Artist Feature – Adrian Ong

Adrian Ong, of Chinese descent, was born and raised in the Philippines and speaks four languages. He is a dedicated family man, a proud father, and an award-winning photographer with 45 accolades from WPPI, The Portrait Masters, and WedAward. In addition, his work has been featured in top wedding magazines and prominent photography platforms such as SLR Lounge and Rangefinder.

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Please share a bit about your background and how you got started in photography? How long have you been a photographer?

Before, I worked full-time at a bank in the I.T. department and pursued photography as a part-time business. After getting laid off, I had lunch with my mentor, Scott Robert Lim, who encouraged me to pursue photography full-time. This year, 2024, marks my 12th year as a full-time photographer.

What is the best part about being a photographer? What is the most challenging part of being a photographer?

As a photographer, the best part is meeting people and traveling to places I would never have imagined visiting if it weren’t for my job. However, the most challenging aspect of being a wedding photographer is missing my family’s weekend gatherings and events.

What do you think your keys to success are in this industry?

Success in this industry doesn’t come overnight; it took many years for me to build my community, and they are the people I call friends. The saying ‘community over competition’ is accurate, and I’ve realized that many people in the industry have helped me cultivate my art and become my pillars of support.

Do you have a signature editing style that clients can expect from your work?

My editing style leans towards a more modern and bold approach, but I often incorporate a filmic style, especially when it aligns with the client’s preferences.

Wedding photography can be emotionally charged. How do you manage the pressure and responsibility of capturing once-in-a-lifetime moments for your clients?

I love weddings! I’m passionate about them, and I always make sure to prepare my gear well in advance. Having a great team with me on the big day removes all the pressure.

How has Impossible Things (IT) AI Photo Editing benefited your business?

Impossible Things has freed up much of my time and allows me to focus on other aspects of my business and education. I can deliver galleries to clients faster, increasing efficiency and customer satisfaction. Most importantly, I now have more time to spend with my family during the week when I don’t have photo shoots.

What is your current workflow with Impossible Things, and how has it improved?

After culling the photos, I load them on Impossible Things and let it do its magic. 95% of my images are ready to go, and only a few tweaks are needed for portraits that need more attention, such as the Bride and Groom. After that, I update AI settings to finalize the look and feel of the images

Do you have recommendations for users who are considering Impossible Things?

I highly recommend jumping into using Impossible Things because not only can they use their own preset, but it also comes with Cloud Styles of Basic and Premium that can help with editing. Also, for starters, you don’t have to train Impossible Things with thousands of images. It’s good to go out of the box; however, if you want to custom tune it for a more unique style, you may do so as well.

What is your favorite Impossible Things feature and why?

My favorite features of Impossible Things are the AI Enhance Subject and AI Retouch Portrait. They make the portrait look great without the need to retouch each image individually, making my job easier.

What is in your gear bag?

• Sony A7IV x2
• Sony 16-35 f/4
• Sony 24-105 f/4
• Sony 35mm f/2.8
• Sony 50mm f/1.4
• Sony 70-200mm f/2.8
• Sony 135mm f/1.8
• StellaPro Reflex-S x2
• StellaPro CLX-10
• CheetahStand Softbox Umbrella
• Godox AD200 x