May 2026 Unpacked
Exploring the idea of "less, but better" across work, gear, and life 😌
1. Monthly Note
A busy month filled with client work, alongside a major collaboration project with Desky.
I also spent a weekend in Melbourne catching up with old friends while working on a few projects and resetting creatively.
2. In Practice
How the month actually unfolded day to day.
Powering through client work
Coordinating multiple projects
Weekend trip to Melbourne
Catching up with friends
A severe case of GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome)
Building a new editing desk setup
Filming YouTube content
3. What Went Live
The things that left the studio this month. Check them out via the links.
🎥 Orbitkey Urban Sling Mini Review - an almost perfect sling
🎥 SLR Magic Promo Video — a project I assisted on in Hong Kong back in March
🎥 Razer BlackShark V3 Collaboration — feature-packed gaming headphones
🎥 SLR Magic 35mm Lens Collaboration — a fun manual lens with plenty of character
🎥 Brotac EasyGrip MiniTaco Collaboration — handmade leather wallet
🎥 ProVideo Articulating Arm Collaboration — quality grip gear
🎥 Desky Collaboration Video — Coming soon
4. What This Month Taught Me
Continuing on from last month’s reflections:
In an ideal world, I’d say yes to everything. That’s part of why I chose freelancing in the first place.
But lately, as more opportunities come in, it’s becoming harder to take everything on well.
It’s forcing me to rethink how I prioritise, what kind of work I want to do, who I want to work with, and how I want to structure it all.
Avoiding burnout. Simplifying my services. Curating clients more intentionally.
This month really reinforced the idea of “less, but better.” Not just with clients and collaborations, but across other parts of life too, friendships, gear, workflow, and everyday systems.
Lately, I’ve been considering downsizing my kit and removing a lot of the clutter that quietly adds friction to the creative process.
5. Things That Caught My Attention
Here are some things that sparked my curiosity. Check them out via the links.
Wotancraft x Chris Niccolls Pilot 88 — An excellent collaboration between a great brand and one of the most recognisable personalities in the photography space
EVERGOODS MPL 22L Backpack — One of my favourite bags from their lineup, now released in a lighter fabric and lighter overall weight
Côte&Ciel x Ninepointnine Backpack — Beautiful shapes and lines throughout the collection. I’d love to get one in for review
Orbitkey Kickstarter — A clean organisational system for desks and side tables
Alt Cine — One of my recent favourites for streamlined cine builds and rigs. Love seeing him return to creating again
Dulens APO Mini Primes — Recently picked up a couple of these. Beautiful rendering and character. Excited to test them properly
PGYTECH Roamer Tote — Feature-packed tote bag. Unfortunately, I’m just not much of a tote guy, so I didn’t end up getting one in for review
6. Before It All Makes Sense
This month was largely about redefining my workspace and streamlining my workflow.
If you want the full breakdown of what shifted, what I worked through, and how I’m approaching the next phase, the May Debrief will be up on YouTube soon.
Life is about balance. Opportunities and recharge. Work and fun. Time with friends and alone. Planning and go with the flow. I appreciate your reflection.