Grace Tan

Grace Tan In Chinese Weddings, Musings, Outdoor Weddings, Tips + Ideas, Weddings

Garden ROM at The Club, Saujana: Jonathan & Jacinda

I’ve grown to love this beautiful location. It’s a small little green patch of grass overlooking a lake, but given the right time of day when the sun is setting in the distance, you have gorgeous sunlight falling over this area, which makes for amazing back light. Ok, if you didn’t quite understand this photographer’s rambling, the location looks like this:

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And this is the amazing back light (or hair light) I am talking about.

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One of the wonderful things about small weddings is that you have lots of time for portraits. I enjoy creating images of the couple with their families and also close friends in a gorgeous setting. I photographed Jon and Jac a few months back when we did their Mad Men themed pre-wedding shoot. It was easy to connect with this couple, and from that moment on, I knew photographing them would be a breeze. The week after, Jon and Jac had their Chinese wedding ceremony (photos in the slideshow at the end of this post).

For this post, I thought I’d write a few tips on what I think would make a great garden wedding (from a photographer’s perspective):

1. Choose the time of day well

Considering we live in tropical Malaysia, the best time for an outdoor wedding would be before 10am and after 5pm. The sun is lower in the horizon which makes it more flattering for people photos. Have you ever taken a photo outdoors at 12pm, and seen lots of raccoon eyes (dark shadows under the eyes) staring back at you? Yup, that’s the effect of the sun as it is directly above you. So if you’d like more flattering images of yourself outdoors, opt to have your ceremony start at the timing suggested.

Grace Tan In Casual Portraits, International, Life, Musings, Portraits

Hola! Barcelona 2013

My first love has always been travel. I love creating images as I wander the streets, looking at life through my lens. When I travel, I like the idea of going off the beaten track, looking into the side lanes, hoping to glimpse something different. Honestly, I don’t really enjoy taking photos of buildings, but I get really excited when people are added to the equation. It makes me wonder… what are they thinking of at this moment? What are they doing, where are they going?

I came to Barcelona with my family to celebrate my brother’s 50th birthday. It was really wonderful being with family and his friends, just spending 2 weeks away from work for a while. I hope to rejuvenate and get some new inspiration as I travel. Currently, I am in Morocco, which is an amazing country, full of surprises every corner. More on that later… but for now, here are some shots from my travel in Barcelona.

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Grace Tan In Chinese Weddings, Outdoor Weddings, Weddings

Wedding at Ciao: Kevin & Jasmine

It was the evening before the wedding. Kevin’s parents had flown in from China for the wedding, and everyone was excited about the event. Unfortunately, a huge drama unfolded that evening itself. Sadly, the groom’s parents were robbed right outside their service apartment in KL. It really saddens me that Malaysia is no longer a really safe place to live in. A substantial amount of cash and passports were stolen. Kevin reacted like how anyone would, and gave chase…but they got away. Other than the physical items that were missing, he injured his hands as he fell during the chase.

But that whole incident didn’t stop Kevin and Jasmine from having a good time the next day at their wedding. I truly respect them for not letting bad circumstances affect their mood. Kevin and Jasmine, I am glad the day went really well. And Jasmine, yay, you survived wearing contact lenses for many hours! Hope you had a good honeymoon and are back safely in Australia now. Lots of love from Malaysia!

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Grace Tan In Chinese Weddings, Church Weddings, Wedding Films & Videos, Weddings

Church Wedding Video Highlights: Ch’ng Toh & Evelyn

“On this date, I will marry my best friend…..the one I laugh with, live for, dream with & love”

On 16 October 2012, he asked me to begin this crazy life together as husband and wife. God beautifully scripted our romance approximately 10 years ago. Ours wasn’t the usual love story. Not love at first sight or fancy romance. Instead it was steadily slow and it gets more beautiful year after year. Dating for 10 years certainly didn’t feel as thou it has been 219,000 minutes!

We met because of fishing! He convinced my all weather friend Lydia to fish at a pond nearby my home. Halfway thru it rained heavily. To seek shelter, she asked him to stop by my home. He stood outside and analyzed the fishes in my pond. He introduced himself and said nothing else. Once my friend got changed, they left. That was our first hello. Frankly, I laughed after he left…what a name!

3 months later, we met at Taylors Subang Jaya. Different streams but same pre-uni programme. As we had common friends, we had lunches as a group. After class I had to walk home and one day, he offered to take me home via his daily taximan. A woman never hesitates a free ride! (moreover it was hot that day). We started talking on the phone; once a week became twice, twice became every other day.

