I am finally back to blogging!

A few weeks (or months ) ago, Swinburne’s Photomedia and Design Club organised a photography workshop at Kubah National Park, and I have had the honour of being their speaker and to conduct for this wonderful event. It was a beautiful morning and after a hearty breakfast with my staff, we drove up to the national park to find a big group of enthusiastic students already waiting.

We started the morning with an ice-breaking session, and I asked the participants some questions about their interests, aims of today’s workshop and level of photography so I know where to start and deliver a workshop where everyone can benefit optimally.

After knowing some of their backgrounds, I gave them a brief presentation about composition, camera settings and the basic knowledge of photography before I let them off to have their own little adventure shooting around the national park. Lunch was provided by the students themselves and after lunch, we had a fun session reviewing the shots. It’s comforting to see a group of enthusiastic student who is so willing to learn, it makes my job so much richer as a photographer and educator.

Here are some of the shots the students, or should I say, photographers, took:

The afternoon was spent shooting two models from Swinburne, who volunteered themselves for the session. I taught them about various angles to best compliment different facial shapes, and after shooting the models, we reviewed the photos. Time seems to run faster when you’re having fun and we didn’t manage to finish all the shots as much as we loved to.

To end the day, we had some group photos taken, and a student suggested a brilliant idea of taking a group shot of all our cameras.

Here’s some of the participants, as some of them went to the loo to ease themselves!

Overall, it was a really fun and fulfilling day, and I drove home that day humbled to be a part of the workshop and to have the honour of sharing my knowledge and experiences with a group of enthusiastic students who are so eager to learn. I look forward to another session in the future!

Hello all,

I will be participating in the “Before I Do” bridal fair organised by Crowne Plaza Riverside Hotel tomorrow, 15 Jun 2008. This ONE DAY only event will start at 11am and finish at 7pm. It’s at the Sarawak Chamber Grand Ballroom, located on their 3rd floor.

Come and meet us there, and have a chat with me about your wedding plans!

See you all there!

I met both Michael and Tabby at my hotel lobby when I did a shoot for one of my clients in KL. We discussed about their wedding plans and what type of images they like.

They also shared with me on how they’ve met and their long distance relationship for years… I really admired them as long distance relationship is NEVER easy.

Mike,  grew up in the UK. He is a British- Chinese, while Tabby’s from KL Malaysia. Mike moved to Malaysia not long ago, and work as an Accountant, while Tabby run the King Pie business in KLCC.

Their wedding was held at an awesome lifestyle restaurant in Bangsar KL. (I love the place) They had converted the whole restaurant for their Wedding Holy Matrimony. Dinner reception was held at The Westin, Kuala Lumpur.

I would like to share some of the photos from this cheerful couple to all of you…

That’s Keith Kee the designer, he was there to make sure the gown’s fit and make up were done up to the bride’s standard.

This shot was taken when Tabby looked at the mirror, just to check on the final details of her make up, and I saw this beautiful morning light behind her. It was 7.15am in Kuala Lumpur.

Then I asked Tabby to turn over and look at me, she gave me this beautiful smile.

This shot was not posed. I love the way she hugged her mum, full of expression.

A Western Wedding mixed with Asian Culture. They were playing some obstacle for the Groom’s party.

This shot were taken just outside Tabby’s home. Beautiful backlighting!

I love this moment, the instant when the flower girl walked in, and she gave Mike a good hug!

One of my favourite shot..

Then I thought of trying some unusual angle.. i.e. shooting through the guesses… Nailed her expression as she looked at her friends..

Dad’s eye contact with the groom.. priceless..

I love this moment, a priceless shot. This was not posed, shots like this cannot be posed. Its filled with emotions, love.. The moment I saw it, I thought to myself, that’s it.. This is the moment! What an awecome moment.. A shot that explains it all.. WE ARE IN LOVE!

As I was shooting their first dance, the three gentlemen at the back were singing Lionel Ritchie’s “TRULY”, they sang in acapella, that moment gave me the greatest joy to be a Wedding Photographer. Words cannot describe my feelings.. I was sooo touched by that moment, that instance, that time. When I was shooting their dance, I saw Tabby whispered something to Mike’s ears. Ah! I thought to myself.. This is ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL!! With the awesome song filled the whole restaurant, the dance, the couple - priceless.

It was a cool Saturday morning, a lot of people would still tuck warmly in their bed! I reached Swinburne at 8am and my crews were busy setting up a mini studio there up on the stage.

The turnout was good, considering that, it was a rainy Saturday morning.

I love to share what I knew - my experience and my passion to people who are interested to know. As long as your love is in photography, we are all in the same boat..

Looking at all the students faces that morning gave me that joy that cannot be described in words!

