Edmund Lau Photography

New blog site is up!

2010-07-28T19:13:00.000-07:00

Finally, my new blog site is up.

Will cease to blog here, do check out new blog ya!

http://www.edmundlauphotography.com/blog

My email will still be same : el@edmundlauphotography.com

cheers
Edmund

Actual Day Wedding of Ryan & Mae

2010-07-02T23:50:00.000-07:00

Am running through the actual day wedding photography for Ryan & Mae that i did yesterday. This photo look so wacky and fun (I love it), that I have to post it...Congrats! Ryan and Mae!

Roland & Doris - Acrual Day Wedding Selections

2010-06-28T09:07:00.000-07:00

A recent wedding that I have covered. Really felt exhausted after the whole event, but after viewing the photos on the next day, I think all the effort is worthwhile...

They are such a wonderful couple that really take care of the photographer, I have been asked a umpteen time to eat and rest and the best of all, I get to eat a whole abalone during the dinner! Wow...how good a treatment can a wedding photographer gets.

Well, I really appreciate all of this :)

A friend wedding - Wesley and Yvonne

2010-06-14T01:18:00.000-07:00

Just attended a friend wedding yesterday in Novotel Hotel. This is like my 3rd times either attending a wedding or doing wedding photography assignment at Novotel in this year alone, what a popular Hotel I guess.

Anyway, I am glad that I can have a proper meal and my time to relax and see how fellow wedding photographer in actions. I do learnt alot by observing too.

Just took a few casual shots of the match-in, as it's better not to obstruct the main photographer from doing her job.

They look so joyful and I can see much effort putting into the wedding to make it look great! I wish them a blissful marriage ever after.

YenTing and XuanHong Pre-wedding

2010-06-06T22:34:00.000-07:00

Some of the more 'formal' shots in gown and suit.

I like their photos...and thank you for their tolerance for the all the bone cracking poses and my nonsense demand. :)

ZhiRong and Kaili

2010-05-20T09:29:00.000-07:00

It people like them that make my photography session so enjoyable. Easy going and understanding couple that trusted me... Thanks!

YenTing and XuanHong

2010-05-20T08:58:00.000-07:00

A lovely couple who is such joy to work with. The world will be a better place with people like them around. Just some preview photos of the casual pre-wedding shots.

I so look forward to shoot their actual day wedding in August.

It's Zoe time!

2010-05-20T01:35:00.000-07:00

Have the chance to shoot Zoe again!

I have to admit I am not really a studio person (lousy excuse for not good with strobe!) and suggested on location shooting. Was actually thinking of what is a better place to shoot little Zoe and family. I needed to pass Monica Zoe's birthday party photos and intend to pay her a home visit to discuss the on location shoot as well.

What a nice surprise am I into. Monica apartment was really well furnished, equivalent to a 5 stars hotel and with every nice corner for photography...that's where i should shoot Zoe, at the luxury and comfort of home!

I wanted my photos to be casual yet with the quality of "studio" session, brought in a whole brunch of lighting equipments on the assignment day. Rachael aka wifey who is also my art director cum baby cheerer assisted me with the shoot, so glad she is able to help me with this. It was planned for a 2 hours session and we ended with a 5 hours! Did we shoot for 5 hours? of course NO... we chased after baby Zoe for 5 hours!...

Hi ! I m still shooting!

2010-05-02T07:42:00.001-07:00

It's been so silence in my blog recently that quite a couple of friends started to ask if I am still in the photography business. And my answer is a definite YES!

Of course I am still shooting and infact is so pre-occupied in it that I have hardly find time to post!

I began to see more opportunities especially after last year of portfolio in the making. Many kind friends from previous photography shoot has recommended my services and I am forever grateful to them, not only because of the business opportunity but especially the confidence they have in me...which means alot in my photography journey, to see myself improving.

So what have i been shooting lately? --> Pre-wedding! I love that!, Food photography for a well known restaurant! Family and baby photography!

Well, I will try to find more time so I can showcase some of the beautiful photos taken. Till then!

Singapore Urbanization

2010-03-24T09:36:00.000-07:00

Some landscape photos of Singapore in rapid urbanization

Zoe First Birthday !

2010-03-16T23:57:00.000-07:00

Another chance to shoot a baby birthday party, this time it's Zoe's first birthday.

