workshop

Grace Tan In Family + Children Portraits, For Photographers, Musings, Portraits, Studio

Family Portraiture Workshop August 2014

I have never conducted a photography workshop that is just focused on family portraits, so this is the first! If you are a parent who is interested in taking better family photos, I would totally encourage you to come for this workshop! The workshop is targeted towards beginners and amateurs who may have some experience taking family portraits. I will share my experience, not just technically, but also some really practical tips that will help you achieve better results. Even if you are not a parent, but love taking photos of families and children, I do encourage you to participate.

If you do have any problems registering for the workshop, do contact us and we will assist you.

So do join us this 3rd August. Space is limited.

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How to Sign Up:

Visit Canon EOS Academy website and sign up online.

Terms & Conditions for the Complimentary Portrait Session:

1. The selected shoot date must fall within the month of August 2014, and on weekdays only.
2. The shoot location is at our studio in SStwo Mall, PJ and will be done by one of the assigned Stories photographers.
3. You will get 3 digital soft copy images (printable up to 8R size) and one photo print from Canon.
4. Rescheduling of dates is only allowed once, after which, the session is considered as forfeited.
5. Maximum of 6 persons in a session.
6. Please arrive 15 minutes before your session as we value punctuality and we may have another family scheduled after your session. No extension of time will be given if you are late for your session.
7. Limited weekend sessions are available with a commitment fee of RM30 to book your time slot. This fee will be considered as forfeited if you are unable to make it for your time slot.
8. You may purchase additional high resolution photos, prints or upgrade your session to a full one hour session at an additional cost. Please contact us for more details.

I look forward to meeting you at the workshop!

Grace Tan In For Photographers, Musings, News

LiveWire Media: Charge Up Conference 2011

It’s here again! Charge Up 2011, organized by LiveWire Media is back to inspire, charge up and equip people interested in all forms of media. If you have never heard of LiveWire Media before, do click on the link above to find out more. Their vision:

The LiveWire! media network exists
to link up talents and resources,
to raise up a spirit of excellence,
to lift up positive values.

Charge Up Conference delegates, 2010

I have been involved in every single Charge Up conference since 2006. It’s part of my commitment to give back to society. The conference is open for all to attend, even if you are not a Christian. You can be a student in your teens, a young adult who has no experience in media whatsoever, or a person in your 50s wanting to learn a new skill. All we require is an open heart to learn. Speakers are there on voluntary basis, and that is why the rates for the conference is so affordable! RM500 for a 4 day conference, including meals! (RM450 if you sign up before 17 Feb, and more discounts if you are a student or register in groups!)

Date: 17-20 March 2011
Location of conference: DUMC Dream Centre, 2, Jalan 13/1, Seksyen 13, Petaling Jaya
Registration info

You can choose one of the various streams offered at the conference.
Advanced Sound
Basic Photography
Intermediate Photography
Video Production
Video Post-Production
Basic Design
Motion Graphics – After Effects
Motion Graphics – Flash
2-Day Media for Shepherds Track

Ok this is where I do some shameless advertising. I am in charge of organizing the photography stream this year, and I can say that it will be an exciting time of learning… this year, our photography speaker line up consists of Louis Pang, Ke Wynn, Chun Chung, Andrew Chow, Arden Khoo, Aaron Lam, Goh Choon Ean, Mark Leo and myself!

My two presentations are titled “Shooting with a Mission” and also “Creating Multimedia Presentations that Inspire”. The topics are not about wedding photography specifically, but about using your photography skills with a mission. Are you using your gifts and skills for a purpose? How can you think beyond still images and create presentations that are meaningful and with a message? What are the tools that you need?

Whether you are in the Basic or Intermediate Photography stream, you will be given a project to complete within those 4 days. For the Intermediate Photography stream delegates, you will have the opportunity to create multimedia presentations for non-profit organizations… such as the sample below. This video was created during last year’s Charge Up conference.

[flv:http://www.stories.my/wp-content/uploads/2010/slideshows/crisishome.flv http://www.stories.my/wp-content/uploads/2010/slideshows/crisishome.jpg 700 394]

Alex will also have a speaking session, but his is for the Shepherd’s Track, a stream designed to equip pastors, ministry and mission leaders to walk the creative paths that God is laying down for their church, ministry, or organization.

Hope to see you there!

Grace Tan In For Photographers, Musings

Visual Depiction – A Photography Workshop

What’s new and brewing? Every now and then, I get requests to conduct photography training sessions, most of the time, basic photography workshops for those who just purchased their DSLRs. It’s one thing to buy a DSLR, it’s quite another to master those teensy-little buttons! I remember when I first purchased my Canon 300D (my first ever Digital SLR), I read the manual back to front diligently. And still didn’t quite understand what it was talking about.

