Lan Yang is a Canadian cinematographer based in Los Angeles, working globally across narrative, commercial, and documentary filmmaking. Raised between Toronto and Shanghai, his early exposure to different cultures shaped his visual intuition and an instinctive ease across creative environments—always looking for a visual language specific to the story at hand.

Lan built his professional foundation during six years in Shanghai’s fast-paced commercial industry, working across Asia and beyond. He has lensed large-scale campaigns for global brands across luxury, fashion, beauty, and sports, including Nike, Adidas, BOUCHERON, and Biotherm Homme, while also taking on more documentary-driven territory. In France, he traveled to Avène’s namesake village to shoot a commissioned documentary film tracing the brand’s origins. In Japan, his projects ranged from a culinary documentary series featuring Chua Lam to a six-property luxury hospitality series featuring Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo, HOSHINOYA Tokyo, and the Tadao Ando-designed SETOUCHI RETREAT AONAGI. Alongside his commercial work, he has served as director of photography on narrative films and nonprofit projects, moving comfortably between different subjects, crews, and production cultures.

After moving to Los Angeles, Lan earned an MFA in Film Production from USC’s School of Cinematic Arts and continues to work across narrative and commercial productions for clients including Toyota, TikTok, Midea, MAC Cosmetics, California Lottery, and National Geographic. His practice moves fluidly between digital cinema, 16mm and 35mm film, vertical and mobile-first storytelling, and virtual production using LED volume and Unreal Engine. He is drawn to new tools not for their novelty, but for what they make possible.

For Lan, cinematography is deeply rooted in collaboration. Rather than imposing a fixed signature style, he seeks the visual grammar that serves the story. He favors tactile images, spatial depth, and lived-in atmospheres—valuing meticulous preparation while always leaving room for instinct, performance, and the unexpected moments that shape the frame.

Off set, Lan is happiest on the road with his wife and their dog, a camera close at hand—driving without an agenda and stopping when the light feels right.