Funnies for you photographers out there

So since I am up to my eyeballs in work, and STILL recovering from that 40 hour stint of no sleep (i wont EVER do that again, not unless its my plan to ruin my body clock completely), I didn't want to leave my blog today without some love.

So this one is for all you photographers out there. I LOVE it. Its hilarious and you'll totally understand why. Hope it brings a little sunshine into your day! :) All courtesy of one of my favourite sites: Photographer's Math. Definitely bookmark worthy!!

Now the important question is, how many of these are YOU guilty of?? ;)

KL Shoot - Sneak Peak!!

Sorry I can't write much today! I'm in a dueling match with my to do list for the next couple of weeks so I'll make this brief, or else I'll never post it and you'll all have to wait another month for me to post again. And we don't want that right? :D

Anyhow, we had a real quickie (I'm not kidding, it was really fast!) of a session with these two in KL recently so I thought I'd share a few in the meantime while things are a little tornado-like at the JSP headquarters.

I'm having a thing for black and whites lately...

Back soon!

Suzanne and Pierre: Wedding

There is a gentle simplicity in the air that surrounded them. Like the pretty way that yellow flowers look when swaying in the summer breeze, or the feeling you get when your favourite chocolate melts down your throat after a hearty meal. They are instantly likeable, and warm, and comfortable in a way that is completely effortless and uncomplicated. Perhaps it was Suzanne's smile which radiated an abundant aura of sweetness. Or maybe it was the way Pierre spoke, whose tones were always thoughtful and full of heart. Whatever it was, I loved them immediately.

You couldn't meet two more kind and beautiful people, and when they told me they wanted their wedding to be really casual, laid back, and completely candid, I was smitten! My kind of wedding! There's nothing I love more than weddings that are simple in nature, and are more about enjoying the company of close family and friends than putting on a grand show. I love both kinds of weddings, but I have to admit, I have a very soft spot for the former :)

Suzanne and Pierre wed, one sunny and very windy afternoon in Sydney at St Thomas' Anglican Church (which is a GORGEOUS church by the way), and then relaxed the evening away at the idyllic Athol Hall at Taronga Zoo (which had lovely views of the harbour as the sun made its descent) with the people they loved most in their lives. They laughed, let the glasses click together, kissed, and let the love they had for each other trickle across the room in that instantly likeable, warm, and comfortable way, this time as one.

Thank you so much Suzanne and Pierre for the beautiful pleasure of having me at your wedding. You and your families were both wonderful...there was so much love, and kindness, it was a real honor to be part of it all. I hope you are both enjoying married life! :)

Here are some of my favourite images from the day. This wedding felt so classically 'b&w' in so many ways due to the candid nature of the day, I decided to play around a bit more with b&w tones :) Enjoy!

Did I mentioned that Suzanne has the sweetest smile?! :D


I LOVED this mirror. It was so fun to play with during the prep!






One of my favourite shots of the day.


I love photos where you can see several things going on! It brings back slight flashbacks of my love for the "Where's Wally" books.




I wasn't exaggerating when I said St Thomas' Anglican is a stunning church. Probably one of my favourite to shoot in, in Sydney.








Suzanne's mother, as she was coming down the isle.


These shots happen at every wedding, but this one was special to me because Suzanne came down the isle on her own. Her father couldn't be there.












You thought I was kidding when I said it was windy that afternoon? nuh-uh!! Look at this! I thought this shot was hilarious! :D


Pierre and Suzanne requested for no posed photos on the day, so we didn't really shoot much, but I managed to squeeze this in! :D


Cocktail hour.


Details at Athol Hall.


Suzanne and Pierre love cats, their cake is a testimony to it :)


We didn't stay for much of the reception, but while we did, I loved moments like this.


And here is that view I was talking about. Snapped it on the way out that evening :)

Alright, thats it from me for today. This past weekend I didn't sleep for almost 48 hours (yes, that meant I was at the Signature Photographer's workshop this past weekend with NO sleep. I think I looked horrid in the photos :( but the good news is, I stayed true to my promise to be completely myself when I gave my talk and as I result, I felt much better about it!), and when I finally did, I crashed. Like BIG time. I'm still recovering.

Needless to day, I'm working on getting my health back up to shape, so tonight, I'm going to the gym and spending 1 hour there to do cardio and light muscle training. Back soon! :)

A Jenny Sun Workshop??

