Journal of Regina

I have moved!

2009-03-24T02:35:00.000-07:00

Dear readers,

I have moved to my new photoblog together with my new website. You can click on http://www.reginalim.com/ and choose to visit my website or my photoblog.

(Read below post for info)

This blog will remain alive but will no longer be updated. It has been a good journey here and see you on the other side!

Cheers,
Regina

My new website!

2009-03-20T02:21:00.000-07:00

Presenting...

My brand new website! and my new studio! --- Beautiful Days by Regina.

Because we all love a beautiful day right? :) And I believe we are all made to have plenty of days as beautiful as this. So tying the knot, having a baby, growing old together, all are part and parcel of our beautiful days enjoyed. :)

I like every bit of my website, especially all the little sections that I put in a lot of efforts. take a look at "my style", "about me", "my charity programs" and "compliments"!

So go to www.reginalim.com to take a look at my pride. Drop by my new blog too!

So I fulfilled my promise and launched my website before 21st March. I'm looking forward to adding in more photos from the Japan shoot. -- remember that I do not have access to many photos that I have shot but not under my copyrights so current photos are limited.

The other good news is that I am still giving away one free couple lifestyle portraiture in celebration of the launch :)

Basically it's a 3 hour shoot where we will go out to places which has a lot of meaning to you and have fun shooting! You get to take home all the photos and have a chance of appearing in an upcoming magazine feature in a popular mag.

Be the first to email me for this chance. :)

Cheers!

what's going into the mouth of my dogs?

2009-03-19T20:40:00.000-07:00

a year after pet food recall

dyl has been very pro feeding the boy and girl homecooked food instead of dried dog biscuit but i haven't had the time to get down to that. maybe, i should seriously consider that.

having a shoot tomorrow and then it will be a race to finish up some stuff in sg and off to japan i will be.

so little time

2009-03-15T20:25:00.000-07:00

argh. so little time till i fly off to the land of the rising sun.

yet so much to do!!

this is a week that i will be out of the house more than i'm in it - meeting couples, meeting sarah about our trip, meeting more couples, meeting j, bringing my sister out to sentosa - why did i promise to bring her to sentosa in my most busy week?!

directions

2009-03-15T00:42:00.000-07:00

recently i have been thinking a lot about the future directions of my photography.

one of the greatest thing i enjoyed is that i work from home and working from home put me really close to all the people that matters to me - my husband, my dogs, my family.

and i have been struggling with getting a place outside of the home for my work. renting a place for my studio.

of course i have in mind a wonderful idea of how my studio should look like. i can, renovate my house and use it as a studio as many does but i am wondering about the impact of mixing work with home.

in the meantime, i am enjoying meeting couples in town for a nice dinner or a cup of fresh coffee.

and i think, i'm happy letting it stay this way. :)

interesting love stories project

2009-03-12T10:07:00.000-07:00

for my friend Nigel, who's collecting love stories. if you have one to share, go to http://love-stories-project.blogspot.com/

quite an interesting idea indeed. :)

Advertising

2009-03-11T23:15:00.000-07:00

I am now in the midst of negotiating with the various advertising firms about where and when to place my ads.
It is a really fun but agonizing process because i want everything yet i am probably better off with just one.

As my aim is to maintain quality artistic photography at an affordable rate, i do not want to raise my overheads till really high and that will mean further increasing my rates. I would rather pass on the savings to my couples.

So ponder ponder...

Website review ongoing

2009-03-11T02:13:00.000-07:00

I am 95% confident of my website being comprehensive and user friendly and most importantly, chic enough.

However, I do need some reviews and feedback so I can work on improving it before it is going to be launched so publicly - 1) through advertisement 2) networks of friends and families 3) this blog . It is quite scary honestly.

So I have selected a few pple with great taste and artistic sense to help me review the site. currently they are elizabeth and beatrice and sarah and my husband(unfortunately, my husband doesn't fall under the artistic sense because the feedback he gave me was- "all website looks the same to me as long as they serve the correct purpose and is user friendly!")

this is getting fun.

blog overload

2009-03-10T23:42:00.000-07:00

I'm once again facing an issue with blog overload.

meaning, i have too many of them! and i have to write in each and everyone of them. i'm better off consolidating them to one blog and categorize them right?

currently, I run
1) reginalimphotography.blogspot.com - which is supposed to be a stand-in while i work at my real photography blog - which is done but i'm not releasing yet.

2) mummyregina - well the aim is to blog more motherly, homely womanly stuff that some readers might not want to read on the main page so i shifted them out separately. but it kinda doesn't make sense now.

3) the real photography blog - secret for now. (actually you can get there easily- but i'm not saying how yet)

considering that i migrated here from my old blog in diaryland, i might not want to move again. then again, blogging can be a sensitive issue, especially when you are running a business and you may not want customer to know every single details of your personal life. very scary. so the prob with this blog is that if my couples google for me, they will get here too, since the blog name give it all away.

hmm...

Fasting

2009-03-10T21:48:00.000-07:00

(before i start, i have done some changes to my mummy blog and you can check out QQ's stunning look on my header)

ok, i have decided what i want to fast in this month of lent. lent already started and i realised that fasting tv is just not an option since it keeps me literally sane.

i have decided to fast off shopping and luxury stuff. therefore, no dining in restaurant, no buying unnecessary items, home cook meals as much as possible, all the way till easter.

and this is supposed to apply even when i'm in Japan!

new website is up but not released to all yet

2009-03-10T08:23:00.000-07:00

my new website is actually up and running but i'm only intending to seriously launch it after i complete the portfolio with my japan's wedding shoot and a pre-wedding that i will be doing (o yeah, everything just fell into place)

I love it, and many people loved it too, it's exactly how i envision it to be. :)

What happens when my photographer gets pregnant?

2009-03-09T06:24:00.000-07:00

Interestingly and somewhat understandable, my couples have been asking me this questions. while some are perfectly nonchalant about it and just go"I'm sure you can handle it well", others are a little concerned.

let me share some stories here (a little bit on the horror side), i have stand in for photographers (men, since there's so little women pg around) who had
1. fractured their legs - therefore had to transferred all assignments 3 months from date of injury
2.fell really ill on day of shoot
3.injured their back

i would say with every photographer there is a chance of course, that he/she cannot make it for your wedding day. the most important thing is that 1. he/she produces work you really like 2. he/she has very good backup plans which you are happy with

so a pregnant photographer should have no impact on your wedding day, just as there are pregnant make up artist, hotel manager, chef. and just to share, one of the world's greatest photographer just had a baby and shooting all the way to her birth. (i'm not even intending to be that adventurous)

btw, i'm not pregnant yet. we are not even working on that now as Dyl's really stressed up over some work issues.

guess i gotta just relax and have fun in japan first!

highlight of the day

2009-03-09T00:33:00.000-07:00

i want to share a little highlight of my day.

even since i left JLP, i have not started any form of advertisement. naturally, i am expecting no business, since i am taking a break to re-organise my business thoughts.

but along the way, i started harbouring thoughts like maybe nothing good will come out of this etc. (Sorry God, how could i doubt you?) but amazingly, right when i was getting a little grumpy on working on the new website etc, one couple called me from the states to discuss about engaging me for their wedding day.

wow.

actually, God has been really good, eg, even before i start any form of advertisement and when my website was at its bare minimal, i have closed quite a few assignments.