I remember meeting Zoe's family at Marco's first month celebration quite a few months back and casually took some shots of Zoe back then. When Zoe's mom, Monica contacted me recently if I could shoot for Zoe's first birthday party, I am really glad that they still remember me and my photography service.

Shooting baby required quite a different set of techniques than wedding as we cannot tell the baby to poise for us. You just need lots of patience and baby need their beauty sleep to look good and happy. I am glad I have learned and practice this skill after being a father :)

Some photos for viewing:

Gong Xi Fa Cai ! Happy Chinese New Year

2010-02-14T06:27:00.000-08:00

On behalf of Edmund Lau Photography, little Chantel wishing everyone "Gong Xi Fa Cai 恭喜发财 !" May everyone be blessed with Good Health and of course World Peace.

Eddy Family

2010-02-02T19:15:00.000-08:00

A recent assignment for a colleague and also a close friend of mine. Eddy has been asking me to shoot for their family for quite some time, it was either my schedule was packed for the last quarter of the year or Eddy is not ready for the shoot, he wanted to look the best!

We've finally been able to pin down a date and I was told they have been eagerly preparing for the the big day to come, shopping for the family clothes and on diet to look better!

I did quite some googling for ideas and thinking of what would be a good theme for them. Really wish to able to capture some nice photos for their memory. Eddy has the intention to blow up some large photos to be hang on their hall.

We've decided on Haji lane and the Changi beach would be quite ideal locations for the shoot as this would be more lifestyle photos than studio shot. We are now preparing for the formal studio shoot to happen sometime later after the Chinese new year.

Warming up the family for the shoot wasn't too difficult as I know them well, so it easier to get them in a more relax, natural pose for the shots. It was like a pre-wedding photography for my client in a way too. The youngest daughter, Lisia is such a natural born model, she changes pose with every click of the shutter! and I really wonders where she learnt those porfessional poses.

One thing I have realised for a family shoot as compared to the wedding shoot is that we should not stretch the timing of the photography session to be too long as it more difficult to co-ordinate a larger group and children tends to get distracted and lose interest easier.

For this assignment, I have gotten the help of my best buddy, Vincent which offer fantastic help in terms of both logistic, choreographing and getting alternative shots, Thanks Kawan!

Pat's Family

2010-01-28T22:23:00.000-08:00

Some casual shots of Pat's family that I like alot.

Some casual shoots...with Leica

2010-01-16T18:40:00.000-08:00

My daughter when she was sick and waiting for the doctor, so glad she is all well now.

Reflection

Andy and Pearlyn - Part 3

2010-01-11T08:18:00.000-08:00

Andy and Pearlyn - part 2

2010-01-11T08:00:00.000-08:00

I need some colour photos in my blog :)

Wedding of Andy and Pearlyn

2010-01-03T20:41:00.001-08:00

I was looking at my main website and it's been so long since I updated them, am I not shooting wedding recently?

Nope! infact I was quite pre-occupied by wedding shoot for the last few months when I started to do pre wedding shoot, have only the time to start updating my blog and put my main web page in the freezer for the time being. So do come here instead of my website for updates.

To start the new year, here are some photos of a recent wedding I have taken. The super fun, warm hearted wedding of Andy and Pearlyn. It's like live telecast of a romantic movie, you find a mixture of laughter, joy and tears all in a day event.

I was eagerly anticipating this last wedding photo shoot of the year 2009. Long before the wedding, we have been in regular discussion and somehow I already know it going to be a well prepared and really wacky funky celebration.

To me, how good is a wedding is not only based on how much money was thrown in but it's how much effort and thoughts are put into the wedding preparation. Despite the very long hours of photography with them, I thoroughly enjoyed taking their photos.

As usual let me starts off with my favourite Black and White photos....

This is my favourite photo from the day, catch her peeping and enjoying their love story montage showcase in the resting room before the church solemnization

Jacky Cheung of Singapore! Andy can really sing and even I was touched by his singing... I want to cry too!

Christmas comes early - new Toy

2009-12-23T19:09:00.000-08:00

Could not resist the temptation and got myself a Leica ... well not the digital M9 but a old classic Leica m6, I still has alot of love for film photo. After off loading quite a fair bit of redundant stuffs, I bite the bullet and succumb to a LEICA camera.

