Every week, seven-year-old Yumi Li Tsz-yan roams Hong Kong’s streets with a camera in hand.
She is looking for subjects to capture through her lens, from elderly people playing games to stylish tourists. Yumi approaches each stranger with the same polite request: “Excuse me, can I take a photo for you?”
Yumi’s mother started her Instagram page, @yumi211211, about a year ago. Since then, the account has gained more than 560,000 followers.
Her charm lies not only in the subjects she photographs but also in the emotional connection she builds with them. The Primary Two pupil believes that taking photos can help people feel seen.
“For the older ladies I photograph, they might be alone. Having these pictures can make them feel less lonely,” she noted.
Nurturing a gift
Yumi’s journey as a photographer began last summer during a visit to Che Kung Temple.
“I helped my mum take a photo, and she said it looked good,” Yumi recalled.
“Originally, I was asking her to pose for me, but she told me, ‘Mummy, you stand here. I’ll help you,’” Yumi’s mother, surnamed Ng, added.
Yumi was encouraged by her mother’s praise, so she began asking her friends to model for photos.
“For me, taking pictures is meaningful,” Yumi said.
Her interest in photography was nurtured by a gift from her mother, who also enjoys taking photos.
“In the beginning, I bought her a children’s camera, so when I went hiking with friends to shoot scenery, she could take photos as well,” Ng said. But after Ng noticed the quality of Yumi’s photos, she gave her a nicer camera.
Building courage
Before Yumi started photographing strangers, she was shy and afraid of talking to people. Her mother saw her interest in photography as an opportunity to help her practise building her bravery.
The first photos she took of a stranger were at the Dafen Oil Painting Village in Shenzhen.
“[Yumi] found an interesting person inside a store she wanted to take a photo of, but she was too afraid to ask,” Ng said. “We followed [her] through a few alleys for almost 30 minutes. Eventually, the person was gone.”
“But later, we saw a British artist in the village who was looking for paintings to buy in a store. We waited outside the store for almost 40 minutes just to ask if she could photograph him.”
Yumi’s perseverance paid off when he agreed.
Since then, the youngster’s confidence and comfort have continued to grow. She has photographed a variety of people in spots all around Hong Kong, creating beautiful portraits with a touch of whimsy.
Future goals
The budding photographer has become mindful of what makes a photo visually look good: “I like to take pictures of people and animals, especially dogs,” she shared. “It can look more lively in a photo.”
Her hobby has helped her meet many people. She once met an ink painting artist who told her, “Once you hold that camera, don’t put that down.”
Still, she is not sure if she wants to be a professional photographer when she grows up.
“Photography is just one of my interests,” she explained. “I also have other interests, such as playing the cello, swimming and dancing to K-pop.”
If given the chance to shoot anywhere in Hong Kong, Yumi would choose a place with animals.
“For example, Tai Po. There are pink dolphins I would love to photograph from a boat,” she shared.
