At Home Session with the Lam Family

One of the things which I really like about photography done in the western countries is the exposure to photoshoots at home also known as At Home Session, whereby the photographer shoots the daily life of the family as they go about their daily routine. This breaks away from the usual tradition of "smiling and posing for the camera intentionally". 

Of course, things sometimes do sound nicer as it seems and I can say this as a photographer myself as well - sometimes, there is part of me inside that is itching to get rid of that soft toy in the background while shooting or wiping the table again cause of the finger prints but then again, what is the purpose of photographing At Home Sessions after all hey? Hence I truly do admire photographers who capture beautiful and meaningful shots despite the kids running around shirtless at home, with the laundry pilling up like a mountain - hats off to these photographers AND clients who not only trust their photographers but also know how to enjoy themselves :)

While the previous At Home Session was with the Chin Family right before welcoming Baby Ted (who is now 14 months old!), I'm so glad that I got to do another At Home Session with this precious family who recently just welcomed their precious lil baby boy into the family. Hence, as promised, here is another update on the blog - it's the At Home Session featuring the Lam Family.

Ezra Lam, you are too cute!

Congratulations again, Joseph and Joyce Lam :) 

You both are doing a wonderful job as parents and I know for sure that Ezra is so very blessed and loved!

Le Anne Has Graduated!

Hello again!

It is so good to be back home for the semester break and what makes me even more happy is to be able to do what I love again now that studies/work is off the plate at this point of time. It has been about 7 years now since I first discovered my love for photography and being an avid lover of natural lighting from the start, I've always wondered how it would be like to have graduation photoshoots outdoor. (No indoor studio lights, no "library" wallpaper with books in the background - just natural lighting and all that nature has to offer) Well, I'm glad that I had the opportunity to do just that for this shoot :)

As Le Anne's chapter in life as a student is coming to an end, she asked if I would be willing to take some photos before she enters into an exciting chapter of life ahead as young working adult to which I said yes of course! This graduation photoshoot is also to cherish and remember a very special friend of hers, Shafina. The both of them first met each other during their diploma studies and have been best friends ever since :) 

It was so much fun shooting with these girls as both have such great chemistry on and off the camera and not to forget just how natural they are! (Like seriously, they didn't even have to try). Without further ado, here are some shots taken from the Graduation Photoshoot with Le Anne and Shafina!

Congratulations again, Le Anne! 

Cheering you on for an exciting and fulfilling chapter ahead!

Stay tuned as there will another update on the blog coming up next week! 

P.S// CUTENESS OVERLOAD IS ON YOUR WAY!

Ted Turns One!

Hello, earthlings!

It's good to be BACK in this space once again. Been quite occupied with final year hence the disappearance and if you were wondering if I have been taking any photos or doing any shoots, the answer unfortunately would be no as the past three months of juggling between studies and uni curriculum involvements did take up quite a lot of my time (thank the good Lord for coffee) BUT, I'm glad that I had the opportunity to take some photos for the precious nephew who just turned one!

It was a simple yet lovely gathering of close loved ones to celebrate this little boy's life :) Without further ado, here are some of the photos taken from Ted's 1st Birthday High-Tea Party!

In case you're wondering what was happening, the birthday boy was taking a short nap before his party and that's his big brother cousins, Evan and Nate who came over to pat him while he was sleeping :)

Happy Birthday again, Tedrick Chin! You are so very loved :) 

No Coincidence

While some of you asked where I was throughout the past 3 months in 2017. Yes, I am alive and if you were wondering where I was exactly... Here's the story :)

As one of the requirements before graduating in Taylor's University, students are required to complete a 2.5 to 3 months internship. Knowing that my internship period is from Jan to March 2017, I decided to start looking out for places to intern at in July 2016.

While I was searching and looking through, I listed 3 criteria which I hope to find in this company which I will be interning at. First, that this company would be a multinational company as I have never worked in a multinational company setting and would like to learn on how MNCs run their businesses with their policies and procedures. The second criteria would be that this company is related to my course of study, human resource management. I found this second criteria to be very important personally as I wanted my internship experience to sharpen my knowledge and understanding in my field of study. Last but not least, a company that will provide a substantial internship experience for me. I heard so many stories of mundane internship experiences like photocopying documents and buying coffee and I thought to myself "That's not what I want".

Low and behold, I found this company online.....

A leading British (Multinational, checked) recruitment and HR services company (Human Resource related, checked). I browsed through the company website and found a page showing the past intern's stories and testimonies in the company.

"Wow" I thought to myself, "All three criteria checked". I'm not gonna lie that as excited I was, I was also scared as I asked myself if I would be even qualified to intern in this company. Before submitting my CV, I said a prayer "God, if this is from You, it will come through".

2 days later, I received a phone call and was called for an interview. After 2 rounds of interview, I received the news that I would be interning in this company! The best news was knowing that my best friend also got an internship in this same company!!!

At the start of my internship, I was assigned to some administrative work such as reporting and yes, I did have to photocopy documents as well. It's funny how sometimes we think that when God gives us something we asked and prayed for, that it would be a nice and smooth sailing ride. A little discouraged at first but I was reminded the importance of "Doing small things with excellence in preparation for the bigger things in life". I prayed and said "God, thank You for placing me in this company. If I am meant for more meaningful and substantial things in this company, You will prepare me for it and make it happen".

