Once In A Lifetime Photoshoot

Photos have always been very important to me. Ever since I was 14, I rarely go out without bringing my camera. Along with important occasions, the mundane doesn't go unrecorded by me.

But our wedding photoshoot was not going to be a mundane one for sure!

I knew we had this one chance to write our story in photos and I wanted them to be beautiful. So, not wanting to take any wild chances, I decided that we should have our photos taken with a tried and tested wedding studio.

Naturally, Sophia Wedding was the first choice since my Xiao yee (little aunt), Ah Ghim (aunt-in-law) and mom had their photos taken there. I really really liked my Xiao yee's wedding photos. Even though their shoot was almost 10 years ago, recent online reviews still tout them to be one of the best in their industry.

Hebe, our coordinator spoke with us on the day that we went down to Sophia's. She was very friendly and accommodating, and put many of my fears to rest. Living in Singapore these few years, I'd almost forgotten what good customer service felt like. Hebe was like a breath of fresh air! She kept the tea on our table flowing, showed us album samples and patiently listened to our concerns without showing any sign of dissatisfaction. Most importantly, I really felt like she understood exactly what I wanted.

Even though our booking was rushed (we had a month or so to our wedding date), she was able to give us a slot and I even managed to choose my dresses on the very same day. 

I won't share my exact package details because I understand that each couple has very different requirements for their package, but I will say that we got a great deal given the experience and professionalism of the people working there. The total amount we're spending on each photograph is approximately $82 (Singapore dollars). 

I know all of you in the States are probably balking at this amount... Well, that's what you get for living in the most expensive city in the world!

I did look up some individual photographers who are not attached to studios. They were charging a minimum of $1,000 for a whole day outdoor shoot, as well as another $1,000 for an indoor shoot. This is not yet including makeup ($400 for both shooting sessions), dresses (approximately $2,000 for a wedding dress, cheongsam and evening dress) and other things like renting of the suits, editing and printing of albums and large photos.

I figured that with all the hassle that would go into having to look for the photographer, makeup artist and everything else separately, I'd rather just settle everything with one studio instead. I would not be saving money by going outside anyway.

April 24th was the day we scheduled our indoor and outdoor shoots.

Our outdoor shots were taken at East Coast Park and The Orchard Residences. The photographers were Arsen and Jensen. 

Sadly, the first photoshoot did not yield the kind of "feel" that I wanted for our photos.

I wanted photos that were classic, romantic and warm. Instead, we got the above.

After a long night talking with Hebe at Sophia Wedding, they finally decided to let us reshoot the entire thing to our liking for free!

For the next and final shoot, we had Ryan and Carvin shoot for us instead. I'd looked through Sophia Wedding's Facebook page before and realised that Ryan's style was much closer to what I was looking for. 

This time, we went outdoors (still East Coast Park and The Orchard Residences) to shoot first before going indoors.

These photos are all taken by my Ah yee (big aunt) on my camera. 

She and my Ah ghim were the ones helping us that day. I am so grateful to them, because without their help doing little things like carrying our bags around and buying bubble tea, I doubt we would have had the time and energy to pose for so many wonderful shots.

Of course, I am grateful to my mom and Xiao yee too for helping us in the same way with the first photoshoot... It's a shame that it didn't go well!

Knowing that there was a specific look we were going for, Ryan took the initiative to double check each iconic shot with us. If there was something we didn't like or if we had any ideas, Ryan and Carvin would hop on it and try what they could to give us our dream shots.

Our poses felt more natural that day, even though we were tired and sweating buckets.

At one point, Ryan even got into the pool for the right angle! I was actually kind of worried for his camera...

My family supporting us on the side.

And of course the cheeky duo...

Max was really cute, insisting on helping his big sis with anything he could! I eventually gave him the very simple task of just helping me carry my train, which he felt very much obliged to do. 

We were soooo pooped by the time the outdoor shoot was over! It took us approximately six hours... 

Back in the studio for makeup round two.

Our makeup artist, Candy, had been waiting in the studio for all those six hours ever since we left. Earlier that morning, she arrived promptly at 6am just to do my makeup! I am so amazed at her work ethic and skill. Being in the business for over 10 years now, her makeup skills are not only way above average- she's also ahead of the trend and able to give me that "natural Korean" look that is so popular these days.

To be honest, I was concerned whether the makeup artist would be able to work with a tan Asian skin tone like mine. Many tan Asians that I know always seem to end up with fake-looking skin makeup! You know, the ones where the face is ten shades lighter than the rest of the body?

Well, mine was not like that at all. 

Candy did a really really fantastic job. I'm thoroughly impressed!

As for Mister Jerry... He had some trouble tying his tie, so I volunteered to retie it for him.

It took me about four tries to get the right length.

But being SUCH a man, he goes ahead and unties my perfect handiwork, only to spend the next fifteen minutes trying to tie it to his liking.

Grrr... 

It was truly one of the most exhausting days of my life... Jerry even fell asleep briefly on the couch while I was getting my hair and makeup touched up.

