Malaysia Lifestyle Photographer And Videographer: Stories.my

Grace Tan In Portraits, Pre-Wedding & Engagement Portraits

Pre-Wedding: Hun Young & Ju Yee

Make Up & hair: Angie Ng
Location: Dusun Garden Fairies, Hulu Langat
Bridal Gown: That Special Occasion & Neoromantic
Cheongsam: Jason Yek
Men’s Suit: Lord’s Tailor
Flowers: Favors Essense
Photographer: Grace

Ju Yee had to wake up at 4am in the morning for her make up session, simply because her photographer Grace said, “The morning light is always gorgeous! So we have to start shoot at 7am”. Not many couples I know would get up that early for a photo shoot. But Ju Yee was all up for it! I was quite excited to shoot at this location, as I’ve never been there before and heard lots of nice things about this place.

And it didn’t disappoint us. Just being out there in a small obscure village, surrounded by trees (and some mosquitoes!) was quite an adventure. Despite Ju Yee mentioning to me that she felt “kaku” or a little stiff in front of the camera, I think she did really well! Ju Yee and Hun Young has been together for many many years – since they were in secondary school. His initial impression of her – “What a tomboy!”

Well, in my opinion, Ju Yee doesn’t even remotely resemble a tomboy in these shots (in my mental picture of how a tomboy should look like!).

I hope you’ll enjoy the shots. This lovely lace gown was made by Neoromantic.

Grace Tan In Life, Musings, Relationships

Appreciating the MAN…

He has been by my side for many years, encouraging me when I feel down, cheering me on when things are going well, holding my hand when I am sick, my adventure buddy, my partner, my lover. That’s Alex.

This is my fourth year of marriage, and boy, has it been exciting. This month, we celebrated Alex’s birthday, and I thought I’d write a post to celebrate him. The best part about my marriage is the fact that I can journey together with him, going on our little adventures together. It’s not just about a trip to the beach or an extravagant holiday somewhere, but it is the little things in life that I appreciate. Him waking up early in the morning to prepare me breakfast. Him carrying my camera bags from the car at the end of a tiring shoot. Him looking after my parents while I am away.

He’s an amazing man.

Photo by Dawn McCarthy

Yes, we have our squabbles, like any other couple (like him getting exasperated at my short term memory, or me getting annoyed at him for leaving receipts and bills all over the floor)… but at the end of the day, it doesn’t really matter. I believe in not holding grudges and working at a relationship to make it work.

So… to celebrate his birthday, I did a few things…

Grace Tan In Family + Children Portraits, Portraits

85 Blessed Years – Amy Low

Our second winner for the free portrait shoot is Amy Low. An amazing lady whose story is told by her granddaughter, Priscilla. Here is Priscilla’s account of her grandmother’s life.

Her name is Amy – beloved.

Yet her life is a long unloving journey. Unknown. Untold.

Taken from her biological parents at birth, she was given to a childless couple so that she could care for them in their old age.
Love her they did not. Instead, they abused her.

At 16, she entered an arranged marriage.
Love her he did not.

From one prison to another, unloved.

But God has been faithful, merciful, loving.

85 years old, fragile, wrinkled.
Daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother.
She bears no grudge, no resentment. She has learnt to love. Beloved indeed.

My wish is that her smile can be immortalized, for her generations to come.

I was really touched by Priscilla’s story. How often, stories like these are untold, kept tucked away in the recesses of our mind, until something draws it out into the open. It is stories like these that remind me about how precious each person is. No matter what background we may have come from. How we all deserve love. And how large and extravagant God’s love is.

This is Amy Low.

Isn’t she beautiful?

She used to weave these baskets from paper and sell them. Such creativity!

Her son and daughter-in-law.

Priscilla with her family.

Amy’s grandson – Reuben & his wife, Joanne.

Four generations of women.

And the men…

A little lovin’ going on here…

Even Joseph tried his luck – attempting to give a kiss to Joy-Anne who promptly avoided him!

And finally, the entire family.

Thanks for sharing your grandmother’s story, Priscilla. I am glad to be part of history – knowing that I have immortalized her smile for your family. I pray for God’s richest blessings to surround every one of you!

If you’d like to view the 1st winner’s photos and read her miraculous baby story, click here!

Grace Tan In International, Life, Musings

India: Sights, Smells, Sounds

A kaleidoscope of colours, smell and taste. I did not imagine India to be anything else but interesting. In my list of countries to visit, India is definitely not one of my top 10. But at the end of June 2010, I had a taste of India. AND, felt the burning heat of the sun, all 40 degrees of it. I was in India for a corporate shoot. 8 days, 4 internal flights, many hours on the road and 5 cities later, I felt I had seen two different sides to India.

On one hand, you have poverty…

Children with growths on their heads, young girls who barely look like teenagers holding on to babies, begging on the streets…

And then you have development…

Fancy buildings that look so futuristic. Offices with coloured glass windows. High end apartments that only few can enjoy.

What a contrast.

Grace Tan In Maternity, Portraits

Maternity Portraits: May Lee & Adrian

It’s amazing when as a photographer, you can connect with your clients. It only took a few minutes for us to feel comfortable with each other. I only met May Lee & Adrian on the day of our shoot, and within two hours, we parted as friends. The love that they share for each other is just so obvious. May Lee, you look gorgeous! And Adrian, you’re not too bad yourself too! :)

I love this bib and clothing that has cute words like these. Even before your child forms their own opinion, the parents have decided what the kid should ‘think’. :) Yup, my kid will definitely have t-shirts that say things like “I have a cool mom”.