Bin Bin Tan

Bin Bin Tan In Casual Portraits, Family + Children Portraits, Life, Musings, Portraits, Tips + Ideas

Reflections on 1 Year of Motherhood

I recall writing about my journey toward parenting in one of my earliest Stories blog posts, just over a year ago. I can still remember how I was feeling back then—everything from anxiety to eagerness, but most of all, so much uncertainty. Becoming a mother is like applying for a job for which you have no experience and expecting to perform on day one.

Fast forward one year later, and I’ve survived! There’s no denying it: motherhood is HARD, and no book you read can adequately prepare you for it. But amidst the challenges and the exhaustion, you will also experience joy, unwavering love, and the realisation that you are more capable than you realised.

Here are some personal reflections on my journey since then, as well as some things I wish I could have told myself a year ago.

1. You Will Be So, So Tired (But You’ll Get Through It!)

Everyone warns you about the sleep deprivation, and while every mother knows it’s inevitable, it’s one thing to know about it and another to experience it. In the first few months, I wondered if I would ever sleep again. There would be days when I was in a literal daze of moving in between periods of being not really awake and not really asleep. A friend told me this: “It gets better.” And it will, whether it’s your body adjusting to the lack of sleep or your baby establishing a sleep schedule. Even if it initially seems nearly impossible, a day will come when you will sleep through the night once more.

2. Everyone’s Just Winging It

It may seem like you’re the only one who’s lost in figuring out how to be a mom, but trust me, everyone else is just figuring it out as they go along as well. No one is born knowing how to parent. And while there may be guidance books and “how-to” articles, no child is the same, and you are a unique individual with your own needs and ideals. The path you will walk on this journey is something you will carve out on your own. You can learn from others, but, like with lots of things in life, you can’t fully plan for it; you just have to figure it out for yourself—as you go.

Bin Bin Tan In Casual Portraits, Family + Children Portraits, Portraits, Pre-Wedding & Engagement Portraits, Tips + Ideas

Alternative Ideas For Your Next Photoshoot

Having been in the lifestyle photography business for more than 15 years, you would think we would have grown bored of photographing families and couples in the same settings over and over again. Luckily our city is full of interesting spots and whether you’re looking for a family photoshoot or pre-wedding shoot, there are always new places to explore. While we do love shooting in our gorgeous studio, here’s a list of alternative ideas to consider for your next photo session.

1. On a City Walkabout

A city walkabout is a fun and less planned approach to doing a photoshoot for those who don’t like to pose too much. Typically, we’d just plan a path for you and your partner or family to explore while we follow to capture natural moments and interactions. There are many interesting and picturesque places in our city to discover, and this is also a great way to get out and about. Bonus is having photos of the excursion at the end of the day!

2. While Playing Tourist

As Malaysians we take our iconic landmarks for granted. I remember having lunch with a British friend at a lunch spot overlooking the Petronas Twin Towers and she was in constant awe of the sight throughout the meal. However, as locals, we often visit KLCC without a second glance at the towers or drive by iconic sights like Merdeka Square without much thought. Visitors come to our country and take Instagram worthy shots at these locations so why not showcase these national treasures at your next photoshoot?

Bin Bin Tan In At Home, Casual Portraits, Family + Children Portraits, Portraits, Studio

Tips for Planning your Multi-Generational Large Family Photoshoot

When it comes to planning for a family photoshoot, it’s easy to become overwhelmed. What more if you’re looking into including multi-generations? Grandparents, parents, siblings, kids—oh my! The thought of coordinating a session like this can put off even the best of planners. Here are some tips if you’re looking to include multiple generations in your next family photoshoot.

1. Don’t Leave it to the Last Minute

Getting a date where all parties involved are available will be half the battle accomplished. You will need to plan ahead in order to book everyone’s time. To make things easier, choose a period when people are already gathering—for example, the festive holidays. Alternatively, pick an occasion to celebrate that will bring the family together, such as a wedding anniversary or grandparents’ birthday. You can then plan the photoshoot around this celebration. It might even be the highlight!

2. Do Coordinate Your Outfits

Now that you’ve got the date, the second half of the battle is deciding what to wear. Rather than having everyone come in the same type of outfit or colour, aim for coordination instead. Choose one or two colours that the entire family can agree on and allow for a variety based on the colour scheme. This will allow every family member’s outfit to mesh well together without matching too much. For large groups, you may want to consider solids, as too many patterns can be distracting.

For tips on how to dress your family for the shoot, refer to our article here.

