fbpx Skip to main content
Category

Musings

Thoughts on Children’s Birthday Parties

Marc20140315_PATT_MORNING_004As a child, I remember begging my mom to hold birthday parties for me. Even at a young age, I knew parties were fun and the extroverted me just LOVED being around lots of people. To fulfil my requests, I recall the amount of preparation she put into making the party an awesome one for me- from cooking the food to preparing the gift packs and inviting friends and family. Now when I think about it, I really cannot thank my mom enough for making the little gathering a spectacular affair for the 9-year-old me.

Unfortunately, mom was so busy that she forgot to take a photo with me at the party.

Having shot a few kids’ birthday parties, I realise not much has changed. It’s easy to get caught up with coordinating the event and not enjoying it. I think what’s worst is when all your efforts in coordinating this event is not properly documented! Based on my experience as a photographer, I’d like to share a few points for you to help your photographers get the coverage you want.

20131123_BABY_MARC_FIRST_BIRTHDAY_030 Continue Reading

Introducing… The Stories Gift Pack!

2014_STORIES_GIFTPACK_23 I am really excited to be able to share with you a recent development that we’ve been working on the past few months. In the past, we’ve had requests to purchase our photography service as a gift for friends or family members. We’ve printed personalised vouchers and sent it out to the lucky recipients, but all these were done on an ad hoc basis.

So now, we’ve officially launched the Stories Gift Pack! Currently, the gift pack is only available for our Lifestyle Photography packages (Studio or Outdoor shoots for family portraiture, maternity, newborn or anytime portraits). Each gift pack is valued differently to suit various budgets. You can purchase the Stories Gift Pack at our online store where we will courier to any location within Malaysia at no extra cost, or you can walk into participating stores and buy it off the shelf at a discounted rate.

At the moment, the only physical store you can purchase these gift packs is from Blue Dot Baby in Bangsar Village. The gift pack is valid for a year from the date of purchase.

2014_STORIES_GIFTPACK_25So how do you redeem a session? It’s really easy. Head on over to our store page and fill up the form with your details, preferred shoot dates and voucher code that is unique to each gift pack.

If you’d like to enquire about our lifestyle photography services for yourself, do keep in mind that we do have other options listed in terms of packages and pricing, so head on over to our usual contact us form to get our rate card.

Thank you for your support, especially to all our returning clients who have entrusted us to capture your family history… from your wedding to your maternity photos and family portraits. Some of you have recommended friends our way, and for that, we’re truly grateful.

2014_STORIES_GIFTPACK_27

Our 8th Year Together

This morning as I sat on the golden throne which is my toilet, unhappily clutching my stomach from a bug that has decided to hit me at the most inopportune time, I thought to myself, “What a great way to start our 8th year anniversary.” We later joked about it especially when Alex willingly picked up the disinfectant and helped clean the toilet after I was done. What a romantic start to our day.

But what struck me this morning was that this really is an act of love, more so than just the gifts you get on special occasions, or the fancy-schmancy dinners that are planned ahead of time. It is these very things that get taken for granted on a daily basis. The little things we do for each other that demonstrate love in bite sized pieces. Though I love the large acts of love (like planning for holidays together, date nights etc), it is these little things that keep my emotional tank full on a daily basis.

I believe it is these very things that make me feel so loved and cherished these past 8 years. I just hope and pray that I am as good a wife as Alex is a great husband. Growing up as the youngest child in the family, I am used to being pampered, so my selfish nature is something I have to battle with constantly. Over the years, through our heartaches and arguments, I have learnt what it means to live less for myself and more for others. Marriage is one relationship instituted by God that truly brings out the best and worst in you.

So my dear, I am sorry for the times that I might have taken you for granted all these years. With God’s help, I hope our marriage will continue to strengthen through and through. Love you heaps.

Oh, and here’s a reminder of our wedding vows said 8 years ago!

20140713_FAMILYTRIP_PENANG_28

Canon Family Portraiture Workshop

20140803_CANON_FAMILY_WORKSHOP_09In half a day, 25 participants were taught the basics of what makes a great family portrait even better and were even given the opportunity to photograph real families! Chaos reigned supreme during the shoot as with all normal family portrait sessions, and together, we perspired, jiggled rattles, played games, and simply had fun. It was my first workshop specifically on family portraiture, and though I had spoken at many workshops and seminars before, this one felt a little different.

I am thankful to Canon (yay, thanks Chris, Shing Eu and Kevin!) for being the main sponsor for this workshop, and for giving me the opportunity as to speak as their EOS Academy Instructor. We also got to test out the PIXMA Pro-10 printer which was great! I loved the prints that came out of it, so this one’s a keeper! We’ll definitely be printing more images and displaying it around our studio soon.

I’d also like to thank Diane, Jamie and Alex for assisting me on this day because no successful workshop can be done alone.

Here’s some photos from the workshop over the weekend, held at Tropicana Golf & Country Club.

20140803_CANON_FAMILY_WORKSHOP_0120140803_CANON_FAMILY_WORKSHOP_02 Continue Reading

Expecting Number 2

Grace_6mths_KrystaPhoto taken by my talented hubby Alex.  

After going through pregnancy for the first time, the second round kind of feels a bit of a broken record. It’s terrible, I know, but somehow, you are not fully aware of what is really going on in your body (unless your morning sickness is worse compared to your first pregnancy!). I remember when I was pregnant with Krysta, I diligently followed the Baby Centre app, telling me which week she had developed fingers and what stage she was at. Now, I have to think twice when someone asks me how far along I am. (By the way, I am approaching my 7 month of pregnancy!)

But even though I may be ‘breezing’ through this pregnancy, the challenges of shooting while you are pregnant is still very real. I have more backaches than usual (I think it also has to do with carrying a 10kg toddler!) and squatting for even 2 minutes feels like a massive ordeal. Not to mention, I have to be more careful as I almost tripped over stones or cracks on the ground due to my heavy front load!

Maybe I am ambitious, but I still have 3 full day weddings and countless portrait sessions to shoot, before I stop early October. And I hope to take 1 month off and then I am back again end November for our peak season in December. Not too sure how I can accomplish all of these things, but I am trusting God that with His strength, I will be able to give my 110%.

I thank God for Alex who has been extremely supportive as usual, and for my staff who are efficient, dependable and able to work independently so that I can have an ‘almost’ stress-free lifestyle. Without all of you, I would absolutely cave under the amount of work and pressure that running a business entails.

As I head into my 3rd trimester, I look forward to meeting my new little baby this November.

We are still taking bookings for shoots this 2014, so even though I will be out of action for 2 months, rest assured that you’re in the good hands of the Stories team.