Snapshots of success

Alvin Leong eyes achievement in photography via academy

CALLING THE SHOTS: Leong (second right) says photography has now merged into the business world, from which it provides greater career opportunities for photographers in any field that requires their skills.

KUCHING: Alvin Leong has been calling the shots for over the past ten years. What began as a serious hobby has become a calling for the 30-something professional photographer.

In a recent interview with thesundaypost, he revealed that his penchant for photography began by approaching landscape and nature genres, before gradually moving on to doing wedding shots.

“It is about preserving each poignant or joyful moment. A wedding album should be read like a book. It tells a story, each page a wonderful drama unfolding,” he mused.

However, Leong was not content in being only a photographer. He pursued his professional certification with the Masters Photographers Association UK and Australian Institute of Professional Photographer, accreditations from which he based the Alvin Leong Photography studio here.

Thereafter, he started the ball rolling by establishing Alvin Leong Academy of Photography (ALAP) in September 2008.

In July last year, ALAP collaborated with the Open University Malaysia-School of Lifelong Learning (OUM-SOLL) to provide photography enthusiasts in the country with proper certification. The latest talk for the academy has been the upcoming new campus in Kota Kinabalu.

“The new campus in Kota Kinabalu will be open this coming May, marking it the third campus so far after Kuching and Kuala Lumpur. We are looking for an increase in average numbers of enrolling students in all existing campuses before going on with further expansion throughout Malaysia. That will be my principal plan for the next few years,” said Leong, who is also the academy’s managing director.

ALAP is the first photography institution in the country to offer programmes such as career certificates in photography and executive diplomas in photography. Student intakes are open three times a year namely in January, May and September.

“These professional photography programmes are instructed by respected real-life photographers that provide a comprehensive level of support to guide students through the wonderful world of digital photography.

“Graduation diploma students are also offered attachment programmes, by which they can choose to intern with our affiliated photography studios. We have diploma students who are graduating soon and have already set up their operations. This is my aim, to bring photography back to life,” Leong explained.

On the subject of photography as a career, he disclosed that traditionally, photography has always been perceived as either a form of art, hobby or an interest. However, it has now merged into the business world, from which it provides greater career opportunities for photographers in any field that requires their skills.

“Photography is applicable in almost every field like photojournalism, weddings, event photography, commercial photography and so much more,” he added.

“As you can see, in the world today, everything is represented by photos. Take for example the newspaper. Without photos, you will not know what actually is happening around the world. Words can only say so much, but with photos, it will make the difference,” he quoted. Besides its  OUM-SOLL joint-venture, Leong also entered into partnerships with other parties from both the public and private sectors.

“Our past and ongoing collaborations and JVs include organisations such as Signature Photographers, Sarawak Tourism Board, Sarawak Convention Bureau, Hilton Hotel Kuching and many more. In fact, we have collaborated to bring the very first photography conference to Sarawak, namely ‘The Treasures of the Rainforest 2009’.”

Besides being his vocation, Leong revealed that his passion for photography has its own perks and benefits. Last year, he was one of two local photographers appointed as ‘Celebrated Photographers’ by the renowned German-based lens and camera maker Leica Camera AG (Leica).

Being the ‘ambassador’ of Leica, he had been fully-sponsored with Leica’s cameras and lenses of his choice, as well as sharing his photographic experience at events backed by the camera company.

As a parting note, Leong shared his view on the viability of making photography as a career.

“There will always be high demand for photographers. Adding to this is the increase in the interest in photography. There is a need to set proper standards in the industry and the will to share those prospects. I see a potentially healthy growth of formal photography education that can produce skilled photographers to cater to industrial requirements,” he concluded.