We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Timothy Hung. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Timothy below.

Timothy, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s something you believe that most people in your industry (or in general) disagree with?

In this constantly evolving industry, people expect to see specialists in each trade. It’s rare to see and expect a talent with skills and experiences in multiple areas. While specialization is valued, I believe that by diversifying skills and experiences can open doors to new opportunities and keep ahead of industry trends. Embracing exploration not only enhances adaptability but it also fuels innovation and creativity, ultimately enriching one’s career journey.

Timothy, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Timothy Hung and I wear many hats in various specialized creative fields. I am a Makeup Artist, Educator, Fashion Designer, Off-figure Stylist, Creative Director, Photographer, Videographer, Photo Retoucher and Post Production Specialist in Videography.

Growing up, I always loved crafting with my hands. I was often intrigued by how quickly and effortlessly my mom and grandma turn their ideas into wearable art through sewing. In high school, I explored the idea of textile studies and eventually pursued the career path of fashion design and studied abroad at Istituto Marangoni in Milan, Italy. I enjoy the complex creative process of fashion. From conceptualizing designs, pattern making, to constructing the garments. All these processes are extremely time consuming yet satisfying and rewarding. Although I spent a good eight years exploring the world of fashion, I soon found myself curious about other aspects of art.

I first came across a makeup artist backstage at a fashion show. I was presenting my collection and I shared my vision with her. She expertly created what I had envisioned and I was so pleased and amazed. The ability to transform one’s appearance through makeup was something I knew I wanted to learn. Makeup provides me with the thrill and satisfaction similar to seeing a completed garment from scratch. I started learning the basics of makeup at Blanche Macdonald Centre in Vancouver, BC. Following my graduation, I returned to Italy and worked backstage with M.A.C Cosmetics during Milan Fashion Weeks. Over the span of 18 years in the beauty industry, I’ve worked with various cosmetic brands in retail presentations and education. The brands include Dior, Gucci, YSL, Armani, Burberry, Make Up For Ever, Nars, Shu Uemura, to name a few.

The constant exposure to high-end cosmetic brands and their advertising campaigns inspired me to explore deeper into the creative process in beauty advertising and photography. The vision I had for the various beauty looks I had in mind required me to explore deeper into the creative process. I explored the possibilities of combining hair and wardrobe styling with makeup and capturing the images with photographers. The constant creative projects have given me a diverse portfolio which brought me to my representation by artist agency Judy Inc for Makeup and Styling.

Through Judy Inc, I was offered the opportunity to work in Off-Figure Styling. Off-Figure Styling refers to the preparation and arrangement of clothing and accessories for a photoshoot, advertisement, or display, without the presence of a live model. You’d often see Off-Figure Styling on garments from brands you shop online. The companies I’ve worked with include Aritzia, MEC, BCAA, Bower Place and Upper Canada Mall.

While I explored different areas in the industry, I continued to take on opportunities to elevate my experience in the beauty industry. I became the West Coast Makeup Artist for Christian Dior under the Travel Retail Division. From Honolulu, LA to Vancouver, my role includes appearances at events as well as providing education and training to the beauty advisors. On top of my hectic schedules, I dabbled in social media, particularly Instagram where I often tested out beauty ideas on myself while traveling abroad. The usual process involves creating a look, photographing it, retouching the images and sharing them on social media. This quickly connected me to the beauty elites in the US with my work shared by Anastasia Beverly Hills, Sugarpill, Kat Von D, Jeffree Star as well as publications in the professional makeup artist industry like Make-Up Artist Magazine and On Makeup Magazine.

I was invited to be Keynote Speakers at IMATS (International Makeup Artist Trade Show) and The Makeup Show to showcase the use of my signature avant-garde aesthetics approach to editorial beauty. During this period, my work was keeping me busy and I was traveling constantly between Canada and the US. However the pandemic hit and I soon found myself in an industry that suddenly came to a halt.

It was the second year into the pandemic when cosmetic brands started to reach out for collaborations. At this point, social media has transitioned from image focused to videos. It was a completely different format that was both foreign and challenging for me. I believe in continuous learning and never say no until I’ve given it my best shot. I taught myself how to edit with Final Cut Pro and started working with companies like NYX Cosmetics, Danessa Myricks Beauty, The Makeup Lovers, Dior and Gucci.

In my 20 years of career in the fashion/ beauty industry, I have always been open to exploring and taking on new directions and challenges. There was never a lack of interest or motivation as these are things I’m curious and passionate about. My schedule is often filled with multiple projects, wearing different hats as the makeup artist, hair/ wardrobe stylist, videographer, photographer. The projects can overlap and can be demanding mentally and physically. I find my creativity and passion for art through these interesting projects and roles.

I am currently an educator with Blanche Macdonald Centre specializing in Editorial/ Extreme Beauty. I work on various editorial projects and host advanced Beauty Masterclasses internationally. Aside from beauty, I also work as a Freelance Image Retoucher and Post Production Specialist in marketing and advertising. Having chosen a career so far from the usual 9-5 work life, I am thankful to have created a vibrant career for myself where I am constantly working on different projects and there’s never a dull moment.

So no, one doesn’t need to be honed in on just one craft. If your heart desires, explore the vast opportunities out there, give it your best and allow yourself to live and experience.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

To inspire and be inspired in return has always been the goal in my creative journey. I love sharing my skills and knowledge with those seeking to explore new horizons.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

I started using Instagram in 2012. At first it was mostly out of curiosity as most of the people I know already started using the app and had suggested that I use it as well. At first I was posting things about everyday life as my followers are my friends and family. Overtime, I started posting more frequently of my makeup work and tagging the brands with the products I’ve used. This quickly gained a lot of traction within the beauty community and through re-posts and shares from brands/influencers with a large audience, I was getting hundreds of followers a day. Today, Instagram is a completely different platform especially when algorithm was implemented. This means growing your following is much more complicated and challenging. Aside from creating quality content, your engagement, post frequency and the ability to fund targeted ads affects how your account grows.

I think instead of constantly creating and posting contents with the aim to grow your audience, you should focus on your branding and what you and your platform represents. Good quality contents over time will bring the right audience that appreciates what you do. Continuity of that quality content will make them your loyal followers. Also remember that the number of likes and shares does not dictate your success. If you’re just starting out, try and utilize social media as a way for you to document your growth and journey. Be transparent and connect with your audience.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/timothyhungcom