Loren &
Brandon
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China Town, Los Angeles
Lately I’ve been completely drawn to the dreamy, moody romance of old Hong Kong films — that slow-burning intimacy, the neon haze, the warm color palette, and the beautifully imperfect way Wong Kar-wai captures love. There’s something so nostalgic and emotionally rich about that style, and Chinatown felt like the perfect place to bring it to life. So when this couple told me they wanted something different for their engagement session, something cinematic and full of character, I couldn’t say yes fast enough. I've always wanted to do a Hong Kong
style engagement shoot and this was the time!
Hong Kong in China Town
Shooting this session felt like hitting a creative refresh button. Most engagement sessions follow a familiar rhythm — clean poses, bright light, golden hour backdrops — and while I love that timeless look, stepping into the layered chaos of Chinatown was a completely different world. The narrow alleys, steaming food stalls, glowing lanterns, and reflective neon surfaces gave us permission to break all the rules.
I leaned into unconventional poses, tighter framing, and off-balance compositions that felt more like movie stills than typical engagement photos. It was liberating. Instead of aiming for perfection, we focused on mood. On movement. On letting the environment wrap around them. This session reminded me how exciting it is to step outside the expected and let creativity take over.
To really honor that old Hong Kong movie style, I brought my 35mm film camera along for the ride. Film forces you to slow down, trust your instincts, and let the imperfections work in your favor. The warm storefront lights, deep reds and greens, and moody shadows all translated beautifully through the grain and color shifts of 35mm.
There were moments where we paused in the middle of a crowded street, or tucked into a dim alley lit by a single shop sign, and each frame felt like it could’ve been pulled straight from a Wong Kar-wai film. Shooting their engagement session on film wasn’t just a stylistic choice — it shaped the entire energy of the shoot. It made the images feel softer, more romantic, and undeniably nostalgic.