Besides going straight into photography, I about shared about my experience in life and what brought me into photography. I can see and feel their enthusiasm… They have asked me a lot of questions and I am glad that I have managed to answer them all.

I also told them about a Photography Workshop which I am going to organise for the students. Overall, the event was so great. Shared some slideshows with them and also demostrate some studio shooting with them. Got some of the more advance listener to try! haha..

Thank you Ann and Annabelle for being my model that day. I will send to you some of your photos soon.

Here’s some photos to share with you all.

Serena is concentrating hard..

one of my video crew.. also my friend, Munan

Munan doing some angle shot.

Vivi, from Indonesia.. I like her expression, she is watching the slideshows..

Question time by Keen Chiek..

and this is Steven…

Jin Thai is smiling away.. what’s in your mind Jin?

Annabelle who was one of our model that day..

Our group photo session.. hip hip hoorah!

some of the participants were inside still munching away the nice sandwiches.. Thank you, yes its nice, I like it..

I am so excited, I have not done the poster for this workshop which gonna happen tomorrow. Initially, I wanted to do a nice poster for this, and then before they open up the seat for sale, I heard it was a SOLD OUT. So there is no need to do the posters anymore.

Well, the workshop will start tomorrow and I will post more photos after event. Can’t wait.. so excited!

They walked into my studio gallery early 2006 and wanted to take their engagement shots. We have arranged some date for the shots in 2006 and later Jee called to postpone due to his work schedule. Initially Jee and Jackie wanted to have their engagement shots taken in February 2006 but was later postpone to somewhere mid August 2006. When the time comes, they postponed it to the end of year 2006. Finally they changed their mind again and told me that its not longer necessary to do the engagement shots. They are getting MARRIED!

Jee works as a Web developer and a partner in Madtech, while Jackie works at an IT based company in Kuching. I have got my website developed by them. They have done a good job for my site. I have engaged them to work on my site since 2006. I have always wanted to self update my site with the new photos, and upload them whenever I feel like it, however, they are still working on this, and I have no choice but to update it on my blog.. So Jee, if you are reading this, keep it up and get it moving!!!

Somehow, due to our numerous meetings for my website, and also their wedding preparations, we became good friends.. Jee and Jackie, I missed the lunch we had together! Wanna do lunch one of these days?

Jackie later introduced her eldest brother, Chris to me. Chris who works in Singapore also engaged our professional services! Chris is married to his beautiful bride, Celine from Singapore.

Thank you Jackie, Jee, Chris and Celine!

I will leave you to the photos below which says everything!

I know I have been missing from blogging for a while… and I am back!!! April has been a wonderful month for me, been away to 4 different cities for Wedding Shoot! More traveling for the next half of the year.. Wedding season is coming.. and I am opening my booking for wedding photography for next year.

The talk in Swinburne University was awesome, I had received a lot of good feedback from the students. I was also been told that the workshop which I am going to conduct in by the end of May has sold out in a matter of just a few days after they had opened it for sales!

Good sign hey!

Talking about Swinburne University, I have been doing their commercial shot for several years now, and every assignment was a challenge for me! New concepts were discussed.. New ideas were shared, thousand of shots were captured! The chosen ones are the shots that best describe what they wanted to portray their University in the International arena. The talents that they used were a mixture of their International/overseas and local students.. The fun part was to capture their laughter! I shall never forget our time spent with their students there… It was a wonderful experience..

Commercial shoot is far different from Wedding Photography.. it’s challenging in its own way. Here’s some shots that I had done before, and I am sure many students and parents had seen those images in newspaper advertisements and also in their course guide.

I have been invited to give a talk this Saturday at Swinburne University of Technology this Saturday by their Photomedia and Design Club. I look forward to this talk so much as previously I had being given  the opportunity to do some talk about Wedding Photography and Photography itself at Limkokwing University and St Thomas’ Secondary School, and that was a while ago..

I will also be conducting a Photography Workshop for the students in Swinburne University this end of May, which the date has not been fixed. This will be limited to the first 40 students who signed up.

See you soon!

ps: will post some photos soon..

Hey everyone, I will be in Miri from 19 - 21 April and then to Kuala Lumpur from 22 - 25 April. Let me know if you guys wanna meet up for coffee.. haha.. I know, I know, I have been MIA from my blog for a while now, I have been receiving emails and SMS’s on this issue.. so sorry, I will update very soon.

I have just got back from all the trips for this month. In fact landed about 1.5 hour ago.. Kota Kinabalu is a very nice place! I had free time this afternoon, so we went to Manukan Island and did some snorkeling and jet skiing off Sutera Magellan Boat Club..

Time for bed.. Will post some photos soon!