Announcement

Sorry for the lack of photos recently because I'm in the midst of migrating to a new blog and new platform. This should just take a couple of days more, and subsequently, you will be introduced to a more "professional"-looking blog.

Meanwhile, WPN (Wedding Photographers Network) will be conducting a workshop on 18 September Friday night 7pm-10pm. Investment $100.

Topics include : Pricing and Selling , marketing, cultivate your unique shooting style...etc

Facilitators :
Gabriel Mendes,
39 East,
Eadwine of Plush Photography,
KC Wong of Greymatter,
Wansheng of Feldberyl,
Yu Hsin of Tinydot,
Gilbert of 9 Frames,
Ron of EyeDeas,
Jonathan of ExpressivelyjOhO,
William Chua,
George of APhotoStory

Please enrole with workshop@aphotostory.com , limited seats.

Be Prepared

With the total number of H1N1 patients soaring above 1,000, I fear that one day, just one day, I might add on to the statistics, considering the fact that my job puts me into contact with hundreds and hundreds of people every month.

Now, if that happens, and should I be home quarantined, I want to let me clients know that the Wedding Photographers Network (WPN) will be right behind me to back me up. WPN is a collective of some of Singapore's finest wedding photographers. Any one of them, whoever is available on the affected date of wedding, can be called upon to replace me and provide excellent coverage for the wedding couple. Likewise, clients of other WPN members are also covered under such an "insurance policy".

Of course, nobody wishes this to occur.

However, clients who might be affected should have a peace of mind.

Merry Xmas 2008!

Despite the current gloom and doom, we should still take time out to celebrate the gifts of life and love during the Christmas season. We members of WPN had a rare opportunity to go in front of the camera and pose for a "Well-wishing" photo. It was really hard work, when we were told to run, jump and somersault. Now I can empathise what couples go through.....in suits and gowns some more!!

I would like to take this opportunity to wish all readers a heartwarming week ahead.


(L-R)Front: Yu Hsin (Tinydot),Wan Sheng (Feldberyl),KC (Greymatter),William Chua, Eng Hong (39east); Back: Yixin, Alwin and Kelvin (all from Lightedpixels),Jonathan (Expressively JoHo),Eadwine (Plush),George (A Photo Story),Gabriel Mendes, Ron (EYEDEAS), and the head on top belongs to Gilbert (9frames). Absent: Kuang (39east).


This shot is very flattering.........to me. makes me look delusionally slimmer.


This was one of the most "siong" (strenuous) shot because we had to keep jumping for the camera. As you can see, I was the laziest (some say smartest) of them all, by striking a pose that required minimal effort. In the end, the photo turned out pretty good.

Ironically, on a day when we were all not shooting, the light was amazingly beautiful after days of grey skies. Pity. The light was wasted on me, in particular.

WPAS forum

Went for the Wedding Photographers Association of Singapore (WPAS) forum this evening, together with some of WPN members. Kuang of 39east was the keynote speaker who talked about the business of wedding photography in Singapore, and the few of us WPN members sat in the panel for Q&A.

It was quite an encouraging turnout (they were semi-pros and pros alike, several of them veterans in the industry, make-up artists, printers, album-makers). And of course, they were there for the star speaker. Everyone wanted to find out from the man himself how he can charge $700/hr (I think) for a wedding shoot. :)

It was a good networking session with fellow photographers. I must applaud WPAS for organising such a gathering to forge a better understanding and bonding between industry players. This can largely remove the suspicions, hostilities, and unhealthy competition between them and slowly but surely guide wedding photographers on the right path towards raising professionalism, state of cooperation and level of healthy competition in the industry.

I had a good time hiding behind Kuang and dodging questions---but seriously---I am just glad we were able to help.

AGWPJA Winners

In the recent Artistic Guild of the Wedding Photojournalist Association (www.agwpja.com)contest, four of my images were mentioned. Other fellow members of the WPN were also winners, like Kuang (39east), Kelvin (Lightedpixels), and William Chua.

It's again an affirmation of the growing stature of wedding photography in Singapore and that we can compete with the best in the world. I hope the profile of WPN can be raised further so that more and more wedding photographers can grow with us and raise the standard of wedding photography here.

One of the exciting things that is happening is the workshop conducted by ex-WPJA photographer of the year Huy Nguyen, from Texas. He'll be in Singapore to conduct a 2-day workshop on 23 and 24 July. Learn from the best, see what the others in the rest of the world is doing, and hopefully we can outdo them. That has always been the Asian model of success thus far, hasn't it?

Interested parties please contact Kelvin (info@lightedpixels.com) or any other WPN members.


17th place "Getting Ready"


11th place "Ceremony"


4th place "Creative portrait"


18th place "creative portrait"

The Wedding Photographers Network, WPN has done it again!
A few months ago, WPJA and Brides magazine (an internationally-circulated US bridal magazine) held a joint photo contest for WPJA members. Greymatter Photography is fortunate to come in 6th in one of the categories. The only other 2 top-ten winning photographers from Singapore are also WPN members: Kelvin Koh (Lightedpixels) and George Wong (A Photo Story). Congrats guys! Let's keep up the good work and keep the WPN flag flying.

