Musings

Jasmine Tai In For Photographers, Life, Musings

Chinese New Year Through Our Eyes: The Traditions That Shaped Us

Chinese New Year doesn’t ease in quietly; it bursts into our homes with laughter, movement, and noise. This season moves quickly, carrying laughter, conversations, and generations under one roof. As a family photography team, this festive season holds a special place in our hearts, not just professionally, but personally.

Behind every family photo we take during Chinese New Year, we bring our own memories of reunion dinners, laughter, childhood excitement, and moments that only happen once a year. This season reminds us why documenting family matters so deeply. Here’s a glimpse into some of our team members’ favourite Chinese New Year traditions and the moments that shaped how we see family today.

Grace: Creating the Scene for Togetherness

For Grace, Chinese New Year begins with intention.

“I love taking the time to set up a nice Chinese New Year backdrop for a family photo,” she shares. “It’s not just about decorations and props, but more about creating a space where people naturally gather.”

From carefully chosen red accents to thoughtful details that frame a family just right, Grace sees the backdrop as more than a visual element. It becomes a place where generations stand side by side, where some straighten their clothes, others laugh nervously, and children wiggle with excitement.

That quiet preparation mirrors what Chinese New Year is really about: making room for family to come together. Years later, when the backdrop fades into the background, what remains is the togetherness it helped capture.

Bin Bin: Cousins, Connection, and Coming Home

Growing up with a large extended family, Bin Bin’s Chinese New Year was a blur of reunion dinners, greetings, and rooms filled to the brim. “I’ve been blessed with great memories of playing with my cousins when I was young,” she says. “Because we live across multiple states, Chinese New Year is one of the few occasions when everyone makes the effort to come home.”

Those reunions were about the continuity of traditions. Games that lasted all afternoon, shared snacks, and late-night conversations created bonds that lasted well beyond the festive season. What makes these memories even more meaningful now is seeing the next generation continue the tradition. “I’m grateful that I’ve maintained close relationships with my cousins,” Bin Bin adds, “and I’m so glad to see our children playing together during Chinese New Year.”

It’s a reminder that family photos don’t just capture people at that point in time, they capture relationships that stretch across years and generations.

Leong Wai: The Universal Joy of Angpaus

Some traditions need no explanation. “Receiving angpaus,” Leong Wai says with a smile. The joy of crisp red packets, the anticipation of opening them, and the playful comparisons between cousins are universal experiences for many of us. But beyond the money, angpaus represent blessings, love, and the hopes elders place on the next generation. In photos, angpaus often appear as small details, clutched in tiny hands or slightly peeking out of the pocket, but they tell a larger story of care and continuity.

Abel: A Table of Traditions

For Abel, Chinese New Year is remembered through the rituals at the reunion dinner table. His mom would always cook arrowhead with Chinese sausage, a dish that only appeared during the festive season. There is also one rule that remains the same : the entire reunion dinner has to be eaten with chopsticks, no forks or spoons allowed. Looking back, those small rules are what made Chinese New Year feel different from every other meal of the year.

Ian: The Unexpected Joy of Pizza

For Ian, Chinese New Year was more than the traditional Chinese dishes. “When I was younger, I rarely had pizza,” he laughs. “So I actually looked forward to eating pizza during Chinese New Year, along with other non-Chinese dishes like mutton and satay.” It’s a small memory, but a powerful one. It speaks to how Chinese New Year isn’t rigid but it evolves with each family. What mattered wasn’t what was on the table, but the feeling of abundance, excitement, and permission to indulge in something special. Those unexpected traditions often become the ones we remember most. And when captured in photos, they tell future generations something important: family traditions don’t have to look a certain way to be meaningful.

Jon: Fireworks, Freedom, and Childhood Wonder

Jon’s Chinese New Year memories sparkle, yes, quite literally. “My parents would always buy me fireworks from a cake shop,” he recalls. “I’d carry a plastic bag full of fireworks to my grandma’s house and have the time of my life with my cousins.” The excitement of holding that bag, the smell of gunpowder, the thrill of lighting fireworks together, the definition of pure childhood joy. Those moments weren’t planned or posed, but they shaped his fondest memories of the festive season. Today, those carefree moments live on through old photos and stories retold at family gatherings. It’s a reminder that what feels like chaos at the time often becomes the most treasured memory later.

Why These Stories Matter

Chinese New Year isn’t just one day (or fifteen days). It’s a collection of precious moments, some loud, some quiet. These moments shape how we remember family. These personal traditions are why we believe so deeply in photographing families during this season. Because one day, today’s children will talk about their own favourite memories. And photos will help them remember not just how it looked, but how it felt. This Chinese New Year, whether it’s your first reunion in years or another familiar gathering, we’re here to help you preserve these moments, especially when these are the ones that come home only once a year.

Jasmine Tai In At Home, Life, Portraits, Promotions, Tips + Ideas

5 Heartfelt Year-End & Christmas Gift Ideas

Okay everyone, let’s be honest: every December, we tell ourselves, “This year I’m going to buy meaningful gifts. No more last-minute, random stuff.” And then suddenly it’s the 24th, online shopping carts are panic-filled, and we’re quietly hoping no one notices we reused a gift bag or even a gift from 2 years ago.