This is my first rangefinder and it's like a expensive toy camera to me, everything look small compared to a DSLR or SLR. Leica gave interesting name to their range of lens too...Summilux (f1.4) , Summicron (f2) , Elmarit (f2.8) etcs to differentiate based on the aperture size. I am quite amazed looking at the 50 summicron f2 lens that i gotten, in a way it look so cute and really well made as compared to my relative big size Canon 50 f.14 lens. Operation is very simple and fundamental-> Metering, Focus, Shutter speed and Aperture, so it's back to basic that I am familiar.

Just couldn't wait to fire off my first roll of film and I did that in a hurry the next day. As usual, when you don't think and shoot, you get crap photos, so it no different with whatever cam I have used. First 2 rolls of film yielded poor result, lots of OOF (out of focus) shots as I am not too good with the new type of focusing from RF cam. It's from my third roll of firm that I can really see the Leica effect and I love it to bits.

I am still fiddling with the camera and is still very slow in my focusing but given the right setting the result can be amazing! I started to shoot a lot in very low light and low speed! 1/15 secs and below, something i will never do with my DSLR.

The love for Smaller Camera

2009-12-03T02:11:00.000-08:00

Given the many chances to travel around asia and there are times when I really wish for a small handy camera with me to capture that moment. While I love my Canon 5Dmk2, it can be quite troublesome to bring along such a big work horse everywhere I go.

Imagine bringing out a dinosaur size DSLR and expose yourself with this intimidating big lens that can look like a big cannon. The size of point and shoot camera is actually best for photojournalist style of photography but unfortunately, I can't stand the image quality of most of the PNS.

A couple of friends has been asking me about cameras and what they are looking for are small, light and most of all with DSLR image quality cam.... that can produce nice "BOKEH" effects! (the quality of the blur background). Everyone thinks BOKEH is everything and only professional cam can do that :)

This led me to try out some really nice camera available now -> Olympus EP1 and Panasonic GF1. They have almost the best of both world, small enough to be inconspicuous and IQ to be much better than PnS. EP1 and GF1 belongs to the Micro Four Third Standard which uses sensor that is smaller than the typical DSLR but bigger than a PNS. The best part of these type of camera is the flexibility of able to interchange with better lenses.

But for many pro photojournalists and even collectors, the holy grail of small unobtrusive digital camera should be the Leica M9 digital rangefinder. Only in my dream can I afford one now.....

Raghav's First Birthday Party .. Continue

2009-12-03T02:05:00.001-08:00

Raghav's First Birthday Party .. Continue

2009-12-03T01:43:00.001-08:00

Raghav's First Birthday Party

2009-11-30T00:41:00.001-08:00

Have not been updating my blog for sometime not because of the lack of photos but on the contrary I was really busy with lots of shooting and post editing late into the night. I am not complaining too much if the result can put a smile on my client's face :)
One of the events that I have shot recently is the one year old birthday celebration of little Raghav. Really excited about the assignment as I don't get to shoot indian family often and in fact this is the first time that I gotten the chance. I really like the rich vibrant colours of the traditional Indian clothing and I think it will look especially good for photography. It gave me the opportunity to understand a little more of the Indian culture too.

The event was held over 2 venues and one of location was at a high end pub style restaurant. The lighting was on the dim side and that's means a challenge to the camera autofocus system. I have them in print now and more than please with end result.
Raghav is like a little handsome prince from Bollywood movie ... and here's my proof:

more photos soon

Actual Day wedding of Joseph and Jasmine - part 2

2009-10-06T02:24:00.000-07:00

The grand opening for the first dish to be served

Joseph and Jasmine waiting anxiously for the first walk in

Actual Day wedding of Joseph and Jasmine

2009-10-04T22:07:00.000-07:00

Have been extremely busy and hence the lack of post in my blog. There are lots of photos that I have taken this few months and here a preview of a Actual Day wedding of Joseph and Jasmine I have shot recently

At the Singapore Arts Museum

2009-08-11T08:46:00.000-07:00

A recent visit to the Singapore Arts Museum (SAM) and some casual shot of my "big" baby Chantel. One reason why I love photographing toddlers is that their smile and innocent laughter bring much joy to the person photographing them.

Randy and Kara Wedding

2009-07-20T23:24:00.000-07:00

This is one of the weddings I will not forget. There was so much fun and laughter that I can literally feel the joy is in the air while photo documenting the wedding day. I just felt the couple was really tailored made for each other both in personality and look.

