Jordan Kwan - A Creative Force from Samoa

One of the things I'm particularly enjoying about being a self-published author, is the opportunity it gives to work with amazing Samoan creative talents. Like photographer and designer - Jordan Kwan. Me and Jordan first 'met' via this blog. He stumbled upon it a long time ago, had a read, and then emailed me his thoughts on it along with an offer..."If you ever need a photographer, I would love to work with you." Last year, cover model Ezra Taylor was passing through Auckland during Rugby World Cup time and there was a window of opportunity to get some pics of him and the print book. Together. A few frantic calls and emails were made and VOILA, Jordan pulled his team together to do a photoshoot AND he discovered a stunning model for 'Leila' named Faith Wulf AND he did a film interview with Ezra for the Samoa book launch. (I felt bad though because we told Mr Taylor that the photoshoot would be very quick and then it took four hours and he had to cancel his man-date with Quade Cooper. Sorry Ezra.) The results have been breathtaking (in my humble and very biased opinion). The TELESA book trailer and promo pics have gone viral and are massively helpful with capturing reader's worldwide.  And it all came about via the wonders of social media...because I have yet to ever meet Jordan, Ezra or Faith in person. (It's also another example of how useful a blog can be when you're trying to be an author...)
It's a privilege to have Jordan share his creative talent with the TELESA series and I look forward to what he dreams up next.  If you're an author looking for a cover designer OR book trailer producer, then you can find Jordan at his FB page: https://www.facebook.com/JkwanPhotography
Here's a newspaper article about Jordan, written by Leone Samu.
                                             Jordan Kwan - A New Creative Forcen October 2011, an epic video trailer for author Lani Wendt Young's latest novel was released on YouTube and immediately clocked up over 1,000 hits in the first 24 hours. It has since been viewed many thousands of times worldwide, aired on Samoa's local television stations as well as on US book review websites and shown at all TELESA book launch activities. The response has been overwhelming with one fan admitting, "I watch the trailer every morning. I love it." Yet the trailer was not the work of some highly paid professional, but rather a young Samoan student studying Geography at the University of Auckland, Jordan Kwan.
 
Despite having no formal training, and limited to pursuing his creative outlet in his spare time outside schoolwork, Jordan's burgeoning talents in the areas of photography and digital media are rapidly gaining him fans and admirers online. Jordan's work has gained invaluable exposure though the power of social media, with Facebook users sharing and giving enthusiastic feedback about his TELESA trailer as well as his photography portfolio. Having established a Facebook page for Jordan Kwan Photography with the original intention "to show my friends and family the projects I'd been working on lately", his following has grown beyond his personal network of friends and people he knows to complete strangers.
 
Jordan is the son of Emma Kwan and comes from the village of Moto'otua. Born in New Zealand, he grew up in Samoa attending Church College of Western Samoa, going on to UPY for his Foundation year and is due to graduate from university studies in May 2012. His passion for photography  and 'playing around' with digital images was sparked in high school. His Computer Studies teacher Lalomanu Moors remembers him as a gifted digital arts student. "He was one of my best students, always working on the computer, trying different things with photoshop." Jordan himself  remembers having an afterschool job during Year 13 at an internet cafe and coming across some guys his age who would come in regularly and use computer programs like Adobe and Photoshop. "I was fascinated and decided to get into myself" . Fast forward a few years and Jordan has made serious investments in camera equiptment, continued to hone his skill, and develop his portfolio. He looks to the award-winning, critically-acclaimed VOGUE photographer Annie Liebowitz as his source of inspiration admiring her signature style and especially her ability to run with an off-the-cuff idea that might completely depart from the original plan but turn out to become yet another innovative, singularly iconic Liebowitz image. 
 
While friends and family have been all too willing to offer their services as models for Jordan, local businesses in Apia have come calling, eager to take advantage of Jordan's skills. He's shot an advertisement for Keli's House of Goodies that airs regularly on TV; dabbled in fashion photography for design store Planation House; done promotional work for Amanaki Hotel and worked as the resident wedding photographer at Maota o Samoa in Vaitele. All of this on top of a growing list of bookings as the word spreads about this talented up-and-comer in high demand ready to capture his clients' special moments.  

Jordan Kwan is a quiet creative force to watch - and follow on Facebook - in the coming year. Article written by: Leone Samu