After 3 apartments, and a good 20 ++ hours of driving and shooting, I am finally at peace at my little corner to pen down the journey so far.
We arrived in Perth on Tuesday, after flying non-stop flight boarding from LCCT via Air Asia X for a good 5 hours. My first experience with Air Asia X. The plane is definitely bigger than other Air Asia aircrafts, pun. Can’t say the same thing about the seats. They are about the same, nothing to really shout about. It was a midnight flight, so the flight was uneventful.
I am seated right now in our 3rd Apartment we check in since we came in, and we have accomplish a plenty! Thinking back – what a journey. We visited so many places in such little time – and I absolutely love the apartments that we were staying. Warm and comfy bed after a day shoot is just so important. Beer and wine before bed, added bonus!
All and all, I have our latest couple of Jon Low Studios to thank for.
I must say that Perth is a picturesque city to shoot. My mom had a hand on selling my packages at Princely Wedding Fair, and she sold Susan the idea about Pinacles. I don’t know about her, but from our last family outing, we headed out to Lancelin – not Pinacles.
It’s definately ain’t a bad sell, as when we arrive, we were awed by what the wonders of mother nature. Well, mothers…. 
… It was simply beautiful place to shoot.
And I have some sneak peak:
I am on an emotional Roller Coaster. At times, I feel hyped, and excited and all ready to go, and at times, it can be overwhelming that people put a lot of faith in what I do to get a good experience out of it all.
We arrive earlier in the week, in the wee hours in the morning. Too early, where Perth simply still asleep and not ready for us. We headed out to Fremantle just because. Pretty deserted when we arrive early in the day, but as the hours caught up, the people fill in as they should.
I love Fremantle. May be, I just love Australia to begin with. I love how the streets look, and I love the cool breezing morning weather. Angie, our make up artist must have a time of her life – well, I reckon so cos it is her first western country encounter. I hope she had a blast.
Shooting starts the following day! We took a good 3 hours drive to the Pinacles. It isn’t easy to stay awake during drive after a midnight flight, plus a long overhaul shooting frenzy weekend in KL and Langkawi on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Both Susan and Danny took turns to drive most of these 3 hours. I could only glimpse of what I will be shooting comes the next day, before closing my eyes again.
Pinnacles is an amazing location for a wedding shoot. It’s uncommon to eyes, it’s different and I would really love to do a good job with locations like this!
The crew!
The shoot continue on, and we miss lunch! There isn’t much food while on the road, so we had to take a drive back to Swan Valley for civilization. We ate, we checked in, and went off to grocers. Bought food for the next day, and some wine to chill off.
It’s crazy itinerary. We were quite ambitious this time around. Yes, part of it was just nice to travel and sight seeing. That’s the fun part. As good as these photographs look, there is a million effort put in by the whole entire crew.
Our next destination was Margaret River, which was today! We punch Busselton Jetty into our GPS as our pit stop and headed to the direction.
We didn’t do much today as most our time we spent in the car and recover from the previous day’s shoot – but we manage, some really great shots.
Here I am now, seated tipsy from the couple of glass wine I had, completing this entry on my blog to be posted when I am back home.
I am feeling quite good, and content with the effort put in. I love my job.
Love is in the air – yes, it is – Danny and Susan, Jon and his obsession to travel and photography!
Jon is away on assignment til 3rd April. Have not much access to emails while away, so hang in there guys.
I participated the WPPI 16×20 Print Competition held in Vegas just held recently. The competition was a great feedback loop from the top wedding photographers in the industry. A report card of some sort, which give myself a grade, and some tell tale to how I fair during the competition. It is a good way telling myself what I hit, and what I miss. Those I hit, I should iterate and innovate upon, and those I miss, are lessons to be learn and taken account for my next shooting. A bite into a slice of my humble pie.
There were plenty to listen, observe and learn in a print judging session – the critics, what made it in the shot, etc. It would be nice to have the judging transcript or soundbites for people like me who missed out the live event. That would mean a lot to us participants. I’ll make it a goal to attend the 2011 one! .