I learn better through experience and through other people, and so I know how frustrating it can be at times to ‘try’ to get an effect but never quite understanding how to! And so, for all you photography enthusiasts, amateurs, soon-to-turn-professionals out there… here’s a workshop to quench your thirst for photography! This is not a basic photography workshop – you will be expected to know things like aperture, shutter speeds, ISO, white balance, etc.

Presenting…Visual Depiction.

Click here to download the pdf version of the image above.

Organized by Models Inc., this exclusive workshop gives you the opportunity to work with models one on one. If you are looking to expand your portfolio, experience, learn how to ‘see’ the light, and network with other photographers, PLUS get an opportunity to go on live shoots after the training, this event is for you! If you are an aspiring model, this is also an event for you! I am excited to share my experiences with all of you during this workshop.

Day 1, learn how to make a good portrait even better by learning different lighting & posing techniques. You will be utilizing different lighting techniques from available light to off camera flash and also video light to create your portraits. From theory, we will move on to a practical on-location shoot as the photographers will have the opportunity to photograph the different models. Each photographer will be assigned to one model so you have maximum control, and the ability to build your own personal portfolio!

For models, an up and coming stylist will coach you on hair and make-up application and will be giving tips on how to spruce up and keep looking fresh even on a hot day out on set.

Day 2, learn about how to create a good workflow after your shoot. You will be learning some cool post processing skills using Lightroom and Photoshop. A panel of renowned photographers will be invited to review the images so that you can maximize your learning experience. After the review, one photographer will be chosen to go through an apprenticeship period with myself (T&C apply) – to learn from live shoots! Models will be given a professional portfolio worth RM 200 within two weeks of the end of the workshop, including a fashion show line up in October.

Limited to only 10 photographers and 10 models – you are guaranteed a personalized experience.

If you wish to sign up, please email [email protected] with the following subject and body.

Subject : Re: Visual Depiction

Body : Full name, contact number, alternate contact number (if any), e-mail address, IC number/ passport number, photographer/model.

I look forward to seeing you there at this workshop! Hope you’re having an awesome day today!

Grace Tan In For Photographers, Musings

RedNinja.tv got Mojo? camp

After a few months of planning, our first RedNinja.tv event has finally taken off the ground! The got Mojo? seminar and camp was a huge success. We had a lot of fun with so many talented photographers in the country, some who are thinking of making the leap into full time wedding photography. Many photographers said they learnt a lot from Wiki Lee and his wife Ilona, who shared their hearts to everyone. On top of that, they felt the personal mentoring sessions by the team mentors (Jon Low, Mark Leo, Jenny Sun and I) were really beneficial.

I hope that after this camp, a lot of these photographers will put what they learnt into practice – whether it is regarding honing their style in photography, posing a couple, or about how they run their business. Here are a few behind the scenes shots taken at the camp in Corus, Port Dickson.This is Wiki doing some ninja impersonation with Ilona by his side.

Thanks to Canon, we had a few prizes to give away.

Things you learn at camp: As a ninja photographer, you need to be agile. Very agile – like being in this squatting position for hours.

Wiki giving tips to the photographers during the model shooting session.

I managed to take a few snaps as well even though I was there to mentor the team. Here’s Sonia & Reyhan looking really good! All model make up was done by Shinny Ong, who did an amazing job. The beautiful gowns are sponsored by Pretty in White.

The following photos were taken by Mark. He recently made the switch from Nikon to Canon. (yay!) Here’s a photo of Mark looking like he’s doing the macarena. On the right, Jon Low, who was one of the key organizers for the event and on the left, Ian Chong, who surprised us by showing up at the camp unannounced. Ian is one of the other photographers who I have worked with closely over the past few years.

These are Mark’s shots. Models are Rachel & Ser Young.

Shu Wan, Stories’ amazing digital artist was there at the camp as well. This time, she took up the camera and was shooting away instead of touching up images! Here she is in blue (her favourite colour!)

And these are Shu Wan’s shots.

And finally, a group photo of the team I was mentoring. I had fun with all of you!

Grace Tan In For Photographers, Portraits, Pre-Wedding & Engagement Portraits

Cliff Mautner’s Plus Class at WPPI 2010

During the WPPI 2010 conference, (Wedding & Portrait Photographers International), I signed up for an additional Plus class with Cliff Mautner. 2 full days with Cliff and 20+ other photographers equates a really inspiring session.

Photography is all about light. Cliff shared with us about the direction of light, and how the quality of light is more important than the quantity of light. He challenges us to quit running for the open shade! Cliff’s style of shooting against the harsh sunlight definitely has more character than soft lighting.

But at the end of the day, his perspective is that great moments are more important than great lighting.

Cliff shared with us a quote by Jay Maisel, “Take a look at what you’re looking at”.

And another… (i can’t remember whose quote this is)…
“What use is having great depth of field if there is not an adequate depth of feeling.”

How true. Here’s Cliff at work, sharing tips with the class.