I cannot imagine my life once I advertise and traffic starts swarming in - with my motto of shooting only 2 per month, I believe my months will get packed up fast. (FYI, usual photographer shoot 4-6 weddings per month but i believe in quality time for the family and my health)

God is great.

a child against all odds

2009-03-06T19:40:00.000-08:00

yesterday, an amazing friend called me to encourage me. I shoot her wedding a while ago and she and her husband are 2 of the most loving people i know - Anthony & Yvonne.

She was sharing with me her story of fighting fibriods and basically, she was facing reduced chances of conception, yet, just shortly after that news, she is now expecting.

i am happy to know that God has done such amazing work in their life and that she remembers me and is there to encourage me.

i was sharing with her that the trouble now is that i don't know many friends who truly understand our situation. yes, there are very supportive friends but they do not understand childbirth, marriage, mopping floors, starting business. so with time, we have all drift apart.

the only women i know who knows how trying to conceiev was, are the ladies i meet in my belly dancing classes. all of them have children in school already.

definitely because i married at a very young age and these are just not life stages my friends go through now.

i hope you understand that i am not saying that i do not appreciate you as a friend but that our common grounds are disappearing now but one day, when you are going through that phase, i will be there for you. (",)

new inspiration needed

2009-03-04T03:15:00.000-08:00

i'm in a stage where i feel fatigue and tired all the time, i need new inspiration and something gotta change. i don't know what but i will explore that. maybe need to pack up a nice work area.

i love packing, it is so therapeutic.

ok, i am getting nervous at the thought of having a baby soon (nope, the 2 lines haven't appeared in any pregnancy kit) but i am nervous.

kinda the feeling of a storm approaching (ok, it's not that bad, all veteran parents tell me) but the idea of a crying baby in the house scare both of us.

haha.

tax nightmare

2009-03-02T20:08:00.000-08:00

being self-employed is really fun, until the day you have to declare tax. the amount of work going on in all the calculations of expenses and profits etc. is scary. i am so confused.

if this is your first year reporting tax as self-employed too, look here.

have fun!

if you are a mother-to-be and self-employed, note that the government pay your maternity leave for 2 months capped at $10,000. look here

but unfortunately, the monthly income is based on the latest iras statement and even if your monthly income has increased in the new year, you are going to be paid the previous yr amt.

26 days countdown

2009-03-01T20:06:00.000-08:00

26 days more to my japan trip.

can't wait to be in the midst of busy tokyo again. :)

last min outing

2009-02-27T01:03:00.000-08:00

suddenly decided that i should buy an extra camera battery after running into some batteries inconsistency recently (suddenly dying on me, all 3 of them!)

i am still feeling out of sort today, esp after going to the supermarket in the early afternoon.

but i gotta drag myself out of the house to hougang mall to buy the battery from harvey normal (yes, i am going to harvey norman! what to do, get rip off lor, last min decision) and get a hair cut for tomorrow's shoot (someone's else getting married but i am dolling up? haha)

how can a dog sleep like this?

2009-02-26T21:42:00.000-08:00

QQ the dog is really an amazing dog. for one, she doesn't care where and when, she just sleep wherever she likes. even if it means she is in a lift going home, she will flop down on the floor and decide to rest.and unlike most dogs, she doesn't follow me up and down in the house when i am moving around, mao mao does, she doesn't care, she will continue sleeping wherever she is.

her favourite sleeping spot is right outside the kitchen, esp when i am cooking, she will sleep there smelling the sweet aroma of food. she will of course, later whine for food but she knows it is cooking now and she cannot eat yet.

today i was amused to find her in this sleeping position, on her back and with her legs resting against the wall and her head, tail, front legs, back legs, all in different direction. this dog can do yoga. Photos are from my camera phone - pardon the lousy image quality!
and just to sidetrack, here's one of her in a basket:
amusing also that she doesn't really behave for me when i am holding my dslr, but when i am using my handphone, she doesn't think i am shooting her so she gets very relaxed. keke.

(on another sidenote, quite irritated that maomao peed in the house and dirtied the walls. what is with him!!!)

bitten by the bugs

2009-02-25T21:20:00.000-08:00

i was down with a bad fever, really horrible, reminded me of dengue fever which landed me in hospital till my birthday few years bad, and i was so sick yesterday and the day before.

i haven't slept soooo much in a loooong time. even when i was sleeping and nursing the terrible fever in the day, i kept thinking about work! i was so concerned about my shoot this sat, it was on my mind the whole time.

apparently, i got this sore throat infection from dylan. when he fell sick last week, i was very careful to steer clear of him, but i guess, germs spread really well among family.

so now, i feel slightly better and quite excited about sat.

just on a side note, i found out that:

What can I do to make my sore throat better?

Whether your sore throat is due to bacteria or a virus, the following will help to relieve your symptoms:

* Drink plenty of non-alcoholic fluids.
* Gargle with warm salty water.
* If you have a temperature take paracetamol to reduce it.
* Adults may try gargling with soluble aspirin before swallowing it.
* Suck throat lozenges (available from chemists and some supermarkets).
* Use throat sprays (available from chemists and some supermarkets).
* Do not smoke.
* Avoid alcohol.

When do I need to see a doctor?

* You are finding it difficult and almost impossible to swallow.
* Symptoms persist for more than 4 days.
* The glands in your neck are swollen.
* You have a persistent fever over 38.3 °C (101°F).
* You have pus on your tonsils.
* You have any difficulty in breathing.
* You have a stiff neck and severe headache.
* You have an earache.
* If a rash develops.
* There is blood in saliva or phlegm.
* You have mouth ulcers lasting for over 2 weeks.
* If the phlegm you have coughed up is either green or yellow.

and a really good herbal rememdy:

Lemon, Apple Cider Vinegar, Cayenne, and Honey Tea

An old home remedy for sore throats is a tea made with lemon, apple cider vinegar, cayenne, and honey.

It is made by adding one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar, a tiny pinch of cayenne pepper, the juice of 1/4 lemon, and one teaspoon of honey to a cup of hot water. Stir.

Typically, up to four cups a day is suggested.

therefore, once the rain stops, i will head out for ntuc to get some lemons.

Our fur-babies

2009-02-23T23:03:00.000-08:00

even though we spoke about rehoming maomao due to his barking issue, i am quite sure that will not happen.

because mao mao, like qianqian, is like a piece of us. they live in our hearts, our minds, our house. every inch of this house smell like them, has traces of them and i enjoy falling asleep to the sound of maomoa's snore everynight, because i know he is safe and happy.

falling in love is a very lovely thing. and falling in love with dogs, is one experience you cannot miss. the laughter we had with the dogs, always makes me feel so happy. :)

i cannot imagine one day without hugging the two of them. mao mao, esp, is close to me. when he was made to sleep in the study room, dyl says that every morning when he let maomao out, he will run to our bedroom door and scratch, looking for me. (my heart melted)

maomao goes to everywhere i go. qianqian our darling, who has been very secure from day 1, knows that there's no need to follow me everywhere i go because i will not vanish but maomao is so sticky. i like it though.

was getting very teary reading about the death of this dog here and realised that if one day, sth bad happen to the 2 of them, i will be devastated. dyl too.

our fur babies.

update on dog issue

2009-02-23T22:39:00.001-08:00

some update on the dog issue.

maomao has returned to our bedroom. we just cannot take his whining anymore.

