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Jasmine Tai
In Family + Children Portraits, Misc, Newborn, Studio

Newborn Photoshoot Questions Every New Parent Asks

Hey parents-to-be! If you are expecting a little bundle of joy soon, we would like to say: Congratulations! What an exciting, love-filled season you are entering into. 

At our family photography studio, we’ve been honored to walk alongside many families just like yours. One big thing we’ve learned? You probably have a ton of questions. And that is absolutely fine! This is all new territory.

So here are some of the most commonly asked questions we get from expecting (and excited) parents:

What is a newborn photoshoot? 

A newborn photoshoot is a photography session which specialises in capturing images of a baby in its first few weeks of life. The main focus on the shoot would of course be your baby and often includes detailed close-up shots, sleeping baby poses or some styling such as use of swaddles or some props. 

 

When is the best time to do a newborn photoshoot?

Ideally, we recommend booking your photo session within the first 2 to 3 weeks after birth. If you are looking for photos of sleepy, swaddled babies, the best time to do this is in the first 14 days, when the babies are still extra sleepy, snuggly, and naturally curl into those adorable womb-like poses. After passing that precious time-window, babies tend to stretch out more and may be more alert, which is still beautiful, just slightly different in style! We shared about baby’s milestones that are worth capturing from birth to 12 months old, you can check it out here.

 

What if my baby comes earlier or later than expected?

No worries at all! We always build flexibility into our newborn bookings. When you book with us, we will tentatively slot you in based on your due date, and once the baby arrives, just give us a ping. We will finalize your shoot date from there. You don’t need to know the exact day when you book, just keep us posted and we will handle the rest.

 

Do I need to bring my own props or outfits?

Typically babies will be undressed or swaddled during the session and we will supply these props.  However, if there’s a special blanket or outfit (maybe specially-knitted one by grandma?) or a hand-me-down, feel free to bring it along, we would love to include it in the photos!

 

Can we include grandparents or siblings in the photos?

Absolutely, yes! Some of the most heartwarming photos are the ones with grandparents gently holding their newborn, or siblings peeking at the baby with wide-eyed wonder. We welcome the whole family and will guide everyone through poses that feel natural, calm, and connected.

 

How long will the session take?

Our newborn sessions start from 1.5 hours and will include one styling with props and some time for lifestyle shots with the family. We do buffer in time for cuddles, diaper changes, feeds, and plenty of soothing breaks. It’s all very relaxed, there’s no need to rush.

 

What if my baby cries or won’t sleep?

That is totally normal and nothing to stress about. Newborns are unpredictable, and we expect some fussing or alert moments. Depending on the age of your baby at the shoot, we often include a newborn handler to assist with getting your baby to sleep or with guiding your baby into the poses. Often, even awake shots can be incredibly beautiful, so we will  follow the baby’s lead, they’re the main star here. 

 

What should I wear for family photos?

Neutral, soft colors always look timeless, think whites, beiges, dusty blues, or muted pastels. Try to avoid large logos or busy patterns. Comfort is key, especially for new mamas who are still healing. Try a loose long dress for mama, and an oversized khaki shirt for dada, or somewhere along that line. 

 

How soon will I see the photos?

You’ll get a sneak peek within 5 working days (because we know you’ll be excited!), and your edited photos will be ready in 14 working days. We’ll help you choose your favorite images and can even guide you in picking frames, albums, or prints that suit your home. 

Final Thoughts (and a Big Hug)

If you are feeling overwhelmed by it all, try taking a deep breath. We’re here not just as photographers, but as people who genuinely care about this fleeting, magical moment in your life. Every newborn session is built around love, gentleness, and a whole lot of patience.

So whether you’re still browsing, already booked in, or planning to call us after the baby arrives, we can’t wait to meet you and your family and create something special and magical together.

Got more questions? Reach out anytime. We’re always happy to chat, share tips, or just celebrate this beautiful journey with you. 

 

Jasmine Tai
In Misc

Escape the Heat, Capture the Moments

Malaysia is blessed with hills and majestic mountains, rivers and endless seas, mysterious caves and lush valleys. It’s like Mother Nature became an artist and Malaysia is her masterpiece. 

