CNN
—
In a behind-the-scenes video posted to social media, 9-year-old Zou Shengyu may be seen pointing her analog digicam at ”Aquaman” star Jason Momoa for a collection of portraits. Seemingly unfazed by his cumbersome six-foot-four-inch physique, the younger Chinese language photographer provides clear directions to the actor, asking him to pose in numerous positions.
“I used to be so nervous as a result of I needed to communicate in English,” recalled Zou, who goes by her nickname {and professional} alias Shengsheng, in a telephone interview. “He was fairly massive, so I requested him to increase actions and gestures.”
Throughout her four-year pictures profession, the Shanghai-based fourth-grader has captured pictures of greater than a dozen high-profile figures, together with a few of Asia’s greatest and most influential celebrities.
Her portraits of actor Tony Leung, tennis legend Li Na and rapper Lay Zhang, amongst others, have helped her amass greater than 10 million likes and round 500,000 followers on Douyin, China’s model of TikTok. Her father, the photographer Zou Yupeng, additionally steadily posts about her work to his tens of millions of followers.
Shengsheng
9-year-old Shengsheng’s picture of actors Andy Lau (left) and Eddie Peng (proper), co-stars of the film “I Did It My Means.” Scroll by way of the gallery to see extra of her superstar portraits.
Shengsheng
“He all the time put a smile on my face,” Shengsheng stated of her expertise working with Hong Kong film legend Tony Leung.
Shengsheng
Taiwanese musician and actor Ouyang Nana was the primary of greater than a dozen high-profile figures Shengsheng has labored with.
Shengsheng
Considered one of Shengsheng’s pictures of the Chinese language rapper and singer Lay Zhang.
Shengsheng
“I used to be so nervous as a result of I needed to communicate in English,” Shengsheng recalled of her expertise photographing Hollywood actor Jason Momoa.
Shengsheng
A picture from Shengsheng’s picture shoot with actors Eddie Peng (left) and Andy Lau (proper).
Shengsheng
A candid shot of Ouyang Nana.
Shengsheng
A Polaroid picture of Tony Leung.
Shengsheng
Shengsheng (left) poses alongside rapper Lay Zhang.
Shengsheng
The younger photographer prefers utilizing analog digicam, together with Polaroids.
Shengsheng
A detailed-up shot of Hollywood actor Jason Momoa.
It began when she was given a point-and-shoot digicam aged 4. Talking to CNN alongside his daughter, Shengsheng’s father stated he inspired her to pursue avenue pictures after noticing how she may strike up conversations wherever she went.
She started by strolling as much as strangers to ask if she may take their image. Then sooner or later, when she was 5 years outdated, Shengsheng stated she observed a phenomenal younger girl in a Shanghai clothes store. Unbeknownst to the younger photographer, she was about to seize a portrait of famed Taiwanese cellist-turned-actress, Ouyang Nana.
“She was so mild and sort, and even kneeled so we have been nearly the identical peak,” Shengsheng recounted excitedly. “I didn’t know who she was on the time, however I knew I needed to be like her sooner or later.”
Shengsheng
A Polaroid shot of musician and actor Ouyang Nana.
The possibility encounter went viral on Chinese language social media. Quickly, Shengsheng was receiving invites from film promoters, cellphone corporations and shampoo manufacturers asking her to {photograph} different A-listers.
“The extra folks I {photograph} within the streets, the extra I get acknowledged, which results in extra alternatives to {photograph} celebrities,” she stated.
Maybe unsurprisingly, some social media customers have questioned how a 9-year-old may safe photoshoots with a few of Asia’s greatest stars. However Shengsheng’s father insists her clientele has “nothing to do with myself or my household.”
“Whereas Shengsheng is only a 9-year-old child whose approach remains to be has an extended solution to go, artists’ representatives love reaching out to us as a result of by way of Shengsheng’s lens, (folks) seem a bit totally different in comparison with common shoots with skilled photographers,” he stated, including: “In Shengsheng’s images, you see (her topics’) softer and gentler facet, no matter whether or not or not they’re celebrities.”
Different on-line skeptics have additionally questioned whether or not she applies filters or heavy edits to her images post-production. However whereas Shengsheng stated her father helps with minor edits, equivalent to eradicating strands of hair or adjusting the colour tone, she maintained that she by no means makes use of filters.
Considered one of Shengsheng’s most memorable encounters occurred final 12 months with Hong Kong film legend Tony Leung, who was then selling his new blockbuster “The Goldfinger.” The 9-year-old stated that, at first, she thought Leung was fairly aloof and quiet. However he finally warmed up, she stated, including: “He was simply very cute. He all the time put a smile on my face.”
Shengsheng
Considered one of Shengsheng’s images of Hong Kong film legend Tony Leung.
Her favourite picture from that shoot exhibits Leung leaning towards the wall, with a ray of daylight throughout his face. Good composition is essential to portrait pictures, she stated.
“After I see a round or triangular form, I attempt to use that as a body for my topics,” she added. “It’s additionally essential to remember what they’re carrying — you may’t ask somebody to bend over if they’re carrying a night robe.”
The younger photographer additionally hopes to convey feelings by way of her pictures. “I need viewers to really feel like they have been there when the images have been taken,” she defined. “I hope that my work will contact others.”
In contrast to a lot of her skilled contemporaries, Shengsheng often shoots utilizing analog movie cameras. She stated she loves their easy design and the way mild they’re in comparison with the digital single-lens reflex, or DSLR, cameras now utilized by {most professional} photographers.
“Whereas movie images can’t be developed immediately, I favor the nice and cozy and smooth tones that movie cameras produce,” she stated. “Growing images from a movie digicam is a really thrilling course of — similar to opening a thriller field, you by no means fairly know what you’re going to get.”
Shengsheng
Shengsheng, left, pictured with singer Lay Zhang.
Shengsheng’s runaway profession exhibits no indicators of slowing: Prior to now 12 months alone, she has taken over 15,000 images and hopes to {photograph} singer-songwriter Yuqi subsequent. She desires to, sooner or later, be a full-time portrait photographer — however for now, she is specializing in the current.
“We aren’t sooner or later but,” she stated when requested about her profession plans. “My style may have modified by then.”
