I wish I could write longer for today's post, unfortunately, time is SO not my friend today. So I'm going to leave you with the images and let them do most of the talking today. Leena and Kristian's wedding was packed and filled with love and beautiful moments...you just knew this was a couple that deeply treasured each other in their lives, and held their family as close to their heart as each other. I loved seeing how that transcended in photos. 
 
Enjoy my faves from their day! As usual, Im terrible at cutting down - but I am getting better! This post originally had 50 images! :p

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

The boys were too cute not to be in the camera frame for alot of the day! :D 
 
 
 
 

I love those brief moments just after the ceremony :D

 
 

These two almost stole the show for the day :) 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Then it was off for some quick portraits. We couldn't stay out long because the weather wasn't fantastic and it was unusually cold! 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Bling analysis! :D 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Alot of photographers I know mention that nothing happens at receptions, but I beg to differ! Look at this evening! :D 
 
 
 
 
 
 

First dance. Totally not in focus, but I think that's why I love it. It's more dreamy. 
 
 

And probably my favourite shot from the day - The father-daughter dance. So beautiful. 
 
 

Then it was just off to party ;) 
 
 
 
 

I don't usually post good-bye shots, but these struck my eye - this was one close family :) 
 
 

Ring shot to end the night! :D 
 
 

Have a glorious wednesday peeps! :D

xox

 

 

 

 

I am nothing special of this I am sure. I am just a common man with common thoughts. There are no monuments dedicated to me and my name will soon be forgotten. But I've loved another with all my heart and soul, and to me, that has always been enough. ~ Noah, The Notebook

There I was, sitting with my cherry red toes perched on the arm of our cream coloured sofa, and slowly sipping my glass of red wine that evening while I was pondering over a movie I had seen recently. You see, on nights when my mind has been stretched beyond exhaustion, I have this ritual of pulling out a favourite movie and letting it run its course. Even if I have seen it 2, 3, 10 times, my fingers will reach for the chosen disc, and happily insert it in for playing while I breathe a small sigh of relief. The other day, my sister and I randomly decided it was time again... we had laughed, cried, and hung on our chairs with biting anxiety in The Last Song (By Nicholas Sparks), and I thought it fitting to share with her, Mr Sparks' most iconic creation - The Notebook. Granted it was in movie form, but regardless, it did remind me of what I treasure most about what I do here behind the camera. That is, Love.

People have often asked, what is it that you draw your inspiration from? What moves you? What pushes you to press those buttons when you shoot? What draws you to those decisive moments? What are you thinking? And I have to say, it is love. Because really, I could be a nerd and say light - which is true in some sense (we photographers are technical to some degree), but any tech-head can read and learn to see light after awhile, but what I am really really thinking is about love. Because honestly, in my heart of hearts, I am a romantic to my core. And I'm not talking about getting flowers from my man, kind of romantic, not the big gestures of public proclamation, kind of romantic. But the romantic that sees love in simplicity.

I see love in a look. A look that says you are beautiful, even with bed hair, bad breath, and all. I see love in a laugh. A laugh that grows until your insides hurt. I see love in a kiss. A kiss that is stolen and shared when you think nobody else is looking. I see love in a reach for your hand, even when he is around his friends. Love is when he kisses your eyes to sleep, when you have been crying so hard about something that has hurt you. Love is lying on the grass one night, watching the stars, and listening to each other breathe. Love is shaking your head because you think he is being so silly, but you adore that anyway. Love is when he finishes your food, because you decided you didn't like it anymore. Love is carrying you to bed, because you are too sick to walk on your own feet anymore. Love is spending sleepless nights apart because you are so angry at each other, but really thinking how much you miss him/her instead. Love is an "I'm sorry" after an epic fight. Love is an "I forgive you" when he has done something which cut. Love is when his fingers reach for yours, as he is driving.... just because.

So you see, that is why I love the quote above from the Notebook. Love is enough. In a world and industry that is being dominated by the technical overdrive, by the intricate compositional challenges we 'should' be aspiring to, by the overly processed, I like to say 'to hell with it', strip it all away and go back to what makes a wedding photo beautiful. And that is love. In it's purity, and in it's simplicity. When I am shooting and waiting to see what to capture.... I listen. Not to what a couple says to each other, but more so what their hearts communicate. And in could be in any of the above in some form or another... or more... or less. But I am always listening. Always watching. And I let myself be inspired, and amazed, by the very essence and soul which draws two people together in the first place, and then binds them for life. I love seeing my couples that way. If I can walk away with one photo that defines love for that couple, I am happy :) My only wish is that more photographers in this world would do the same :)

I am nothing special of this I am sure. I am just a common man with common thoughts. There are no monuments dedicated to me and my name will soon be forgotten. But I've loved another with all my heart and soul, and to me, that has always been enough. ~ Noah, The Notebook

 
 
 

Have a beautiful weekend everyone! :) xox

 

 

 

 

There is a reason why I take so long to edit all the thousands of photos that end up being taken on my camera when I travel on holidays with Ju. I like to keep them as a source of therapy when times get a little crazy, or when I need a break from the wedding cycle. Travel photos make me happy :) They bring me back to the memories attached to the times when I was wandering along those streets. Or eating at those cafes. Or just sitting by the side and watching life walk by us as we rested our weary feet. Anyhow, these photos have been meaning to go up on the blog for quite some time, and I thought I'd share some of my adventures in Paris and France with you :)

Hope you enjoy them on this lovely thursday afternoon! :D

 
Everyone gets the regular view of the Eiffel Tower (and yes, I did it too!), but when I walked under it, the geometry was amazing. 
 