Month of Lent

2009-02-23T22:26:00.000-08:00

this is the first time we are going through the month of lent after dyl's a "official" catholic.

i was totally lost about the food rules bit but after some research, i decided to rely on the good old rachel ray.

Here's some great recipes to get through lent. I won't be doing the fasting thing on food but i will be thinking of fasting off television for a week (learning to sacrifice)

A new daniel in the family

2009-02-22T01:34:00.000-08:00

today, my husband added a new name to his name.

upon completing his RCIA (YES! he did it! so proud of him), he is going to be confirmed as a member of the catholic church next sunday.

And, he has a new middle name added officially - DANIEL

So it goes as Dylan Daniel Lim.
I like to call him DD Lim.

:p

now, I haven't completed RCIA but i am already thinking of a christian name for myself. Then again, Regina is already a Christian name.

initially he really liked Moses but i had to strongly discourage because I cannot imagine him being called Moses Lim.

Seriously.

Workplans for 2009

2009-02-19T19:22:00.000-08:00

I have realised that some of my couples for 2009 have found out about me no longer being with JLP through our blogs. For their convenience, I would like to answer some FAQs here (I will also definitely also reply all sms, emails) :) For my lovely couples who have engaged me through John Lim Photography, here we go:

I will still be shooting everyone's wedding (all the way till my last assignment in DEC 2009)
It will still be as per normal through John Lim Photography (JLP), you can contact John or me personally if there's any changes or enquiries.
We will still meet up at JLP's studio located at Chinatown.
Albums are collected at JLP's studio.
Payment are still made to JLP.
Package charges remain the same as you have signed up for. (Additional hourly charges are subjected to pre-vailing rates)

For couples who engaged me now that i'm out on my own - through Beautiful Days:

Just look forward to your wedding :) Let's rock and roll!

Do feel free to contact me if you have any other concerns. :)

As for baby planning, we (Dyl and me) are planning for a 2010 baby. So likely the first few months of 2010 will be totally closed, except for portraits shoot. :) And that should not affect any 2009 couples. (i have specially planned for that)

cheers :)

being earthly

2009-02-19T07:27:00.000-08:00

i got stuck the whole day at the blogsite as i was trying to decide which wallpaper to use, colour scheme etc.

I loved:
1) warm and cuddly
2) professional and appealing
3) lady-like and feminine

so i went from pink to orange to blue to finally, earthly tones.

and that was it. found a perfect match.

my main website is already (3) and i decided (1) will be more suitable for children's portraits site so luckily we found a winner in (2).

:)

New website and blogsite

2009-02-18T21:18:00.000-08:00

The official date is out. The new website and blog is ready to go live on 21st Mar. After which I will be around town for another 1 week to ensure it is running well etc and then I will fly off to Japan for a wedding assignment. (away for 10 days)

Here's the good news. If I do not get the sites out by that date, YOU get a free photoshoot. (The first person who email me and say, "hey, your site is NOT out!"

Serious.

(of course, family need not apply. haha, I will shoot foc anyway for you) So keep a look out!

big issue with whinny dog

2009-02-18T20:23:00.000-08:00

we are facing a home crisis situation now.

ever since we start to prepare the dogs for the possible arrival of a baby - shifting them out of our room, letting them smell the baby cot and stuff, banning them from going up the sofa, we are havin a little problem with maomao.

he has been a super insecure dog since day 1, when we tried to get him to sleep in the other room, he literally tore the door down trying to get out and managed to whine continuously for 2 hours on the 1st day. in the end, we had to let him sleep in our bedroom.

now, many months later, we are trying to get him to sleep on his own again (with qq in the same room), but he is giving us another problem.

he's fine going in the room in the night but automatically starts his whining at about 630am everyday. he turned himself into an alarm clock!

nothing much can stop him and i have spent the last few days waking up at 630am (Why do i have to wake up at such unearthly time???!!) and asking him to keep quiet then going back to sleep and then waking up to his whining every hourly.

i would love to let him whine on and on but the problem is that our neighbours will prob kill us.

see, i am trying to ensure some luxury of sleep that will disappear once the baby arrives and i can't do that....

i also want to whine.

what's up for dinner?

2009-02-16T20:55:00.001-08:00

website going well. will be asking some good pals to review for me before the official launch.

cracking my head on what to cook for dinner. guess i will have to make another trip down to ntuc.

time to flip jamie oliver again. :)

by the way, interestingly, yesterday after dinner, dyl was filling in some forms for credit card application and he applied a sub card for me. he was really happy and proud to fill in "housewife" as my employment. haha, i am happy too, because i think being a housewife is such a joy, especially one without kids! (men has certain pride that they can afford to have their wife at home full time, i guess)

although seriously, i am just a part-time housewife. i work too, just from home.

I'm officially 'on my own'

2009-02-15T19:56:00.000-08:00

I think one of the biggest lessons of life is that we just can't have everything we want.

now that we are seriously trying for a baby (trust me, it is highly stressful doing that, it's no longer lovemaking anymore, it's mission-making... haha)

dyl has decided (with my agreement) that i should be a stay-at-home wife and perhaps, take on minimal work commitments.

as such, I am no longer taking on new jobs through john lim photography, essentially, I have stopped selling my art through this avenue. I will continue to fulfil all my engagements and I will do them to my best.

in some part, I feel like I have to let my career slow down and also on some note, seem to have affected my mentor, john. it is definitely difficult when one decision makes a lot of changes in others' life and work. although i had long wished to have my own label and studio, i also want to maintain a positive relationship to the place which has groomed me and played a part in making who i am today. i hope i can do that and i look forward to continuing the friendship we have built.

being chinese, i strongly believe in positive traits like "when drinking water, think of its source"

i will be lauching my new website before the end of feb (finally!) and new blog and this blog will no longer exist then.

cheers. and God bless.

a little one.. hoping to be made

2009-02-11T05:15:00.001-08:00

I have started a separately blog for my experience as a "hoping to be a mother-to-be" at http://mummyregina.blogspot.com/ so that those who are interested in this wonderful experience can pop by and if you are strictly here on business, just check out my portfolio on the right :)

and I will be shooting all the way till probably the last 2 month. don't worry, many has done that and I have my super efficient assistant with me all the time. check out http://drewbphotography.blogspot.com/2008_01_01_archive.html and http://cheninboutwell.com/ some of the planet's most talented photographers who just had and having a baby while shooting weddings all the way.

maybe the baby hormones will make your photos sparkle more? :)

cheers!

