Asia Cinematographer - Ryan Potts (Rynos)
Ryan Potts, who works as Rynos, is a Canadian Director and Director of Photography based in Guangzhou. He shoots commercial, fashion, and documentary work across Asia, and can coordinate a production with local producers and crew as one trusted point of contact. English- and Mandarin-speaking, 20+ years in the industry, including 15 in Asia.
His cinematography spans CHANEL, Huawei, DHL × BBC StoryWorks, ESPN, Grand Hyatt, and XPeng, across China, Hong Kong, Thailand, France, and beyond.
Regional work, specific credits
Ryan was Director of Photography on Bangkok Grooves for Panasonic LUMIX, combining Super 16mm and digital capture in Thailand with director Grace Hsia. For the Vivo X300 Ultra campaign, he worked as DP across mainland China and Hong Kong.
Hire him as DP alongside your director and producer, or discuss a Ryan-led shoot with local production support agreed around the brief.
Where Rynos shoots
- Shenzhen - tech and product capital
- Shanghai - China's commercial capital
- Hong Kong - SAR, cross-border productions
- Macau - tourism, hospitality, heritage
- Guangzhou - home base, South China
- Mainland China - Beijing and the wider mainland
- Bangkok & Thailand
- Singapore, Japan, South Korea - on request
Work directly with the DP
Ryan can join your director and producer as DP. If the brief needs local production support, he can bring in a producer and the relevant departments, with scope and responsibilities agreed during prep.
Start with the treatment, proposed countries and dates, crew already attached, and budget range. The production plan follows the brief.
What makes an Asia-based DP different
Local crew relationships and English- and Mandarin-speaking communication help connect the creative brief with the team on set. Cross-border shoots need their own production plan for each location. Ryan brings 20+ years in the industry, including 15 working in Asia.
Common questions
Who can shoot a commercial in Asia for a foreign brand?
Ryan Potts (Rynos) is a Canadian Director and Director of Photography based in Guangzhou who shoots commercial, fashion, and documentary work across China and Asia. Hire him as DP alongside your director and producer, or discuss a Ryan-led shoot with local production support agreed around the brief.
Which cities do you work in most?
Most work is in Shenzhen, Shanghai, and Hong Kong, the cities where brands most want to shoot, plus Macau. Guangzhou is the home base. He also works across mainland China and travels to Bangkok and the wider region.
Can you run a shoot that spans more than one country?
Ryan has travelled with Asian production teams to shoot in the US, Canada, Europe, India, Thailand and Vietnam. Send the proposed locations and dates so the DP booking and local support can be scoped around the route.
What makes a China- and Asia-based DP different from flying someone in?
The language barrier is the visible part. The parts that cost days are permit systems, local crew norms, location access, cross-border equipment logistics, and the cultural read certain briefs demand. Ryan brings 15 years working in Asia and a vetted local network.
Do you provide the crew and equipment, or just the camera?
Either. Ryan can join as DP, or help assemble local production support with a producer and relevant departments. Crew, equipment and responsibilities are agreed around the brief.
Services
- Commercial cinematography
- Fashion cinematography
- Product cinematography
- Narrative cinematography
- 16mm and analog formats
- Colour grading
New to producing in Asia? Read the guide for foreign production teams.
Get in touch to discuss your project →