So this year, let me help you out and share a few gift ideas that are personal, fun and honestly, something even you would like to receive. These are the kinds of gifts people actually remember and go “Aww, you are so thoughtful!”

1. A Family, Couple, or Bestie Photoshoot Package (from RM680 & up)

You know how we always say, “We should take proper photos together one day!”? Well, this is that one day gift. A photoshoot package is like bottling up time and it’s something you can use any time, for anyone. Whether it’s for your parents, your siblings, your partner, or a friend who just had a baby or just got engaged. Imagine gifting them an experience where they get to laugh, dress up, feel special, and then receive photos they will keep for life. And the best part? You’re not just giving them images. You’re giving them a memory they will hold dear to and look back on for years. (Psst… our photoshoot package starts from RM680, just in case you want to be the hero of the season.)

2. A Personalized “Memory Box” Filled With Small Treasures

This is my favourite for the sentimental souls. Grab a pretty box, whether it’s wooden, metal, fabric, anything that sparks joy and fill it with tiny reminders of your year together:

Movie stubs
A tiny jar of their favourite snacks
A handwritten letter
A printed photo from your last trip (very important!)

A little keepsake that only the two of you understand
It’s simple, inexpensive, and ridiculously meaningful. Receiving gifts is not my top 2 love languages but I love it when people put thought into the gifts and they make me go: “You actually remember what I told you?!”

If this idea is a tad bit too much due to your busy schedule, check out the next one.

3. Christmas Candle Sets (Preferably Something That Smells Like Cookies!)

For the friend who says “I’m not celebrating Christmas” but secretly loves all the vibes — candles are a dream. Warm vanilla, cinnamon spice, pine forests, gingerbread… basically anything that makes your home feel like a Christmas movie. If you prefer a safer choice, you can opt for vanilla or something light like ocean breeze. Bonus points if you pair it with:

A mug
Hot cocoa mix
A handwritten “slow down and rest” note
It’s the perfect self-care bundle for anyone ending the year tired (which… is everyone, let’s be real).

Christmas Candle Gift Set

Christmas Discovery Candle Set

4. Personalized Gifts

This one’s for families with little ones (aged ~3–8), but I promise! The excitement spills over to everyone. The Flight of Imagination is a personalised storybook where the child becomes the main character! You can include their name, choose skin-tone options, and even slip in two of their family photos so the story feels like “their story”. It’s a whimsical, heart-warming book they read tonight, treasure forever, and maybe show off to their own child someday. Whether you go for the “name only” version, or the full “photo plus story” book with a photoshoot session, this gift becomes a memory beautifully preserved.

5. The Gifts of Experience

Honestly, people don’t need more stuff. They need more moments. Fun experiences that bring out so much joy and laughter, and to discover more about themselves. So whether it’s a pottery class, a Christmas market date, a baking workshop or a massage or spa voucher, experience gifts are the kind people talk about months later. It’s something they enjoy, learn from, and remember even long after most physical gifts are forgotten at the bottom of the drawer. If you’re thinking what to get for me, I would totally love a spa voucher please 😛

A Little Reminder From Me to You

Gifts don’t have to be expensive or elaborate. They just need to say: “I thought of you. You matter to me.” Even if you have not met or spoken to them since last Christmas. And if you ever need help turning memories into beautiful photographs, you know where to find us.

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a greater new year ahead!

Love from,

The Stories Team

Grace Tan In Musings, Running a Business

Year-end reflections

Every year as December rolls in, I find myself slowing down, almost instinctively counting the blessings from the past 12 months. 17 years in this industry still feels surreal!

I started this journey with nothing more than heart. I was naive, lacking any form of photography or business skills, but just a desire to tell stories. I made many mistakes but learnt many lessons along the way too. Somehow, one year folded into the next, and here we are in 2025.

17 years as a photographer and business owner

I used to remember every client’s name and face in the early years. These days, after thousands of portraits, the details blur a little (could be perimenopause too!). Still, what stays with me are the seasons I’ve journeyed through with so many families. Watching little ones stretch into teenagers, seeing couples weather the years with grace, and at times, hearing about losses that break our hearts. I am reminded over and over again why photography matters.

This truth became even clearer when my aunt passed away this year at the age of 86. She lived alone in Melaka as a single person, and my family were the closest relatives since the rest live overseas. One moment she was line dancing with her friends, the next we were facing an aggressive illness we didn’t see coming. When we put together her obituary photos, I felt grateful for every little memory we had documented as a family. In the end, these pieces of our lives become priceless.

My family with my aunt

To every client who has trusted us with your stories, thank you. Whether it is through photography or a video documentary of your life, your memories matter to us. We want you to feel joy every time you look through your photos.

This year brought fresh stories. Families with their pets, travellers exploring Malaysia, couples falling in love, and of course, one of the most memorable shoots of the year—documenting our past prime minister, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s 100th birthday party.

