New Year, New Aspiration

Dear Friends,

Kong Hei Fatt Choy!!

How time flies! Looking back year 2009, myself and our team at JLP agreed that it has been amazing!!

The Exodus

If you don't already know it, we have two (2) business identities now i.e. JIM LIAW and JLP by Jim Liaw (which is launched in January 2009). Jim Liaw will still shoot exclusive and beautiful weddings while Braendan Yong and John Seah JLP, our senior photographers, will be shooting under JLP. They are personally and specifically trained by myself in handling both wedding portraiture and wedding day photography series. Till date; believe it or not; they are very popular and highly sought by to-be brides and grooms this year (2010).

A weekend with the Nikonian

In March 2009, working hand-in-hand with Nikonian Academy, I have conducted a photography workshop. It was such an amazing workshop and I have a fond memory of it especially those who had attended my previous workshops came back to seek further information and knowledge. Well done!

Destination Pre-wedding to Paris

Myself and Ning had a wonderful trip to Paris for 2 weeks to photograph fine art wedding portraits (FAWP) with three (3) lovely Malaysian couples who are based in London. Since it is summer when the day broke so early and ended late, both the Bride & Groom together with Sharon, our all time make-up stylist partner, had to start their styling sessions as early as 4:00 a.m. The first session ended around 11:00 a.m. as the contrast is too wide for the camera to handle. Then, we started shooting again around 8:30p.m. and called it a day past midnight around 12:30a.m. Shooting FAWP, one after another, I recalled that people on the street was watching and starring at us when one of three couples came out from the underground metro subway at Elysses in their suit & tie and wedding gown and while we had our “dinner” at McDonalds. Wow, what a fun session!

An 'Escapade' to Melbourne

I took my family to Melbourne for holiday as well as learning the album design software from Album Australia. We also met up with our former clients and delighted to be informed that they have an additional family member. I experienced their happiness, joy & greatest love, and happy that they now assume not only the role of a husband and wife but father and mother. Congratulations from myself, Ning & Clement!

911 Workshop

The two (2) days 911 Workshop at Clearwater Sanctuary Golf Resort, Ipoh was a success. We have overlooked that it is the Muslim fasting month, but we still went ahead with the workshop and happy to know that there is a muslim participant. We are blessed with a real life model during live shooting session. We had a wonderful photo retouching & sharing session. It was an amazing workshop and unfortunately it has to end early because some participant has to go back to Singapore and Kuching. Personally, in addition to conducting and training for the workshop, the best experienced I learnt from this workshop is the pool of experiences from the participants' diversified industry background, which they brought along with them. The friendship bond established does not end just at saying “goodbye”, “Take care” and “See you soon”, the 'saga' continues in Facebook. Not only that, those who resides in KL are having their teh-tarik sessions. Also, I have trainees who asked me when will be my next workshop because they have not attending any since 911. Well, please be patient, we are still planning for it.

Master of Photographers' Association (MPA) in Singapore

Judges from the UK, Kelvin Wilson, Richard Dutkowski, Guy Gowan and MPA’s Chief Executive Colin Buck were in Singapore in October 2009. We have a record of 40 attendances and we are classified as Far East & South East Asia Region zone in MPA. It is here that the MPA has the most rapid growth and recruiting some of the best social talent. At this 2009 Singapore Masters Seminar, a trade sponsored event saw further 23 new members and 17 successful Associates and Fellows. The culmination of several years development programs, is now chaired by Ryan Wong, FMPA for Singapore and Jim Liaw FMPA for Malaysia.

Fellowship Award

It is my long term dream to be awarded Fellowship with MPA so I started working on my panel images at the very beginning of year 2009. Spending time deciding on the locations for the project, shooting the style and how I wanted to present it to the panel judges are tedious. The process i.e. the shooting, the post-processing, the colour management, the media selection for the prints and card mounted, images arrangement to be presented in a well-balanced way; took me more than a year altogether to complete my fellowship panel. In total, I had spent 2 years for the project. Failed my 1st attempt and got it the second year, 2009. It is totally WORTH IT & I LOVE IT. I strongly urge those enthusiastic professional photographers to start getting into the process. Don’t just let your clients assessing your work, do let your peers to judge them. You will come out stronger and well informed where you are and where are the areas that you need to improve. Find out your specialty and start market yourself. Most importantly, you gained yourself a good qualification from a world wide recognized institution and they are your proven skills and hard work. Come join us at the MPA Master Photographers.

A "Roaring" Year of the Tiger

JLP has entered the most busy festive and weddings jammed pack months i.e. shooting, post-processing, entertaining and socializing during Christmas, New Year & Chinese New Year's time. Seeing many of our Clients who are back from overseas and relatives, the experience of the inter-relationship is so good. What a year!!

The year 2010 will see our new studio to be ready around March / April. Wanting to shoot more contemporary and traditional classic portraitures, I decided to build a full scale studio with proper lighting equipment. Many of our former clients are asking for their family and babies portrait done. Really looking forward to shoot these sessions. With new cameras and equipments, the planning of getting these new toys are fun & exciting. And Jim Liaw Photography is entering a new photographic era.

Li Lian & Niger: Just Wanna Have Fun

"...you're always in my heart, you're always on my mind;

And when it all becomes too much, you're never far behind;

And there's no one that comes close to you could ever take your place;

'Cause only you can love me this way ..."

