If I didn’t tell you, you might not have known that Stefanus runs a production house and Angeline is the proud lady-boss of Yoga+. Not because they don’t look the part but because they are so down to earth and humble despite their successful careers.
When I came back from London, they were the first couple who booked me. Naturally, I was a little nervous before our first meeting.
I had not shot a wedding in Singapore for almost 2 years. The wedding landscape had completely changed in the time I was gone. Photographers were experimenting more. There were a lot of subversions going on. For instance, couples were often separated and layered in space. There was a shift towards darker, moodier colours. Story was almost completely dead even though people kept saying they were storytellers.
There was a significant shift in style. Photos looked edgier, more stylized and more considered, but they often left me feeling cold. Time and again, I could only see the photographer in the photos. I could no longer see the couple.
The experience was a lot like buying a pack of single origin coffee beans from an artisanal cafe. The resulting brew after I got home often tasted underwhelming compared to the beautifully designed bag it came in. There is an implicit promise. And then there is the product.
I was uncertain about the direction I should take with my wedding work. I even asked Stefanus and Angeline, “would you like me to try for a more modern style in your wedding photos?”
They looked a bit puzzled.
Apologetically, I asked if they were looking for something more ‘hip’ than what I’m used to shooting. They laughed and simply told me, “No no no. Just be you. We like you as you are.”
I am thankful that I have clients like Stefanus and Angeline who believe in me even at times when I doubt myself. Nonetheless, the relentless questioning never stops.
I finally got my driving license last year. After my first year probational period was over, I found myself driving an electric car frequently. I simply love driving. The ability to move around freely was something very refreshing to me. I also like the atmosphere of a car – neither interior or exterior, it has a meditative quality even when my girlfriend is with me. Driving requires me to be completely present yet my mind manages to travel to many different places.
In this series, I tried to replicate the experience of revisiting a set of memories. Much like how you drift into your thoughts while driving. Instead of a linear narrative based on a chronology of events, I applied an associative logic to the sequence of images. For instance, a hug could trigger multiple memories of your mother’s hug, the first time you cried and hugged someone, your best friend’s embrace.
I quite like the results. How do you feel?