Reminders are Good

It's a proverbial human habit.

We take things for granted. We forget.

I know I have. I stumbled upon an old entry in my personal blog last night, and I just realized I'm just like everyone else. I take things for granted. I forget. Of all the times I have complained that my inbox is crazy, I take it back. After what I unearthed yesterday, I'm praying God will help me be more thankful. More appreciative. And remember more often that I have been blessed beyond imagination. To stand where I am standing today, is an incredible measure of fortune, and one I know I don't deserve.

I wanted to post this excerpt (from the time when I was JUST about to become fulltime awhile ago) below as a reminder to myself that not that long ago, I came from very very very humble beginnings. And to never lose that passion or spark that gets us all going in the first place. To all those who are crying out too busy! too much work! long to do lists! Be thankful that you have work, and that you have to do lists to get through. Because I am sure at one time, you were praying for just that one job. That one email to come through. Or just that one client to pick you. Remember and be thankful for where you are today, and be reminded of all the blessings you have been given. Not what you don't have or what you have 'too much of' :)

Have a beautiful Friday and weekend ahead everyone! xox

EDIT: There's been some confusion for some people. This is just a note that the excerpt below was taken from a very old entry of my personal blog. So to clarify to everyone else out there reading this - I AM fulltime and have been for sometime already! :D

Excerpt from way back then:

It's a monday. As most mondays are, they are relatively dull...everything seems to push forward at sloth-like pace, and like clockwork, nothing seems to change. Today's Monday was no page turner... or so it seemed.

As the email page in front of my weekend-spent eyes decided to do its usual flip of a page, and give itself its regular 10 minute facial makeover, I didn't expect anything new to pop in today. It was, of course, a monday.

To my utmost surprise though, I saw that ever-exciting "(1)" next to the inbox folder, meaning that some wonderful stranger or friend out there had decided to write to me about my photography. My fingers couldnt grab hold of my crimson-coloured logitech mouse fast enough to navigate its way towards that folder... I fumbled in my trademark clumsiness at first, and finally found the destination I was after.

*refresh*

*opens*

RE: NEW CLIENT ENQUIRY

Magic to my eyes :p

I felt like a little child opening up their first-ever christmas present. The glee was almost stupefying. What eventually shook hands with my excitement was a confirmed booking for later in the year. I could have done a cartwheel with all the buzzing energery that was literally flying through my veins in a velocious manner.

I guess none of you who skim through these words will understand the weight of what just happened. You see, I am moving into photography FULL TIME as of next year. At the end of this year, I am quitting my comfortable and stable full time job at present to pursue this dream of mine with full gusto and a 150% dose of commitment. Why? well, I've been getting so many jobs this year (its been 3 or 4 times more than the quota I planned for this year) that I can no longer hold up a full time job and a growing business... so after talking to people, praying, I feel it is about time (Ju corrected my misconception about 'PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS' - I thought it was anyone who is getting paid to do jobs, however I have come to be enlightened that Professional photographers are only defined as such when they are making their LIVING from their work solely and nothing else. So I guess I wil officially be dubbed that strange title as of next year? Ju says I am only semi-pro now - *sigh*!!).

Of my decision? I'm petrified. Wobbling-knees, clattering-teeth-together kind of petrified. But I'm clinging onto God in all this, as I cannot ignore the growing and burning desire in me to really give this 'pipedream' my all, and hoping that following my gut this time while trusting with all that I have in God will somehow bloom into something wonderful. What? I cannot say as I do not know, but it is a warm and hopeful trust - one with litte doubt to taint its brilliant glow - because I've learned that He always is looking out for me... proving that He provides JUST what I need, at JUST the right time, at JUST the right place. And if it all decides to unravel, then I believe He just has something better for me in mind. And, I know that will be okay.

Thank you Lord for allowing me to be part of the way towards this hope of mine!!! And I thank God that Ju supports my offbeat and unorthodox dream all the way - even my crazy whim to jetset myself all the way to the USA just to get the training I've been craving for.

Anyone wanna come with me? :)

And just so this post isn't photo naked, here is a tiny snippet of a teaser of a shoot that will be up on the blog next week! :D

Travel Destination: Hanoi, Vietnam

I'm supposed to be editing, but my mind is wandering. So instead of procrastinating and doing something completely unfruitful, I thought I'd do what comes therapeutically to me - blogging.

There have been some of you who have told me I should never stop writing my personal blog posts. It sparked somewhat of a strange flicker inside me because I thought - why would any one of you be interested in me? I consider myself one of the most boring, unexciting, and plain type of personalities out there ever. Some days I can't even keep myself entertained, how could I possibly light up the eyes and minds of all of you who visit this little corner of the web.

Co-incidentally, I miss writing. You know, the kind of writing for the sake of writing... little drops of the soul, of the mind, in the form of written smiles, tears, contemplations... So, I promise I won't stop. Me in all its forms will paint their faces across this blog in some way or another in between all the pictures...

And it all starts with a step.

