What a year 2017 was and how quickly it flew by! As a Hong Kong-based photographer I was honored to find myself booked for both amazing domestic events, working with talented models and artists, and photographing incredible destination weddings all over the world. Naturally, I’ve been documenting it all on Instagram, every photographer’s essential social media outlet. Here I share with you my Instagram highlights of 2017. And if you’d like to connect with me there, I’d love to hear from you! Look me up at @aligphoto.

January 

Forest Angel Simone Meuser was my Photo of the Month and biggest Instagram hit for January 2017. No prizes for guessing why.

 

January 2017 photo of the month: Forest Angel – model: @simeuser – asst: Virginia ? by @aligphoto

A post shared by Ali G Studios (@aligphoto) on Feb 2, 2017 at 4:44pm PST

 

February

Wedding season started as early as February for me last year with the beautiful wedding of Jacquie & Rajeev in my base-city of Hong Kong. Seeing two people in love making it official never gets old, even better when it takes place at The Peninsula Hotel.

 

Wedding season has started again & I’m really excited about the upcoming adventures! This photo was just taken last week of Jacquie & Rajeev’s intimate family wedding at the @peninsulahongkong Makeup by @natasha.moor @weddingphotoinspiration @asiaweddingnetwork @weddingplannermag @weddingdresslookbook @bridesjournal @wedmegood @brides @bridesmagazine @junebugweddings @nikonphotographers

A post shared by Ali G Studios (@aligphoto) on Feb 17, 2017 at 4:45pm PST

 

March

This throwback photo of gorgeous Indian bride Sonam Uttamchandani at her Singapore wedding has got to be up there with my favorite bridal portraits ever. The combination of the intricate henna art by Ima Habsyi, makeup by Natasha Moor and styling just pop. Go team!

 

I have to say I love this shot of Sonam Uttamchandani @takeitandgo that I took at her stunning #wedding in #Singapore earlier this year. Shoutout to the one & only @natasha.moor and her impeccable makeup work, and the highly talented henna artist @barbie_ima. Sonam is wearing @anjalimahtanicouture, and the suppliers of the gorgeous jewelry are @infiniti_jewels and @temptationsjewellery More contributors tagged below.

A post shared by Ali G Studios (@aligphoto) on Mar 9, 2017 at 1:51am PST

 

April 

April was an amazing month for me as I had the honor to be chosen as official photographer for DaBanggHK, a never-before-seen Bollywood extravaganza in Hong Kong. Unsurprisingly, the first released photo of Bollywood icon Salman Khan sent fans into a flutter on Instagram.

 

Here’s the first #salmankhan photo for all you hungry #bollywoodfans. Coming fresh from #DaBanggHK. Keep it here for more from the show. . . . . . . . . . . . @beingmudassarkhan @reveleventshk #dabangg #dabangghk #dabangg17 #DaBangHK #reveleventshk #dabangnz @salman._khan @beingsalmankhan @salmankhanfanclub @salmankhanworld @salman_khan_tubelight #BeingHuman @bollywoodreport @bollywoodstylefile @bollywood @instantbollywood @bollywoodstyle @filmfare @india.today @thetimesofindia @ibollywoodlife @indianexpress @missmalini @hellomagindia @vogueindia @cosmoindia @graziaindia @feminaindia @filmfare #bollywood #actor #bollywoodstars #bollywoodstar #bollywoodottie #bollywoodactor #bollywoodstyle #bollywoodworld #sexyindian #indian #bollywoodglam #bollywooddance #bollywooddiva #bollywoodlove #indiandiva #bollywoodreport

A post shared by Ali G Studios (@aligphoto) on Apr 17, 2017 at 2:09am PDT

 

May

May’s Photo of the Month was taken in Los Angeles with gorgeous mom-to-be Elena Samodanova, who also happens to be a judge on Dancing With The Stars. Beautiful makeup work by Anna Natykan. Doesn’t she just look majestic! 

