Musings

Bin Bin Tan In Misc, News, Parties & Events, Running a Business

2023 Year End Reflections

We don’t remember days, we remember moments.

This quote is at the forefront of our Stories’ Lifestyle website and is one that speaks deeply to our team. At the core of it, our job has been to immortalise your happy moments through photographs and videos. This year we went beyond that by engaging with community and creating experiences for families to make new and unique memories together.

Here’s some of the moments we remember from this year!

Engaging with community at the Ibu and Makchic Events

We were happy to be invited to both events held by Ibu and Makchic this year, two organisations whose work we love dearly. At the events we created a mobile studio setup and took complimentary family photos. It was really nice to be able to give the event goers a little momento to bring home with them and to give some families who may not have stepped into a studio a chance for a professionally taken family photo!

Father’s Day Beach Adventure

We worked with educational program organiser Mad About Education (“MAE”) to create a unique Father’s Day experience where families spent a morning in Pantai Kelanang where we engaged in some play activities, explored mangroves and of course, took family photos! The event was such a success we got requests for similar experiences immediately. (Psst.. we’re in the midst of planning more of these, so stay tuned!)

The Flight of Imagination

And finally.. our proudest creation of the year! I’m sure you’ve heard of personalised children’s book where the text is changed to reflect the child’s name. Together with the team at Makchic, author Kimberly Lee and illustrator Munsya Rahman, we created a one of its kind personalised photo storybook experience where not only are the names personalised, so are the pictures in the book – replaced with photos of your own family. The process in taking the photos and having them be a part of a book, not to mentioned to actual unboxing and seeing your images will be an experience your family will treasure forever!

Looking back, we are so proud to have all of you along for the ride as we continue to create memories worth making. We look forward to seeing all of you again in 2024!

Oh! Don’t miss out on the promotion we’re running for The Flight of Imagination Book Experience! Click on the button below to find out more.

Take me to The Flight of Imagination

Our founder, Grace Tan, has also written a year-end reflection on our business website. Do check it out here!

Bin Bin Tan In Casual Portraits, Family + Children Portraits, Life, Maternity, Musings, Portraits, Relationships, Tips + Ideas

5 Ways to Treasure Your Pregnancy Journey

Pregnancy is a special time in a woman’s life – full of anticipation, excitement, and joy. However, there is often so much to prepare for that we sometimes get lost, focusing on the to-dos, instead of savouring all the special little moments.

Here are some tips for treasuring your pregnancy, and making the journey just that little bit more special:

1. Take the time to prepare your home

Babies may be small, but they can take up a significant amount of space. From diapers to bottles to clothes, the list of things to buy may seem endless! But shopping for your baby shouldn’t have to be stressful.

Whether it’s a nursery, or carving out a corner in your current room, take the time to think about what works for you and your home. Make a list and run it through with experienced mums. Knowing exactly what items you’ll get also prepares you to designate storage space for the things you need and want, so you don’t end up with more than you can handle.

In the end, having that cozy nook prepared in advance for your little one’s arrival will help build anticipation. Plus, a photogenic corner will help you capture the special moments of your journey.

2. Keep a journal – or even better, a pregnancy scrapbook

Keeping a pregnancy journal is a wonderful way to capture your thoughts and experiences throughout the nine months. You can record your feelings, your hopes and wishes for your baby, your cravings, your daily routines, and more.

For something a bit more special, consider scrapbooking instead. You can include ultrasound photos, baby shower invitations, congratulatory cards, and other mementos. Years later, you’ll be able to look back on these items and remember this special time in your life.

Shan Szetho In Casual Portraits, Family + Children Portraits, Portraits, Tips + Ideas

How to Overcome Challenging Situations During a Shoot

When you book a photo or video shoot, you hope for a smooth and stress-free experience. However, unexpected challenges may arise, and it’s essential to know how to handle them effectively. As a customer, it can be overwhelming to deal with a crying child or feeling frazzled from a tough day. Here are some ways to overcome challenging situations during your shoot.

It’s Okay Not to Be Okay

It’s normal to feel a bit stressed or anxious during a photo or video shoot, especially if you have kids involved. Or, you might have been rushing into your shoot session from a hectic work day. Remember that the photographer or videographer you hired is there to help you capture beautiful moments and bring out your best version of yourself. Try to take a moment to settle yourself before going into your session and don’t feel ashamed to express your concerns and needs to your photographer or videographer.

Bring Distractions

If you have young children, bringing along their favourite toys or games can help keep them occupied and distracted during the shoot. This can help them relax and make the shoot more enjoyable for everyone involved.

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Grace Tan In Life, Musings, Running a Business

Living your dream life

The way ahead looked murky. It was 2008, and I had just officially started my photography business. It seems like only yesterday that I bought my first second-hand camera, naive and uncertain about what I truly wanted in life. The only certainty I had was that I wanted to take beautiful images and that I wanted my life to make a difference in other people’s lives.

Somehow, I stumbled into the world of weddings, and that journey took me to beautiful locations all over the world across different continents, including amazing journeys in Bangladesh, Turkey, and Holland. I ended up capturing so many memories that remain as fresh in my mind as they are in my clients minds. I saw these couples grow into small families and their relationships strengthen, and I continued the journey alongside them through the years. Why am I sharing this story with you?

You see, the 15-year anniversary of Stories had a humble beginning. It started with a small dream. A little girl who was terrified but made a decision to be brave and step out of her comfort zone. Despite her insecurities and weaknesses, she decided that nothing would be too hard if God was by her side.

That girl 15 years ago would never have imagined owning a studio and working with eight other talented creatives on meaningful and purposeful projects. She would never have imagined that she had the capacity to hire people, inspire them to chase after their own dreams, and create life-changing work.

But she did. That little girl is me.

Success to me isn’t just about the numbers on an Excel sheet; it’s also about how many lives I’ve impacted. To the people I have photographed, I am a legacy builder. I help connect people to an experience with their loved ones that they will remember forever.

To the people I have hired, I am a dream-maker. So many of the people who have worked with me over the years did not start out skilled. They were like me—someone with a dream. I am so blessed that I have been able to be part of their story too.

What about you? Do you have a dream too? What would it take for you to be brave and step out?

You have one life. Why not spend it doing what inspires you, grows you and has an impact on the world around you?

Grace Tan In At Home, Beautiful Everyday, Casual Portraits, Chinese Weddings, Church Weddings, Family + Children Portraits, Musings, Portraits, Tips + Ideas, Weddings

Printing your photos as a family heirloom

We’ve all been there: your phone is bursting at the seams with photos, yet it’s all disorganised. We take a gazillion photos daily (especially if you are a parent, you’ll understand what I mean!) but these images are lost in the digital world, somewhere between the phone, the computer or the cloud. That is why we really encourage couples and families to print their images. Prints have a longer lifespan than digital images. Due to changes in technology, digital files can get lost or corrupted over time, but printed photos can be kept in albums or frames and passed down from one generation to the next.

It’s a beautiful feeling to be able to display your photos on a canvas on the wall or in an album on your coffee table. They provide a physical connection to the past, allowing family members to see and touch images of their precious loved ones. Family photos serve as a visual history of a family’s past. It’s really heartwarming to hear stories of children looking at their parent’s wedding albums, and asking where they were when the photos were taken! It’s a way for the younger generation to connect with their family’s heritage and understand their place in the family tree.

Printed images can hold such a powerful emotional reminder of an exact moment in time. The memories associated with that event brings back so much happiness. It’s so tangible, and more powerful than viewing images on a computer screen or phone. Why don’t you consider printing some images for your home? I guarantee you that it will add life and make your home even more cosy.