Grace Tan

Grace Tan In Casual Portraits, Family + Children Portraits, Musings, Portraits, Running a Business, Studio

Janet’s Story: Beyond Epilepsy

I first heard about Janet through her mother, Joyce, at a BNI meeting I was attending. Joyce showed one of Janet’s paintings, which was translated into a beautiful top of the same design. As I got to know Joyce, I also got to know Janet. Janet went through many challenges as she was growing up… she had uncontrollable seizures due to epilepsy and was diagnosed as intellectually and developmentally delayed.

Despite her challenges, she displayed determination to succeed in life. In 2011, she started her own business selling artwork, home baked cookies and fashion wear using her paintings as her main design. After years of hard work, Janet also graduated with a Diploma in Small Business Management in 2017.

She dreams of being financially independent by growing this business and to be recognized and accepted as one of us.

Janet’s achievement in life has really inspired me! It goes to show that all things are possible if you truly put your heart to it. (backed by an amazingly supportive and entrepreneurial mother!).

If you would like to support Janet in what she does, please visit her website to view the products she has for sale. All the best to you in your journey, Janet!

Credits:

Photographer: Grace
Hair & Make Up: Pearl Tan
Location: Stories studio

Grace Tan In Portraits, Pre-Wedding & Engagement Portraits

Golf themed pre-wedding: Jonathan & Lyn Yen

Jonathan is a professional golfer, and it was over drinks that the both of them met. While Lyn Yen thought that he was a nice guy and easy to talk to, she didn’t have a clue about anything golf-related! But this encounter that brought them together became the start of many more encounters in the future.

Eventually, she learnt that he is a romantic at heart (a huge teddy bear), loves lame jokes, enjoys surprises though a terrible planner with the best intentions. He learnt that she complemented him in areas where he lacked (planning skills especially). It was a match that fit like a glove.

We had a great time during our simple pre-wedding shoot at TPC KL, a golf course that Jonathan frequents often. That day of the shoot, it was storming, and the rain just made all our shoes wet (even in the lobby). I love how this couple is so easy going – though I was worried about the unrelenting storm (like, it was dark skies everywhere with no sign of stopping), but Jon & Lyn had faith that the rain would stop, and after a while, it did! We managed to head out to the course for some photos afterward.

They were also so casual about how Jon’s face was two toned that day… he had just played at a tournament recently and half his face was tanned while the other half wasn’t! It was quite funny but it told for a great story and we didn’t edit out his half tanned face…

I am excited about their wedding this weekend! See you really soon!

Grace Tan In Beautiful Everyday, Casual Portraits, Musings, Portraits, Studio, Tips + Ideas

How to Prepare for Better Profile Headshots

Very often taking some professional headshots sits low on one’s to-do list. Little do people realize that a good headshot is a powerful way to market oneself. Whether you’re a model, business owner, lawyer or a fresh graduate, a professionally taken profile picture will make you look even better on your website, LinkedIn, social media pages and brochures.

Besides choosing the right photographer who suits your style and who knows how to bring out the best in you, there are a few things you can do to ensure you get the best images. Remember, first impressions count! So, spend a little time preparing for a stress-free session. You won’t regret it.

1. Hair and Makeup

Whether you’re male or female, a little grooming will not hurt. For makeup, start natural and only apply eyeshadow and lipstick just before the shoot. Try applying lip balm to keep lips soft. You may bring along some makeup for touch ups, plus a hairbrush and hair products to tame any unruly hair before the shoot. For men, shave right before you leave for the shoot so you’ll have that clean-cut look.

If you can afford it, hire a makeup artist so that your makeup and hair will be professionally coifed for that perfect headshot! Continue Reading

Grace Tan In Family + Children Portraits, Portraits, Studio

A surprise for a 90 year old grandma: Kirthi’s family

Kirthi wrote to us saying that she was planning to come back to Malaysia from Australia to surprise her grandmother for her 90th birthday. As a family of 4, she said that they never had a family portrait, though they had wanted to do one for years. So this year, she decided that she would make it happen as a wonderful birthday present for her grandmother. When Kirthi shared her desire, it made our hearts swell with love and excitement. We absolutely treasure family photos and we’re so glad that Kirthi does too! These are precious family photos that will remind the next generation of this lovely grandmother and her beautiful smile.

Grace Tan In International, Musings, Portraits, Pre-Wedding & Engagement Portraits, Tips + Ideas

Planning your dream pre-wedding shoot

Exotic locations are a hit when it comes to having breathtaking images to show at your wedding. However, there are certain things to look out for when one travels to a foreign land for some pre-wedding photos. Here are some tips to help you so you don’t end up disappointed with the whole experience.

1. Do your research about the locations you intend to shoot at and the season at the time of the shoot. Summer months may be crowded and you’ll have to get to tourist attractions in the wee hours of the morning to get the shots you want! Or if it’s during the winter months, you’ll need to know that the sun sets much earlier and you may have to rethink your outfit. Take into consideration the distance between each location and how long it’ll take to get there. Allocate sufficient time based on your plan and add on additional days for the shoot if required. After all, you’ve gone all the way there already!

2. Bring along your own makeup artist and gowns as you’ll have the flexibility of arranging your shoot sessions according to your itinerary and look beautiful in your outfits instead of just casual shots in your travel clothes. Also, remember that language can be a barrier if you go somewhere exotic and find yourself struggling to communicate with your makeup artist. We’re pretty sure you won’t want to add any unnecessary stress.

3. Be prepared to walk so bring along a good pair of walking shoes! When you’re not posing in your heels, you’ll need proper shoes to walk around in. Some locations may require some maneuvering to get the best scene so carrying your heels may be wiser than wearing them all over the place. There’s also a chance you might get chased out of a popular tourist spot during a shoot. Most locations require some sort of permission for a shoot, but sometimes even that gets revoked! Just take it with a pinch of salt and move on to the next location.

Our advice is to set the right expectations before setting off on an exotic pre-wedding photo shoot. Having a sense of adventure and flexibility will help make the whole experience more fun and less stressful. And looking relaxed and happy will certainly make prettier pictures!

Credits:
Pre-wedding photography locations above (top to bottom): Turkey, Bali, Thailand and Malaysia