.
WHY PHOTOGRAPHY?
It kind of just happened. I was living & working at Margaret river and my housemate had a camera. It had a wider aperture than I had experienced before so I started experimenting with that and then felt my interest in photography grow very fast.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC STYLE?
Humour & Irony.
The humour comes from frustration of not being able to do a lot of the things I want to do. So I want to make fun of what I can’t do. The irony is shown when I portray that which I am not allowed to do.
The humour comes from frustration of not being able to do a lot of the things I want to do. So I want to make fun of what I can’t do. The irony is shown when I portray that which I am not allowed to do.
FAVOURITE EDITORIAL PROJECT?
Romance Was Born X Robbie Pitts. They gave me a lot of creative freedom and so I’m proud of that shoot because I was able to incorporate my personal style into the loose brief in a seamless way. It was super fun to have so much reign on the creative direction of the shoot, I enjoyed that thoroughly.
SOMETHING YOU CAN'T DO A SHOOT WITHOUT?
Aside from my camera, I need to be wearing my lucky undies.
A LESSON YOU'VE LEARNT SO FAR IN THE INDUSTRY?
To know exactly what the images are for. To have the purpose clearly set out so that it shapes the type of work I’m creating in the right way.
OUT OF ALL YOUR WORK, WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE PIC?
A PHOTOGRAPHER YOU THINK EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW?
Ray Cook.
WHOSE WORK HAS INFLUENCED YOU MOST?
Ray cook, Nigel Shafran, David Lachapelle, Juergen Teller and Hector Clark.
WHAT DOES ESCAPE FEEL LIKE?
Taking photos.
UPCOMING EXCITING PROJECTS ?
Vogue editorials on Jillian Nguyen and Bailey Donegal.
2022 MANIFESTATIONS?
To survive in Sydney.
WHO DO YOU THINK IS THE MOST EXCITING EMERGING CREATIVE RIGHT NOW?
Hector Clarke. He graduated a little before me at RMIT and his work is incredible.
