photographer

Grace Tan In Family + Children Portraits, Musings, Portraits, Tips + Ideas

Photographing Children With Autism

We rarely photograph families with children with special needs like autism, and we wondered if it was because parents were simply too intimidated by the whole process. We decided to work with the nice folks from Early Autism Project Malaysia to equip ourselves as well as make a video to provide some tips on how to manage a family photo shoot session with a child with autism.

We started off with an interview with Jochebed Isaacs from EAP Malaysia who gave us some insights into the specialised therapy offered at their centre for children with autism. We were later introduced to Juan and Nancy, who welcomed us into their home for a photo shoot session with their sons Danny and Tommy. The experience proved to be quite tough but we soldiered on and even received hugs from Danny at the end!

Here are some of the pointers we picked up through this experience:

1. It is important to communicate with the child
Prepare in advance before the session. Communicate clearly what is to happen and what is expected of him. The use of visuals like schedules, social stories and role-plays help to familiarise the child to the event and venue, the people involved (especially if they are unfamiliar to the child), the flow of events and the special equipment used (like the camera!). It should also spell out the rules and expectations.
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Grace Tan In Family + Children Portraits, Portraits, Studio

Extended Family Portraits: The Hengs

When we first received the enquiry from Ming Li for a family portrait session, we freaked out just a little bit. It wasn’t because she had weird family members or queer requests… it was because the photo shoot was for 27 persons and they wanted it in our humble little studio! After some discussion, the team decided to take up the challenge and even held a mock shoot with as many people from the office as we could gather to ensure we could fit everyone in comfortably for the group shot.

Grace Tan In Maternity, Musings, Portraits, Tips + Ideas

The Secret to Beautiful Maternity Photos

Every pregnancy is a journey of self-discovery for the mother. No matter how many times you have gone through it, the experience is never the same. Recording every single milestone of this beautiful journey can be an exciting project, which you can share with your children in time to come.

There are mothers who are a little shy and insecure about looking frumpy in their maternity photos, but fear not! Here are some tips for you to achieve beautiful pregnancy images. Of course, if you can hire a professional photographer to shoot your maternity pictures, that would be ideal!

1. Timing

If you’d like to keep a record of your baby bump growing, try to take the same shot with the same angle every month so that you can compare the size as your belly grows. Alternatively, if you are hiring a photographer for your maternity photos, the best timing to shoot would be around the 7th month as you are still energetic after your 2nd trimester. You can still choose to wait a little longer if you want to photograph a larger belly, but don’t leave it till the last minute!

2. Outfits

Choose outfits that accentuate the shape of your belly, or even expose it. You can opt to wear a short tube top paired with a skirt, a body fitting dress, or a sexy shirt, unbuttoned at the bottom. Sexy lingerie does the trick too. Don’t hide your protruding belly… it is what makes pregnant women so beautiful!

3. Good lighting

Keep it natural. Take photos next to windows or in areas that has lots of natural light. Avoid taking photos in fluorescent or down lights, as they create an unflattering, yellow-coloured cast on your belly. If there isn’t much natural light in your home, your house porch will do the trick!

For an outdoor shoot in the park, try not to head out when it’s too hot. The best timing would be in the morning before 9am or late evening after 5pm.

4. Props

Perhaps you might want to incorporate some props into your photo shoot, like letters that spell your baby’s name, cute little shoes, or the ultrasound scan. It’s a great way of personalising your photos.

5. Pamper yourself

You need to know you’re beautiful even thought your body looks different while being pregnant, despite the swollen legs and probable weight gain. Before your photo shoot, treat yourself to a nice bubble bath and get a makeup artist to give you a makeover. If you feel beautiful, you’ll exude confidence through your images!

Maternity photos can be a special way to help you cherish the moments as it unfolds.

If you are interested in doing a maternity shoot, contact us here to book one! Our studio is well-equipped with props, comfortable furniture, clean changing rooms, and lovely natural lighting.

Grace Tan In Family + Children Portraits, Portraits, Studio

The dragonboating family: Lee Shih & Su Li

I love how this family incorporated their favourite activity into their portrait session, by bringing dragon boat oars into our studio! It’s a fun way to inject personality into your family portraits. Luckily I managed to find a ‘boat’ for our little one to use during this session. What a fun session we had. Thank you for a wonderful time together, Lee Shih and Su Li!
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Grace Tan In Chinese Weddings, Wedding Films & Videos, Weddings

Wedding at St Regis, KL: Fang & Claire

The best kind of love develops over time. Qing Yao and Claire first met in college but love did not bloom at that point in time. They worked together on a project which gave them the opportunity to get to know one another a little better, but that was all there was to it then. Ending up in the same university in Melbourne was the turning point.

It was there that Qing Yao asked Claire out on a date on his birthday so she couldn’t say no! Their first date couldn’t be more perfect in Claire’s eyes. It wasn’t just the Japanese meal, movie or drink thereafter that closed the deal… it was how compatible they were, sharing similar values and ideas, and never encountering an awkward silence!

One thing that has made a huge impact on Claire since that first date is how Qing Yao has encouraged her to chase her dream of owning a fashion empire in the future. Just by doing that, he has given her the assurance that he’s committed to fully supporting her as they start this journey as husband and wife. We wish them both all the love and good wishes on this journey, and we’re so glad we got to be a part of their wedding!