Hawthorn - Melbourne, Wedding - Bride arriving in a Bentley

Wedding photographers like me are lucky. We are privy to scenes like this which the groom doesn't even get to see on the day as they're usually at the location already, waiting at the altar. This was taken just as the bride was coming out of the car after arriving at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Hawthorn, Melbourne. Note her flowers too - beautiful David Austin roses! 

Sydney, Wedding - Karla & Manuel's First Dance at Sargeants Mess

First dance is always the sweetest. Right? Right?

And it's always the details that one seem to remember most clearly. A little squeeze of your hands. A lingering touch. The slightest smile.

These were captured at Karla and Manuel's wedding at Sargeants Mess, Manly Sydney. 

Sydney, Wedding - Karla and Manuel - Little Moments

They say that it's always the tiny, little moments that really count. Those are the one you'll always remember. 

A tiny squeeze of the hand. A quick, stolen kiss. A gentle, little peck on the forehead. 

Small actions in tiny fragments of time that communicate so much more thought possible. 

Isn't love wonderful? 

Sydney, Engagement - Irene and Ryan's pre-wedding photography - Part I

Irene and Ryan engaged me for some pre-wedding photos a while ago back in April. They both live and work in Singapore and were originally from Malaysia. It's quite amazing when I think about how people are willing to make the leap of faith to engage a wedding photographer from another country, ie. Sydney, Australia - considering all the preparations that need to go into it before hand and the wedding gowns / suits they need to bring across borders! Nevertheless, that's what I'm here for. Planning everything from the itinerary of the day, locations, transport as well as advice on wardrobe. 

The day when we were scheduled to shoot was a disaster weather-wise as we had the biggest rainfall / thunderstorm that we've had in Sydney for a while.  With the both of them getting all wet and cold, and not being able to get the locations they want in their album, we tried to sneak in as many shots as we could and decided to call it a day. 

Here're some shots from the first day. Love the last shot! 

Sydney, Wedding - Preview to Irene and Ryan's pre-wedding shoot

I like to take pictures when it rains. All the inconveniences and the risks of ruining my equipment aside (weather-sealed pro bodies no matter when it’s raining down buckets!), rain totally changes the mood of the pictures.
Here’s a preview of Irene and Ryan’s pre-wedding shoot. Can’t wait to show you the rest of it!



Sydney, Wedding - Geo and Dan

I'm so excited to share with you a 'post wedding' photo shoot I did late last year with Geo and Dan, who are both Malaysians but are now residing in Singapore. I brought them around all the iconic Sydney locations including the Opera House, Harbour Bridge and also a ferry ride to convict / industrial island, Cuckatoo Island!  At the end of the day, they said it felt like having a really fun one-day tour of Sydney! Glad they had as much fun as I did.

Enjoy the photos. I'm sure you'll feel the love, joy and warmth coming through. 

I think this shoot heralds a slight change in my style of photography. Or maybe it was just my focus that has changed. 

You see, previously I always think about making dramatic and epic shots. Extreme compositions. Instagram-esque colour treatment. More, more, more of everything. 

Now as my photography evolves (or I'd like to think, 'mature'), I find myself striving for restraint. Instead of making my photos look great, I now focus on making my clients look beautiful. Instead of depending on amazing locations, I now focus on capturing real, genuine moments of love and joy. 

Sounds cliche, I know. But you'll be surprised how difficult it was for me to find a good photographer who capture the right moments (i.e. photos that don't make you wonder what the subjects are feeling) now that I'm looking for one for my own wedding!

And I think capturing these moments are easier on wedding days, and more difficult to achieve on portrait sessions when almost everyone usually stiffen up in front of the camera lens. That's why I'm quite proud of this session's outcome, with Geo and Dan. 

I'm not giving up entirely on epic shots though. Like my favourite shot of the day...

"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."

1 Corinthians 13:13