His Lens, His EraThe 1960s and 1970s marked the golden age of Hong Kong movies and entertainment. Under Winston Kao’s leadership, International Photo became not only a witness to this dazzling era, but one of its most important creative forces. |
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His distinctive photographic style, celebrity portraits, promotional covers, and commercial imagery became widely recognised and unmatched. Countless film stars and singers, from unknown beginnings to legendary fame, appeared before his lens. Entertainment magazine covers, film publicity photographs, and artist promotional images were overwhelmingly produced by International Photo.
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The name Winston Kao, and the name International Photo, became inseparable from the visual identity of Hong Kong’s “Oriental Hollywood.” Their impact on the development of Hong Kong’s entertainment and film industries was profound and lasting. |
Yet behind Winston Kao’s professional brilliance was a deeply moving personal story — the sorrowful sacrifice of a man who gave up his own dream of becoming a doctor out of love for his parents and siblings.
Before the media called him the “photographer of tycoons and movie stars,” Winston Kao, together with his wife and daughter, worked quietly and tirelessly behind the scenes, perfecting every product and every creation under the International Photo name.
Hong Kong's First Property Brochure
In 1975, International Photo collaborated with Cheung Kong Holdings to produce the sales brochure for the Braemar Hill Mansions residential development. This publication later became recognised as Hong Kong’s first full property sales brochure. The day-and-night concept for the front and back covers was created by Winston Kao’s daughter, Elaine Kao.
This brochure broke away from the old practice of using simple property price leaflets. For the first time, professional photography, design, publishing, and printing were combined into a complete, visually compelling property sales publication. The showroom lightbox displays were also created by the International Photo team under Winston Kao’s leadership. This work opened a new chapter in Hong Kong real estate marketing and led other property developers to seek International Photo as a creative partner.
International Wedding Fashion Center
Alongside this, Winston Kao and his wife Anna Louis established the International Bridal Salon, a bridal fashion division under International Photo. From the wedding gowns of famous stars such as Josephine Siao, Lan-hua Tang, Feng Hsu, and Deborah Lee, to later visits from film and television celebrities around the world, the salon became one of the most glamorous and celebrated names in Hong Kong bridal fashion. Many television drama sponsorships and bridal design projects were led by Anna Louis herself.
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Anna Louis (left) |
 International Wedding Fashion Center on TV Show |
During the migration waves of the 1980s and 1990s, International Photo continued to serve cultural figures, prominent business families, distinguished individuals, consular-level dignitaries, and families from around the world. They visited the company’s main store and its Austin Road branch to preserve their most precious moments through timeless portraits.
International Photo became more than a proud Hong Kong entrepreneurial success story. It was honoured as a light of art and a source of pride for Chinese communities worldwide — built upon strict quality control, sincere service, and generations of dedication.
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Austin Road Branch front desk |
Austin Road Branch |
In 2003, patriotic industrialist and philanthropist Lim Por-yen donated HK$100 million to the Guangzhou Library. To commemorate this contribution, a bronze statue was created, and Winston Kao was specially invited to photograph the portrait used for its production. This once again demonstrated the enduring professional status of International Photo — from photographic artistry to public historical recognition.
In 2012, renowned writer Chua Lam wrote that in the 1960s, no major film star would miss having their photograph taken by International Photo; otherwise, they simply had no status. He gave International Photo the highest praise, describing its professional standing as equivalent to that of a national treasure.
| Behind almost a century of legacy lies not only artistic achievement, but also the life stories of those who endured hardship out of love, loyalty, and responsibility. |  |
— Written by Kenny Yue
Managing Director
International Photo Group Limited