Grace Tan

Grace Tan In For Photographers, Musings, News, Promotions, Running a Business

Bloom workshops is here! Check us out!

If you are a female photographer serious about learning the craft and needing some new inspiration, do come and join us for a weekend of fun and learning! Four professional photographers (Anna-Rina, Asther Lau, Fiona Lim and myself) will be sharing our experiences, tips and tricks of the trade with you from a female perspective. We hope to inspire photographers to dream big and aim high!

Do view our little promo video, and visit our website www.bloomworkshops.my to find out more AND register for the workshop!

Video edited by: Weiming
Music credit: Akvalung

Grace Tan In Life, Musings, News, Running a Business

Our New Ride – The Volkswagen Kombi!

One fine day when Alex and I were talking about life and business, an idea suddenly came to his head… he suggested that we get a Stories-mobile; the Volkswagen Kombi. Frankly, I was a little hesitant at first… I mean, that thing is huge, OLD and might be really hard to drive. Good thing I can actually drive a manual car! I was concerned that I might not reach my wedding shoot destination if I had a vehicle like this. I shrugged the idea off until Alex brought it up again a week or so later.

He started showing me photos of really beautifully done up kombis online. I was smitten. Slowly but surely, I became hooked to the idea. And that was how our search for the VW kombi started. We contacted some friends who were VW enthusiasts and they put us in touch with other enthusiasts.

And then one day, we found this:

And so, unintentionally, the date 11.11.11 became significant to us. It was the day we bought our new bus!

By the way, this photo was taken in front of SS2 Mall, our new office space! But that’s a completely different blog post altogether. Take note that I went the hippy route and dressed for the occasion.

The kombi is in really good shape (considering it’s like a few years older than me… did I mention that I am over 30 now?) The colour is perfect cause it’s what we wanted in the first place (our Stories theme colour is light blue and dark brown). Some even pointed out that the number plate is perfect for a photographer (CF, as in, compact flash cards). I felt as if God was giving us the green light to get this bus.

Our little kombi will be used for shoots, and will also be rented to bride and grooms who are interested in using it as a wedding car. So far, 2 brides have already contacted me about the kombi. Our aim is to get it spruced up even more, but good thing is that it already comes with air-conditioning!

Grace Tan In Testimonials

Testimonial: Allen & Stephy

I am truly excited whenever I receive an email, card or call from a client telling us how much they appreciate our work. I’d like to share with you an email that we received from our client Allen and Stephy after their wedding day. It makes me especially proud because they are complimenting our entire team, and not just one individual. Their wedding was photographed by Mark, Johan and assisted by Diane.

Thanks to Stories!

Everything was great on our big day!

Mark, Johan and Diane are really heart-warming. We thought we got to know 3 more friends during our big day!

From the initial arrangement of meeting, Diane has done a really good job in liaising between us and Mark/Johan, rounds and rounds of emails, without complaining. She has done a really really great job too, on the actual day. Especially during the toasting from table to table, She took the initiative and helped us to coordinate.

Johan, he was funny, but serious. The first time we met up with him, it was the discussion on actual day run down. Though it was just a 15-minute discussion, I had strong impression on him, as he took out a pen with angry bird design. Too funny! It doesn’t match with his serious look (He did look serious when we ran through the rundown with both him and Mark).

During the dinner, he told me “Stephy, I am sitting at table … (I couldn’t remember), if you need me, you just hand up and I’ll be right here for you”.. He was simply too thoughtful!! and I wanted to make fun with him by handing up again and again, but i thought i shouldn’t.. LOL

Needless to say. Mark is way too professional! He gave us a lot of suggestion, I wanted to have the original version of “just the way you are” for morning SDE, he recommended me acoustic version which many of my friends told me they fall in love with the it. Mark offerred to take some portraits in the Hilton. But too bad that we did not make it as our schedule was just too tight. But He followed us, to make sure he got the chance to take even just one portrait, be it in the bridal suite, or any single corner.

With all these, they move us.

We were very worried and nervous for the actual day. Allen told me, somehow, he felt a lot more relax after the discussion with Stories, that i had the same feeling too. We are blessed to have Stories with us on our big day.

So, Thank you for your dedication, passion to our day!

Best Regards,

Stephy

Grace Tan In For Photographers, Musings

Bloom is…

… really up to your imagination.

What comes to mind when the word bloom is mentioned?

Now, what is Bloom all about, some of you have asked. You might have already seen our 1st video here. And you might be wondering who are these girls in the video. Well, the one in red with short hair is myself (if you haven’t already realized that by now). The other three are amazingly talented photographers whom I call friends (Anna Rina, Fiona Lim & Asther Lau). It’s not easy finding female photographers in Malaysia, so I am always happy to have a chat with fellow camera toting women. If our team is not available for any assignments, I would certainly recommend these photographers!

We’ll be revealing more information about Bloom soon, but do leave your comments here as we’d love to hear your feedback!

Video edited by: Weiming
Music credit: Akvalung

Grace Tan In Life, Musings, Relationships

Opposites Attract?

He’s introverted, she’s extroverted.
He’s calm and collected, she’s a social butterfly.
He’s meticulous, she’s a little disorganized.

Just like magnets, opposites attract. I know of many couples who are completely different in terms of character (just like my mum and dad) and yet are together. Growing up, I never really understood this strange phenomenon. I suppose it’s natural to like someone who has strengths that can complement your weaknesses.

Alex and I don’t completely subscribe to this idea though. Yes, we’re different, and yet similar. We appreciate each other’s strengths and weaknesses (‘appreciate’ is subjective at times though) but there are many similarities that bind us together. After 5 years of marriage, boy do I appreciate these similarities! We love being around people, are rather sociable by nature, have similar taste in design (thank God, otherwise we might fight over house ID stuff), love the same God, and share the same values in life. Values like, no matter how tough marriage gets, we will never give up; or loving people trumps anything else in life. Bonus point: We love adventure.

Life to us is an exciting journey. I cannot imagine being married to someone who yawns whenever I talk about my photography business, or to someone who hates traveling. Married life to me means that I am able to journey along life’s path, sharing these experiences together. It’s these experiences that glue us together, stored in our shoe box of memories and help us love each other more.

I am contented.

Similar, yet different.

Photo credit: Jon Low