A Word of Caution

Ok, I'll be flying off to Vietnam tomorrow, but I've really got to post this before I leave.

I've just come to know via the local photography forums that there has been some cases of hard-selling and pressure tactics going on recently. As far as I know, it's not related to wedding photography, but closer to the makeover / portraiture market.

From the first-hand accounts of some of the victims, the whole scheme sounds very much like the time-share deal, but this time the products are photography packages.

Just like time-sharing, I'm sure they would have done enough homework to keep the business legal. The methods however, are questionable.

Phone call telling you you've won a free session. You turn up, get shots done. Pressured into buying other packages.

Sound familiar?

Let me remind you of an age-old wisdom: There Is No Free Lunch In The World.

Be a smart consumer. However attractive something appears, do your research. If you decide to give it a go, bring along a strong-willed friend for moral support. Strong enough to say 'no', and to keep that wallet in your pocket.

What I feel about this, is that it is a very unethical way of drumming up business, and defintely a great disappointment to the photography industry.

Again, be a smart, informed, and savvy consumer. In this age of technology, you have no reason not to.

Travel Advisory

I will be in Vietnam from the 19th - 22nd of April, and as such I may not be able to respond to some of your enquiries. Work will resume as usual on the 23rd and I will be sure to clear any backlogs then.

I've never been to Vietnam, but quite a few of my friends have been there before and they all seem to agree on this:

"The traffic is crazy! If you need to cross the road, just step off the pavement and walk straight ahead. The millions of motorbikes will somehow avoid you like a school of fish! If you hesitate, you'll be stuck at the pavement indefinitely".

Sounds interesting already right? It's been a while since I left safe and sterile Singapore, and I can't wait to live my life a little more dangerously once again, aka Austin Powers but without the hairy chest and Union Jack briefs.

Hopefully I'll be back in one piece with some photos to boot.

My Wedding List

I’m in the midst of planning my own wedding, and so at the risk of appearing like a Mat Kahwin2, I thought that I might as well share my own list with all of you.

This list is by no means complete and exhaustive, but my fiancée and myself are really chilled out and we’d want nothing more than a simple affair.

Unfortunately, that is totally out of the question as she will be the first in her family to be married. We’re still not planning for something grand, but I think the guest-list will be quite long (for her side at least).

Feel free to copy this list and use it as a starting point for your own.

In no particular order:

Kursus Rumah Tangga
ROMM Interview Session
Kadi
Photographer (I can’t be taking my own shots, can I?)
Invitation Cards
Venue
Decor
Catering
Wedding Favors (Berkat)
Entertainment
Hadrah / Kompang
Bridal Car
Wedding Bands (rings, not music!! ☺)
Mak / Pak Andam + Baju Pengantin
Baju Nikah (We intend to tailor our own)
Hantaran (still saving for it!)
Dulang + Gifts

And that’s it! There could be more, but I think that the list above pretty much covers what we’ll need for the day. I’ve also included stuff like hadrah / kompang which is not that important to us, but more for the sake of pleasing our parents. (Read this to have an idea of what I mean).

I’ve also taken the liberty to exclude stuff like inai (my fiancée is trying to escape from it), and also stuff like bunga telur, sireh dara etc – because I know nuts about it and I’ll just leave it to my mum / makcik2. I’m sure my fiancée will be doing the same.

I guess this is what you get when two ‘slack’ individuals decide to marry one another ☺.

Babies

Undoubtedly, babies will always be the most natural subjects around. In a world where everything is new, they are unabashed about their behaviour and emotions. And most certainly, they can do no wrong.


These shots are from an engagement I covered over the weekend. Seeing how time flies, I'm sure it won't be too long before they have their own ceremonies. I can't guarantee their youth, but I'm sure these photos will always remind their families of the girls circa their diaper-wearing days. With selendang nonetheless.

Of Updates and Occupational Hazards...

I'm pleased to announce that I've updated khaiphotography.com once again! New photos added, content re-structured and most importantly, all those pages that seemed indefinitely 'coming soon', have arrived! Please visit the site and check out some of my retouching and personal works.

So what's with the occupational hazards? Precisely this... being up at insane hours just to do my website updates. I wish I was a computer genius who could automate my back-end (server that is, not me bum!)... plus it's really a bother clicking on every link, making sure everything works and all the files exist...

Occupational Hazard no.2 - my degree has gone up again. And the astigmatism in my right eye is increasing. Bah! It's always been there, but for the first time, my optometrist actually asked if I would consider custom lenses. I'll leave that for the next round of check-ups.

But it's not as bad as I make it out to be... in my 15 years of needing optical aid, the degree in both eyes have only risen by about 100 points or so.

Note to self: Longer breaks from the computer, and more betacarotene, or whatever rabbits eat. According to my mother they have very good eyesight!

FAQs

Here are some random questions that I’ve been asked either in person or via e-mail, and I’ve decided to post it up here for the benefit of everyone. If you have questions as well, email me here and I will add yours to the list.


Do I get to select the photos for my album or coffee-table book?
Yes, I will generate an online gallery for you to pick the photos before I start designing the book.

Do you carry back-up equipment on you?
Yes, for all assignments, I come with two digital SLRs, external hard drive, plus an assortment of lenses and lighting equipment that I will require.

What exactly do photographers mean by post-produced images?
In simple terms, post-produced means that the images have been adjusted from the original capture.
When you shoot in jpeg format, the camera runs a series of algorithms and calculations to process the image for you. This saves time, but I prefer to have total control for my shots.
In my case, I prefer to shoot in RAW format, which means that I process each image on my computer instead of leaving it to the camera.
The term ‘post-produced’ can also mean the shots having received creative treatment.

Do I get to see the layout of my coffee-table book before it goes to print?
Yes, I will generate an online layout proof for your viewing and approval.

How long in advance do I need to book your service?
At the moment, the bulk of my bookings occur around half a year prior to the occasion itself.

Can I have a look at a sample coffee-table book?
Definitely. I always carry a copy when meeting prospective clients.

Does your package include miscellaneous costs such as transport expenses or equipment charges?
There are no hidden charges in the packages. They already include all the expenses that I will incur for each assignment.

Do you have tie-ups with any bridal studio?
I have no tie-ups, am not affiliated, nor do I represent any bridal studio. I prefer an open working model where you pick the make-up, clothes, and photographer according to your taste.
I will not have a problem working with any bridal company of your choice.

How long does it take for my album and/or coffee-table book to be ready?
For regular 4R albums, you can expect it to be ready within 30 days. For coffee-table albums, an additional 14 days will be required.