 

Photo of the Month – May 2017 – features celebrity Dancing With The Stars judge @elenasamodanova and her beautiful baby bump, all dolled up by my good friend & makeup artist @hanna_natykan in Los Angeles. The bts video was posted in my feed below #aligphoto . . . . . . . . . . . . . #maternityshoot #maternity #maternityphotography #pregnant #pregnancy #mumtobe #momtobe #mommytobe #itsaboy #itsagirl #losangeles #makeupartist #beautyful #dancer #followforlike #motherhood #babybump #professional #professionalphotographer #ilovemyjob #instamoments #instabeauty #familygoals #familygoals #vogue #nikonphotography #russian #portraitmood @maternityandco @destination_maternity @destinationmaternityme @voguemagazine @voguebrasil @britishvogue @vogueindia @ellebrasil @elleindiaofficial @glebsavchenkoofficial @nikonasia @nikonusa @phottix @portraitphotoawards @global_photography_awards

A post shared by Ali G Studios (@aligphoto) on May 26, 2017 at 6:18pm PDT

 

June

April’s Bollywood theme then popped up again in June, where I had the chance to photograph the multi-talented and super pro Bollywood star Ellie AvrRam in Mumbai.  She told me she always wanted a portrait in her leather jacket, so we made it happen, and she rocked it!   

 

Just doesn’t get any more sultry than this, @elliavrram in black leather, uffff! MUA: @natasha.moor #aligphoto . . . . . . . . . . . #portraiture #portraits #bollywood #bollywooddiva #bollywoodactress #actress #hollywood #followforlike #onfire #photoshoot #ilovemyjob #profile #naturalbeauty #instabeauty #editorial #vogue #star #celebrity #mumbai #nikonphotography #gq #leatherjacket #india #portraitpage #portraitphotography #magazine #cinema #vsco @voguemagazine @vogueindia @gqindia @gqstyle @elleindiaofficial @ellehongkong @phottix @nikonasia @bollywoodstyle @bollywoodreport @maximmag @maxim.india @instantbollywood @bollywoodfashionblog @lofficielindia

A post shared by Ali G Studios (@aligphoto) on Jun 7, 2017 at 10:51pm PDT

 

July

As it started getting unbearably hot back in Hong Kong, I hit the water with gorgeous model Anais Barclay for a cool down aboard a yacht. What a scorcher of a shoot that was! 

 

What words come to your mind when you see this image? For me it’s freedom & passion. Very fortunate to create this photo with @anaisbarclay on a yacht shoot last weekend. Big thanks to @joey.kong for handling the water! #aligphoto . . . . . . . . . . . #hongkong #hkiger #sunsets #fashionphotographer #fashionshoot #editorial #fashionmagazine #fashionmodel #vogue #fashiongram #fashiondiaries #topmodel #beautyofnature #beautywomen #strongwomen @vogueindia @voguemagazine @maximmag @elleindiaofficial @victoriassecret @portraitmood @aligphoto @nikonasia @phottix @nikonphotographers #portraitpage #wcw #passion #freedom #sensual #raindrops #hawt #wetnwild #wildandfree #cover #magazine @nextdoormodel @s3_magazine @thewomanbook @modelsmundo @psmmagazine

A post shared by Ali G Studios (@aligphoto) on Jul 11, 2017 at 6:11pm PDT

 

August

Amazingly talented and inspiring dancer TJ Milne was the highlight of my August. After planning to work together for more than a year, we finally got our photo shoot in central Hong Kong, a city which comes with its own set of wonderfully unique backdrops.

 

Photo of the Month – August 2017 Title: A Chance Encounter Artist: @tjmilne2 The story behind the photo: Professional dancer TJ & I had wanted to work together for over a year, and it finally happened a few weeks ago. Part of our photoshoot took place in Hong Kong’s central business district, but with only one shot remaining after a couple of hours in the heat, we decided to make our way to the central pier area. On the way, I commented, “Wouldn’t it be great to have a very old man or woman next to you and create a contrast?” As we walked thru the underground tunnel to cross the highway, we came across this sweet old man playing his instrument for passers by. He was kind enough to let us photograph TJ together with him, and that’s how ‘A Chance Encounter’ was born. #aligphoto . . . . . #vogue #ballerina #ballet #photographylovers #professional #trending #editorialphotography #creativedirector #ig_photooftheday #professionalphotographer #justgoshoot #followforlike #ilovemyjob #intense #fashionshoot #fashionmagazine #nikonphotography #onstage #liveauthentic #dancelife #stories #lovewhatyoudo #amazing #oldman #musicislife #danceislife #moodygrams #picoftheday #dancephotography @danceonig @danceersworld @worldofdance @dance__floor @dancers_of_ig_ @ballerinasofig @voguemagazine @ellehongkong @elleindiaofficial @ballerinaspiration @phottix @nikonasia @nikonhongkong

A post shared by Ali G Studios (@aligphoto) on Aug 27, 2017 at 10:55pm PDT

 

September

Then it was off to the United States for Lysa and Yi’s nuptials. These two were so fun to shoot – a wedding photographer’s dream come true.