But looking at the results makes it all worthwhile...

:)

Locked By Fear

Last Friday, I finally went for an urban again, after a three-month long hiatus. 

It was pretty fun. We skated from Bishan to Khatib along Lentor Avenue. 

Jerry surprised me by showing up halfway on his motorbike just to say hi. That was really sweet of him!

Saturday afternoon, we attended Bozhi and Theng Hoon's wedding held at the Church of God along Bedok Road. 

I was so touched by the look on Bozhi's face as he watched his bride walk in through the doors. Even though this is their third ceremony (they already had one in China and one in Malaysia), he still had that look of utter... Hmmm.... how should I describe the look on his face?

I guess this verse in Psalm 45:11 comes to mind: "The king is enthralled with your beauty; honor him, for he is your lord"

Then after the wedding ceremony was over, we dropped by East Coast Park for an impromptu walk by the beach. Just couldn't resist the beautiful sunny sky!

Here's a photo of us at the place where we first met and have spent so much time skating alongside each other.




I guess, even as time goes by, I am still feeling locked by fear. Fear of the future in so many ways. This fear is crippling me from working hard and from being the woman of faith I know God wants me to be. I spent all day in bed yesterday just thinking about all the possible ways I could fail in this upcoming week and it made me not even want to move.

Dear God, I know all these feelings of defeat are just lies. Please help me and save me from these lies. Help me to walk forward in faith and not in fear. I need your help, you are the only one who can keep me from harm! In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Last Few Weeks Of Being 23

My birthday is coming up next week and I can't help but feel a little sad. As the years roll by and I leave my teenage years behind, I find myself wishing that time could stand still. I know youth is a gift and it doesn't last for long. Like a whisper, it comes and goes. 

I also know that someday in the future, I am going to wake up and realise that I needed to sleep at 9pm not 3am. My bones are going to feel more brittle and my muscles- less responsive. 

Almost all my hobbies involve raising my heart rate to a racing bpm, which is why I dread the day my body fails on me. 

I look at all these young kids around me doing things I wish my fifteen year old body were still around to do. 

So it is with such a mindset that I have been living life. 

Fast-paced. 

No space to breathe. 

Few weeks ago Shirley, two other friends and I went skating/cycling at East Coast Park.

We made it to Bedok Jetty.

And stayed out there moon-gazing for some time.

It was so beautiful, big and bright that night.

On a different day, MingXian drove us both into Johor Bahru, Malaysia. We had lunch at a wanton mee place.

Spent almost two hours grocery shopping in KSL City Mall.

Had dinner at the Bamboo restaurant.

Hung out at Danga Bay after dinner.

Poor MingXian had no choice but to be dragged onto this ride. Even though it was small, it was really fun!

Then we just took a million photos for the rest of the night.

Had a Friday night urban skate as usual to the recently-finished Marina Bay Sands hawker centre.

Met up with the Davidians for our monthly get-togethers.

Went ice-skating with the usual Friday urban crew on a separate Friday.

 

Fell while telling people to "watch out for the curve in front". 

LOL 

Attended Shan Shan's graduation ceremony.

I love graduation ceremonies. I love them even more when they're held in a church with a service and worship before and everything. 

Well, I guess this was my first graduation ceremony that was held in a church with a service and worship before and everything. 

I cried during worship. The songs we sang somehow made me think about how lucky we were with Eric's situation and how God's grace just saves us... weak sinners... I thought about our mission in life and whether I am living out that mission to bring people to Christ. 

Hmm. 

(Note to self: don't wear mascara to church services, graduation or not)

Skated around MBS (yet again) with the three amigos. 

Snacked on the night view.

Finished off with a heavy supper at 126 in Geylang.

This is only one-thirds of the food that we ordered and tried desperately to finish.

On Friday, I went prawning at Farmart with Alu.

And Annie!

Annie had quite a few firsts that morning. 

First time eating MacDonald's breakfast, first time catching a prawn and first time being at Farmart!

Nothing beats eating the prawns you caught. 

Swimming one moment, dead and cooked the next. YUMZ.

So, horrors of horrors. 

I just got back from Skateline's monthly Saturday Night Skate and it was on this fateful night that I dropped my iPhone twice and cracked its screen.

My phone looks like a rat just chewed on it now. 

T^T

The first of the birthday gifts have arrived.

A special chinese recorder-like instrument from Chuan gu & Aunty Pei Leng! 

It's too late to try it now since everybody is sleeping, but I'll probably start chirping away later this morning when I wake up for church.

Gonna be playing the piano at Sunday School later...

I don't know how to explain the rush and mix of emotions that I have right now. But one thing I know: no matter what the situation, no matter how old I am getting or how young I am feeling, my purpose in life is simply to praise God, and I have very good reasons to do so.

All my life Lord, I give it to you! I give all my energy, youth, money and time to the furthering of your kingdom. In every walk of life, I ask that you use me like a vessel to pour forth your Spirit. In every action, word or thought of mine, I pray that you reach out to those who need you most.