The simple joy of life

2009-02-10T21:13:00.000-08:00

after i started on the journey of being home based - meaning full time homemaker, full time wife, full time photographer working at home - i have re-discovered the simple joy of life.

like the dogs and i greeting my husband with thrill when he returns from work (all of us jumping on him at the same time),
the satisfaction of a home cook dinner (my receipe has expanded with jamie oliver!),
the joy of seeing my husband enjoying the dinner (good nutrients too!),
doing housework in the lazy afternoon listening to my favourite radio station (933),
playing with the dogs during tea time(that explain the 15kg weight gain over 2 yrs! gyne asked me to lose weight asap),
processing photos while the dogs sleep and snore, making my house clean and neat (i suddenly love that, now i know that when you are stressed, you have no mood for housework, but now, i love it!),
going to ntuc (o yeah, im so aunty),
waking up at ungodly time (11am almost daily - i need to change that),
sleeping at ungodly time (esp mon - desperate houswives, private practice, grey's anatomy, how to resist!),
lazing on the bed when i feel like it (that's the best part)..

seriously, i would trade nothing for this, not even a million dollar job (sure stress till die), although i have to say goodbye to annual bonus, maternity leave (paid), maternity benefit (quite a few grands in total) but i have a lifestyle i love, so it's worth it.

and in the future, baby has a stay-at-home-mum and all the time while expanding my photography business :)

let's try obedience training

2009-02-09T20:08:00.000-08:00

on second thought, after looking through many website for adoptions, there are obviously a lot of dogs put up for adoption and i am not going to risk putting mm to spca where he may be put to sleep so i guess we can try obedience training first.

pls maomao, just do not bark at little children and babies and you will be fine and happily living with the entire family!

maomao's fate

2009-02-09T19:49:00.000-08:00

I have to start seriously consider putting mao mao to another home or even the spca if we really cannot relocate him.
we are actually prepared to have him all the way but he has proven that he cannot live with little children, he loves to bark in a frightening way to anything his height or lower and just today, he terrified a poor adorable little girl and she was so upset she kept screaming. i hope this incident doesn't turn her off dogs because there are dogs like QQ who is such a sweetie and love everyone, esp children.

since we are hoping to welcome a little one into our family this year, mao mao's fate is hanging in the air. we adopted maomao not knowing his character and although he is loveable in all sense, very protective of us, a good cisco alarm, a good doorbell (after our doorbell spoilt, we just rely on him), playful at times but mostful calm but... the only prob is the biggest prob - barking at children and babies. i believe he was not well socialised as a puppy and may have bad experience with children in the past.

if you know of anyone who can love maomao, pls let us know... this darling needs a warm home with no children but able to live with other dogs eg. QQ and need minimal care. no shedding, short fur, no health problem.

what else to do... haiz... obedience class? teach a old dog new trick.. sounds tricky.

a second shooter

2009-02-09T01:26:00.000-08:00

one of the guaranteed thing i have decided to do is to add a second shooter to all my weddings. starting maybe march or april onwards.

firstly, i realised that a second shooter changes a lot of things. it really enhances a wedding to have different viewpoints and essentially capture a wedding at literally all the moments. eg.mum and dad would also like more exclusive photos of themselves crying over you. and it makes everyone's job easier! the main photographer and the second working hand in hand, is a good experience :)

i have shot a few weddings with an assistant. it's nice too, having someone to carry my stuff, making sure everything's safe etc. so i'm looking forward to shooting with an assistant AND a second shooter.

yup.

Dyl + QQ

2009-02-08T23:49:00.000-08:00

Dylan and QQ share a very unique bond because dyl does most of the looking after bit while i do most of the playing bit only :p

for eg. here, dyl is inspecting qq's nails to ensure that the groomer cut them real well . sweet :) this day of bringing the dogs out also mark our post 2nd wedding anniversary day and the first day of Dyl turning 30!

2 years of marriage - our pride and joy!

2009-02-06T21:18:00.000-08:00

(Click for bigger version)

Presenting a peek into our recently went by 2nd wedding anniversary!

2 years!

:)

Iamstillhere

2009-02-05T01:18:00.000-08:00

i must be losing all of you by not blogging enough, not posting enough photos (hey im a photographer- i should do that), not bitching enough..

I am taking a break recently, enjoying being at home (with all the chores but I find it a blessing to have a home to attend to)

I am only doing 1 wedding day assisgnment this month so hurray for freedom!

I am supposed to put all the energy into building up the website and studio but well, let's just say the engine haven't started yet :p

go live issue

2009-02-01T21:09:00.001-08:00

i am eagerly waiting for my website, which now has lots of beautiful images thanks to my dear friends, Beautrice & Hubby, and Amabel, who's cousin recent wedding is featured... finally, I have images under my own copyright! :)

there's a lil issues with the go live bit and it doesn't help that my designer is based in the states.

a while more..

what a wonderful world

2009-02-01T20:47:00.000-08:00

i am so blessed to wake up to a house filled with chores and 2 lovely dogs to care for, a husband to come home to, and so much more.

i was really touched bya fellow blogger, Shin Na, who passed on recently, have been following her blog for a while and dreading the day she die, but she herself, was more brave than any one of us. i encourage you to read about her strengths at http://shinscancerblog.blogspot.com/

she shared a favourite song as me, what a wonderful world.

i learnt that time is valuable, and that you never know what happen tomorrow.

so i am really keen to welcome a baby into our house soon... a gift of love between dylan and me, and a bundle of joy to our 3 sets of parents. :)

and I am sure, photography can go well with it.

What I want in this year of the ox

2009-01-28T00:23:00.001-08:00

i am in a stage of my life where i want to truly enjoy life.

i want to seek a meaning deeper to my current life, busy with work, busy with the camera, busy replying emails, busy meeting people. I will continue on those, maybe cutting them down, but the eventual aim is to make sure me and my family life is complete with more love and grace.

i am still learning. how to love everyone around me.. how to feel that this life is filled to the utmost potential, not in terms of $$ or how many weddings I am going to cover this year.

some people are destined to be great people, owning companies, etc etc, some people are destined to be another kind of great people, always happy, because they are truly happy and rich with love and friendship.

because of that, I am happy to continue working with John Lim Photography, I will continue selling my works there and also under my new label coming up soon (website going live nowie)

and I am also happy to explore creating a little Lim to this family (with huge request from my parents and family - almost a plead really! hahaha!)

we are happy to embrace whatever God decides to send along our way.

till then, i am going to get ready for a great bbq with my husband, mom, daddy and sis now. :)

Thank you for reading all my thoughts!

Amazing feeling

2009-01-24T00:51:00.000-08:00

I have got this amazing feeling just now, realising that because of the CNY, I have finished all the work for couples, albums, etc before 23rd jan and now, I am feeling free!!!

woohoo!!!!

The next wedding starts in the midst of CNY, next sat in fact, but i am happy for 6 days of rest!

Yuppies!

What I want in life

2009-01-21T08:41:00.001-08:00

I am looking very much forward to this year as I ditched my old life, being in the studio doing albums and more albums all the time and looking forward to being more in the action and experiencing life.

I continue to enjoy shooting weddings, it's the greatest photography love I have chosen and will continue of course but i will explore many other things, travelling a bit while shooting weddings, attending workshop, getting fresh inspiration and experimenting, ultimately, to create more beautiful photos.

Thank you very much, all my friends , my couples, my families, for making this career possible :)

Images upcoming :)

2009-01-20T09:18:00.001-08:00

I will also be doing a recap of yr 2008, a wonderful year with John Lim Photography soon (before CNY)

Watch this space ok? :)

Overseas 2009

2009-01-20T08:30:00.001-08:00

Just a bit of exciting news:

I will probably be travelling quite a bit in 2009, for leisure, friendship and work (yes!)

I am invited to cover weddings in some of the most lovely countries in the world. :)

2009 , look forward to photos from Japan, Korea, USA, Australia. More details to come when my studio is launched. :)

Cheers!

Here comes the split

2009-01-19T21:45:00.000-08:00

If you have been following this blog long enough, you would know that upon the arrival of CNY, I will no longer be directly under John Lim Photography.

