Samantha and Ben: Phuket Destination Wedding

The sun beat is heavy sticky rays down, and spread across everything that met its path with a thick caramel golden aura. The red on the temperature gauge was bobbling much higher than comfort would allow, and the fans were flickering madly away in arduous effort to repel the obese heat. However, even the ridiculous heat couldn't keep the bubbly spirits down. They floated about the atmosphere like a welcomed breath of chill laced wind in a smothering swelter.

Samantha and Ben flew in all the way from Texas, USA to be married on the beautiful island of Phuket, Thailand. This excites me, because I will be totally candid and admit here that I have a great love for the USA. I can't pinpoint why, or explain the reasoning behind it. It's a complete mystery to me, but the country, and in particular certain cities within it really... and I mean, REALLY fascinate me. So to those who are in the states reading this blog, know that i LOVE hearing from you :) Especially if you are photographers! :)

Now, those that know Ben and Samantha know that they are a perfect case of opposites attracting. She is the exuberant bubble of joy, energy, and a sparkling sweetness. Ben on the other hand is of the quieter, thoughtful, and shy type. And as it is with opposites attracting, there is always a mystery as to why or what sparks the light of each other's heart, to pull them together. In my hidden rose coloured glassed heart, my belief is that opposites intrinsically complement. They are like the other half of each other's jigsaw puzzle. What one lacks, the other possesses. Where one is weak, the other is strong. Where one flaws, the other excels. My belief is that we often find ourselves drawn to others who are radically different to us, because they challenge us. They grow us. They refine us, and throughout all the times that are up, and the times that they drive us completely crazy, we are better at the end of it. We are ripened because of it.

So, under the honey coloured sunset of Phuket, amidst tears and an abundance of laughter, Sam and Ben vowed in front of their closest family and friend to love each other. To walk with each other. To ripen each other.

Thank you for the beautiful opportunity to document your wedding Ben and Samantha! It was gorgeous to witness. Not just because of the stunning place you chose to commit the rest of your lives to one another, but because of the evident love you share not only for each other but for all those around you that day. You were warm, caring, and so relaxed, it was just a blast! We hope you take some time and enjoy married life now that the crazy travelling has ended for now :) And I can't wait to show you the rest of your photos.

Here are my favourites from your day:

Sam gave her friends presents as a thank you for being there. These were the post present moment :)




Ju took the following shots of the rest of the family getting ready.




When I said Sam is sweet, I really meant it. She not only got all her friends and family presents, but she gave something really special to her groom as well.


And his reaction :)






This was what was present at the ceremony/reception location :)




Here comes the bride!














The bride and groom exchanged really heartfelt, self written vows.


This shot was captured by Ju :D




Married!




Here's the sunset that greeted us at the end of the day.


Then it was dinner/party time :) You could tell the guests were really enjoying themselves.


And speech time was really emotional for all.






The bridal waltz :) My favourite time of the night.


Just a tid bit for you photographers out there. I didn't have my 1.2 for most of the night. So I shot with my 50 1.8 for alot of the shots. This was my favourite one that came out of the camera from that lens that night. Sometimes, you don't always need big lenses :)


Father daughter dance.


And the thai tradition of lighting lanterns and letting them fly off to the sky....




Then a few quick day-after portraits of the bride and groom. I love day after sessions. There isn't the rush or the nerves present before the wedding or on the wedding day. Highly recommend it for those on a tight schedule, or simply just want something much more relaxed and laid back :) It's the best!!


















Oh and not forgetting a ring shot :)


Enjoy the slideshow below for tonnes more pics, and a listen of my favourite artist/song at present :)

Thank you so much to my husband, Ju, who shot this wedding with me. I don't think I could have done it physically, or mentally as well without you being there :)

Media

I have to admit, amidst all the chitter chatter I can normally exhale, I'm embarrassingly shy. No, really. I think I use my rambling and incessant talking (Oh! and did I mention rambling??) as a form to hide the fact that I'm not as cool as I hope to be! :p So sometimes, if you see me talking on and on and on and on...it just means that I am nervous. Just human. Just like the rest of you. Which is why I find it sooooo amusing and really strange when I've met people and they offer such warm words of encouragement in person. You know... like praise? compliments? I mean, who am I? to deserve YOUR praise?! I could think of a million better and more deserving people... like your friends. Your husbands. Your wives. Your parents.

