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Grace Tan In Outdoor Weddings, Portraits, Pre-Wedding & Engagement Portraits, Weddings

Mong Ling & Hai Liang: Four Seasons, Langkawi part 2

Ceremony Location: Four Seasons Resort, Langkawi
Dinner Location: Tapaz
Wedding Planner: Touching Hearts Wedding Concepts
Wedding Gown: That Special Occasion
Evening Gown: Keith Kee
Suit & Shirt: Ian Chang from Bespoked
Make Up: Michelle Touche
Wedding favours: Wicked Wax
Photographers: Stories: Grace & Mark
Wedding Film: Wedding Story

After the wedding & tea ceremony ended, we had to take some photos around Four Seasons Resort. After all, it is a beautiful location! I love this feature wall.

And this funky stone wall…

I love this orange Mediterranean wall as well.

Look at the detailing in this gown. Lovely gown from That Special Occasion.

In the evening, we set off sail on a yacht to see the sunset, and for a grand entrance to the dinner reception area!

While we were out at sea, the dinner location, Tapaz, was being decorated. I love the look of the cake!

And then just before it got too dark, Mong Ling & Hai Liang appeared at the harbour on the yacht.

There were lots of dancing and partying that night.

Evening gown by Keith Kee.

The speeches by friends and family were really funny and revealing!

Thanks, Mong Ling & Hai Liang, for making our shoot so fun and memorable. You have treated us like family and are really welcoming. We appreciate that.

View part 1 of the wedding here.

Grace Tan In Boudoir, Casual Portraits, Portraits

Boudoir Photography

Boudoir photography is really popular in the US, UK and Australia, but something relatively new in Malaysia. Boudoir is a french word, derived from the meaning, ‘to pout’, or bedroom. These women, portrayed in a glamourous, sensual way, use the photos as gifts for their husbands or boyfriends. What a wonderful way to celebrate the human form!

I have been fascinated with this form of photography, but never had the opportunity to shoot one till recently. I think I have an edge as a female photographer – my client felt comfortable in front of me. I am really excited to share with you a few shots from this recent boudoir shoot. I have lots of ideas for this style of photography, so if any of you are interested… drop me a line and we can talk about it!

Of course, sexy lingerie and make up is a must for this shoot! Accessories are cool too.

And if you have lovely looking heels like this one – it’s a plus point!

Most women feel that they don’t really have it in them to pose for these type of shots. We tend to feel self conscious of our body and how it is portrayed. “Tummy too flabby, arms too fat, etc”. But at the end of the day, getting great images is really a collaborative effort with your photographer. You don’t have to worry about the poses, because you will be directed on what to do. We will know how to focus on the areas that you like and hide the parts that you are uncomfortable about. The final result will surprise your husband, and I am sure it is worth it!

Grace Tan In Maternity, Portraits

Maternity Portraits: Fiena & Amal

Recently, I was approached by Sylvia, the Marketing & Sales Manager of PitterPatter.com.my, an online guide for pregnant mothers. Two dynamic doctors, Dr Helena Lim & Dr Natasha are the women behind this venture. It is their passion to help pregnant women, especially when it comes to giving good, sound advice for a healthy pregnancy. These women wrote all the information that you can find on the website.

One of the things they wanted to do was to make pregnancy look ‘hip’. Moms are to be celebrated! And so, in collaboration with Pitter Patter, Stories will be photographing 5 beautiful pregnant women within the next few months. This “Make Up Mom Day” is sponsored by Pitter Patter. The first to be featured in our series is Wan Effina, or better known as Fiena. She and her husband Amal were really easy to get along with.

Here are some photos from the shoot, and don’t forget to recommend Pitter Patter to all your pregnant friends!

This is the kind of light you get when you wake up early for morning shoots! The sun starting to peek through the clouds. Definitely worth it!

Fiena’s baby loves to listen to music…

Thanks, Fiena & Amal, for being so easy to work with. Glad you had fun on the photo shoot!

Grace Tan In Casual Portraits, International, Portraits

Krabi Honeymoon Shoot (of sorts!)

Candace said, “Grace, I’d like you to come with us to Krabi on our honeymoon as our photographer.”

Are you kidding? Of course I would!

Well, the trip wasn’t really a honeymoon trip, but a holiday with some of Ashley & Candace‘s closest friends. It was more of a pre-honeymoon trip, because after we left, Ash & Candace left Krabi for Phuket for the real honeymoon.

And so I traveled to Krabi with Alex to meet Ash & Candace and 6 of their friends there. It was a really fun trip, and since it was my first time to Krabi, I thought we might as well extend our trip. Isn’t Krabi amazing?

Blue skies, nice sandy beaches… ah….

When Alex and I visited Railey beach, we were like the minority. Seriously there were more Westerners there than Asians. And of course, being the typical Asian that we are, we sat on the beach, under the shade, when everyone was out there on the beach in the HOT sun. And it WAS hot!!!

Every morning, the sun would be blazing down on our backs, and then in the afternoon, it would rain. When Ash & Candace arrived in Krabi with their friends, it was pouring! This was taken after the rain subsided.

One of their purchases in Krabi. Ash & Candace, are you sure you want to wear this t-shirt on your honeymoon?

The next day, the 10 of us went on a organized tour around Krabi. The troop, getting ready for the day.

First stop: The famous James Bond island.

Saw this opportunity for a shot, and managed to convince Alex to scramble to the edge of the rock!

Next stop is a kayaking trip around one of the islands near Krabi.

Thanks to Clarence & Yen Mei, Alex and I got a photo of ourselves in action!

We did other things like visit caves…

And ride elephants.

I definitely enjoyed myself on the trip and getting to know everyone. Thanks, Ash & Candace for your hospitality, and for the opportunity to be a travel photographer on this trip!

Grace Tan In Portraits, Pre-Wedding & Engagement Portraits

Portraits: Eric & Debbie in Pangkor, Day2

Day 2 started at 4am in the morning for Debbie & Angie, our make up artist. While I was catching some much needed sleep, they had to get ready for the photo shoot. I admire such dedication from my couples! At 5am, I woke up, had some coffee and by 6am, we were off to catch the sunrise at the fishing village.

It was totally worth it, waking up so early in the morning for this view!!

If Angie wasn’t there, it would have been harder to achieve this shot – because I can’t hold a flash on a monopod with one hand, the camera in the other hand, and direct the couple to kiss at the same time. As Louis Pang says, “voice activated lightstand” :) Thanks Angie!

This fishing village is so quaint. And this jetty incredibly busy!! Every 5-10 minutes or so, we had to stop to make way for a passing motorbike. The ‘pak cik’s or uncles were really friendly! They were just so pleased to see a bride using their jetty for photos.

One of the things I am glad Debbie did was to ‘brave’ herself and climb down the jetty onto this boat! Eric said that it was only because I coaxed her!