Group Photos

In general... group photos are... group photos. In a simplistic view, these photos serve as a reminder of those who attended your wedding, although some may hold special meaning to the individuals involved. When shooting a wedding, group photos are just part and parcel of the day's proceedings, but every now and then, something special happens.



I really love this photo for various reasons. Although it is not especially creative, it is quite out of the ordinary. Prior to this, I have not shot a wedding couple belakang khemah with all the pinggan-mangkuk, berus, sabun dan lain-lain lagi.

Their wedding was a total family affair on both sides, and they made it a point to be photographed where their relatives were busy with all the work for their big day. I think that's pretty special, especially with the risk of smelling like rendang. To me, the expressions in this one are priceless, and I'm glad they chose to include it in their coffee-table book.

A Primer

As I’ve mentioned earlier, I’m going to post a series of articles that hopefully may be beneficial to future brides and grooms, and even perhaps their family, best-men, bridesmaids… the list can go on forever, really.

Before I kick things off, there is one thing that I feel everyone should be aware of. Some of you might know it, some might not, some may agree whilst others may disagree. You are all correct, because what I’m about to present is merely my opinion, albeit based on my various behind-the-scenes experiences.

Having a wedding is an exercise in patience and compromise.

There, I’ve said it. But what do I mean? As much as you’ve imagined or would like it to be, your wedding day is not just about you.

Parents have a certain idea or way of doing things and this is usually the first line where tension arises. And then they insist on inviting 3000 guests of which 2900 are total strangers to you.

Mummy: How can we not invite our neighbors from kampong, and also neighbors from the neighboring kampong?

You:??????????

Confused? Just ignore the kampong story and read on…☺

Then a relative sews you something really quite *orbit* and expects you to wear it for your nikah. And your mum doesn't want to offend her...

And to top it off, your would-be partner leaves all the planning and errands to you.

All the scenarios above are true, and worrying, but do not be put off and cancel your wedding! The last situation can be pretty easy to rectify if you put in some thought and effort.

Remember, it is a potentially hectic and stressful time, and you’ll need each other’s support to get through it. After all, it is the beginning of a new chapter in your lives.


Next Article: The Masterplan

Who is Khai?

In really simple terms, and mostly true, Khai is just your regular guy next door. That is of course affirmed by the fact that I'm working from home.

My days are as regular as any another working person - I spend my mornings with coffee, catching up on the news, checking and replying to e-mails and enquiries. If I'm not out shooting, the rest of the day is spent on maintaining my website, writing articles, editing images, designing books, liaising with my printers... some are interesting and challenging, others are pretty boring but it all needs to get done.

Evenings are reserved for meeting clients, then dinner or straight to supper depending on the time that I have. When I get home, I catch up on the news again and reply to new e-mails and enquiries.

It's pretty much a 7-day work week for me, and as I shoot mostly on weekends, I try to keep at least one weekend a month as my day(s) off. I think it's pretty important to recharge and stay fresh and motivated in this line. The killer to any job or career is feeling the onset of burn-out.

But it's not all work... I listen to a lot of music whilst editing my images, depending on the mood. Exit Musik ( a collection of Radiohead covers) is a current favourite. I've also been playing a Pink Floyd DVD (reflections and echoes) in the background. Michel Gondry's DVD of his music video works are also inspiring when I'm taking a break.

I'm also a 'lepak' kind of guy and a regular at Simpang Bedok. This is really the most convenient place for me and my friends to catch up. The days of being Young and Dangerous are slowly fading away... *semua dah tua dan mula sedar diri* amin~

I guess that's enough of me talking about myself - the length of this post is approaching self-indulgence and narcissism, so I shall end this here and do look out for upcoming posts as I have articles catered for future brides and grooms.

Welcome to Khai Photography Blog

Hello everyone, I've decided to include a blog as an extension to my photography website. Here you will find my thoughts, and also articles that I hope may be of interest and help to future brides and grooms.