Casual Portraits

Grace Tan In Casual Portraits, Chinese Weddings, Outdoor Weddings, Portraits, Pre-Wedding & Engagement Portraits, Weddings

Portraits at K’Seena House: Joseph & Jamie

I have been meaning to write this post for quite a number of months! Jamie, our team’s talented photographer finally said “I do” to the man of her dreams, Joseph. It was a meaningful wedding for me because I love these 2 people very much as we gotten quite close through the years. Joseph was our housemate for quite a long time until the wedding, and our children loved his playful nature. It was really an honour to be asked to photograph their portraits after the wedding ceremony ended. After the ceremony ended, the heavens opened and there were showers of blessing at the venue (actually, it felt like a storm) but thankfully, the rain stopped for us to take some these images before sunset.

K’Seena House is a very pretty place for pictures, and it was my first time there. I loved how Joseph’s corsage was replaced with a rope, since the both of them are avid rock climbers! What a joy it was for us to witness Joseph and Jamie’s wedding!

Grace Tan In Casual Portraits, Portraits, Pre-Wedding & Engagement Portraits, Promotions

Pre-Wedding in Krabi, Thailand

If you love the beach, I would totally recommend heading to Krabi, Thailand for a pre-wedding, anniversary or even a family portrait session! Recently, we were invited by Tourism Thailand and Weddings Malaysia on a familiarisation trip to Krabi. There were 5 of us – a few photographers, a videographer and a wedding planner. We were brought around to many beautiful resorts and met the sales people at these hotels. Some of these venues were just perfect for a wedding ceremony. In fact, with reasonable air fares, heading to Krabi on a 1.5 hour flight for a photo session is not only easily accessible but it is affordable.

This was my 3rd time on a photo session in Krabi, Thailand. If you are interested in our current promotion (rates start from RM5,500 not inclusive of flights & accommodation costs), contact us so that we can bring you around in the land of Amazing Smiles! Let us arrange all the details for the trip. We will also be happy to take you along for a post-shoot massage. Contact us to find out specific promo details.

These photos were taken around Hong Island and The ShellSea Krabi.

Grace Tan In Casual Portraits, Family + Children Portraits, Portraits, Studio

Modern Graduation Portraits

Gone are the days where graduating students stand in front of a fake bookcase with equally fake smiles for a graduation photo. Graduating students want to have images that are modern, fun, hip and insta-worthy. While we can provide a ‘safe’ image for parents to print and display on their wall, we will also create images that are candid and natural. Our studio in Oval Damansara, TTDI has a natural setting that is suitable for such shots. We utilise various corners of our space for the session, including our hipster brick wall and we can even add on a couch and carpet to make it homely!

Alternatively, we encourage students to do graduation photos at their university or high education centres. It is a great way to remember the place they spent so many hours studying and developing friendships. The session can be combined with other friends, so it will be fun to shoot together. If family members are involved, then why not combine a graduation portrait shoot with a family shoot within the comforts of your home? Continue Reading

Grace Tan In Casual Portraits, Life, Musings, Portraits, Relationships

Celebration of Life: Cancer Free!

I believe that we should celebrate all stages in life, whether big or small. It could be the 1st birthday of your little one, the graduation of your child from university, or even celebrating health like being cancer free. Five years ago, my sister was diagnosed with breast cancer and it was a difficult time for the family. The future felt uncertain. My siblings and I had discussions about whether to go ahead with chemotherapy and what the next course of action would be. I still remember praying for my sister before her operation and I felt so clearly in my spirit then that the removal of the tumour would be complete and everything bad would be removed from her. I felt the peace of God just wash over me then.

Life carried on. She adopted a healthier lifestyle and everything seemed to resume to normal. It was only recently as I pondered upon it, that I realised 5 years had passed since she was cancer free. FIVE amazing years!

When I came across a friend of mine who was hand-making some amazing Breast Cancer Awareness t-shirts, I just had to ask her if I could order one from her. She did an amazing job, and gifted my entire family with not just 1, but 5 t-shirts! Thank you, Tanya Pong for your beautiful handiwork that reminds us… every woman who has ever fought breast cancer (or any form of cancer, really!) is indeed, a Wonder woman.

I think celebrating successes like these are so important. In the past, we have photographed some post-chemo clients even while they are still bald. It was a reminder to themselves that while illness is a fact of life we all have to face one day, at least for today, we can still smile, surrounded by people we love and who love us.

PS: It is always challenging executing your own family shoot when you are not behind the camera and your daughter is on grouchy mode. Thank you, Nat for helping us take these photos!

Grace Tan In Casual Portraits, Family + Children Portraits, Life, Musings, Portraits, Relationships

A new phase of life for my firstborn

Just like every other parent I know, there are some moments in life that are just etched in your mind forever. Like that first cry your child made at the hospital which made you cry too. That moment she took her first few steps, or when she babbled those semi-incoherent words that you swore meant something. Lately, I’ve been feeling a little emotional too, as my 5+ year old is now about to leave preschool and head on to her first year in primary.

First day at preschool

It felt like just a few blinks ago when she stepped into preschool, all scared and tiny. Being a December baby, she was just 2 years and 1 month when she joined the 3 year old class in January. She blossomed from a timid girl to a confident and intelligent child. In fact, going into year 1, she is not fearful at all, but really more excited than the nervous wreck I am!

Packing up on her last day at preschool, just after her Merdeka party

I just want to cuddle her close to me, never wanting this baby to grow up. But she has, and she will continue to do so…growing more and more independent as a person. It’s hard to verbalise this feeling, so bittersweet. So proud of her, and yet this tinge of sadness that her baby years are ending faster than I am willing to acknowledge. Soon, I’ll have a teenager with acne and boyfriend problems and then the day will come when her dad will have to walk her down the aisle to the man she loves.

But for now, I’ll just cherish these memories and be brought back through time with captured moments.

Gearing up for Year 1 on orientation day