Yes, I am on my own (in some sense) and yes, every artist deserve their own unique space, so I am creating my own :)

The trick is that I have not worked out the details of the split (very much remind me of a divorce, hahaha, work out division of finance, custody...) and so I am currently having a headache on how to work things out from this point onwards.

It's just amazing how every great journey comes to an end somehow and everyone has their own unique path to move on. sometimes these paths does not coincide and therefore, must part ways. sometimes, it is just great to have breathing space and to each their own. When one journey ends, it just mean the beginning of another greater exploration :) and I still look forward to working together, afterall, it is twice the fun.

but it was a great one year and I thank, from the bottom of my heart, a great mentor who had given me a great headstart in this career -John.

I will definitely be completing my jobs taken under JLP and doing to my best too! :)

Last wedding of 2008 :)

2009-01-14T21:09:00.001-08:00

(All images under JLP's copyrights have been removed)

Yup, last wedding of 2008 by me. go tohttp://johnlimphotography.wordpress.com/ for more photos!

sorrie i am so busy nowadays with the CNY hitting soon and all the albums, website, etc etc...

driving me nutty.

:)

I love my logo

2009-01-09T02:06:00.001-08:00

I love my new logo, the more i see it, the more i like it, you will too :)

everything's still under wrap now, busy being an owl doing up the website everynight.

soon soon, all these will b over and I will have something to call my own :)

The photographer's husband

2009-01-06T00:51:00.000-08:00

As my namecard is in processing to get printed, I am working to get a set of namecard for Dylan too.

But I am stuck on the title. Dyl's technically the boss of the business since he is the $$ supporter that made it happened, so what shall I call him?

I was just thinking of the following options:

1) B.o.s.s

2) Photographer's husband (haha!)

3) M.D (Big name siah!)

4) Manager

hmm.... help me out...

A magical Christmas 2008

2009-01-04T09:10:00.000-08:00

(If you are here for portfolio, pls click on the link on the right, if you want to know your photographer better, read on to find out the rock and roll that went on for Christmas!)

Thank you dear friends of Dylan and me for joining us on Christmas day itself for a great meal, watching our wedding video(again!), looking through our wedding photos (again!) , catching a home movie together and even having a sing-along christmas song session!
Their love, company, laughter and fun were such joy that we really missed them once they stepped out of our house :)
Let's look forward to the next Christmas, and I am sure it will be a splendid magical time again. :)

First wedding of the year

2009-01-03T07:54:00.000-08:00

Just finished my first wedding of this year. and it's a bash.

with such a splendid wedding of Glenn & teresa to start the yr, I am sure this is a great year packed with couples as lovely as them.

Photos soon, I promise, because unfortunately, I am starting to understand the term back log. :p

Rock & Roll in 2009!

2009-01-02T00:05:00.001-08:00

A great new year is here!

Many exciting times coming up :) Look back for more info. Cheers!

2 more wedding/ROM featured!

2008-12-25T21:55:00.003-08:00

(All images under JLP's copyrights have been removed)

Very happy to present 2 very lovely and beautiful couples I have captured in December...

At http://johnlimphotography.wordpress.com/

cheers!

and we had a great xmas party at our place! will post the photos shortly. :)

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-24T02:18:00.001-08:00

tomorrow, we will rock and roll in our house with 8 of our favourite ppl in the world :)

i love home party. it helps the husband to speed up his cleaning act. :p

Congrats, Beatrice & Thirtha

2008-12-21T05:02:00.000-08:00

today i had a chance to attend, finally, as a guest at a wedding dinner of a lovely couple, Beatrice & Thirtha, whom I had covered their pre-wedding photography.

however, my husband happily saw his own hands with a pair of rusty saw by accident when he was doing some DIY jobs at home and I had to get him to a doc to get a jab and make sure everything's fine.

in the end, i missed the wedding dinner!!!!!

I was looking forward to their indian dance session and of course, having the pleasure of seeing my album on display.

wellwell, i guess, some things are just not meant to be, and i am just glad my hubby's hands is fine now.

I will follow up with a nice angbao, ok?? :)

Adopt a pet and give it love this Christmas

2008-12-20T22:24:00.000-08:00

Side track from weddings and photography. I hope to promote SPCA's fundraising and adopt-a-pet scheme today, perhaps cos my eyes were filled with tears when i looked through the spca site.. poor dogs..

I am working out to volunteer at SPCA and help out in the photography aspect. :)

I hope you can think about that too. you can never imagine the difference a pet makes to your life, until you lived that life, my 2 dogs are truly blessings to us.

Maomao was adopted at about 2 yrs of age and saved from an early end, he has since become a great companion, our house cisco alarm system, he's also the door bell and security guard. a great playmate to QQ, although much bigger than qq, he never had bullied her and always give in to her. such a sweetie.

i'm going to pop by rivervale mall to buy calendars from spca booth in show of support now!

Woohoo beautiful weddings!

2008-12-20T08:25:00.000-08:00

great! the yr is coming to an end soon and 2009 will b a whole new year and a great year for me, because, I will be launching my own photography brand!

For someone who didn't give it a thought just earlier this year, this decision has taken some pple by storm and happily surprised many others. i am so excited and I hope you be too.

itwillbegreat! the website is lovely, the blog will be filled with juicy stuff and i promise to blog everyday(or so i hope)

this yr was filled with so many beautiful weddings, i will be posting the top 10 images before the yr ends!

year 2008...last couple of the year... :)

2008-12-18T04:45:00.000-08:00

I am happy to be shooting the last couple of the year tomorrow and end the year of 2008 with JLP!!!!

This year has been amazing, the switch to full-time photography has been a blessing.

In fact, God has been so good, I have way exceeded the number of weddings I have set out to shoot this year. :)

Thank you, God and all my lovely couples.

Looking back, in yr 2007, on new yr eve, dylan and i were shooting a wedding together.. fast forward to this year, i expect to be warm and cosy in bed with hot chocolate for the last day of this great wonderful yr.

new website on its way

2008-12-12T22:22:00.001-08:00

I love love love my new website, you will too!

regina's email

2008-12-08T08:11:00.000-08:00

Hi, if you have gotten here using address from my old namecard, do note that the email bookings@reginalimphotography.com is no longer valid.

you can look for me at regina84@singnet.com.sg

cheers,
regina

In the afternoon break

2008-12-05T23:11:00.000-08:00

hihi,

I am here taking a break after a wonderful morning shooting a gorgeous couple.

I have decided that plenty of coffee will do me good and some blogging, instead of napping, for I cannot nap for just one - two hours, I am such a pig, it's either a 10 hr straight or nothing.

I had an inspiring day today for a few reasons, tried out a new lens, loved it too - the 135mm f2L. created beautiful images that I can't wait to show off. In fact, I worked hard to challenge myself and to shoot differently for this wedding, and I am happy with the results. :)

and I worked with another lady today, a videographer who gave me good insights into her experience in this industry for many yrs and how to tie in a family with this job.

i reviewed and renewed my love for photography and bridal joy.

o yeah, this is one good day :)

off to my evening at shangri-la again, this time, maybe I will have the chance to shoot another sunset differently :)

leaving the world a better place

2008-12-05T03:23:00.000-08:00

recently i realised, that one bit of living is about leaving this earth a better place.

