Musings

Recreating your Old Photos

Do you have a favourite photo of you when you were child? One of you having ice-cream all over your face, or all dressed-up in a funny costume? Here’s an idea to recreate that photo with the same pose, same person, only 20 years later! :)

You will need:

1. An old photo of you that you would like to recreate.

2. A camera and a willing friend (or tripod if you like it better than your friends).

3. The same or similar location by which the original photo was taken.

4. Yourself! And your enthusiasm to recreate the photo!

Optional: Clothes that are similar to the one in the original picture.

Step 1: Look through your childhood photos and pick one. If you would like to have ice-cream all over your face to recreate the picture and you are up for it, then go for it!

Step 2: Examine the photo closely: the poses, the facial expression, the clothes and the location. Practice the expression or poses in front of the mirror if you have to. Revisit the location where the photo was taken and for the best results, try to get similar clothes, too!

Step 3: Set up your camera or bring your friend to the location and have fun shooting! For the best results, take a few shots. Check and redo until you are satisfied with the outcome!

Step 4: When you are all done, choose your best shot and put it together with the original photo. Print them out and send it to all your relatives. Congratulations, you have now become their favourite niece/nephew/cousin/grandson/granddaughter!

Extra Tip: Get other people involved, too! Here’s my take on recreating an old photo:

Every photo has a story. What’s your story? Remember to show us your pictures!

Grace Tan In For Photographers, Musings, News, Promotions, Running a Business

Bloom workshops is here! Check us out!

If you are a female photographer serious about learning the craft and needing some new inspiration, do come and join us for a weekend of fun and learning! Four professional photographers (Anna-Rina, Asther Lau, Fiona Lim and myself) will be sharing our experiences, tips and tricks of the trade with you from a female perspective. We hope to inspire photographers to dream big and aim high!

Do view our little promo video, and visit our website www.bloomworkshops.my to find out more AND register for the workshop!

Video edited by: Weiming
Music credit: Akvalung

Grace Tan In Life, Musings, News, Running a Business

Our New Ride – The Volkswagen Kombi!

One fine day when Alex and I were talking about life and business, an idea suddenly came to his head… he suggested that we get a Stories-mobile; the Volkswagen Kombi. Frankly, I was a little hesitant at first… I mean, that thing is huge, OLD and might be really hard to drive. Good thing I can actually drive a manual car! I was concerned that I might not reach my wedding shoot destination if I had a vehicle like this. I shrugged the idea off until Alex brought it up again a week or so later.

He started showing me photos of really beautifully done up kombis online. I was smitten. Slowly but surely, I became hooked to the idea. And that was how our search for the VW kombi started. We contacted some friends who were VW enthusiasts and they put us in touch with other enthusiasts.

And then one day, we found this:

And so, unintentionally, the date 11.11.11 became significant to us. It was the day we bought our new bus!

By the way, this photo was taken in front of SS2 Mall, our new office space! But that’s a completely different blog post altogether. Take note that I went the hippy route and dressed for the occasion.

The kombi is in really good shape (considering it’s like a few years older than me… did I mention that I am over 30 now?) The colour is perfect cause it’s what we wanted in the first place (our Stories theme colour is light blue and dark brown). Some even pointed out that the number plate is perfect for a photographer (CF, as in, compact flash cards). I felt as if God was giving us the green light to get this bus.

Our little kombi will be used for shoots, and will also be rented to bride and grooms who are interested in using it as a wedding car. So far, 2 brides have already contacted me about the kombi. Our aim is to get it spruced up even more, but good thing is that it already comes with air-conditioning!

Grace Tan In For Photographers, Musings

Bloom is…

… really up to your imagination.

What comes to mind when the word bloom is mentioned?

Now, what is Bloom all about, some of you have asked. You might have already seen our 1st video here. And you might be wondering who are these girls in the video. Well, the one in red with short hair is myself (if you haven’t already realized that by now). The other three are amazingly talented photographers whom I call friends (Anna Rina, Fiona Lim & Asther Lau). It’s not easy finding female photographers in Malaysia, so I am always happy to have a chat with fellow camera toting women. If our team is not available for any assignments, I would certainly recommend these photographers!

We’ll be revealing more information about Bloom soon, but do leave your comments here as we’d love to hear your feedback!

Video edited by: Weiming
Music credit: Akvalung

Grace Tan In Life, Musings, Relationships

Opposites Attract?

He’s introverted, she’s extroverted.
He’s calm and collected, she’s a social butterfly.
He’s meticulous, she’s a little disorganized.

Just like magnets, opposites attract. I know of many couples who are completely different in terms of character (just like my mum and dad) and yet are together. Growing up, I never really understood this strange phenomenon. I suppose it’s natural to like someone who has strengths that can complement your weaknesses.

Alex and I don’t completely subscribe to this idea though. Yes, we’re different, and yet similar. We appreciate each other’s strengths and weaknesses (‘appreciate’ is subjective at times though) but there are many similarities that bind us together. After 5 years of marriage, boy do I appreciate these similarities! We love being around people, are rather sociable by nature, have similar taste in design (thank God, otherwise we might fight over house ID stuff), love the same God, and share the same values in life. Values like, no matter how tough marriage gets, we will never give up; or loving people trumps anything else in life. Bonus point: We love adventure.

Life to us is an exciting journey. I cannot imagine being married to someone who yawns whenever I talk about my photography business, or to someone who hates traveling. Married life to me means that I am able to journey along life’s path, sharing these experiences together. It’s these experiences that glue us together, stored in our shoe box of memories and help us love each other more.

I am contented.

Similar, yet different.

Photo credit: Jon Low