To all mamas (and papas!) out there, 

If you have been waiting for a sign to get your family photos updated, this is your sign: now is the perfect time to do it. Because there is no perfect time to do something. Instead of planning for a normal photoshoot, why not make it an experience you will never forget?

Let me introduce you to two of my favourite gems in Malaysia for outdoor family photo sessions: Janda Baik and Bukit Tinggi. These lush hilltop escapes are tucked just a short drive from Kuala Lumpur and they give you the best of both worlds: cooling weather and picturesque backdrops.

Janda Baik: Where Nature Hugs You Back

Janda Baik is one of those places that feels like a hug the moment you arrive. With its gentle streams, towering trees, and whispering cool breeze, it’s hard not to feel instantly relaxed, which is exactly what you want during a family shoot. Especially with young kids or older parents, a stress-free photo session is what they need. 

The vibe here is peaceful, rustic, and incredibly photogenic. Think barefoot kids running on soft grass, cozy moments on a picnic mat, or mum and dad stealing a quiet hug under the trees while the kiddos explore nearby. The cooler weather here means no one’s melting under the sun because less sweat = less fuss = better photos! 

Pro tip: Early morning or golden hour (late afternoon) will give you that dreamy, golden glow that makes your family look like you’re in a movie. Plus, it can get extra chilly especially if it rains the night before so you can whip out those adorable suits and ties for your boys and princess dresses for your girls. 

You can consider these places for a staycation, so that you have ample space to prepare your family before the session, and also to rest up after that.

Bukit Tinggi: A Slice of Europe Without Leaving Malaysia

If you’re looking for something a little more whimsical, Bukit Tinggi is your go-to. Home to the charming French-themed village of Colmar Tropicale, this place feels like you’ve stepped into a fairy tale. From cobblestone walkways and colourful European-style buildings to blooming gardens and forest trails, this place has the perfect backdrop if you want something a little more styled, without overdoing it. 

Plus, the 800 meters elevation means the weather stays cool and fresh, so your kids won’t overheat in their cute outfits, and you won’t need to worry about touching up your hair and make-up every 15 minutes. Add in a quick stop by the Japanese Garden or the rabbit farm, and you’ve got yourself a half-day outing with your family that feels like a mini holiday and a memory-making session.

Family photo idea: Coordinate outfits in soft earth tones or pastels to complement the picturesque buildings and nature. We’ve been there! And trust us, the coordinated color schemes make the photos extra beautiful! 

Why Outdoors, You Ask? 

Let’s be honest: indoor photoshoots are great, but there is something magical about the natural sunlight and being surrounded by nature. Kids get to be themselves, run freely, and you end up capturing real moments. The laughter, the silliness, the quiet cuddles, these aren’t forced poses, they’re memories in motion.

Outdoor shoots also mean fewer restrictions. You’re not boxed in a studio forcing your kids to “look at the camera and smile!” Here, the scenery changes as you move along the open fields, shady forests, hidden bridges  and riverside rocks. Every frame is unique, just like how every family is unique.

And because Janda Baik and Bukit Tinggi are both relatively close to the city (about 45 minutes to 1 hour from Kuala Lumpur), you don’t need to block off a whole week just to travel there. A short weekend getaway is sufficient for some fun in nature, and you’re home in time to rest up for the new week ahead. 

Make It a Weekend Getaway

Here’s the best part of it all: your family photoshoot does not need to feel like a formal event. Pack a light picnic with their favorite snacks. Bring the kids’ favorite toys. Let them play. Bring a musical instrument like a guitar for a sing-along. Let our photographer tag along for the ride and document your family as you are. You’ll be amazed at how the most effortless moments turn into the most treasured photos. 

And for parents who often are not in the photos (we know, because you are always the one behind the camera), this is your time to shine. Dress up a little, let your hair down and allow someone else to capture you being present with your family. You will not regret this decision. 

Final Thoughts (from someone who has been to a lot of photoshoots)

Family photos aren’t just about perfectly posed pictures. They are about remembering what life feels like in this season, with your kids this age, with your partner by your side, with all the chaos and joy that makes your family uniquely yours. 

So take the leap. Choose a date. Pack a few outfits. And head for the hills.

Besides getting a set of beautiful photos, you’ll make a beautiful day out of it too. 