Our team covering Tun Dr Mahathir’s 100th birthday

We also relaunched our Flight of Imagination storybook, now available in an illustrated version for younger children. If you’re looking for a meaningful gift for kids below 8, you can personalise the illustrated Flight of Imagination. Add your child’s name, choose the relevant illustration, and include two of your own family photos. It’s RM120 and makes such a sweet keepsake.

I’m also leaving you with a video from Danny and Tanya, a family we’ve walked with for many years. What they shared captures the heart of why we do what we do. If you’re thinking of a family shoot, don’t wait too long. We’re feeling extra festive and have packed Christmas Blind Box gifts worth up to RM2,000 for bookings this season. Wishing you a meaningful year-end with the people you love. I hope our paths cross again soon.

Jasmine Tai In At Home, Family + Children Portraits, Life, Portraits, Studio

The Years Are Short, but the Memories Can Be Long

Let me tell you something I’ve really been feeling lately: this year went by in a blur. Like… a blink. One moment it was January, and suddenly we’re here, wondering how 11 months disappeared without asking for permission.

And maybe it’s not just me. Maybe you feel it too. Maybe you’re also wondering how your kids grew when you were just trying to keep up… or how your parents seem a little softer this year… or how long it’s been since all of you stood together in one frame, at the same time, in the same season of life.

It hits me every year-end: the days feel long, but the years? They’re unbelievably short.
And I don’t want us to wake up one day wishing we had kept more of these little moments.

When We Think We Have More Time Than We Do

I catch myself saying it all the time:
“I’ll book the photoshoot soon.”
“I’ll do it when things slow down.”
“I’ll plan it when everyone’s free.”

And if we’re honest… that “soon” never really comes, does it? Recently my mother-in-law was admitted to the hospital due to a brain injury and she’s been bedridden since. I tried looking for the last family photo we took together when everyone was around and I realized that photo was taken almost 2 years ago during Chinese New Year.

Life doesn’t slow down. Kids don’t stop growing while we breathe. Parents don’t pause their aging. And as we are trying so hard to balance everything, we don’t always realize a moment is becoming a memory until it’s already behind us.

I don’t say this to make you feel guilty. I say it because I’ve felt it too. We think we have more time than we do. We think our loved ones will always look, sound, and move the same way they do now. But time has this quiet way of changing things when we’re not paying attention.

And that’s why I’m writing this — for you and for me. Because I don’t want either of us to miss the version of our family we have right now.

Why Year-End Photos Hit Different

There’s something about this season that makes everything feel a little more real. We slow down. We’re a little more reflective. A little more sentimental. A little more aware of the people who make our lives feel like home.

Maybe it’s the holidays. Maybe it’s the slower nights. Maybe it’s just that invisible shift that happens when the year is about to end. That is why year end photos hit differently. They don’t just capture what your family looks like — they capture who you were this year. The energy. The connection. The inside jokes. The chaos. The quiet love you might take for granted because you’re living it daily.

And trust me on this: the future us is going to want that. Not the perfect outfits or the camera-ready hair, but the real expressions, the real hugs, the real “this is us right now” kind of moments.

The Things We Don’t Want to Forget

When people talk about what they miss, it’s never the big events. It’s always the tiny things we didn’t realise were disappearing:

The way our child still runs into our arms. The way our parents still call our name with that familiar softness. The way grandparents laugh — that specific laugh that you can recognize even from another room. The way our homes look before they change or before we leave them.

These little things? They become some of the biggest treasures later. And taking photos now is how we hold onto them long after time moves on.

You Don’t Need “Perfect.” You Just Need Now

If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably thought: “I need to lose a little weight before the photos.” “I want to wait until my kid’s hair grows.” or “I want the house to look nicer.”

But here’s the truth between us: Our loved ones don’t care about any of that. They care that we’re in the photos with them. They care that we showed up. They care that we wanted to remember this chapter together. I still remember one of the Chinese New Year during the COVID-19 season, all of us were in frame together with our masks on. Even though half of our faces were covered, it serves as a reminder that we went through that season together and came out of it stronger.

Let’s Not Wait Another Year

I’m telling you as a friend: Let’s not let another year slip by without freezing the things we’ll miss most. Not the achievements or the milestones. But the people. The hugs. The laughter. The closeness. The version of your family that exists right now, in this irreplaceable moment in time.

The years are short — painfully short. But the memories we choose to keep? Those can stay with us for decades. For generations. For as long as someone opens an album and smiles. So before the year ends, let’s do something our future selves will thank us for. Let’s freeze the love we’re living today.

📸 Book your year-end family session.
For you, for us, for the memories we can’t afford to lose.

Jasmine Tai In Portraits, Relationships, Studio

Couples in Love, To Have and To Hold

Love has no expiration date. Whether it’s the excitement of young couples embarking on their journey together or the deep, quiet understanding shared between those who have spent decades side by side, each love story is unique and worth capturing. The way they look at each other, the gentle touches, and the knowing smiles all speak to a love that has weathered the storms of life. Valentine’s Day is a reminder to cherish and celebrate love, and what better way to do so than by preserving it in photographs? Whether young or old, every couple has a love story worth telling. So this year, consider capturing your love through the lens—a timeless keepsake of the bond you share.