After Hours
Photo by @minkportraits
Written By: Chloe Leong
In this Humans of NTU: After Hours series, we spotlight students pursuing much more than just their degrees. In this exciting edition of the series, we have someone who works while most of us are asleep and is quite literally living almost a double life. From being a student in the day to professional photographer by night shooting for the likes of Zouk and Marquee, meet Choong Xiu Ming!
Xiu Ming is a festival and nightlife photographer and videographer. and has amassed a substantial clientele in Singapore and abroad. This Mechanical Engineering student is part of the Class of 2023 and is more than ready to take on more gigs beyond our shores. Before he flies off to another part of the world, we managed to catch him to get his thoughts about his time at NTU and how he started this exciting profession.
Of course, we start off with how he got into such a niche profession in the first place.
“It was mostly by chance,” he says. “It started off as a hobby, this was during the time where posting travel videos and photos was all the rage.”
It was only when some of his DJ friends requested for his services that he started building his portfolio and had more jobs rolling in as well. He personally always liked clubbing and going to raves, so why not get paid for it?
Photo by @minkportraits
As a Mechanical Engineering student, juggling work and studies definitely must have been a struggle.
He sighs and shakes his head, saying that it was really tough. No matter how much he maximised his day and tried to prioritise his time, it was just not possible to accomplish everything he wanted.
As a nightlife photographer, he works at night but attends classes in the day.
Any pockets of time in between is when he squeezes in sleeping, editing pictures, finishing school projects and studying for tests.
“People might say, ‘Hey, you can just plan out your time’, but my situation is unique as there are just so many factors at play,” he recounts, shrugging nonchalantly.
”Things just don’t always go according to schedule, and I just adapt accordingly.”
Engineering and photography may seem worlds apart, but Xiu Ming begs to differ. While the theory behind engineering may not be relevant at first glance, he greatly utilises soft skills like problem solving and management skills in his work.
“I have gone to many different clubs and festivals around the world, and every lighting situation is different, so I have become more adaptable. Additionally, when I work on bigger projects with friends, I also tap on my management skills.”
Photo by @minkportraits
Pivoting away from school, we started talking about work itself.
I ask Xiu Ming what the hardest part of the job is, to which Xiu Ming laughs in response.
To him, the hardest part about being a nightlife photographer is being disciplined while shooting. There’s always alcohol involved, and club-goers will be more than willing to share their drinks with him.
“I have seen photographers get drunk while on shoot, which never turns out well. I always finish my work, then I party. Nobody said you can’t party too, but you have to work hard before you play hard.”
In terms of pursuing this as a full-time career, Xiu Ming did not hesitate to affirm that it is what he has planned to do after graduation. While he cannot pinpoint when exactly he knew he wanted to do this as a career, he slowly realised that he could make a living from his projects.
“Also, I would like to think I’m good with people. Socialising is something I do a lot in this line as well,” he adds.
While DJs are quite well known, crew members like photographers do not get much spotlight.
I ask Xiu Ming if there are any people he has enjoyed working with or looks up to in this industry. He replies that he likes all the guys and girls that he has worked with. “I especially look up to this French guy named George who is working for DJ Snake now. It’s amazing that we all started doing this in different parts of the world and I get to meet some of them in the flesh.”
I can’t help but ask whether he has any interesting stories with regard to working and studying, since he is always in another country.
“That reminds me, I once went to a quiz with my luggage because I had to rush to catch my flight to Amsterdam right after it. I received a ridiculous number of stares; they were all stunned!”
He also relates taking school project meeting on Zoom while backstage at a music festival, which is a sight to see for sure.
His advice for students who want to pursue unorthodox professions?
“Don’t be afraid to take risks, as you really might not know where it takes you. Getting a degree is important because it open doors for you, but finding out what you want to do in life is equally important,” he says.
“Also, be willing to make sacrifices and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Whatever mistakes and experiences you have lived through are the best teachers in life.”
Now, without having to accommodate to his schooling schedule, he is free to take gigs all over the world. So where is his next destination?
Surprisingly, the jetsetter is going to Bangkok for his own holiday, but next on his schedule would be travelling to South Korea in August for DJ World Festival.
Clearly many NTU students are more than what meets the eye – Xiu Ming has proven that right with his determination to pursue his passion while getting his degree. Stay tuned to our next edition of Humans of NTU: After Hours, where we uncover the hidden lives of students in NTU!