On the second week of internship, my reporting manager called me into the room and shared with me on her satisfaction with my work performance. I felt a huge relief as those words meant a lot to me. She then continued on and asked if I could assist one of the managers in this company and her team of 8 consultants under her. Hearing many stories on how capable this manager is, her level of expectation on those under her AND the size of her team, I felt so very nervous - no kidding!

But I heard His gentle whisper "Didn't you ask for a more meaningful and substantial work in this company?" to which I said yes to my reporting manager in taking this new role up.

I will not lie that taking up the new role indeed had its own set of challenges for me as there were just so many things to complete within such a  short time frame most of the time BUT I have no regrets taking it up... Here's why.

Towards my last week in Hays, I was asked to decide on a place to eat for lunch with Clarise and her team as she wanted to have farewell lunch for me. I was so surprised because for the whole team of consultants to have a farewell lunch for an intern? Not to forget, I also received farewell gifts from my colleagues in the team. Wow, I really did not think I deserved it at all.

"Thank you so much again Eulene for your contribution to the team. You have really helped us significantly on our job and even though you are not a revenue generator yet but the amount of reference checks you have done, I am pretty sure you will be a 100k biller in no time! Will see you in Jan 2018! Level 20 in Sunway Pinnacle. Thank you so much Eulene!"

When Clarise, the top biller in Hays Malaysia who is also the manager of the Human Resource Business Unit in Hays said those words - I knew that taking up the opportunity to intern in this company - particularly in this team was no coincidence at all.

Did I also mention that I got to intern in the same company with this gorgeous best friend of mine? 

Always giving her 110% in all that she does and I'm so proud of her!

Me with half of the team and our manager, Clarise- Yes, she was on the phone when this photo was taken cause you know, top billers just gotta do what they do ;)

All credits go to the big Man up there who never fails to surpass beyond my expectations.

So many times, I hear people saying "But it's just an internship - it's no big deal. Don't dream or hope too much. It's not like you're looking for a full time job yet". Well, I'm glad that I serve a God who believes and knows just how much this internship experience meant to me and that He took into account of every criteria which I looked for in a company before I found Hays. Sometimes we may think that God probably doesn't really care or even bother about our tiny little needs/wants because He probably is very busy with the bigger and more important things in life right? Well, I'm here to tell you that He cares about every.little.single.detail in your life :) Hence, give your best in all that you do and trust that He wants to be apart of the things which matters the most to you despite how small or big they may be in the eyes of men. 

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" 

Romans 8: 28.

Hello

While I decided to drop by to say hello, I must admit that I do miss writing here :) 

Moving on, talk about moving into the third month of 2017?! My oh my, January and February sure did MARCH off in a blink of an eye (hehehe). 2016 was such an eventful year. While I was reflecting back on all the events which happened in 2016, I was reminded that lessons aren't meant to be reflected only on the last day of the year - there is just so many things around us that should cause us to pause, breathe and reflect - be it small or big things in life.

While there are some of you who have mentioned that my Facebook/blog postings have been rather inactive lately, here are some photos which I taken via my phone from the end of 2016 to the beginning of this year. 

I hope to share with you on what I have been up to for the past three months in 2017 on the next post (fingers crossed!). Till next time, people :)

Friday Night Rants

I'm lying down on my bed, typing this at 9:55pm.

Aiming to fall asleep by 10pm.

So early, you say. Who sleeps at 10pm on a Friday night, you say.

Me.

I do.

Because I went to the gym, showered, washed and dried my clothes, cleaned my room and did 3 hours of revision.

I cannot wait for Christmas. 

And yes, I miss taking photos.

I was going through Tealily Photography's website a while ago and then I realised just how much I miss being behind the camera, capturing a couple's smile as they look into each other's eyes, a mother tenderly holding her child and a girl freely expressing herself through art.

I do ask myself sometimes, I often wonder if I will ever become a photographer one day.

Or will my future profession be of what I am majoring now, Human Resource Management.

Or will I be a bus driver.

Okay maybe not, my passengers may not make it to the destination.

Okay, it's 9:59. I'm going to try to sleep now.

Goodnight.

The Sweetest Thing.

     While having lunch with a dear friend of mine, she asked "What's the sweetest thing Leroy has done for you?". I thought about it and while thinking through, I found myself recollecting some of the sweetest memories with this guy. Now, I don't usually posts things about us on this space but I think this guy deserves a special shoutout :)

While we were both having lunch on my birthday, he casually mentioned "Hey, check your email and see". With question marks all over my face, I took out my phone to check my mail to which I saw....

     So, it turns out that this guy sent a "newsletter" birthday card. Oh, and if you're wondering why there is "what the heck" on the photo in the email. That's because that was my exact response when he once  surprised me with a box of cereal a few months back. It was an unfiltered & immediate response because I definitely did not expect anyone to buy me a box of cereal despite the fact that I am an avid lover of cereal. But don't worry, the response was a happy and surprised one  even though it may not sound like it.  I also told him that the box of cereal made me much happier than a bouquet of flowers :P

        And yes, we also got to watch Daniela Andrade live a few weeks ago. It was almost impossible for my heart to not get melted when I heard her sing live. *swoons

 Check out his crazy good design!

        This week was slightly tougher than the usual. Apart from the back to back classes and the usual assignments, there were also difficult people to handle. Lol. And so while I was doing my work on Tuesday morning, I received an email.....

A quiet guy but oh boy, this guy really knows how to surprise me at times :)