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE it :) But the social geek in me freezes, and I don't know what to say or do because you see I love humility in all its forms. I love people who are grounded, who are down to earth, and who are just real. Nothing turns me off more (other than bad smells!!) than someone who reckons they are all that. And if I end up even remotely resembling arrogant, I could just die. I'd be so ashamed! We are not perfect as photographers, we never will be, and we will always have things to learn from those around us. So its safe to say, I twinkle and dance on my toes when there is encouragement of a more subtle and distant kind.

You see recently, I've been incredibly humbled and flattered when The Star and Tatler decided to write about my work and who I am as a photographer (along with the other cool members of the Signature Photographers!). There is just something magical about seeing one's name in the printed form, especially when it is out there for all to see. I promise I am not being proud, just giddily excited....So yes, I will admit I'm a total dork! I know I am. Because I still twinkle and dance on my toes when I see my name in print. My coolness can be measured by a 6 year old who can't count. It's that lame :p

Here are the different articles. Sorry the Tatler one isn't the complete thing. It was 14 pages long and I just couldn't afford the time to scan it all in :) So if you want to see all the photos, you'll just have to run out to get a copy! Or at least sit in a starbucks to see it :)

Click on each image below to see the full sized version!

The Star:





Tatler:

Christina and Julian: Engagement

There is apparently a proverbial myth that has been said of a certain kind of encounter at weddings. You know, the kind that involves meeting potential courtship prospects at these events that revolve around nuptial unions. Of course, myself, while a hardcore closet romantic at heart, a side of me that tends to protect myself from hurt and all the disappointment that life and love can often bring lets Mr Realistic take the reigns over my brain and how much I will actually allow myself to believe.

So while I adore and love the idea of love at first sight, or meeting that 'perfect soulmate', or stumbling into that 'one special someone' at a used bookstore in New York, or especially falling in love with someone you meet at a wedding. My head screams no. No WAY. But then there are days where you meet couples like Christina and Julian. And they prove that sometimes amidst all the weeds that overgrow in all the imaginative love-centered stories that circulate our world nowadays, Some actually ring true. Christina and Julian, whist they did not first meet at a wedding, they certainly caught each other's attention at one. In fact, the wedding they first lit sparks was my very first Malaysian wedding all the way back in 2007 (okay, so thats not that long ago, but hey! It's my blog! :p) so to see these two again, and this time as life long partners was such a delight!

When asked of her first impression of Julian, Christina with a grin smiled and said something along the lines of arrogant and annoying? I told her, and I tell all of you, that I think the best ones start off like that ;) Please feel free to refute :)

Anyhow, while I shot their wedding just this past Saturday. I did their engagement a couple of months back, and here are my favourite images from their session! Which included their entire bridal party entourage - minus one who joined us in the last 5 mins. You know who you are! hahaha :)

To those who have commented and said my pictures only have that golden glow and look nice because I shoot in Australia - these following images (shot in KL, Malaysia) are just my way of saying that's completely and utterly untrue :) (the 6 year old inside of me that refuses to mature loves to prove people wrong hehe :p) If God smiles upon us that day, and you take my advice on when during the day we do our shoot, here's what you can get!




I did NOT orchestrate this shot. This is them 'hanging out' and 'goofing around' :)




I just ADORE the next two shots. They were my favourite in the whole session! Plus, I had fun trying out a new way of editing my pictures. Mmmm :D




Gorrrgeous! Christina thinks its all makeup, but I somehow don't think its entirely true ;)


Woohoo, here is that new editing style again. I like! :p


Hanging with the girls!


I love this group shot. Its been something I've been wanting to try for months and months, and finally found the right group size, and location for it!


We do this alot, but I just love Christina's expression. It's always so fun!


Moody loveliness :)








Lastly, a shot on the beach before the weather got way too hot for comfort :)


Thanks Christina and Julian, and the rest of your bridal party! We had a very fun morning! :)

To the rest of you, we have had an enormous amount of emails come in during our holiday closure. Since being back in the office this monday morning, I am attempting to start tackling this email mountain. I intend to conquer it as soon as possible, so hang tight and be patient ok!! :)

Have a beautiful monday!