Photo by Domestika

Hey there! I'm Elaine, an award-winning creative director and photographer. I was born and raised in Hong Kong, and spent time in Melbourne, Chicago, SF, and Sydney. Which explains my weird hybrid accent.

So far in my advertising career, I’ve planted a Super Bowl ad in people’s dreams; created a Christmas tree out of bushfire items for charity; and made edible finger lickin’ good nail polish. Being an active member in the industry, I’ve judged global award shows including the prestigious D&AD and AWARD Award, gave lectures to aspiring creatives, and mentor young creatives. I’m currently Creative Lead, Art at YouTube APAC.

With my passion in photography and social media, I'm lucky to have garnered 230K+ followers on Instagram, work with a range of brands and do public speaking engagements as a social influencer. I share my photos on instagram.com/lielaine. When I'm not making ads or taking photos, I enjoy travelling, people watching, and binge watching sitcoms. For more details on my work experience, please email lielaine.yl[at]gmail.com, or stalk me on LinkedIn.


PHOTOGRAPHY + INSTAGRAM

LATEST PRESS: #SHOTONIPHONE
HYPEBEAST // HK01 // GQ Taiwan // GirlStyle

PRESS + MEDIA INTERVIEWS
Zolima CityMag // Adorama Through The Lens // 529 Podcast // Condé Nast Traveler China 悦游 // VOGUE HK // Marie Claire // Hong Kong Free Press // Ming Pao 明報副刊 // PHOTO Magazine攝影雜誌 // South China Morning Post // Hong Kong Commercial Daily // Apple Daily 果籽 // fotosTP // Hayo Magazine // MISSBISH

FEATURES
Shutterstock Custom // Fathom Way To Go // Passion Passport // Hong Kong Tatler // Hashtag LEGEND //Lifestyle Asia // Amuse VICE // MR PORTER // Time Out Hong Kong

BRAND ENDORSER
• Canon Hong Kong EOS 6D Mark II launch
• Canon Hong Kong #PerspectiveOfFullFramer campaign
• Otterbox Pass it on
• The North Face UE Fall/Winter + Spring/Summer 2016
• La Mer 與城市攝影師 Elaine Li 細味滋潤生活
• LEE Jeans Rediscover Work Life

PUBLIC SPEAKING
• TEDxCUHK Sound (un)heard
• Apple x VSCO #TodayAtApple
• Canon Hong Kong《EOS World Tour》travel photography sharing
• DJI Aerial photography and editing
• Garage Society Hong Kong's Instagram Icons: A Panel
• Joint Publishing Urban Exploration: The Unseen Beauty of our City
• Nike Force Studio Photography workshop
• GLO Travel North Korea Through My Lens sharing + exhibition
• WE Club WE Dialogue: Urban Exploration in Hong Kong
• General Assembly Meet Hong Kong’s Top Instagrammers at Apple Store
• General Assembly Building Communities with Instagram at LIGHTSTAGE

JURY
• EyeEm Photography Festival & Awards 2017
• Viewbug Composing With Depth Photography Contest

CONTRIBUTOR
• Manfrotto Imagine More
photoblog.hk

ADVERTISING

JURY + MENTORSHIP
D&AD Awards Photography Jury 2024
AWARD Award Press, Poster & the Dark Arts Jury 2024
Gerety Awards Jury 2023
AWARD Award Film Jury 2022
AWARD School Lecturer 2022
AWARD Award Digital Jury 2021
AWARD School Judge 2021
AWARD School Tutor 2019, 2020

AWARDS
B&T: Women in Media Awards (Shortlist) 2024
AWARD Award: Creative Team of the Year (Highly Commended) 2021
B&T: 30 under 30 shortlist 2019
Cannes Lions: Top 5, Young Lions Global 2019
Cannes Lions: Gold, Young Lions Australia 2019
Cannes Lions: Gold, Young Kam Fan Hong Kong 2017

Petwatch
AWARD Award: 1 Shortlist
Effie: 1 Silver, 1 Bronze

UNSW Mission for Earth Habitation
D&AD: 2 Shortlist

Second Life Phones
ANDY Awards: Gold (Idea)
LIA: 1 Bronze

Book of Limbo
D&AD: 1 Wood Pencil
AWARD Award: 2 Gold, 2 Silver, 2 Bronze
One Show: 1 Merit, 3 Shortlist
Spikes Asia: 2 Silver, 2 Shortlist
Caples: 2 Bronze

Audiobook of Limbo
AWARD Award: 1 Gold, 1 Silver

Love Song to the Internet
AWARD Award: 1 Silver, 2 Bronze

Coors Big Game Dream
ANDY Awards: Gold
AWARD Award: 1 Gold, 4 Silver, 3 Bronze
Cannes Lions: 1 Shortlist
D&AD: 1 Shortlist
One Show: 4 Merits, 2 Shortlist

Red Cross Worst Block in Town
AWARD Award: 1 Bronze, 1 Shortlist

Red Cross Burnt Christmas Tree
Spikes: 1 Gold, 2 Silver, 1 Bronze, 1 Shortlist
AWARD Award: 1 Silver, 2 Shortlist
Cannes Lions: 1 Shortlist
One Show: 2 Shortlist
Immortal Awards: Shortlist (global). Top 4 (APAC)
AdStars: 4 Gold, 2 Silver, 1 Crystal

KFC Finger Lickin' Good Nail Polish
Spikes: 1 Silver, 1 Shortlist
Cannes Lions: 1 Shortlist
Kam Fan: 1 Grand Prix, 1 Gold, 2 Silver, 1 Bronze, 2 Merit
AdFest: 1 Silver, 1 Bronze
HK PR Awards: 1 Grand Pix, 1 Gold

Nike Air Max 95 Collectables
Cannes Lions: 1 Shortlist
Spikes Asia: 1 Bronze

PUBLIC SPEAKING
Channel 9 Australia: The Great Debate
UTS: Society of Communications agency panel
HK Advertisers Association: Power of Visual Storytelling
WeWork: Embracing Slash Career


CONTACT

Email me at lielaine.yl/at/gmail.com or use the form below!