It’s always good to have Mom around, not that I get to eat home-cooked food (that’s just not her thang) but she definitely makes up for it in her own unique ways such as helping me slot my namecards into FIFOTO folders and asking for more to do as she was enjoying herself!… and getting her 2nd ear piercing when I got my 3rd back when I was in high school… and agreeing with me that my Sanskrit Om tat is a good thing to have (even though she was a little shocked it’s permanent!)… and erm, her best surprise ever – hiring a stripper for my 21st birthday party in the US! You get the drift… she’s the coolest mom EVER!! (even if she doesn’t cook!) And even till today, she continues to surprise me with the things she does and say!

Steve & I shot the Hennessy XO Appreciation event a couple weeks back. It was a private event to celebrate the appreciation for luxury and opulent brands such as Bentley, Berluti, Franck Muller, Mouawad and Bang & Olufsen, just naming a few, lavished the hall with their exquisite design and art pieces.

The highlight of the event of course, was the BEAUTÉ DU SIÈCLE, was a masterpiece created in celebration of the 100th birthday of Killian Hennessy from the sixth generation of the Hennessy family. The ornamental chest reveals a rare bottle of cognac with four Venetian glasses.

A few weekends back, after spending a weekend in S’pore, my friend Melvin said he needed a holiday from my holiday. That’s exactly how I feel right now after my recent trip to Taipei last weekend. I’m sick – suffering from the runs (REALLY BAD!) and a sore throat. Thank God for Steve again who, as always, saves my a** and is taking over an event shoot I had scheduled for this evening.

On a happier note, Taipei was a lot of fun! Bruce, Hsuan, Yang and I were there to celebrate Duke’s birthday and we had a blast partying, shopping and eating! The night markets are just hustling and bustling with people and I nearly bought a teacup Yorkie! Shopping there is incredibly cheap and the food their is Delicious!! Plus, they had MOS Burger!

Many thanks to Duke and his lovely wife, Angie (who just gave birth to Tyler and still looks so freakin’ amazing!) for their warm hospitality! Special thanks to James who got me in touch with all his friends in Taiwan (the world’s soooo small!). Armando, Steve & Jonathan – It was nice meeting y’all! You guys are always welcome to Malaysia if you ever visit!

It was the typical SMS I always receive at the slightest hint of bad weather… “it looks gloomy here, it might rain.. How?” and of course, as with all my responses to our client… “don’t worry! Think blue skies fluffy clouds.. Imagine it and it will work! Think positive!”

Again and again, FIFOTO luck with good weather never fails to amaze us and our clients. For me, if the weather holds out and as long as it doesn’t rain, I’m happy and thankful! Blue skies and fluffy clouds are always a bonus and that day, we were indeed blessed by lovely weather and a beautfiul backdrop for Maye & Winston’s pre-wedding session at the Avilion.

I had never met the both of then until that day and being the two friendly people they are, we warmed up really quickly! Maye looked gorgeous in her white gown and Winston looked smart in his tux, even though he was slightly worried about the heat! Maye is definitely a natural… She knew all her poses and needed minimal direction. Winston on the otherhand… Hmmm…Just kidding! They were both a joy to shoot and we had a lot of fun, even posing with peacocks!

Apart from our luck with the weather, we also usually get lucky with peacocks. Check this out!

Blue skies fluffy white clouds

We have 2 slots left! Registration closes next Friday, Sep 18! Last chance to register! Email register101@fifoto.com if you’d like to join us!

For all of you who registered…. I’m totally stoked and looking forward to meeting you in October! Please don’t forget to submit your photos by Sep 20! See you real soon!!!

My long Merdeka weekend was spent in Singapore and it turned out to be an unexpectedly memorable one! Apart from being able to catch up with my friends, I was truly blessed to have the opportunity to be part of Lawrence’s proposal to my very good friend from Penang who I’ve known for almost 20 years, Cat. This was my first time ever, witnessing a proposal and it was just so romantic! Lawrence had planned for the surprise 2 months before – the venue (Timbre at Substation), the band, the flowers, the champagne and the ring. And when he told us the night before the big proposal, we were all excited at the thought of it! But being there, right there and then was a completely different emotion. When he got down on one knee and asked if she would marry him, the audience cheered and Cat bashfully said “yes!”. And like any other romantic gesture I witness, even at the weddings I shoot, I was bawling my eyes out! I hate to admit… even more than Cat! I am a hopeless romantic at heart… what can I say?!

On a different note… here’s a funfilled family portrait session I shot a couple weeks back with the Landons. I photographed Eve during her first pregnancy more than 2 years back. At that time, all I could remember was her sunkissed skin from the Maldives sun and her beautiful preggars body with then unborn first child, Oliver. Two years later, the entire family is back from Costa Rica and I get to meet all 4 of them! Oh how time flies!

This is Ava… she’s a sweetheart!

This is Oliver. He likes Bam-Bam and Milo.

This is my favorite!!