Okay, not really :p Well, at least not YET. Read on :)

So, hello all! I know I have been hiding. I miss my blog, and I miss all of you! It's been a wild and crazy fortnight, but I promise I have so many updates and things to share! 

The good news is, I'll be putting a blog entry up later today, and it will be a shoot post :D So lots of pictures to come!

In the meantime, I have a poll I have to conduct. I have gotten sooooo many emails and requests for a workshop, and I am finally getting round to really fleshing out the idea. The only thing that has been holding me back is the really really REALLY scary nightmare that keeps flashing in my head that no one will turn up except myself and my two cats. Now how sad would that be! :P 

So, here I am, I'm putting a poll up to ask YOU. Would you, or would you not attend a workshop if I held one? This will be a series of polls. The first one is below, and others will follow related to it (about location, syllabus and so on). So please vote! If no one votes, or all of you say no, then at least I'll know what to do.. or not to do! haha :) Thank you!! much love :)

Autumn and our Creator

I was walking in between locations on a shoot a few days ago, leading the bride and groom to the next spot to be photographed, when I stumbled upon this.



It reminded me why I love Autumn so much, and why it is my favourite season of the entire year). The light was just incredibly beautiful, and the colours so gorgeous. I stopped for a brief moment while snapping this, in awe, at God's marvelous creation... and thanked Him for allowing me to enjoy the seasons one by one. Month by month.

I know I am completely blessed to be allowed to shoot across two entirely different climates and cultures, which only proves to me that God's grace is incredible. Why He has given me such a privilege, is an utter mystery, but I praise and thank Him so much. I don't deserve any of it, which just emphasizes just how amazing our Creator is.

It's like those famous lyrics from Michael W. Smith's song (you have to hear it. Its goosebump worthy inspiring, no kidding) goes "Our God, is an Awesome God" He is an awesome God indeed.

Thank you for breathing life into our existence, and for giving us more than we deserve, for gracing us more than we deserve...and for ultimately loving us more than we deserve in Christ your Son. You are truly awesome. I only hope more people will see you the way I see you, and understand why. That is the ultimate privilege in life.

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Next post will have photos from a shoot, promise :) I am in quite a lot of pain from my twisted neck, so holding my head up while editing and emailing is very very straining at the moment.

Kris Allen and The Dentist

And so the mini blogging continues... at least for this week while I settle back into the office and claim back my routine, while recovering from the extensive travelling this past month or two. The last trip that saw me in 3 different cities over the span of about 4 days, with shoots as soon as I landed, right up to when I had to leave, left me a little battered. For some reason, 9 hours of sleep a day is not enough, and I am still recovering from a very badly twisted neck. The good news is, I think another day or two, and I should be back to normal! I can't wait!!

In the meantime, if you missed American Idol last night, you just missed one of the GUTTSIEST/ORIGINAL performance to have ever graced that stage (it sits in the same calibre as the hall-of-fame and most ORIGINAL EVER performance by David Cook when he did the most outrageously amazing rendition of Mariah Carey's 'Always Be My Baby' ) by Kris Allen. This guy took a song I absolutely cannot stand by Kanye West, and turned it into a song I wanted to rush out and buy. I swear, I think I pressed the replay button on this internet stream about a million times!! And trust me, when I rave about something, I PROMISE it lives up to all the hype. Watch it here:

And if you have been following my facebook, you'll know that my poor husband has been suffering from a very angry wisdom tooth that has been wanting to be released for the past few days. Ju finally made it to the dentist yesterday and got it extracted after 3 jabs of anesthetic, and a little bit of sawing into another tooth. Look at the result!! :)

(taken with our point and shoot. And yes, I did tell Ju to put it on my mac. I am THAT lame, I know!!)

Anyhow, with the whole dentist fiasco, it reminded me of this HILARIOUS video I came across on youtube. I swear, its the funniest thing EVER!! What kids will say when under the effect of anesthetics HAHA!! So, if you are needing a really good laugh or a cheer up for mid week blues, watch this:

Alright, I'm off for now! I am tackling emails today! Its incredible, I am gone just a few days and the inbox escalates to almost 3 figures!! :) 

Turning 2-

My bottom had spent the past 8 hours sharing quality time with the MAS seat, and I was getting squirmish. The signs were rearing their ugly head. For one, my eyes which are so well trained now to be able to stay closed and enjoy sleep while thousands of miles above ground, were shifting left and right, up and down. My legs were in a place of discomfort, despite being in the same position the last 3 or 4 trips they had made on board. And my ipod had become a source of dull noise pollution. I was thoroughly bored. 