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Bin Bin Tan In Casual Portraits, Family + Children Portraits, Maternity, Portraits, Studio

Our favourite props at the studio

As a lifestyle photography studio, we often get asked on whether we provide props for shooting. It’s so common, we’ve worked it into our questionnaire – asking whether you’d like any specific props for your session. We have a wide variety of these in our studio but here is a list of our favourites and why we love them.

1. Red and White Tent

Whether it’s for an outdoor or indoor shoot, our red and white tents are one of our most requested props. We can see why – it’s a great backdrop, can be modified to include other decorations and can be easily styled to match your own personality too.

2. Indoor Garden

Keen on a garden shoot but can’t deal with our heat and humidity? Good news – we have a variety of potted plants that we can use to set up a miniature garden theme for you. All this in our climate-controlled indoor studio ;)

3. Rocking Horses

Warming up for photos is something that can take some time for children. It’s difficult for them to sit still for an extended period of time, and they usually have a lot of pent-up energy that needs to be released. Our rocking horse encourages play and allows children to be themselves while providing excellent photo opportunities. It also makes for great interaction shots between siblings or family members.

4. Baby-friendly Props & Toys

Babies are even more difficult to shoot than children since they cannot yet be instructed. As a result, we usually let them freestyle while we photograph them in their cutest natural moments. Whether it’s little chairs for them to sit on, rugs for crawling or stepping stools, our baby friendly props will allow your child to safely be their baby selves. We also have an abundance of toys and books at the studio, so we’d be happy to pull something out of the cupboard when the little ones get restless.

5. Festive Props

The festive season always seems to bring out the family feels. We often see a surge in bookings around this time, likely due to the whole family being together. If you’re looking to capture the spirits of the season, let us know and we’ll set up your session with our festive prop collection. Any ideas for what you would like for a Hari Raya or Deepavali themed shoot?

6. Volkswagen Kombi

While technically not in the Studio itself, Smurfette is our prized Volkswagen Kombi that’s available for rent. It’s presence immediately lends a fun vibe to weddings and the photo opportunities with her are endless!

Bin Bin Tan In At Home, Casual Portraits, Family + Children Portraits, Newborn, Portraits, Studio

What To Wear For Your Family Photoshoot

“What should my family wear?” is generally the first question most families have when arranging a family photoshoot. It’s a valid question! After all, your images will most likely be displayed someplace in your home, and you’ll want to make sure they’re not only beautiful but also timeless.

Based on our experience of photographing many families, here are some tips for choosing your outfits!

1. Coordinate, not match

Rather than having everyone show up in the exact same shade and style, consider instead outfits and colours that complement each other. Think cohesiveness rather than being “matchy-matchy”. Begin by choosing a colour palette of two to three coordinating colours and select your clothes that will fit into this colour scheme. Coordinating colours are colours that are found opposite each other on the colour wheel. If you’re unsure about which colours complement each other, this handy tool from Canva can assist!

2. Consider Colour Shading

If colour coordination feels too daunting, go for multiple shades of the same colour instead. You can’t go wrong with a light natural palette – think earthy tones and hues of cream, grey and blue.

Having different shades of the same colour doesn’t just mean going light and dark. Shades of green, for example, could include olive, mint, turquoise, and even teal. Throw in a bit of neutral colours like white and grey to mix it up and you’re good to go!

3. Have Variety

Discard the all tee-and-jeans look and replace it with a variety of khakis, skirts, and even long dresses. Allowing this range will let each family member dress in a way that reflects their unique personality and will result in far more interesting family portraits.

4. Don’t be afraid of prints, patterns or even bold colours

While you can’t go wrong with solids for everyone, including a pattern or print in the mix can assist to draw attention to your images. A splash of colour can also do wonders. When styling with prints and patterns, it is important to note that not everyone should be such styles. With aesthetics, typically less is often more. A good idea is to have majority of the family in neutrals with only a few members in pattern or colour.

5. Textures and accessories are your friend

Choose garments with a range of textures and fabrics such as lace, tulle, chambray, knits and others to add depth and character to your images. Layers and accessories can also be used to apply textures. Not only can these help pull your look together and assist with outfit coordination, they can also be used as styling props in the photoshoot – think a jacket slung over a shoulder or a tulle skirt being twirled around.

6. Be yourself

Ultimately, your family photos should represent who you and your family are. Don’t dress like someone else just because you saw an amazing outfit idea. Being comfortable in your chosen outfits and enjoying your projected look will help you love your photos more.

To enquire more on our packages, contact us here.