cheongsam

Grace Tan In Portraits, Pre-Wedding & Engagement Portraits

Pre-Wedding: Noel & Hui Yi

Photographer: Grace
Hair & make up: Doris
Wedding gown: Pretty In White
White lacy umbrella: Crafio
Location: Pullman Hotel, Putrajaya

It was 4am in the morning. Hui Yi woke up to discover her eyes were red, puffy and swollen. It wasn’t because of the lack of sleep the night before. It wasn’t normal. But with the courage to carry on, and under the talented hands of Doris, the make up artist, Hui Yi was transformed. When I rolled around to Pullman Hotel at 7am, I didn’t even realize her eyes were swollen.

Thank God for amazing make up artists, and for clients who have faith in them and also their photographer.

Hui Yi told me before the shoot that Noel is quite camera shy. I reassured her that 80% of my brides tell me their grooms are camera shy or don’t really like taking photos. Most times I meet my clients before our photography session, but when they live overseas or time does not permit, I only get to meet them on the shoot day. In a short span of time, I have to build a rapport with my clients and get them to feel comfortable with me. It’s definitely a challenge but I do enjoy the process!

Noel travels a lot for work and so this meant that a long distance relationship was necessary. I do respect couples who despite the distance, manage to make the relationship work. It takes resilience, patience, and also lots and lots of love!

Grace Tan In Portraits, Pre-Wedding & Engagement Portraits

Pre-Wedding: Eddie & Ming Ee

Photographer: Grace, assisted by Alex
Wedding Gown / Cheongsam / Shoes: Pretty in White
Make up and hair: Mel Chew

When a gentleman opens the car door for you (a rare breed nowadays!) and buys flowers for you on your first date, you have confidence that he knows how to treat a woman well. That was Ming Ee’s experience as she went on her first date with Eddie. Their first encounter was at the college where she was studying. He was a counselor then, and she was helping out at the college during her semester break. Soon, Eddie left for another organization, but it was the days when ICQ and Friendster ruled the world. And so they kept in touch. One thing led to another, and then they became an item.

Three years later, Eddie left for the UK and Ming Ee went to Singapore. Two years of long distance relationship soon made them realize that they wanted to spend their years together, not apart. It was during their holiday in Barcelona that Eddie decided to pop the question…

And the rest, they say, is history.

Or rather, shall I rephrase, the beginning of history. Eddie and Ming Ee tied the knot recently and I had the privilege of shooting their pre-wedding photos.

Grace Tan In Portraits, Pre-Wedding & Engagement Portraits

Shanghai Love: Yee Jenn & Kristin

Photographer: Grace
Make Up & Hair: Michelle Touche
Cheongsam: Emerald Brilliant
Wedding Gown: Pretty in White

Last year, I traveled to Egypt with my husband Alex, his sister, Sarah and her good friend Kristin. Though I have known Kristin for quite a few years, it was only during this trip that I got to know her a lot better. That’s when I discovered that Kristin does not really like to be outdoors, and that she must have chocolates everyday. Like EVERYDAY. We had fun during our trip, and this year, I had the pleasure of shooting her pre-wedding photos, and soon, wedding as well.

Yee Jenn loves photography and he was really excited about the shoot. I was thrilled when they came up with the idea of shooting in an old cafe with a Shanghai theme! This famous cafe, called Yut Kee Coffee Shop, belonged to Kristin’s uncle, so permission granted, we headed over to the heart of KL for a fun time. On a normal working day, you would have a hard time finding a table to sit at, but the entire shop was closed that day so we had the whole space to ourselves!

Kristin has watched many, many episodes of America’s Next Top Model, so she knew exactly what she had to do to come up with a great pose! And boy, did they pose! The both of them look so good together!