Feeling dirty and craving a shower, a little disheveled, and just wanting to feel familiarity and routine, I finally got off the plane and carted myself from terminal to terminal. Ultimately arriving and dumping myself quietly in the car that Ju had come to pick me up in. And when the car ride was over and the bags had to be unloaded, Ju silently walked off, leaving me alone with the 3 bags that had about 50kg of stuff inside. 

That was when I flipped a switch. I huffed, and I puffed, and I would have completely blown the house down in my irritation, however God didn't gift me with big lungs and lots of air, so I grumpily pulled the handles and dragged them along while the sweat beads began to form on my forehead. It was when I reached the front door of our home, that the complaints began to roll of my tongue. "Could you at least help??"... "You could have at least picked up ONE bag"... "I have like 50 KG of luggage here!!".... and I swear I must have sounded like the most annoying wife ever, with my ranting on and on.

Ju then silenced me, and said he had a present. I raised an eyebrow, and reluctantly lowered the volume button of my displeasure. And that's when he passed me a camera filter. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

"Ohhh... thankssss" It was lovely and thoughtful (since I had broken mine in a freakish accident), but the fake smile gave birth on my face. You know, those ones where you look happy and thankful, but inside, you are thinking "errr... huh??" In all honesty, I did think it was really really thoughtful but I was smelly, I felt dirty, and I desperately needed a shower - this overwhelming need must have shrouded any drop of happiness because at that point, Ju gave me a big hug and I pulled away. I just wasn't in the mood to play the happy wife. I wanted my shower!!

But Ju didn't have any of that. As he held me tightly, he slowly turned me around to an open cabinet. And inside, sat a very large box. The box read "Canon EOS 5D Mark II". 

(Taken with the new 5D mkII)

At that point, my eyes completely popped open. Words failed to come to the tip of my tongue. Instead, what rolled out were sounds of gibberish excitement, and some squeals. "Happy birthday, really". And then the guilt came. 

I felt so bad for being such a grump. I mean, it became obvious then that Ju had staged the entire thing (Because he ALWAYS helps me with my bags!!) to surprise me. So I was forgiven ;) And I proceeded to spend the rest of the night just looking at the box. I didn't want to open it yet. Scared that if I did, my birthday would really be over. Which is silly talk, since my birthday had already past. I spent it working and shooting a wedding, and very very far away from home. But if the welcome home was anything to go by, I didn't feel like I missed a thing :)

Ju took me out last night, and we enjoyed a really relaxing slow dinner. The kind where you talk, like really talk, and the eye contact never waivers. Where you sit and eat at a pace where your food cools down faster than your conversation. Where each sip of wine adds to the calm, and lingers til the last spoon of dessert slides down your throat. I was told at that point that I was getting a birthday WEEK. Camera was day 1, dinner was day 2....I have no idea what is coming next, but I know that it will continue until this saturday. I was like 'WHAT? Are you serious???' I was just amazed at how much thought Ju had put into this. I felt so undeserving. You see, I never asked him to buy me a camera (I didn't even hint, I promise! In fact, I made a promise to myself that I wouldn't buy a new camera at all this year), I never asked for a lovely long dinner outside. But I got it anyway. And I sometimes wonder why... because I could totally be a better wife. Cook more for him. Actually iron his shirts instead of sending them away to be done. Spend less time in front of my computer. You get the idea. 

It was the perfect way to end a very long 9 month peak-season for me. Granted, it will still be very busy over the coming months with other types of projects going ahead, but to come back and celebrate a belated birthday with my favourite person in the world, even without all the presents, was just perfect. My eyes closed last night, not in restlessness this time, but contentment. I was reminded that it isn't taking great photos, or winning awards, or gaining recognition for my work that makes me truly happy, but its moments like these. We should all stop once in a while to really relish and enjoy them, because I think THEY should define our existence. Not what we do. 