 

The first photo from Lysa & Yi’s beautiful wedding this past weekend. Friends & family came from all over the world to celebrate this amazing couple in the suburbs of Washington DC, and I was so happy to be their wedding photographer. #aligphoto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #weddingmakeup #shesaidyes #weddingforward #wedding #bride #bridetobe #weddingday #weddingphotography #bridesmaids #weddinginspiration #instawedding #weddingparty #weddingideas #weddingplanning #weddingphoto #weddingtime #instabride #gettingmarried #weddingblog #dreamwedding #weddingphotographer #weddingidea #weddingfun #candid #prewedding #bigday #destinationweddingphotographer #loveauthentic #weddinghair @weddinginspiration @wedding.photo.inspiration @thebridestory @weddingideas_brides @weddingdresslookbook @asiaweddingnetwork @weddingphotoinsiration @weddingideas_brides @theknot @junebugweddings

A post shared by Ali G Studios (@aligphoto) on Sep 5, 2017 at 9:13am PDT

 

October

Here’s a cheeky little video of simply stunning model Eugeniya White while on a photo shoot in Mumbai. Impressive makeup work from the ever-talented Natasha Moor put the gilding on this rose.

 

Tuesday inspiration comes from the photoshoot I did in Mumbai with celebrity makeup artist @natasha.moor and famed womenswear brand @koecsh by @kreshabajaj Here featuring top model @eugeniya.whitee and @natashamoorcosmetics #aligphoto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #portraiture #portraits #bollywood #bollywooddiva #fashionphotographer #makeupart #hollywood #followforlike #onfire #photoshoot #ilovemyjob #profile #naturalbeauty #instabeauty #editorial #vogue #star #celebrity #fashionblogger #nikonphotography #gq #tuesdays #india #fashiongram #portraitphotography #magazine #published #models #videogram @voguemagazine @vogueindia @gqindia @gqstyle @elleindiaofficial @ellehongkong @phottix @nikonasia @bollywoodstyle @bollywoodreport @maximmag @maxim.india @instantbollywood @bollywoodfashionblog @lofficielindia @fashionphotographyappreciation

A post shared by Ali G Studios (@aligphoto) on Oct 9, 2017 at 11:07pm PDT

 

November

Say hello to Valentina! Queen of the jungle and Playboy model Valentina Kolesnikova sent my feed into a frenzy in November with this steamy pic. It certainly didn’t hurt that she re-grammed it to her 450,000+ followers either. Here’s to content sharing with the world’s top models! 

 

Getting back to nature with wild Playboy model @valentina.kolesnikova. This was taken in the urban jungles of Hong Kong in 2013. #aligphoto . . . . . . . . #playboy @playboy @playboy_russia #curvygirl #sosexy #sexyness #eyecandy #girlsjustwanttohavefun #hotgirl #perfectbody #sexylingerie #sexymodel #woman #modellook #photoshoots #photoshoot #fit #fitstyle #womenofinstagram #womanofinstagram #beautyofnature #beautywomen #strongwomen @vogueindia @voguemagazine @maximmag @elleindiaofficial @victoriassecret @portraitmood @aligphoto @nikonasia @phottix @nikonphotographers #wcw #implied #impliedmagazine #uncoverme #tbt #modelswanted @issey303 @yumemag @eviat.models @psmmagazine @gq_guys

A post shared by Ali G Studios (@aligphoto) on Nov 28, 2017 at 5:14pm PST

 

December

One of my favorite things about being a professional photographer is watching families grow. I first photographed Kate and Arun’s engagement five years ago. Now there are two new additions to capture. What a great way to end 2017!

 

Seriously, how alike do these guys look? What a good looking family! A pleasure to photograph, naturally. #aligphoto . . . . . . @katemakhija @arunmakhija #family #familyphotography #familyphotographer #portraits #portrait #portraits_ig #portraiture #portrait_perfection #portraitstyles_gf #portraits_universe #portraitmood #featurepalette #makeportraits #profile_vision #top_portraits #life_portraits #postthepeople #quietthechaos #artofvisuals #igPodium_portraits #global_hotshotz #people @portraits_ig @voguemagazine @portraitmood @gq @gqstyle @ig.portraits @aligphoto @nikonasia @phottix @nikonphotographers #love #children #kids #cutekids #familygoals

A post shared by Ali G Studios (@aligphoto) on Dec 28, 2017 at 5:12am PST

 

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Ali G Studios   IG: @aligphoto   Twitter: @AliGStudios 

A big thanks to Phottix for the professional lighting equipment provided to Ali G Studios. 

All photos are © Ali Ghorbani and Ali G Studios