I do hope and believe my photography and every other talented photographers are doing precisely this by leaving behind beautiful memories for many families and couples in love.

in the future, i will probably contribute to this cause by adding beautiful children to this world, just as my parents had done so for me.

in my life, i am continuously searching for the meaning of life, purpose and the higher truth you may call it.

in my work, many couples had taught and shown me precisly this, through their love for one another and their families.

So today, i dare say, i learnt sth new, that i am making this world a better place. :)

late nights

2008-12-01T08:57:00.001-08:00

it's been late nights for me recently. till 4 am some days.

nope, it's not tonnes of work, there's work but I can handle it.

Sometimes, some feelings can keep you up the entire night. and you can't get rid of it.

tis the season to be merry soon!

2008-11-28T22:56:00.001-08:00

xmas is coming to our family! this year we decide to have a mini xmas tree that the dogs cannot pee on as it's on our dining table! and it's supposedly a cosy xmas with shiyi (best pal of 16 years.. so scary) over to laugh over old times, sigh over aging and growing old, talk about having children and getting married :)

Great Shangri-La times

2008-11-28T21:27:00.000-08:00

(All images under JLP's copyrights have been removed)

A great wedding at Shangri-La, covered by me :) This is the nice sunset Dyl (my pg assistant of the day) and me enjoyed from the view of the hotel's suite.

Click on http://johnlimphotography.wordpress.com/ to see the rest

exciting times ahead

2008-11-25T04:28:00.000-08:00

I must say, I am, for the first time in my life, sensing a finanical storm.

I have never stared at a calculator that hard in my life before.

I believe couples will still engage someone worthy to cover their big day so I am positive.

Just that reading and listening to news have been big time depressing... in some sense, what an exciting time... now news are really news that we take an interest in..

And I finally enageged a professional to start working on my website, i really like it, you will get to see it before CNY!

Killer sat in JB

2008-11-22T19:41:00.000-08:00

had a killer sat in jb, fun but tiring to the max.

was there to cover a wedding of a lovely couple... :)

will hopefully post sth when I get down to work!

Gorgeous wedding couple... and k-drama addiction

2008-11-13T22:43:00.000-08:00

(All images under JLP's copyrights have been removed)

I had the honour of shooting the wedding of a really gorgeous couple, and had great fun with their friends too :)

I love weddings like this!

Go to http://johnlimphotography.wordpress.com/ for the rest :)

By the way, i know it's probably past my age, but recently, I am kinda in a korea drama craze, like seriously, regina, don't you have better things to do?? Like process another wedding images??

But since I am such a great fan, take a look at who I have been happily watching! o dear, I am so past the teenage years...

I have watched 3 dad 1 mom (Korea drama -2008) for like 2 times all over again, Dyl's going crazy about me doing that but I cannot help it.

It does not help that Jo Hyun Jae is such a charmer. hahaha.

And I especially loved this song:

Well, I guess perhaps I loved such shows because it shows the warmth of people, and a baby, always makes the world go round...

And I think the character of Jo Hyun Jae in the show really reminds me of dyl... :p

Go on and watch it, I strongly recommend it. :)

My idol!

2008-11-07T18:54:00.000-08:00

Chenin boutwell has once again proven me that pregnancy doesn't stop one from being a great wedding photographer!

so inspiring. one thing though, i definitely need a second shooter on every shoot (just in case)- vacancy still available!

honeymoon bliss vs health insurance!

2008-11-07T03:16:00.000-08:00

recently a friend asked me about honeymoon destination, logic being to travel to a furthest possible place before they start a family, sounds like fun..

putting aside the destination, my main advice (to all my brides and grooms too!) is to ensure you tag the destination to your funds. esp if you are intending to start a family within the year of marriage, make sure you and your spouse have good adequate health insurance of a minimum $100k worth, each person. coming from a healthcare background, that's the minimum responsibility to your future children and the family you are going to start.

no, I don't sell insurance but I understand the need.

so after you work out your commitment to the insurance and insurance for your parents, take whatever remaining funds and go to the furthest possible place! (unless you bring in 5-digit a month, likely is, the destination sounds like bali)

hahaha. that's why we went to bintan!

Love. Through my photography.

2008-11-04T10:17:00.000-08:00

If you had been following this blog realy closely, you would have realised that I have been very much occupied with the search for paradise, for meaning of life, for the truth of the end of the journey. sometimes, I am very occupied with these, esp late at nights in bed.

I am a wedding photographer, I capture love, beauty, zest, passion. I love what I do and nothing can replace that... whenever I am at a wedding, I feel love, I remember what we are here for...

when I look at my husband, I remember love. he's now my assistant at weddings, something I know he takes on because he loves me deeply, and nothing else. just love. he doesn't like to shoot, obviously doesn't like to lug heavy lenses all around, doesn't like the heat... but he does it happily, because he loves me, and he knows I need an assistant, and he wants to be there for me.

thank you, my husband, you are the love of my life.

as you can see, the best time of my life is now, it's always now, because I have everything I want for now... it's not tomorrow, not next year, it's now.

I have lost a few families and friends in the past years that I have grown paronoid to loss.

And as for where these people are now, I often wonder.

Recently I got to know of this brave's lady's blog and I want to share this bit from her blog:

Paradise Declined
When somebody dies, why do people say that person has gone to "a better place"? Could somebody please tell me what this "better place" is? Is it a land of milk and honey where there is no pain or suffering, only angels serenading you with their harps? Is it a place where you can sit "on the right hand of God" and bask in his glory? These just don't appeal to me at all. I have yet to hear a description of heaven or an afterlife that's better than what I have now. There is no better place than this one, with my husband and my kids.

If I were living in a famine-stricken land somewhere and had to watch my kids waste away from malnutrition, walk 30 kilometers each day to get a bucketful of clean water for them, and live in fear of warlords coming to slaughter my husband, rape me, and force my kids to become child soldiers, then yes, maybe I'd think of an afterlife, no matter how vague, as a better place to go. But I have a comfortable life, a really nice guy for a husband, and healthy, happy kids. Sure, I could do without the cancer. I could even do with a few tweaks to Tony's and the kids' habits and behaviors. But for the most part, I have everything I need and want.

After I die, please don't say I've gone to a better place. No place is better if Tony and the kids aren't there. I don't want to be with God. I want to be with my family. Tell me. What do you imagine heaven or the afterlife to be? What does it look like? What will you do there for eternity? I'm curious. Maybe I just don't have much of an imagination.

If you are here because you want to view my wedding portfolio, do click on the links on the right... else, have a chance to know who I am, my heart and what I seek to do in life.

Spread love. Through my photography.

Busy Nov

2008-11-04T09:46:00.001-08:00

I need to get my butt to ICA to get my passport renewed... before my malaysia wedding shoot this month!

10 years went by so fast, I still remember renewing my last passport 10 yrs ago as a young student with my dad.

November is a pretty busy month for me.. I know I am booked to meet friends and they had to be pushed to dec... pls forgive me!

Work is a great thrill to me, doing up photos, shooting, though I feel a lil puzzled recently.. seems like I am going to start on my search for the deeper meaning of life again... seriously.. i want to shoot what's life's all about...

Time out...

