Could you give us a little introduction to who you are, where you come from and where you live now?
My name is Peter Yan, and I am a Chinese-born Australian travel photographer and creative entrepreneur based in Melbourne, Australia.
What do you do for a living? And how does it influence or relate to your photography?
I’m fortunate enough to say that I’m doing what I love for a living. As a photographer, I got to work with a long list of world-class brands such as DJI, MINI cooper, Olympus, Adobe, GQ, four seasons, Ritz-Carlton and Changi airport. My passion for travel also enabled me to work with some tourism boards like san Francisco, Macao, Turkey, and Japan, putting together stories through images to build excitement for places that I have enjoyed exploring. To date, my artwork has appeared in more than 30 galleries worldwide, and publications such as GQ, Condé Nast traveler and Lonely Planet.
How did you start your photography career? And how did you develop or what made you develop over the years?
It all started as a hobby. To be honest I didn’t get into photography until just a few years ago. I was more of a geek and was into stuff like technology and gaming.
In 2011 when I went to the United States for the first time, I bought a new Nikon camera and figured I might try to take some real photos (instead of just using my phone). Surprisingly, I received a lot of great feedback on the photos I took from the trip, and it was then I realized that I might have something special.
But it was late 2017 when things really took off. I purchased a drone and started to post aerial images on Instagram at @yantastic – I began to gain followers pretty quickly. It only took me a few months to reach 10k followers and by Jan 2019 I hit the 100k milestone. Over the last two and a half years, I kept working full-time at my day job, as well as shooting, editing, learning new photography skills on Youtube, and engaging on social media after work, every day. Now at 210K, although I know it’s just a number but I’m proud to have achieved it knowing its all hard work and dedication.
Today, I am an in-demand visual content creator. I have proven myself adept at creating and launching effective marketing campaigns all around the world. Although I am based in Melbourne, I stay in one place rarely, seeking out new experiences all the time.
How do you feel about the IG-fanbase / community you build up? Do you often connect with other IG-ers?
I personally think the Instagram community is much nicer and friendlier compared to other social media platforms. I have a huge appreciation for anyone who stops by and I always try to reply to every single comment.
You have travelled half the world for your images, it’s very amazing! What would be one (or a few) of the most impressive or inspiring things you have encountered on these trips?
I love spending my birthday in a different country each year, so a few years ago I wanted to celebrate it in Norway because I’ve always wanted to visit the Lofoten Islands. I remember jokingly saying to my friend that my birthday wish was to see reindeers and northern lights at the same time. We both laughed because we knew it would be quite impossible. On the eve of my birthday, we happened to stay at a hotel (last minute booking) that is owned by a Sami family, they had about 100 reindeers at the back. And you guessed it, that night my wish came true, I got to witness the most epic northern lights in my life, with the cutest reindeers by my side. A magical moment I will never forget.
If you go on a trip, what are the most essential things for you to pack? What could you not go without?
Things you can expect to find in my backpack when I travel:
My Olympus cameras (two) usually with three lenses. DJI Mavic 2 Pro drone with multiple batteries. Power bank. Passport. Airpods. My new 16-inch Macbook Pro. Multiple SD memory cards and SSD storage for editing. Various adaptors and charging cables.
In my luggage, I always bring a pair of swimsuits no matter where the destination is because you never know when you might need them. I can’t live without my smartphone (usually iPhone) because I run my business on it.
You have a very specific use of colours, lots of teal and orange. How did you decide on this or what is it that attracts you so much in it?
Like most boys, I’ve always loved sky blue colour, growing up. Photography has taught me to chase the perfect sunsets, and every time I see orange it reminds me of the sun, and it makes me feel warm and happy inside. Also orange and teal are opposite each other on the colour wheel, so not only do they complement each other and create contrast, but they also draw the attention of the viewers. Maybe that’s also why I was so fascinated by them.