Contact us to plan for a family photoshoot! 

Jasmine Tai
In Misc

Photo Craft Ideas to Do Together: Creating Memories with Your Family

Capturing beautiful moments in photos is great, but do you know what’s even better? Using them to create something special! Whether it’s with your spouse, parents, siblings, kids, or even grandparents, getting creative with photo prints is such a heartwarming way to bond. Do you wanna know what’s the best part? You don’t need to be a pro at crafting—just a little creativity and lots of love! Here are some interesting and fun ways to turn your cherished photos into beautiful momentos.

1. Dream Board: Manifesting Your Best Life Together 

We all have dreams, and sometimes, we just need a little push to bring them to life. A dream board (or vision board) is the perfect way to visualize the goals you have set while surrounding yourself with the people who matter most. Imagine sitting down with your kids, or spouse, flipping through old photos, and choosing images that inspire your future. Maybe it’s a travel photo reminding you to plan that long-overdue family vacation or a picture of a happy moment that motivates you to create more of those experiences.

How to do it:

  • Gather old and new photos that make you feel joyful and motivated.
  • Cut out words, quotes, or images from magazines that align with your dreams.
  • Arrange them on a board, adding stickers, washi tape, or little doodles to personalize it.
  • Hang it somewhere visible to keep those dreams alive!

This activity is great to do as a family as you have meaningful conversations around past achievements and future goals. Try doing this once a year and you can look back on how far you and your family have come. 

2. Journaling: Capturing Moments Beyond the Picture 

Photos tell a story, but words can bring them to life in an entirely new way. Imagine sitting down with your child or partner, flipping through the journal, and writing about what each moment meant.

How to do it:

  • Start with a simple journal (or an Accordion fold) and photo prints.
  • Write down memories—what was happening in the photo, where was the location, how you felt, any moments surrounding it. I like writing the dates for each photo so that I can easily look back and go “Oh, I remember that day!” 
  • Add decorative touches like dried flowers, stickers, or colored pens to make it uniquely yours.

This is such a great way to bond across generations. Grandparents can tell stories from their previous generation, while you and your children can document your own journey. It’s also a beautiful way to pass down family history and wisdom through words and images. Younger children who may not remember the moment can look back and experience it once again through the flipping of the journal. 

3. Photo Frame Scrapbooking: A Personalized Touch to Your Decor 

Scrapbooking is always a fun activity, but why not take it up a notch and make a personalized framed art? This is perfect for making meaningful gifts to your extended family by adding a sentimental decor to their homes.

How to do it:

  • Get a plain picture frame (wood, acrylic, or even a shadow box works!).
  • Print out photos that hold special memories—perhaps one with your kids when they lost their first tooth, or a nostalgic picture with your parents from years ago.
  • Decorate the frame using small embellishments like pressed flowers, beads, or meaningful quotes.
  • If you are using a shadow box, you can add little trinkets that remind you of the moment (a dried flower from a trip, a train ticket, etc.).

Every time you look at it, you’ll be reminded of those good times. Plus, creating it together makes it priceless!

4. Driftwood Photo Display: A Rustic & Sentimental Touch

Want a unique way to display your photos? A driftwood photo display is not only beautiful but also a fun, interesting craft to do with your family. It brings a warm, rustic vibe to your space while showcasing your favorite memories in the form of snapshots.

How to do it:

  • Find a nice piece of driftwood or a sturdy branch (you can even buy one if needed!).
  • Print out your favorite photos in different sizes for a creative touch.
  • Use twine, string, or mini clothespins to attach the photos to the wood.
  • Decorate with fairy lights, dried flowers, or shells for an extra touch.
  • Hang it in your living room, hallway, or anywhere it can be admired.

This is such a fun way to display a collection of family moments, travel memories, or even a timeline of your kids growing up! Feel free to add or remove any photos as time goes by.

Why These Crafts Matter

The beauty of these activities isn’t just in the final outcome—it’s in the time spent together, the laughter shared, and the stories told along the way. Whether you’re creating a dream board with your kids, journaling with your parents, or crafting a driftwood display with your siblings, these moments become core memories too.

So, take those photos, gather the special people in your life, and start crafting. Because while photos capture memories, what you do with them keeps those moments alive.