I was glued to the computer during the WPPI convention, salvaging the updates on facebook, twitter, and any how I could listen in to what’s happening during the convention. Heck, I downloaded the WPPI Iphone app, which at the end is not much of use for me, but a way better app for people who attend the convention. Louis, Jenny, Alex, Grace and Patrick were feeding competition news and happening on twitter. I thank you all for sharing your experiences. Thank you for delivering the news that I scored 80+ and above! That made my day.
Jenny took these entries, live from vegas baby! Thanks Jenny.
Although I did not attend the convention in Vegas, my bulk of enjoyment came from selecting and preparing the prints. I am my own worst enemy when comes down to selection. Fussy pot, critical and very close minded. I self censored my selection from collection. Sometimes it works – hopeful to pick my best work. Some time it works against me – missing out the good ones, and include some bad ones. I learn to print from my light minded peers. Hanging out with fellow WPPI participants is the best. Applauding and mesmerizing at their creation even before the judges get to have that honor. It was simply a good experience. It wouldn’t be the same without you guys participating.
These are my honorable entries mention which scored above 80. In our school days, they refer that score as an distinction. Which I am proud and happy off.
Dancing in the rain earn its 2nd Accolades of Excellence for Bride & Groom Category. I can now hang both the 16×20 Print Competition Ribbon, and the 10×8 Print Competition Ribbon on this one. Congratulations Emily and Daniel.
Untitled. WPPI debut for 16×20 Print competition. I personally love this piece. I love the detailing on a sikh bride in a sikh wedding. My mate reminded this shot of mine, and recommended me to submit for the competition, and I glad I did.
Sometimes, our client ask us, if these competition matters. What does it really mean, and what does it matter to them? It’s a good marketing tool…. only if you buy in. Award Winning Photographer. That’s a great title, but is there more to just the title? Sure that’s nice to hear. These print competition create an outline to what I can produce. From the moment we hold the camera, to directing, posing, and composing a shot – all the way to our print quality which our client would purchase, and then repeating the whole shebang, consistently. That’s the challenge for me to translate all I’ve learnt and reproduce the quality of work. Alas, all the hard work we poured out, I too like a pat at the back from authoritative and respected judges and industry fellow.
Like any achievements, it does come by with plenty of help from my fellow team, and my family whom they have been quite a pillar to what I am doing. Which brings a smile to me – I came back from my Kuala Terengganu shooting job yesterday and greeted with a nice clean room. I have been slacking with other part of my life, but I am looking forward to fix that.
And to quote a famous wedding photographer that I heart dearly – “I would like to make my print of the year with you”.
I am inspired.
We had a blast shooting a Sikh Wedding through out the week of 8th March. We started our coverage on Thursday, and completed the shoot on Sunday. 4 straight days is really a killer. When I meet my Sikh couple, I told them that the 1st day you see me on the job is the different Jon comes the last day of the job. It’s taxing physically. I told Maan, the videographer that I my legs were hurting at the end of yesterday.
Why I do this? I fall in love with the Punjabi culture, and colors and the people. Will be working out the photographs later on. For now, I am looking forward for this week shoot in Terengganu!
Now, here it is, my shoot done in China :
Make Up Artist : Angie Make Up
Location : Yang Shuo, Gui Lin, Guan xi.
My upcoming wedding day shoot’s bride brought us to China for their wedding portraits shoot. Here are some photographs to showcase .
We just got back from Bali wedding portraiture session. Bali is hot, and humid, making it quite a challenge for great photographs, but I think we did well the last outing.
Came back and straight back to the editing board producing and keeping up with our wedding day edits from January. It’s been a great end year for us, and a busy January to kickstart 2010. The busiest since I venture into Wedding Photography.
I took a break during Chinese New Year. In my kind of break, I do what I love to do best, and got on with the new layout for the website. I know right, the inner geek have to come out once in awhile.
We have delivered all our December portfolios, with pending 2 more January portfolio to go before we head into production work for wedding portraits which I have already start taking in March.
Here is Gary & Candy’s portfolio, and I do hope these photos carried with them through their next phase of life. Congratulations guys. You guys has been a great customer.
Make Up Artist : Ai Vy
Reception : Grand Dorsett, Subang Jaya
Here are some moments from Gary & Candy’s wedding day celebration.