KC Wong - Award Winning Singapore Wedding Photography



The only issue with the judges' comment is that this image is really a lucky snapshot. Good light, beautiful and spontaneous couple, one chance. There's nothing deper, really. I just snapped it when it happened.

One of the weddings (at Chijmes) I shot in June was featured in this issue of "Bride du jour" magazine. As avid divers, Paul and Lena's wedding was one filled with water, not in the literal sense, but the underwater theme permeates throughout the wedding. This is made possible by one of Singapore's well known wedding planners Hannah Chong from Heaven's Gift.



In the same issue, there was an 8-page picture/story spread on Kuang. It's the 1st time I see wedding pictures laid out like that in a magazine. What a visual treat.

And there was this Q&A with him and one of the answers he gave really impresses and amuses me at the same time.

Q: Have you ever been faced with jobs that require logistically challenging shots? For example: if the groom was much shorter than the bride, or the bride was larger than the groom? How do you approach such shoots?

A: For us at 39 East, we do not face the kind of logistical challenges as mentioned above. The reason is that these (situations) only arise as a result of gender roles ascribed on couples by society. We do not ascribe to these gender roles and thus we do not see situations such as a groom being shorter than the bride as being a problem. Instead we celebrate the uniqueness of of the couple through our photography by highlighting this difference...For couples who feel apprehensive as a result of these issues, we normally recommend seeking a more traditional wedding photographer who ascribes to a more traditional viewpoint who will be able to help the couple conform to that as well.

Oh my god....don't you think it's brilliant?

The current issue of StyleWeddings features 4 weddings shot by WPN photographers: Kuang, Kelvin Koh, Eadwine and myself (I have 2 weddings). Gorgeous weddings, but the style with which they are documented varies from photographer to photographer. (even though you won't be able to tell much from the limited number of photos printed)

As for the shoot itself, it was smooth sailing and I couldn't have asked for more when I have nice cooling weather, sporting and generous clients, and postcard-perfect scenery. The shoot took about 6 hours, including the traveling time.

Gabriel Mendes (www.gabrielmendes.com) was there too, charming the clients with his usual disarming sense of humour.

It was pretty cool to have 2 photographers on the job: we bounced ideas off each other, I could reconceptualise while he took over the shooting, and of course it was 2x more fun with him around.

We'll definitely be doing more of this, and the next project is quite likely to be in Australia (perth, maybe and we will definitely go back to Bali).

I have some exciting news:
I’m having a joint promotion with Gabriel Mendes(www.gabrielmendes.com) to do a pre-wedding shoot in Bali, set tentatively over the period of 19 Aug-23 Aug. I am not sure if you are interested in Bali, but you will have the services of 2 photographers (with 2 different styles) for the price of one. At the end of the day, you will receive a 12×12inch 24 page album and you can select images from the pool of images taken by both Gabriel and me.

We are offering very good rates for this trip because Aug is a low season for weddings and we don’t mind doing something refreshing and exciting for couples as well as for ourselves. Sometimes with a bit of friendly competition, we the photographers can raise our game and not treat it as another run-of-the-mill shoot.

So now, here are some FAQs :

How much ? Answer : It is just only $2800 nett
Do I have to pay your airfare and lodging ? Answer : No
How about makeup artist ? Answer : We have a good makeup artist for you and you don’t need to pay extra for it.
I don’t have a gown, so what happens? Answer : Then, let's do a casual/lifestyle shoot. In fact, the poses can be more flexible and without the hassle of the gown, you will feel more comfortable and we can shoot in a more varied environment.
Must it be pre-wedding? Answer : No. It can be post-wedding, family or couple shoot. Since we are already there, you can make use of the situation and do whatever you want.

Just returned from a 2-and-a-half-day workshop conducted by a world-class wedding photographer based in US (see www.josevillaphoto.com). He actually flew 18 hours to this tiny island and conducted this workshop to a select group of wedding photographers who are serious about taking their business to the next level.

Even though his style of shooting is different from mine, that doesn't stop me from being able to learn from him the business side of wedding photography.

More importantly, I finally got to meet some of the finest wedding photographers in Singapore through the workshop. The networking and the sharing sessions certainly are worth the ticket prices alone.I sincerely hope this community can grow and progress on a platform that is competitive but not combative, and at the same time to mature with the vision of promoting wedding photography in Singapore.

This is all made possible courtesy of the Wedding Photographers Network (www.wpn.sg) and thanks to Gilbert, Eadwine, Kate, Kuang, Eng Hong, Gary, Aloycius, Lawrence, Gabriel, Wan Sheng, & Jose Pang for the wonderful sharing. Looking forward for more.

here are some of the shootout pictures I did at Changi beach for the workshop. It's interesting to have a group of us shooting the same subjects and marvel at the various angles that other photographers captured. The difference in style and vision become quite apparent.