Did you know that 1 out of 68 children are affected with autism? Autistic children face various challenges in life. We partnered with The Hope Project, the non-profit arm of Early Autism Project Malaysia to create a video about autism awareness.
So what is autism?
Autism is a lifelong development difficulty that affects how an individual relates, communicates and interacts with other people as well as how they perceive the world around them. In essence, they face deficits in social communication/ interaction and have restricted, repetitive patterns of behaviour or interests. It is a spectrum disorder in which their symptoms and severity vary widely across the core characteristic symptoms. This means, while all individuals with autism share certain similar difficulties, these symptoms affect their lives differently. (extracted from EAP’s website)
If you would like to find out more about diagnosing your child, you can find out more information here.
Watch our previous video on how to create a successful environment for a photo session with an autistic child.
How true it is that daily life filled with chores, workload and family concerns may seem long and tedious! However, when you look back at how fast the months and years go by you find yourself yearning for time to slow down. That baby you hold today will be a young man or woman in a blink of an eye. Here are some phases in life you’ll want to capture and cherish forever:
BABY STAGE
Whether it is a maternity, newborn or baby stage, it is usually a very special time for the parents. Documenting the natural glow and protruding tummy in the later stage of pregnancy can remind you of how you felt throughout the pregnancy. Capturing shots of your precious baby sleeping in her crib, breastfeeding her or those of a gurgling baby will remind you of the happy (and tough!) times as a parent in the early months. It is also a good opportunity to share the journey with your child when they are older!
TODDLER STAGE
This is the stage when your child starts to discover new things and experiences… like the joy of cooling off on a hot day with the water hose in the backyard, or doing hand-painting in playschool, maybe even digging in the garden with their plastic garden tools. Having keepsakes of them in the midst of these activities is what you’ll treasure later on when they have grown up a little.
PRE-SCHOOL STAGE
At this stage in life, your little one is developing in character and is capable of so much more. They’ll be selecting their own attire for the day, helping you make cookies, learning to cycle, going for piano or ballet lessons! The list is endless… and there’ll be so much to photograph.
PRIMARY SCHOOL & BEYOND
Time zooms by once they start school proper because life takes over and days are filled with ferrying them from one place to another. But don’t forget that even as they grow into teenagers, documenting moments like holidays and achievements will give you something to hold on to before they leave the nest to lead their own lives. As a parent, you’ll want to capture every milestone with your child. Sometimes, you may remember to whip out your handphone to snap a picture or two, but most times the moments just pass you by. It is a good idea to make it a point to get some proper shots of the family together, in various phases of life. You will not regret how it made you feel to be reliving those times again!
Sunsets, like childhood, are viewed with wonder not just because they are beautiful but because they are fleeting. – Richard Paul Evans –
In 2016, I photographed Justin and Nicole’s wedding at the Westin in Langkawi. I am honoured that they contacted me again to photograph their little dinosaur munchkin end of last year. It’s just so wonderful seeing families grow through the years. The quote above resonates with me and reminds me that life needs to be cherished daily. In a blink of an eye, our child is no longer a baby but a toddler, then they become a teenager…
So I love what I do because I get to capture this fleeting moment in time through my lenses. Memories are forever immortalised in that one frame.
On Christmas day last year, I went to meet Jamie and Ann, long time clients turned friends. Their pre-wedding session shot in 2011 at the Gold Coast, Australia is still fresh in my mind as if I did it yesterday, because they had transported a couch and a canoe to the location for the photos! I also loved every detail of their wedding at the Hyatt Regency Sanctuary Cove in Gold Coast and Sails on the Bay at Melbourne, Australia.
So it’s been many years since we met, but I love how social media keeps everyone connected and I could always keep up to date on everyone’s lives. So it was only in 2017 that I managed to meet them again, this time with two little cutie pies in their arms! It was also wonderful to see Ann’s family again.
Lots of love to the both of you, and I will definitely see you again in the future, perhaps with my kids in tow instead!
If you are looking for new ways to make your wedding or family photos stand out, how about a driftwood and air plant photo frame? It is an alternative idea to displaying your beautiful photos. I have always loved succulents, cacti and air plants ever since I knew of its existence, so what better way to combine to passions than to create a new product like this? Each driftwood frame is unique, as no piece of wood is exactly the same. The one displayed here is about 10 inches in length and can hold 2 photos in 4R size.
Some interesting facts about air plants, also known as Tillandsia.
1. Native to the forests, mountains and deserts of Central and South America, the southern United States and the West Indies.
2. They normally grow without soil and can be placed on various surfaces without harm.
3. They love well ventilated areas with lots of open space.
4. Air plants enjoy indirect sunlight or filtered bright light and do not require frequent watering.
5. You can water your air plant by misting it twice a week but you would also need to soak it in water for a few hours once a week.
So it’s pretty easy to care for, but here’s some other info you can read about air plant care. Let us know if you would like to order one for yourself! Prices start from RM150.
Our air plant displays will make a debut this 10th and 11th March at the StarWow bazaar at the Starling, Damansara Utama. You can purchase our photography packages, baby gift book or our driftwood frame there. Do let us know on our social media pages what you think of this alternative framing idea!