Suzyana Ong
In Misc, Running a Business, Tips + Ideas

Retouching: What kind of editing do we do?

If you’ve ever wondered why photographers can’t send your photos instantly right after the shoot, this is because the photos need to go through a few processes before reaching their final result! When we shoot, we shoot in a format called RAW, which is not suitable for general use. So first, after the photo shoot is completed, our photographer will transfer the photos to the computer and select the best ones. Next, it gets transferred to an editing software, where our editor would do a basic colour correction on every photo and then export it in JPEG format. We often have clients ask, What do we mean by basic colour correction? Does it include removing pimples, wrinkles, eyebags, etc… Unfortunately, these requests fall under extra editing requests, as they require a longer time and effort to edit. If we do this for every photo, you may not receive your photos within the promised timeline!

Basic Colour Correction

Colours in RAW format are usually lifeless-looking, but it is still the best format to further process in post production. So it’s absolutely a must that we bring some life to the photos! A basic colour correction is essentially adding and balancing out the brightness, colours (saturation), colour temperature, highlights, and shadows of the photos as well as cropping out excessive backgrounds to make the images look more centred. A few toggles here and there will instantly make your photos look more vibrant and captivating!

Have a look at the before (left) and after (right) samples here!

Extra Editing

We do offer extra editing services for those who wish to have a “picture-perfect” photograph. This service usually comes FOC when you order framed prints and albums with us. Alternatively, you can add on this service for your favourite selection of images at a minimal additional fee.

Extra editing includes:

  • Skin smoothening
  • Removing skin blemishes
  • Minimizing eyebags/dark circles
  • Minimizing wrinkles
  • Removing flyaway hair
  • Removing any background distractions
  • Removing any scars/wounds
  • Face/Body slimming
  • Minimizing double chins
  • Whitening teeth
  • Make-up retouch (add blush, lipstick, etc)
  • Minimizing creases on clothes

We hope this helps to clarify our editing services. Feel free to reach out to us if you have any more questions!

 

 

Suzyana Ong
In Misc, News, Promotions, Tips + Ideas

A Christmas Gift Guide

In recent years, Christmas has become a festivity celebrated by many (doesn’t matter what race or religion you are). I mean, who doesn’t love gifts? It’s the season of gifting! But gift shopping can be stressful (we know), and most of us don’t have the luxury of time to go out and shop for them. Fret not, we live in a digital world where everything, including gift shopping, can be at your fingertips. So here’s a list of Christmas gift ideas for young families that we’ve compiled for you busy bees, which you can get by heading to their website or dropping them a quick message. These are all Malaysian-owned brands, so you’ll be supporting another family or small business by buying from them!

The Kraft Store

The Kraft Store offers beautiful and essential handpicked goods such as bath towels, toys, feeding accessories, and books for your little ones. They have a good selection to choose from, so go check out their website to place your order.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekraftstoremy/

Link to purchase: https://thekraftstoremy.cococart.co/

The Flight of Imagination

Together with makchic, we have created an endearing photo storybook experience that combines professional photos of your family taken by Stories, whimsical illustrations by Munsya Rahman, and a heartwarming story by makchic’s Kimberly Lee about the power of creativity and the joy of creating moments and memories. Created for children between the ages 3-8, this book will become a family heirloom worth treasuring. Don’t miss out on our current promotion we’re running for this (ends 31st December 2023).

Link to find out more: https://stories.my/flight-of-imagination/

Dough Little

Dough Little playdough kits are safe to play by children starting the age of 1. Their playdough boxes and kits are based on open-ended play concepts, whereby there aren’t definitive instructions and expectations while the child is at play. Children are encouraged to explore each box and create something amazing within the given theme (examples: create habitats, food, characters, vehicles etc).


Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dough.little.playdough/

Website: https://www.doughlittle.com/

Mils and Key x Stories Newborn Gift Pack

Malaysian owned, Mils & Key’s mission is to curate and create safe, functional, sustainable, and stylish modern baby products. Coupled with a photoshoot that can be used for a maternity, newborn or family session, these gift packs that include Mils & Keys aesthetic looking yet functional products are a great gift for the expecting mom. ⁠

Link to find out more: https://stories.my/product/mils-key-gift-pack/

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