It was also the longest wedding photography I ever shot, almost 17 hours! Like the couple, I was wondering how to survive the packed schedule with all the heavy equipments, well...time just pass fast without you knowing and I really enjoyed photographing their wedding day.

This wedding photo-shoot also mark the start of my professional wedding photography services and I am thankful that someone who have not seen my previous work but entrust their faith in my photography to capture their precious moments, Thanks Randy and Kara!

As many said, let the photos do the talking...

My little model

2009-06-28T23:48:00.000-07:00

Training her to be the next top Model...just kidding.

Sandy Beach Resort + Non Nuoc Beach

2009-06-26T19:06:00.000-07:00

Photography: Edmund Lau
Equipments: Nikon F3 + 85mm F1.8 AFD
Film: Fuji Reala 100

Sandy Beach Hotel - Da Nang

2009-06-26T00:27:00.000-07:00

Photography: Edmund Lau
Equipments: Nikon F3 + 85 f1.8
Film: Fuji Pro 400

My hotel is only 1 min walk to the beach...beautiful beach!

A cute local boy

Fisherman in the evening

Fisherman laying the net out to the sea, he's a strong swimmer!

Seashells by the seashore

some aquatic plant

It's a boat!

Da Nang City wet market

2009-06-25T23:32:00.000-07:00

Photography : Edmund Lau
Equipments: Nikon F3+MD4, 85 f1.8 lens
Film: Fuji Pro 400, B&W

View from the bus to Da Nang City

The street of Da Nang City

A vegetable hawker in traditional dress and hat, it seems to me all hawkers are almost exclusive woman. I wonder what the man do?

How strong and hardworking can a woman be?

Some sailors striking up a good deal from the local

lots of chinese food available, but very localised taste

The Han Market

It's easy to avoid the cars and bicycle than the street seller. I gave up buying a bracelet for 1 US dollar from her.

Soon came another street seller....

Da Nang thru my lens

2009-06-25T19:38:00.000-07:00

Was on a business trip to Da Nang, Vietnam recently and have some time to spare for photography, thanks to the infrequent flight schedule that I have to stay longer than expected.

I was thinking of which camera to bring along for this trip and finally decided to go with the fully manual film camera. Packed my recent acquired Nikon F3, MD-4 motordrive and just 1 lens, the Nikon 85 f.18 AFD and I am all set to go.

It's been a long time since I last shot with films and this trip provides the idea practice site. My aim is to achieve photojournalist style of photography thru my lens of how I view Da Nang City.

On actual usage, the manual camera somehow limit me to shoot slower than usual, to think and compose every single shot properly before firing away. The lack of instant preview test my technical abilities and I can only imagine how my shots will turn out.
It's like back to basic and fundamental. The photos result will be my benchmark if I have pass the test.

I only shot a total of four rolls of films which means 36x4 = 144 numbers of photos, over a period of 6 days. I have 2 rolls of Black and White and 2 rolls of Colour negative. That's is far lesser than when I shoot with digital cam.

Almost can't wait to get the films process and I have it immediately sent to Fotohub the next when I am back in Singapore. The result turns out better than expected and well, it just look DIFFERENT from digital photos. Less sharp, less saturated but more real. And the best part, I do zero, zilch post editing, Point and shoot!

I guess film is going to stay with me for just abit longer.

Chameleon Photos

2009-06-16T01:03:00.000-07:00

Since most of my assignments comes after July, there's no better time for me to learn more skill and editing style.... So now pardon me to go crazy in uploading of photos. These photos demonstrates how simple attributes of a photo like colour and toning can bring out a completely different favor to it.

Why Edit Your Photos?

2009-06-14T04:59:00.000-07:00

Friends has been asking me, why do I spend so much time in post editing of my photos? For some strange reasons, I find post editing really fun but as tedious and time consuming. For me, capturing images is just the start of the photography workflow, more time is spent in editing.

I am not promoting about anyhow capture now and deal with it later mentality. Good composition and mastering the basic techniques is still the fundamental and should always be applied. You should know the rules first before breaking it. I am talking about post editing to enhance whatever is possible to make a photo even better, to emphasize the content.

Most of my photography work (personal) has piled up due to this reason of insisting to post edit. The moment I let my work sit there, I tend to forget and let it be. So it's my personal habit now to start editing as soon as possible for paid assignment. It will be a easy job for me if I just shoot and deliver, but I don't do that.