 
 
 
The baguettes in Paris were YUMMM! :D 
 
 
 
 
 
 
River Seine on a pretty blue-sky day :) 
 
 
The Patheon was just down the road from where we stayed in Paris :) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
We stayed in the Latin Quarter, reknowned for its amazing food, markets, and pastries :) 
 
 
The geometry in the architecture in Paris was really amazing. I loved looking at it for hours! :D 
 
 
 
 
The Louvre from various vantage points. We went on their free sunday admission day (apparently its the first sunday of every month!) and the place was PACKED! 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Arc De Triomphe. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Eiffel Tower is so pretty at night :) 
 
 
Typical paris street life :) 
 
 
We made it to a service at the Notre Dame Church! 
 
 
People walked, cycled and trained everywhere in Paris. 
 
 
The best part of being in this part of the world around this time was that days were really long... we were getting 9 to 10pm sunsets! :D We were usually sipping red wine, at a restaurant whenever we saw the sun go down. 
 
 
 
 
This shot is a complete accident :P I was trying to take a shot of the Eiffel Tower at night, and I forgot I had left the camera on a very long exposure. Trippy effect! :D 
 
 
Then we headed out to the country, to visit a castle region called Loire Valley. It really was gorgeous! 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Happy Thursday everyone!! 
 
 
 

 

6 weeks of continuous travelling is almost coming to a close, and while I LOVE travelling, there is an element inside of me that is breathing a small sigh of relief, because it means home cooked meals, my own bed, and regularity of life will soon be a daily regiment. And I can't WAIT! :D

For now though, while I am in this state of transitioning, I thought I'd share this lightning fast engagement session we shot in Perth. I love it because we stumbled upon some of the most gorgeous wildflowers, which to me, whispered across hints of "The Secret Garden" - one of the movies I loved as a child :) I love movies like these because they share with us, worlds that are unkept, untouched, where things like magic, fairies, and the enchanted are considered beautiful :) And I really do have a soft spot for things like that :)

Hope you enjoy some of my favourites from their session :) And before I forget, for those who are wondering, Cath's birdcage veil/fascinator is from the ever fabulous Pin Me Up Couture. You can buy their beautiful hair pieces off their Etsy Store - there is so much beautiful stuff to look at! I can't rave about the girls at Pin Me Up Couture enough. They have made some of my brides look SO gorgeous with their amazing designs!! :D

 
 
 

The wildflowers in Perth are such a stunning sight.... better than any landscaped garden! 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Then we took the road less travelled to get some of the below photos :)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

This spot was my favourite. It reminded me of a different world.. one untouched. 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Cath reminded me of an ethereal figure right here. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Thank you so much Cath and Kum Loong for such a delightful time!! I hope you enjoy these pictures in your home as you celebrate your newly married life together, for years to come :) 
 
xox 
 

 

We sat there sipping coffees, while the sea breeze wrapped around us in a comforting sigh that spring morning. I remember smelling the salt from the ocean, and watching Yivonne giggle and chatter enthusiastically about her wedding plans for the following year, while Boon Wai watched patiently with a smile. A smile lined with quiet adoration. And I loved that. You know, those subtle idiosyncrasies that make a couple in love so fascinating. Most people don't realize when I sit and observe them... mostly because my mouth, which runs at a million miles per hour, was operating at full speed. But I do. I love watching, learning, and just enjoying being in love's presence. And that is what it feels like being around Yivonne and Boon Wai (also fondly known as Danny :D ) - being in love's presence, and then dipped in a layer of sunshine, tenderness, and laughter. So much laughter :) 
 
So when it came to their engagement session, and Yivonne wanted something warm, full of sun, and in the vineyards, I nearly died and went to photographic heaven. She spoke my language and I was SO excited to document their love in such a gorgeous setting. Here are my favourites from their session :) Yivonne and Boon Wai, God smiled on you both that day, and gave you both the most beautiful light - I hope you like these :) I am so honored and BEYOND thrilled to be there on your wedding day later this year to document the two of you becoming one. Thank you for a wonderful afternoon (and that GORGEOUS bottle of wine - you cheeky things! :D ) and see you soon!! :D

Playing on the vineyard grounds :) 
 
 

I LOVE how these two laugh :) 
 
 
 
 
 
 

And then the gorgeous light starting pouring over us. 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

I thought this board full of their pictures was soooo cute! :D 
 
 

And then we had some fun with some of the other play things they brought :D 
 
 

Yivonne is apparently a good cook :D 
 
 

Yivonne's 2nd dress here is from Forever New. I LOVE this store, and shop here all the time :D 
 
 

This was a surprise! The sparkly things they brought!!! :D We had so much fun with these! :D 
 
 
 
 
 
 

And by this point, the light was SO amazing, I nearly died. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

And this sign was for Boon Wai ;) 
 
 

These last few frames are my fave... the light was seriously so stunning that afternoon. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

And here is Perth at dusk, with the moon and all :) perth, you are pretty! :D 
 
 
Have a gorgeous thursday everyone!!! :D

 

I'm hopping on another flight now, so see you soon!! :D

 

xox