The husband and I recently decided to pack our bags and getaway. I usually take 1 weekend off every month, so I can recharge, stay grounded and keep as far away from burnout as possible during peak season. It can do that to you, you know? Peak season - drive you crazy, that is. We aren't built to be superhumans. We're mortals who all need rest, sleep, and downtime. I'm not perfect at the whole balance game yet, but I am learning, trying, bettering each time around. Because ultimately, I believe that a balanced photographer is a more creative photographer. Who thinks best when they are worn out and tired right? So I plan breaks. Time off. It's almost as necessary as the air we breathe in my opinion. Don't believe me? Keep working your little behind off, then burn out, and then come back to me :)

Hanoi was a complete spur of the moment thing. Peak season in all its insanity, was rearing its ugly head one day, and I had just about wanted to throw a book at it. Instead, I sporadically hopped online and bought two tickets to go away. Just like that. It took just 10 minutes, and we were one step closer to our pho, bike infested adventure! For some reason, I'm not usually a big fan of travelling to asian countries for holidays, but Hanoi was a complete delight and it didn't disappoint - hanoi in all its dilapidated claustrophobic manic beauty was perfect for our quickie getaway! We had beef pho every day, and then some, and laced in between it all were flavours of sweet, bitter, tangy delectably intertwined together.

Here are some photos from our trip! :) For some reason, I saw the whole city in B&W and vintage. Yeah, you may think I'm really weird, but I actually see my final shot before I actually take it :)

Vietnamese Elixir.
Okay, so its their coffee, but day-um!! this stuff is amazing!! I love it more than my espresso stuff! :D It was my 2nd fave drink of the trip. My favourite was this delightful drink comprised of all these tropical fresh fruits, in condensed milk, with crushed iced mixed it. Result = TROPICAL FRUIT HEAVEN!!








Apparently this is how people cut their hair in vietnam. What salons? ;)




The city is FULL of bikes. Nobody seems to drive, or follow the traffic light system for that matter. So how does one cross the road? Step onto the road, close your eyes, and just move forward. They will drive around you. Crazy I tell you!!! And I thought KL's road system was nuts!


I don't know why but i love the following photo - it sums up Hanoi in all its claustrophobic charm. Wires, bikes, and all. I love wide open spaces, and it made me appreciate Australia so much more :)


Old little things for sale, were everywhere.


And here is the Beef Pho - best eaten on the streets!


This is how we ate pretty much every night - on the streets, on tiny little plastic stools. The best food was found in corners like this one.


I realized that people work really really hard in Hanoi. They worked right til late into the night. I guess you'd have to when the average pay here per day is $2USD. I didn't realize when I tipped the bag boy $1, I was giving him half a day's earnings :)




The picturesque Ha Long Bay.






And some photos of us. Me pretending to be Miss prim and proper, Ju caught with a mouthful and in the SAME travel shirt he always SEEMS to travel with! I promise you people, Ju does own other shirts!


We met some delightful crazy fellow Aussies on the trip! They were pure funny, and we had the loveliest time hanging with them during the day! :D Here is one of them fooling around again... ahaha.. this was not a rare occurence during the trip!


Last shot of the trip.


Have a gorgeous thursday everyone!! :D

Kevin and Valen: Engagement

These two have seriously left a footprint in my heart. I think from the moment her exuberance in peals of laughter ushered into my door, and the doting way his eyes would linger in happiness at her and hold her hand protectively like he was holding a sacred treasure, I knew. I just knew they were perfect. There is just something magical and solid about a first true love. It hits you like a lightning force, and then settles like the roots of a very old tree, they stem, intertwine, and delve deep under. Deep deep under. It is almost impossible to unearth no matter what the storms, the trials and tribulations, distances, or adversities it weathers.

Even after years past their first brief encounter with each other in high school, when fate had toyed with them, letting them pass each other by year after year, something about her face had imprinted itself in his mind. Something memorable. Something enduring. So much so that when life would have it, and the doors opened once more for these two, Kevin without hesitation put himself on a plane and flew from across the other side of the world, across continents to let her know he was hers. This time and always. In his words, Kevin said from the moment he held her hand, he knew she was IT. The one. And considers himself the luckiest guy in the world to be able to marry this girl and spend the rest of his life with her.

There is something magical about a first true love. It hits you, stays, and then flourishes like an indelible force.

Kevin and Valen, thank you SO much for letting me document your love! You are everything I could hope for in a client - fun, energetic, vivacious, creative, complete trust in me, and gorgeous inside and out! You both have beautiful souls and I can't wait to do this all over again with you when I hit LA!! Have a gorgeous wedding ahead - I'm so sorry I can't shoot it, but I promise when we hang together next year it will make up for it!! :D

Here are my favourites from their session:

(ps: shoutout has to go to the awesome awesome team from Pretty In White, who provided the gown, and hairpieces - they all went perfectly!!)

Here marks the start of day 2 of shooting - since the first day rained out in the middle!








This, I swear, has to be one of my favourite portraits of a bride of mine :) Its totally candid, raw, and unabashedly joyful. None of that arty fartyness hung over in it. Its true beauty in the form of happiness.










Since we had an INCREDIBLY long veil (say, 6m??), I couldn't help myself but do some dramatic veil shots, since the weather was nice and dry for it! :D














There's that exuberant laugh from Valen again!




I love it when my couples laugh like this :) It makes my day - so boys and girls, don't hold back on your laughter!! It's so beautiful!


The day ended with some pretty light! :D








And because we haven't had a slideshow on the blog for awhile, here is their slideshow to a song I just absolutely adore by an artist who has become penned as one of my enduring favourites :) For smooth viewing on slower connections, please press PLAY, then when the progress bar loads, press PAUSE. Once the bar is fully loaded, press play for a better visual experience! :D




Much love!! xx