Another reason why I do a lot of editings is that I wanted to infuse my own style into the photo, a concoction of editing recipes I have created over time. I presumed why my work is chosen partly because of this.

Timeless Romance ~ Le Granduer

2009-06-09T22:38:00.000-07:00

In the midst of preparing my personal website, and hopefully I can get it up and running by July. Setting the website part is easy but populating the contents can really be a nightmare as I am never a good writer.

Was digging out photos in one of the model shoot event I have taken part for web page portfolio. Quite a number of photos turned up well, just needed some retouching and enhancement to bring out the subject.

Credits:
Photography : Edmund Lau
Organizer : MNTV
Art Direction - William Chua
Lighting Support - Kenneth Choo & Alex Chim
Makeup Styling - Pretty Box
Accessories & Jewellery - Ponnie Hsu
Gowns - DU DESIGNS

Back to Film

2009-06-09T08:54:00.001-07:00

Got a very good bargain for a old but well taken care Nikon FE2 that I could not resist, the camera is estimated to be more than 15 years old. Am toying with the ideas of shooting some Black and White photos with film for clients, there're still some magics left with old technology.

Still remembered those were the days when everything were made to last. You can just feel in your hand how solid the FE2 was made, this reminds me of my trusty Nikon FM that I have regretted selling it quite some years ago.

Just can't wait to load my first roll of film and fire away...

Images of my New but old toy :)

Cute little shoes...

2009-06-08T03:57:00.000-07:00

I like this pair of shoes so much that I tried using different ways to photograph it.

and the owner of the shoes :)

Some romantic photos of Serene and Yiqiang

2009-06-05T01:19:00.000-07:00

Some of the photos that I took for Serene and Yiqiang sometime ago...here goes.

Colour my world!

Setting the mood with monotone

Children Portrait

2009-06-04T07:33:00.000-07:00

Fun and Beautiful Couple - Serene n Yiqiang

2009-06-02T21:54:00.000-07:00

Well as part of my weekly photography session, I have invited my sister in law and her boyfriend to be my models of the week.
They are such a fun loving couple, it was really easy to photograph them. At least I don't have to pose them and they are natural with the camera as I prefer contemporary photography than studio style. I have always believe having good communication with the models will lead to better results, they were told to just 'be themselves'. After-all, it just a fun photography session

Bare with me on the post editing as I'm always experimental with my images, trying out different techniques.

Be Yourself

2009-06-01T00:02:00.001-07:00

"It's never too late to be who you might have been." - George Eliot

A simple quote yet in real life I find it extremely difficult to fulfill. It takes alot of courage, effort and sometime sacrifice to be what you really want to be.

But in a way a very encouraging quote for me.

Chantel and Mommy

2009-05-31T07:18:00.000-07:00

Was scrolling to the long list of photos I have took just this couple of months. Usually I do post editing of selected photos that I like and enhance it the way I would love to see. These are the few photos that I particularly like.

Chevonn 1st Birthday

2009-05-31T06:59:00.000-07:00

Just came back from a friend baby girl birthday celebration, here are some paparazzi shots.

Ray and May Wedding - Part 3

2009-05-25T23:57:00.000-07:00

Ray and May Wedding - Part 2

2009-05-25T07:14:00.000-07:00

Ray and May Wedding - Part 1

2009-05-24T23:12:00.000-07:00

A simple wedding celebration of Ray and May - 23rd May 09
Congratulation!

Back to Photography

2009-05-24T22:41:00.000-07:00

It's been sometime since I left film photography and it felt really good to relinquish my passion for this hobby with my purchase of a Digital SLR, the NIKON D700. It's just like my good 'o 35mm film camera.

Still remembered those days, when shooting is not about point and shoot like a machine gun and only later to rely heavily with post editing. It's almost a hit or miss affair during the film days, every photos you take required you to think about the composition and also the technique of know-how to correctly expose a film. The high expenses of developing film also make one to consider learning the proper way to handle the camera.

While I'm not complaining about Digital, it has make photography learning curve much shorter. But to shoot without thinking and expecting the camera to do wonders left many photographers to blame on equipments rather then focusing on the technique.

New technology also means new things to learn. For now, I am focusing on my post editing technique especially so when digital darkroom can really do wonders to the final output.