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Thank you to EVERYONE who sent me birthday wishes for my turning 2- !! :)  I was away from, pretty much everything for about a week, and I came back with a flood of messages in my inbox, phone, and facebook! I can't believe how incredible you all are!! You have made this may baby one very happy chappy! :) 

I have to give a special shoutout though. There were a number of AMAZING individuals (clients and photographers) who made the extra effort to find my home address and send/give me something. I LOVE the presents, really I do. My heart nearly wanted to crumble into a pile of goo when I saw how thoughtful the gifts were. No, seriously, they were SO THOUGHTFUL. From chocolate dipped strawberries, to perfume, to itunes gift cards, hand written cards, to other really delectable yummies... I was just FLOORED. I am the most undeserving person ever to receive such kindness, but you all show me that I am the luckiest photographer. Period. To have clients and friends like yourselves is just beyond me, but I am 150% thankful to God anyway for blessing my path with your presence. You are amazing in every fibre of the word. 

Much love!!

(the below was taken with our point and shoot at dinner last night, JUST before the battery died)

ps: To those still awaiting details of the lunch get together, I'll be emailing you later this afternoon!! :)

Daren and Peggy: Engagement

This post is a big one. It's to make up for the high possibility that I may not be able to get internet access or time on my computer for the next week or so.

WHAT?! I hear you say? No time on the computer!??

For a photographer, that's pretty extreme. Yes, life is that crazy. I really need to finish up this week, and just take time out from the outside world because I fear if I don't, I may just lose my sanity drop my drop. And with my health in shabby state (i know! Boo to this awful flu bug going around. I got it twice this month, which is more than my fair share! So not fair right??), I need desperately to preserve it for the shoots I have coming up, the editing that is on our to-do-list, and the emails I am going to TACKLE for good in the 24 to 48 hours :)

For now, enjoy this session that I shot recently :)

I was extremely nervous... like, pull-your-hair kind of nervous for this shoot, because I was going to have another PHOTOGRAPHER on the other end, with his better half. I just couldn't get my head around the fact that the person on the other side of my camera would actually understand and see all the little idiosyncrasies in the way I shoot, talk, see the light, and so on. It's like being put under a microscope, and then being poked.

Thankfully, Daren and Peggy were absolutely lovely, and were nothing like my silly little fears liked to paint in my mind. In fact, for a couple that have been together for a milestone and mention-worthy 10 years, the way they were with each other before the camera was just a touch of magic. I always respect couples who have been together for eons, because in this day and age where relationships don't last longer than the next television commercial, being in a committed relationship that stands the test of time is a remarkable and beautiful thing. But what astounds me even more is when I meet couples who fall in this category, yet interact with one another as if they had just started their love story together.

It really is magical.

Thank you Daren and Peggy for being so awesome. I loved having you both in front of my camera, and thank you for having so much confidence and belief in me. More than I had in myself. I hope these photos bring back beautiful memories in another 10 years time, and I hope by then you will only be more in love with each other than you are already :) I'll always remember you wedding anniversary because it shares the same date as my birthday!

Here are some of my favourites:

There's nothing lovelier than a bit of beautiful backlit light :)






Its moments like these on my shoots that are totally candid. I promise :)










Isn't Peggy gorgeous?? :)










Playing around just a little with her fairy like dress.








Okay, so you guys KNOW I don't shoot wide. In fact, its sometimes a little uncomfortable for me because its so different from my usual style. But I do like to venture and play a little when the eye yells at me to :)




I absolutely ADORE the colour in the next few photos. We came across some really fun corners that just begged to be shot, and I just couldn't help myself!




Then it was off to the streets to have a bit of casual fun :)




Okay, I KNOW the below photo is totally NOT in focus for the most part, so before you berate me for it, I put it here because I love the candid emotion in it. I love seeing my clients have fun, and to me, that kind of energy beats any posed piece of art in my books :)


Woohoo! More and more colour! And its dirty urban, which made it all the more fun! :)




I never really ever do these kind of shots, because I am not one of those photographers who just does certain shots for the sake of doing them. I really need the right backdrop for shots like this, and when we walked past this, I thought - how fun! It was hilarious to wait for all the buses, cars, and people zooming by to get a few clear frames. How funny are these two! :D


Then we ended the session in some casual gear. This session was all about colour, which I just LOVE!! :) What a way to end a day in true JSP style :)






Another rare wide-ish shot.










To see more photos, watch their slideshow below!! :D



And before I forget, Daren is a photographer as well! Check out his work here!