6 months later….

Ch’ng Toh : Do I have a girlfriend?

Evelyn : I think so kua….

(Who on earth asks in this manner?)

And yes, that was 10 years ago….

I furthered my studies in Sydney whilst he stayed here. Thereafter, he came over for 3 years to complete his studies. When we got back, I practiced law whilst he worked with his dad. I switched career paths and joined the retail scene a year back. To date, I’ve left my job and opened a Hong Kong dessert place; Tong Pak Fu at Mid Valley & Paradigm Mall.

We are H.A.P.P.Y! Can’t ask for more and we don’t cling to each other like cling wraps!

His love for fishing has multiplied 10 folds since. He travels just to cast his rod into the ocean, pond and pool. (anything that contains water)

As for me, Scrapbooking is my passion…& whilst in the midst of preparing for my big day, I found a new love for weddings and thus found Moments together with Tricia. The Lord is my rock, shopping is my obsession and I love human interaction.

10 years now and everyday we’re still learning new lessons. Our relationship isn’t perfect. However, despite the idiosyncrasies, we choose to stay in love and take each step and hurdle as it comes along as a steppingstone for us to live the rest of our lives appreciating each other.

He has taught me to love with all my heart and take care of each other. Thou he’s not Mr. Romantic, never given flowers or made anything but he surely makes up for it with every smile, every song, every hug and kiss. He thinks of my in everything that he does. He brings me fishing lures to brighten my day, he calls me a thousand times just to say hello and he stands by me truly in sickness & health. Therefore….

“On this date, I will marry my best friend…..the one I laugh with, live for, dream with & love”

– Evelyn –

Credits:

Videographers: The Stories team (Felicia, Wee Liem, Nick)
Church Ceremony: Luther Centre, PJ
Dinner Reception & Cake: Istana Hotel, KL
Wedding Planner, Decorations, Stationery & Flowers: Moments To Remember
Wedding & Evening Gown: Eleusis
Groom’s Attire: Sparksmanshop
Make Up: Joy Chong
Photographer: Victor Hew
Dinner Entertainment: Mosaic Music Entertainment & Melissa Chye

Grace Tan In For Photographers, Musings, Relationships, Running a Business

Stories Family Feature: Johan Sopiee

It’s time for another feature on one of our longest serving Stories family member… Johan Sopiee! Years ago, I got to know Johan through a photography workshop. We didn’t know each other very well, so it surprised me one day when he emailed me to ask if he could shoot with me. Honestly, I had just started out in the wedding photography business, and wondered why would anyone want to shoot with an unknown photographer like me who was still trying to define her style? (also, we didn’t have too many confirmed bookings at that time).

So for reasons unknown to me then, Johan and I started photographing weddings together. We had to adjust to each other’s shooting style and colours (I was with Canon and he was with Nikon, until one day, he said, I will switch to Canon if it made your job easier! Hurray!). Eventually, an unlikely partnership turned out really well.

Johan is one of the most humble persons I know. He always says that he is learning, but he has more experience in photography than anyone else in my team. I really admire that spirit of his, always desiring to do better, and always wanting to learn from others, even if the person he is learning from is the most junior in the team.

He always contributes ideas to make things better, which I appreciate a lot. Johan has shot so many weddings, so he is well versed with all sorts of cultural traditions from many different wedding ceremonies. Initially when you meet him, he seems like a really serious person, but he does have a wacky side to him (which usually surfaces during shoots!).

Johan, I am really happy to have you as part of the Stories team. You are indeed such a blessing to us, and we really love you very much.

Read more about Johan’s background here.

1. Describe what you do at Stories and what you love about your role as a photographer

I’m a Stories photographer and I enjoy photographing couples in love and loving family moments with flare, bokeh and reflections.

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View more images from Chris & Anusha’s Hindu wedding and garden wedding.

2. Why do you like shooting weddings?

I like shooting weddings because every event is a new experience, with unique challenges and filled with joyous moments to capture. And they’re such fun too!

3. What was your most exciting / memorable experience with Stories

Photographically, the most exciting time for me was when I discovered how nicely flare can engulf and yet gently caress the loving couple in the photos I capture. The best weddings are when the newlyweds and their family are so happy with their photos that they are lost for words. Sometimes we can even see them “say” it with their smiles and it shows in their eyes.