Only You Can Love Me This Way, Keith Urban

A bubbly couple, Lilian and Niger walked into our Studio few days before their actual day wedding to discuss their final itinerary.  After the whole discussion, we were intrigued by the fact that this wedding is going to be FUN!

Thanks Lilian & Niger for having us to photograph your wedding.  Indeed we had fun especially the jumping into the pool shot.

Let's take a peep on the slideshow of what happened during the day. 

We spent a lot of time researching before finally deciding on our wedding photographers and we have nothing but high compliments for Jim & Ning who photographed our wedding and John who did our ROM.

Thank you for doing such an excellent job in capturing memorable moments at our Putrajaya ROM and KL wedding and especially in accommodating our many requests of having jumping into the pool shots!  What else can we say but a million thank yous and for going far and beyond expectations!  

We admire your professionalism and we were very comfortable working with all three of you.  In fact, we have heard nothing but compliments regarding your work and we are so happy we made the right choice by having JLP document our special day! :)

Lilian & Niger

Team: Jim & Ning

Related Post: Lilian & Niger's ROM

Christmas Special: Family Portrait

When was the last time you had your family portraits taken?

Whether your answer is 'never' or 'too long ago' or it could be 'a few years back' or 'a year ago' - the best time to have your family portraits taken is NOW!

Family portrait is not an once-in-a-lifetime event.  Families change!

The children at a young age are always changing and will never be the same as they are now; there may be a new addition in the family - be it new spouses or new born baby.


Even if there aren't any new additions, while life changes around us, it is always nice to have a new family portrait to chronicle our family through the years and may it be a permanent reminder of our family at a specific time in our lives. 

During this holiday seasons, families who are scattered around the globe will get together to celebrate winter solstice, thanksgiving, or simply a reunion - to share joy and laughter.  Gift your family a Family Portrait shoot with Jim and bring home those memoirs.

Sept-citing-ember

If you would have notice, we have re-arrange the layout of the blog. The most obvious will be the slideshows which are arranged vertically under each sub-heading on the right panel for your easy viewing and reference.

Well, it's unbelievable that September is coming to an end. So many events has taken place. Starting with Wedding Isle Bridal Image Styling Workshop which was held on 22 August 2009 where Jim has been invited to share with the Brides to be "How To Look Good in Photos."

Next, there was the Big Bridal Sale organised by WeddingsbyEternal.Com which was held in Sime Darby Convention Centre on 5 & 6 Sept. Followed by our JLP 911 Workshop in Clearwater Sanctuary Golf Resort.

For our Bride & Groom to be, we wish to make your year 2010 wedding wish comes true. Check out our October Best Deal on 1st October 2009.

Lastly, we at JLP wishing you Happy MoonCake Festival!

Pink & Ivan - Glamourous

It has always been my wish to be able to shoot some parasols on a wedding. And it so happened that my wish materialised in this garden wedding held few weeks ago in Sri Carcosa.

Our ever so glamorous and capable bride, Pink, and her charming groom, Ivan, planned their wedding so beautifully. Pink has heard about us and our works 5 - 6 years ago after attending a close friend's wedding and so they approached and engaged us nearly a year ago to photograph their wedding. Honored, we happily accepted the portfolio knowing that it will be a wedding which will be the talk of the town. Indeed, the occasion was full of surprises. It was a very romantic and colorful affair that I have ever photographed in Malaysia.

Ning, Braendan and myself started shooting during the morning preparation itself where Sharon and her styling team from Wedding Isle, skilfully making the bride and the girls beautiful. We were busy shooting the wedding gown and bits and pieces in the room.

The girls were so engrossed in helping the bride to dress up where they didn't even noticed my presence.

When they finally realised it and started to turn the bride away from my camera, I have snapped a few priceless shots.

Guests who attended the ceremony were full of personalities in their best and finest attires. Given the bride's name is PINK, you can easily guess the theme color of the wedding i.e. fuchsia pink and white with a touch of black. All decorations were artistically and tastefully set up by the creative team from Wishing Tree.

With the organisation, co-ordination and hard work from the bridesmaids and groomsmen, the wedding ceremony went smoothly under a clear blue sky. In such a romantic & enchanting setting and ambience, it is not surprising that the bride shed a few tears (it has to be tears of joy!). Guests who were there to witness would have shared the same sentiment. Or perhaps the ladies were sad realising that there gone another handsome single man marrying to their best friend. :p

Well Pink & Ivan, congratulations again on your recent marriage. Thank you for engaging us and your kind words. We had a real fun during the photography sessions.

"Dear Jim & team,

... thank you so much for doing such a great job at our wedding! Your work is remarkable! You've been nothing but wonderful in capturing every moment of such a beautiful day in our lives... When it comes to choosing our suppliers, we knew instantly that we wanted to use Wishing Tree and Jim simply only because of 1 reason: they are both one of the best in the field! ... for Jim, I had already fallen in love with his work 5-6 years ago when my friend Ee Peng got married. Thanks to her recommendation, I checked him out on pbase (before Jim had his own website) and immediately I told myself that this is the photographer I MUST HAVE for my wedding! ... I will always remember this day for a long time to come thanks to Wishing Tree, Jim Liaw ...

... Jim, everyone loves the umbrella shots! Brilliant! And the pre-wedding was said to be 'the best composition of any wedding photo' ... "

Pink & Ivan