About
With beauty as his inspiration, one can only expect beautiful images to come from UKay.
The Journey
UKay Cheung is a Singapore-based photographer and entrepreneur whose work bridges visual artistry with strategic impact. Over two decades, he has built an international reputation in beauty and fashion photography while evolving into a leader who applies creative excellence to solving complex challenges in healthcare and beyond.
Photography Excellence
As founder of UKay Photography (est. 2004), UKay has worked with prestigious international brands including Guerlain Paris, Chanel, Loewe, Burberry, Harper’s Bazaar, Prestige, and SingaporeBrides. His corporate portfolio spans Singapore Parliament House, Ministry of Manpower, NTUC, major hotel groups, and tourism boards across Asia.
His dedication to the craft has earned significant recognition, including Singapore Master Photographer of the Year (2008) and International Fashion & Beauty Photographer of the Year (2012), along with numerous MPA Awards and international accolades.
Notable career highlights include photographing Michelle Yeoh for Guerlain and appearing as featured photographer on Asia’s Next Top Model.
Beyond the Lens
UKay’s expertise extends far beyond traditional photography. He has led large-scale video production for global pharmaceutical companies (AbbVie), Fortune 500 consumer electronics brands (LG), major sports properties (HSBC Singapore Rugby Sevens, FIBA Intercontinental Cup, Professional Fighters League), and healthcare institutions—managing projects that require both creative vision and regulatory precision.
Current Focus
As COO and Co-Founder of Cognitive X, UKay applies his decades of visual communication mastery to healthcare innovation. The company develops next-generation patient activation solutions that transform how patients understand and engage with their health—combining immersive storytelling, clinical evidence, and behavioral science to drive measurable outcomes.
This transition reflects a deeper mission: using the principles that made him a celebrated photographer—capturing attention, creating emotional connection, and communicating complex ideas clearly—to improve health outcomes at scale.
Philosophy
“Photography means something different to me at different stages in my life. At 15, I bought my first SLR camera with money I saved. Taking beautiful images was something I enjoyed as a hobby, until a friend gave me my first commercial job years later. It became a dream job—getting paid to do something I loved.
After two decades in the industry, photography has evolved into more than a profession. Whether commercial photography or fashion photography, my task remains the same: to communicate ideas that matter. With freedom of expression, great things can be achieved.
My work has taken me across the world and been used across all kinds of media platforms. What hasn’t changed is that I am still that boy who bought his first camera at 15—still learning, still growing, and still in awe of beautiful things that make a difference.”
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