Studio

Grace Tan In Casual Portraits, Portraits, Studio

Portrait Shoot: Pandelela Rinong

One day, I received a call from Pandelela’s new manager, Jolene Knight, whom I got to know years ago through my ex-colleague, Jek. She casually asked if I would be interested to photograph Pandelela Rinong… oh you know, our first female Malaysian diver who won a bronze medal at the 2012 Olympics in London. Yeah, like, duh, of course! I was excited to meet this pretty little lass from Sarawak (she is quite petite too, like me!).

I had a brief to create images that reflected different parts of her personality. Naturally, while at the pool, we needed to demonstrate precision, strength, power and determination… but off-work, she is fun and approachable. Thank you, Jolene and Mike for the opportunity, it was wonderful to get to know Pandelela in person.

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

Graduation Shoot: Jolina & Janisha

Graduation portraits have since moved on from being stiff images posed in front of a fake bookshelf, holding certificates with an equally forced smile. Come on…everyone is young, energetic, about to take on challenges that the world is about to give them… these portraits should be bursting with energy! We’re pleased to have had Jolina and her friend Janisha over at our studio recently for their graduation photos.

It’s obvious they were really good friends as the session was filled with lots of fun, under Jamie’s direction as photographer. Jolina is no stranger to us, as years ago, I photographed her sister Angela’s wedding and also Angela’s graduation photos. So we’re really pleased to have photographed her family again this year. I was also excited to hear that they have a wall full of canvases at home, covered with photos that we have taken through the years. :)

Oh, and there was also something special that happened at this session… our other photographer Nigel who assisted Jamie at this session met Jolina for the first time at the studio… Well, all I have to say is that we at Stories sometimes provide matchmaking services. *GRIN*

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Grace Tan In Family + Children Portraits, Portraits, Studio

Newborn portraits with Nico & Muriel

Just barely a month after her birth, Yasmine had her first official shoot at our studio. It was really lovely to get to know this gorgeous little girl and her equally beautiful parents, Nico and Muriel. She looks so alert and attentive to the camera, quite different from a lot of newborn babies I know who are usually sleeping. I love photographing real connections like these, more so than the posed photos of newborn babies in baskets (though I have also done a few of those). I also love seeing the connection of the baby with her parents… skin to skin… the most beautiful texture on earth.

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Diane In Family + Children Portraits, Life, Musings, Portraits, Studio

Family Portraits: Rayson, Yee See & Lisa

I blew the candles on the cake of my 28th birthday last 10th June, and commemorated 4 years working in Stories on 14th June. As I took some time off on my birthday week to contemplate on the intricacies of life- my experiences and journey thus far, needless to say, I can’t help feeling overwhelmed with gratefulness. Having grown these past 4 years photographing weddings and then family portraits, I see our clients move on with life as well- from their wedding day to having a child. Truly, time passes by really quickly, even more so in this fast-paced life where everything is somewhat instant. If we don’t stop and savour the moments, it’ll all be gone.

Rayson & Yee See‘s family has grown, with Lisa as their latest addition. Here’s Lisa’s first few wobbly steps, which I have had the honour to photograph.

20150131_Family_Portraits_Rayson_YeeSee_Lisa_074 It is moments like these I live to capture as a photographer. Seriously.

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Diane In Family + Children Portraits, Portraits, Studio

Studio Family Portrait: Glen & Nikola

It’s one of those Sundays where my head was perhaps up in the clouds. You know, where somehow things just don’t start out right? So on the day of the Upson family shoot, I accidentally locked myself out of the empty office with no phone, no key, no door pass… just before the family arrived! In my panic I went to our next unit where Jack, our contractor was working and used his phone to call for help.

Long story short, I technically made our contractor climb dangerously to our unit though the ceiling, ropes and all, to open the door and let me in. In Jack’s words, he felt like he committed an act of thievery by “breaking in” like that. Yea, I know, I felt awful!

So yes, I had to stay focused on the shoot after the blunder, which wasn’t hard to do because the family was such a great sport! Baby Hugo came in cheerful and well-rested, so I started with some photos of him first.

20150621_Family_Portraits_Glenn_Nikola_Jayden_Hugo_042 What a cutie, don’t you think? GAAAH.