2008-10-30T19:21:00.000-07:00

I am trying to get a time-out period. really time out, no housework, no dog walks,(ok, maybe dog walks cannot be eliminated), no editing, no shoots, no charging of camera batteries... etc etc.

just rest. for like a whole week? I am thinking next week. well, I still have 3 weddings to edit... o gosh, is that where the word "backlog" comes in? and tonnes of people I need to meet.

I am feeling really unwell these days, coupled with being slightly drunk after john's wedding lunch yesterday.

well, gotta go charge the batteries for tomorrow's wedding, check the gear, meet mabel, go to nursing home for therapy work (trying to end that soon!), call candy my cousin about my namecards and logo design, finish up editing a wedding dinner photos, bring stuff down to the studio, bug for my cheque, bring the dog down for another walk, iron clothes, upload photos from john's wedding...and some more (can't even rememebr)

and I thought I will be more relaxed in this job. hahahaha.

new wedding post!

2008-10-30T03:57:00.000-07:00

another wedding from me on http://johnlimphotography.wordpress.com/

cheers!

buzz...

2008-10-26T20:47:00.001-07:00

sorry for lack of constant update. clearing lots of weddings and work...

spending time with dyl and the dogs..

:)

baby year off?

2008-10-24T02:57:00.001-07:00

i am wondering how to get a yr off to have a baby, maybe I will still shoot somehow... somehow, I feel that, we are getting ready for the big duty.

after all, QQ and maomao has been brought up well so far.

Pc woes

2008-10-23T04:20:00.000-07:00

3 trips to sim lim and a lot of frustration, accidents, installation etc later...

my new super pc is finally up. building your own pc can be fun. can be hell of a bad time.

it was not easy, made me swear to buy a mac next time round.

More Weddings highlights

2008-10-19T20:31:00.000-07:00

(All images under JLP's copyrights have been removed)

Go ahead and view more of Ben & Cel's wedding highlights at http://johnlimphotography.wordpress.com/

In sad times, it's best to remember the happy things, to keep all of us going...

tears..

2008-10-19T19:30:00.000-07:00

I am very affected by the death of my second aunt.

it's like an emotional turmoil and I really dread tomorrow, tomorrow we will be sending her off to forever, I hope she is in heaven and she is freed of pain and suffering, and her broken heart is healed.

such a great person, always kind, always filled with love, she doesn't deserve this sort of ending. she is supposed to die at 90 in a warm bed with grandchildren and children by her side, peacefully.. not like this, not alone, not this early.

nobody should be allowed to die alone.

Goodbye.. till we meet again

2008-10-19T08:58:00.000-07:00

I have a great aunt who passed away over the weekend from cancer.

she was a sweet family to have and I will miss her.

I feel extremely guilty that I did not see her before her last days.

some chances once gone, will never come back again..

awesome and pregnant photographer

2008-10-15T19:31:00.000-07:00

she is pregnant and shooting amazing weddings still.

she is my top role model! :) When my time comes, I want to do that too!

by the way, I saw this song and mtv that brought tears to my eyes.... would like to share with everyone, that ultimely, when this lifetime comes to an end, nothing matters but your loved ones, especially, the person you chose to marry and embrace.

Exciting new times

2008-10-15T19:25:00.000-07:00

the most exciting part of a business venture is the beginning. I am really thrilled in the whole new branding process, sometimes a little overwhelmed but mostly pleasantly surprised all the time.

to reward myself, I am going to dine at my faovourite jap restaurant and have a bowl of cheese udon! :)

Okok, I pamper myself way too much, but I only live once!

What is good?

2008-10-14T20:27:00.001-07:00

These few weeks have been exploration of what is good for the family, what we want, what I want, what should be achieved etc.

Sometimes, I go a bit off-track and get excited about a whole new plans, but thinking back to the core matters, my family, I need to get back into perspective and remember who I am working for.

at least, I have the life I enjoy now, no corporate functions, no early morning meetings (yeah!), no audit... etc etc...

but who and how am I going to work out the upcoming plans, the new launch of my website, the re-branding etc, I haven't settled my mind.

in fact, even the idea of who to work with is confusing, there's just too many choices to choose from. a fun and exciting time with one, a dynamic and family oriented time with another, and so on... the possibilities are endless.

I should seriously make up my mind.

Personal: The google box

2008-10-12T19:43:00.000-07:00

I have never known the tv consume such a great bit of me. yes, I know I watch tv quite excessively esp on tue night, think csi and criminal mind etc.

And I am glued to the tv before I go to work - think repeat broadcast of old SBC shows.

but since qq killed the tv cable about 2 days ago (i wasn't even angry, just amused), I am on a tv fast.

I told dyl not to buy a new cable at all, I wanna go cold turkey to kick the habit of tv.

that also explains the posts here, since I am kinda bored and restless. haha.

the first day I was experiencing such bad withdrawal symptoms that I was kinda depressed.
but soon, I realised how much work I can accomplished during all the time I watched tv!

the house is much cleaner now and dyl and I had a great dinner yesterday at a japanese restaurant, all without the need to rush home to watch tv!

I play more fetch with qq and mm too.

and .... I know why india goverment encourage tv, it does decrease birth rate since people are busying watching tv and getting tired from watching tv... hmm, you know what's our new favourite entertainment now...

we also talked more, shared more and even when drinking sapporo beer at home, we had no tv to watch but to look at one another...

and I completed one set of image processing that I have been dragging along. :)

yeah!

I love my dogs, I hope you love yours too

2008-10-12T02:52:00.000-07:00

remember these for their sake :)
1. My life is likely to last 10-15 years. Any separation from you will be painful for me. Remember that before you get me.
2. Give me some time to understand what you want of me.
3. Place your trust in me. It is crucial for my well-being.
4. Don't be angry with me for long, and don't lock me up as punishment. You have your work, entertainment and friends. I have only you.
5. Talk to me sometimes. Even if I don't understand your words, I understand your voice. 6
. Be aware that however you treat me, I'll never forget it.
7. Please don't hit me. I can't hit back, but I can bite and scratch and I really don't want to do that.
8. Before you scold me for being so uncooperative, obstinate or lazy, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I'm not getting the right food or I've been out in the sun too long, or my heart is old and weak.
9. Take care of me when I get old. You, too will grow old.
10. Go with me on difficult journeys. Never say "I can't bear to watch" or "let it happen in my absence". Everything is easier for me if you are there. Remember I love you.

Interesting findings

2008-10-11T07:51:00.000-07:00

once upon a time, when we were out drinking with friends, we joked that the most effective birth control method was to look at the moon... and decide. I realised that it may not be a joke afterall! was surfing around (cos qq the puppy chewed up my Tv cable and we are waiting to get a new one) and found this

Interestingly, fertility got something to do with the moon indeed. (possibly so!)

What a talented photographer

2008-10-11T05:54:00.000-07:00

She, Jingna, gotta be one of the most talented female young photographer around...

http://zemotion.blogspot.com/

When's my turn for an Arthouse exhibition? haha.

new policy!

2008-10-11T00:17:00.000-07:00

after more or less settling into the regime of a new job, I have worked out my priorities and policy in my life and work.

definitely, my family and health come first. and I know with me working nights and weekends, I have less and less time with dyl, something I totally do not agree with. somehow, I can feel us drifting apart sometimes, in a very subtle way.

at least, I realised it before it's too late.

therefore, I have promised that I will - be home every thursday (my off day), be home every weekend that I am not shooting an assignment, only take one assignment per weekend, no back to back weddings, only shoot with an assistant (help my poor back).

give time and make effort to keep up with the marriage and spice things up between us, (think fireworks...)

cook healthy nutritious food for my family.

clean and upkeep the house.

you know, being a woman is not easy. hahaha.

reginalimphotography

2008-10-10T23:17:00.000-07:00

by the way, just a note that I have renewed my domain - reginalimphotography

So the address www.reginalimphotography.com will stay, you don't have to change the link.

