Stefan Yap’s artistry has powered major advertising campaigns for the likes of Nike, Adidas, Apple, Pepsi, Coke Cola, Rolls Royce, Samsung, Vogue and so on; earning accolades that include recognition at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. In interviews with British Cinematographer and Panavision he has discussed how his international influences fuelled his bold use of colour, atmospheric lighting and unconventional techniques, setting him apart in a competitive industry. He features multiple honours at the BRIT Awards and UK Music Video Awards, including one for Best Cinematography. Stefan’s debut indie-budget, feature film, “As I Am (2019)” garnered festival buzz and critical acclaim worldwide, being nominated and winning 13 awards at film festivals globally landing him interviews in IndieWire and a spotlight feature on Dazed, which noted his talent for “masterfully threading personal narratives through universal themes.” And going on to do a Multi-million budget feature for Sky Cinema in 2022.

His approach and embracing the ever-evolving landscape of modern filmmaking, and integrating AI advancement in his creative process, Stefan has become proficient in VFX technicality melding 3D and real world, advanced motion control systems (MOCO), integration with virtual production and socials-first Tik-Tok/Instagram orientated campaigns—allowing him to connect with youth audiences over the years. His body of work has collectively garnered 3 Billion views of the years, showing his global reach and strong influence on both underground and pop culture. This ensures his projects remain at the forefront of future-edge storytelling and film-tech.

Beyond the commercials scene, Stefan’s work is a staple on YouTube’s trending playlists, MTV, Vevo, with music videos that showcase his distinctive visual style. To British Icons like Little Mix, Ed Sheeran, J Hus, Dave, Stormzy, Raye, Chase and Status, Skepta and Lily Allen to global and international pop legends Like Cardi B, J. Cole, Post Malone and J. Balvin. His kinetic camerawork and intuitive grasp of the culture have drawn widespread acclaim—The Guardian once lauded his videos as “the heartbeat of UK music’s visual renaissance,” while Rolling Stone praised his “gift for fusing grit and glamour in a single frame.”

His background stems from the vibrant pulse of South London; born and raised in the diverse tapestry of his Filipino and Chinese-Jamaican heritage. Thanks to his portrait artist mother and his father’s engineering engineering background. Stefan was introduced early on to the synergy of art and technical craft. In his teens, he worked at the iconic Red Records, an independent music store in Brixton. This front-row seat to the golden age of the UK music scene ignited his love for music video and storytelling prompting him to study cinematography and filmmaking under industry veterans. With inspirations from his favourite Directors like Wong Kar-wai and his Cinematographer Christopher Doyle, he progressed from camera assistant to cinematographer, Artist at heart and a technician in practice, Stefan Yap’s knack for weaving compelling visuals with bold execution has cemented his place among contemporary cinematographers to watch.