Hoang Vu
“I think the learning process is something I really enjoy seeing in myself - and I am not only talking about the technical aspects”
Intercru: Where are you from? Where do you live and work now?
Hoang: I am Vietnamese, born in Germany and right now I am based in Dusseldorf, Germany.
I moved here for studies and am originally from a small town called “Norden” which is really close to the beach. You know it sounds nice living close to the beach but things getting boring growing up in such a small town with nearly no possibilities when it comes to going for a bigger goal, which is the reason why I chose to move to a big city. I am still visiting my parents over there though.
Right now I am doing my bachelors degree for media/computer science. Yeah, many people aren’t expecting me to be studying this haha. For a living I do different things like giving dance classes (breakdance), having a part time job at a sneaker store, and of course freelancing with photography and videography.
What’s your favorite part about photography?
Damn, a lot of aspects catch me actually. Getting to know new people, planning a shoot and building a team, sharing the results with the people who were involved. I think the learning process is something I really enjoy seeing in myself - and I am not only talking about the technical aspects.
How do you come up with ideas for new photoshoots?
Whenever I see something that inspires me, I put it down on my notebook. Movies really inspire me. I think it’s kind of hard for my girlfriend to watch a movie sometimes, because whenever I see a nice frame I stop and save that one haha.
Also a lot of times I am trying to figure out how a lighting set up could be done, something I am freshly into now. Otherwise, I’d say music is a big inspiration, especially the kind of vibes I feel in it and want to express via photos.
What’s your favorite movie?
Rumble in the Bronx.
What type of music do you listen to?
Depends on the mood. Right now it’s a lot drill rap and R&B/Soul.
If you won the lottery, what’s the first thing you would do?
Depends on how much I will get haha. If it’s a few million I’d probably book a flight to travel somewhere with my people for a few months.
What’s your favorite animal?
Hoang Vu is an Düsseldorf-based portrait and lifestyle photographer. To see more of his photography, follow his work on Instagram @soulrocking.
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