:)

I wanna attend seminar

2008-10-10T21:45:00.000-07:00

I am planning and planning how to catch some of my favourite photographers in action at the various seminar, I hope to catch their world tour in australia( nearest and cheapest!) versus flying to the states. :)

It will be so fun! Like this:

Our family :)

2008-10-09T00:51:00.000-07:00

Too bad mao mao was too barky to bring out to the studio.. so we got to be contented with just our first puppy. (almost used the word firstborn - my parents will kill me for that!)

PS: Hi there, thanks for the photo :)

Ben & Cel's wedding part 1!

2008-10-08T22:32:00.001-07:00

Yeah, finally got my butt down to work out some of the highlights and my personal favourites from Ben & Cel's wedding...

There you go... click here!

Accounting nightmares

2008-10-08T21:44:00.000-07:00

I am good at maths, at least I used to be.

I just am not so good at dollars. once there's a dollar sign in front of the number, it's no longer maths, it's accounting!

I am pulling my hair out from the accounting bits that I am so going to .. argh.

...............................................................

Okok, there's many other fun bits to look forward to.. so I shall not get dishearten at the maths...

on second thoughts, JLP seems like a nice cosy place, at least I don't need to do the maths myself. :)

Shoot me!

2008-10-05T07:37:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, I realised that a photographer tend to be the one who takes the least amount of photo of herself in her lifetime!

Thanks to a great photographer friend, (actually it was for light test.. haha, and who's a better subject than me and my favourite QQ!) here's Regina & QQ.

:)

I love my friends. :) the world is a much better place with these nice people around!

More to come, when I have time to process some family shot we took recently. :)

A note about stress

2008-10-03T19:16:00.000-07:00

Ok, I feel the stress.

Kinda dislike it, never the kind of life i wanted. But the process of even of thinking of setting up a studio is driving me sleepless. the long list of things to be done, things to buy, people to meet, and on and on.

I am calculating to see how i can add in a personal assistant and that will really be helpful. :)

I feel that one of the biggest mistakes photographers make sometimes is to run a one-man show...I have tried it and even on a smaller scale, it was really tiring. So the one good lesson I learnt from my real estate friend is to hire a PA.

Energy, time and relaxation is important for creative mind and space.

Getting a talented PA is not a easy feat and I am definitely blessed to have good choices around me.

:)

My own photography label... in the making..

2008-09-27T02:47:00.001-07:00

hihi,

For those who knows, I am in the process of delivering to the world my own photography label!

For those who didn't know, now you do!

What does that means?

Honestly, I have not settled the full plan of when, where, how and who.. but I am making progress now and then..

The most difficult of them all, is surprisingly a simple process... the studio's name! haaha.

I have to get that out first in order to move on to everything else, the website, the logo etc.

And talking about logo, I would like to thank my very talented multi award winning cousin, Candy, owner of her own advertising firm and also whitedogbobby site for agreeing to help to design the logo, I am sure it will be beautiful logo!

It feels great to be surrounded by such talented and inspiring family and friends. :)

I may not have settled the exact plans but I know what I want.. I want a place to let my dogs roam while i work, creative and fun people to hang out with and have a cup of coffee now and then to laugh over things, dynamic working environment, somewhere very much me and decorated the way I like it, someplace to meet all my couples (Xbox will be included! Idea from one of the groom I will be shooting), someplace to put a baby cot in when baby arrives, dylan to enjoy being around, dad and mum to drop by and fuss around now and then, perhaps a parrot to entertain the guest - dylan's idea, he really wants a parrot and since I strongly rejected to have a parrot in my house, he can have it in our studio next time!

With so many things happening and so many pets around, I cannot image a small studio in town but somewhere like wessex estate! that will be great :) the problem is that, it is so hard to get a place there!

Will I be staying around with JLP? I am working out that option. I believe that no matter what, John has been a great photography mentor and we will make sensible, responsible decision towards this consideration.

Just like summer camps, everything in life has to come to an end somehow and start anew in another way. It doesn't feel good sometimes, but we will all get over it, just like the empty feeling after a fun camp has ended or when you graduated out of college and took your last walk out the school gate.

Out on the limb is where the fruit is, if you do not climb trees and risk breaking an arm or two for the fruits, you wouldn't get to taste the fruit of your labour. :)

Recent weddings and events!

2008-09-27T01:04:00.000-07:00

Photos to share of our company's recent fun at a charity golf event with the celebrities sports club and a recent wedding from me.. all at here..

Enjoy! :)

A journey begins with one first step

2008-09-15T23:05:00.001-07:00

Today I had a surprise encouragement from a friend, and I think it's such a blessing to have great friends and support from God all the time. :)

She reminded me that little by little, one can go very far. And my journey of having my own photography label starts with just a single step.

And I have just done that step, i think (it's just happened in a moment)... haha. call me and i will let you know what it is.

As I have always believe, running a photography label is no easy feat. I believe in piling resources, sensible networking and sharing ideas, joys and pain with somebody. Right now, this person is a great mentor, John.

What lies ahead? Only God knows. And I trust in him wholeheartedly.

And guess what, I am so thrilled to find out that there's government paid maternity leave for me! (when that happens some time later.. hopefully by then, there'll be more months of maternity leave! but seriously, how many months can it get to? a whole yr?)

Ok, our baby project 2011 is on its way.....

Way too fast...

2008-09-15T02:19:00.000-07:00

This year is going by too fast.. way too fast..

Despite being happy that things at work and photography are going well, I can't help but noticed how much time has been spent on work...

I am going to reflect on how I can be a better wife and prepare myself to be a good mother... on top of being a fun and great photographer. :)

When I quit my job in the hospital and joined JLP full time, I thought that I would naturally have more time for my husband... but I was wrong. I may have more time but I am so dead tired in those time, from work. Time spent with family, also has to be quality time.

So a new challenge will be to balance my work and my family. at a time where more and more photography assignments are falling into my laps.. some bringing me out of Singapore across the causeway to Malaysia... (holiday at the same time!)

That's why I hold firm that I will only work four weekdays a week - and keep thursday to my family and to my contribution back to society at the nursing home. :)

Alot of what I thought I should do, can do, want to do, has changed. I don't want to shoot 100 weddings a year.. work my ass off.... nope nope.

I just want to be a good photographer, a good wife...

Re-branding process

2008-09-02T03:04:00.000-07:00

I'm in the process of re-branding and re-aligning my directions of my photography, especially my favourite wedding photography. It takes a lot of time, headache, money, effort etc. :)

But it will be worth it but pls hang in there cos it will take a while.

Generally, I am figuring out how to align myself better with the team I am working with at John Lim Photography. The directions to go from here, the methods to do it, the changes involved etc. I thank God for his blessings everyday - it has been nearing a year since I started on wedding photography seriously and I thank him for giving me strength, wisdom, creativity, a great husband, a wonderful mentor, lovely couples all year round.

It has been such a exciting journey. :)