Wardrobe: Ohvola
Photography: Mirabelle Koh
MUA: The Glow Beauty Bar
Florals: Flo Recitals

An outdoor shoot I did with Ohvola just two weeks ago, featuring some of the most stunning pieces in lieu of the weddding season that's about the come in the next few months! The collection is packed with gorgeous bridesmaids' maxis and wedding lunch pieces. If there's anything I think Ohvola does best, it would definitely be their bridesmaid pieces.

It was the first time for me, doing a bridesmaid shoot (sort of) and I loved the overall results! Prior to the shoot, I was a little uneasy about the whole thing since I haven't done anything remotely close to wedding, but I think this is a relatively good start. :)
Aside from the bridesmaids shoot with Ohvola, I have been doing quite a number of works (school and for clients) that I really do want to share here, but I'll wait till the whole project's completed.


I've been meaning to update this space of blog at least a couple times a week, but school/work has my whole schedule packed I barely even have time to chill, must less blog. But my school semester will be ending in another 7 more weeks, so I guess I just have to press on and chiong till then. It seems like everyone around me has been busy with uni as well hahaha.
During my semester break, I plan to work on the Redang video that I have so conveniently forgot and pushed back... And maybe Melbourne Part 2 as well? I realise I've been getting crazy hits for my Perth and Japan stories lately, so I do hope to continue putting up travel content (instead of just my photography works) since that's what most of you readers came to this (almost) dead page for. I'm sure most of you are directed through my articles on Tripzilla haha.

But yes, I plan to go on another solo trip soon. Even if it isn't solo, I'm definitely gonna be heading somewhere after an intense semester of school. I'm not too sure where to though... Either way, it'll be nice to just let head to a place where no one knows my name, and I have never set my foot on. I'll wait till then.

It's been three weeks since my last update, I really didn't expect school to be this hectic or busy.

I thought that the first few weeks might be somewhat manageable, I even thought that starting school meant having more time to blog as compared to when I was working. But man, I was so so wrong. Since week one, the bombardment of projects came and now that it's already week four of the school sem, my pile of assignments just never seem to cease. Together with my freelance work, it definitely does feel like I'm biting off more than I can chew.

It's crazy, cause I've been spending all of my weekends, just shooting and completing my assignments I can't really remember having a day to just be a sloth (I actually pretty like slothing through the weekends after a hectic work week, just watching movies and playing dota lol). On the days I actually do take a break and make plans with my friends/Han, I always end up toiling the next night. I was on the verge of breaking down every weekend. :')



To be honest, I went into LASALLE thinking that their schedule wasn't going to be that crazy. I expected a lot more independent study time than actual course hours. I thought that I might get a day off in the week. But nope, it's almost 6-7 hours every fuggin' day PLUS a truckload of projects - that's more than my poly hours lol save me.

I guess it varies from course to course. I don't think everyone in my school is slogging just yet, but for my course at least, I think everyone is barely breathing ha ha ha. During my first two weeks of school, I was seriously considering dropping out (I still am sometimes). But all my loved ones have been nothing but supportive, so I felt like the last thing I should do is let them down.


@unprettysins // @zimanziman

@mongabong

@unprettysins

Super grateful to the friends that helped to model for my school assignments above!! :)


Going back to school again after taking a gap year also took some time to adapt (my break is about 18 months from grad to start of uni). I was so used to having control over my own time and schedule, but school took that away. Assignments are similar to the freelance briefs I've been doing BUT, school means groupwork. Sure I did collaborations, but when was the last time I did any groupwork??
Thankfully, school life is pretty much the same as poly. Quite a handful of my classmates were also from poly and have taken a gap year of sorts, so I'm glad that we are at least on the same wavelength? If anything, some of the people I met there helped to make it more bearable for me.

I hope I won't eventually collapse to all these mental stress and pressure. Pursuing a degree (and in an arts school) is a totally different ball game altogether. Sure, I'm doing what I love but... Wew.



Anyway, I hope to keep updating this space, especially since I'm gonna be working on a quite a number of interesting projects in school?? Heh. Meanwhile, I hope that my old travel stories still make up for my lack of updates!! I realise that my Perth travel posts have been getting crazy hits lately.
I haven't started editing my Redang video but I will get there, hopefully. And I'm probably gonna plan another solo trip in December too! Well, I'll see it goes.

I've been having these urges to head out to shoot some experimental portraiture or get back to film, but my schedule hasn't exactly been the kindest to do so. And so, to appease myself for the lack of new photos, I decided to re-edit some of the old shots from I Light Marina Bay 2017.

It's been a while since the light installations were taken down, but looking back at these images I'm kinda glad I forced myself to face the crazy night crowd back then. The lights were beautiful, and nothing sort of perfect for the night photography I was attempting to shoot with my fellow friends. I've been shooting quite a fair bit of commercial work lately, so I definitely miss doing some personal/experimental projects.

Night light photography was never my forte (it's probably one of my poorest areas), but I think I did a better editing this time round? If I can say so myself. More play on the colours and tones! I think I just gotta work on the sharpness.





Hopefully when school starts (can't believe I'm officially going back to school on Monday I'm too used to working), I'll still have sufficient time to work on these things. My timetable dictates a five day school week so... Sigh.

I'll probably update this space again soon with a shoot I done two weeks ago for a children's wear brand and Ohvola! Or idk maybe I'll get my lazy ass to start editing my Redang trip video with Han. He just flew off to Brunei a few days ago so I suppose I'll have more idle time to waste away here haha. Till then, x.

A recent food styling shoot, featuring some of the tasteful gourmet sandwiches which I shot for Senate Coffee sometime back in early June! Yes, it did take me forever to blog about it haha.

Senate Coffee is owned by the same people behind The Populus Coffee & Food Co, so being able to get a shot to shoot for a reputable cafe like theirs was kinda nerve-wrecking, albeit rewarding of course. Aside from the food photos I typically shoot for Han, I haven't done other food gigs so this was a challenge. It was fighting to shoot all dishes within a certain timeframe, while making sure the food still looks fresh out of the oven.

Still, I'm quite pleased with the results if I can say so myself!! Big kudos to Han for always promoting me on his food ig (@hansculinaryclassics) that landed me this project. And for being my handy assistant during this shoot itself :')









So we shot a couple of different dishes, and prior to the shoot, I was kinda expecting mediocre sandwiches cause... I mean how good can sandwiches be?? But well, I was wrong and taken by surprise!
Their sandwiches are amazing, my favourite being their egg mayo (they mixed in a few other herbs that really added an extra punch to its flavour). If I worked around Senate often, I'm pretty sure I would grab their sandwiches for brunch. They also have hearty grain bowls for the health conscious ones. Senate typically has their menus catered more towards the working lunch crowd.

Senate Coffee
1 Pickering St, Singapore 048659
Mon - Fri, 8AM - 5PM


Been pretty occupied with a lot of other shoots lately, but I'm trying to free up more time for myself before school officially starts (can't believe it's just two more weeks to orientation... how time flies), so I presume I'll have more time to update my daily shenanigans too!

It's been a super busy past two months. Also, it was me and Han's one year anniversary just yesterday!! Well, our army/work schedules makes it hard for us to celebrate so we had at advanced dinner at Biscetta Tuscan Steakhouse!!! Got that recommendation from a fellow superior while I was planning on what surprise to give Han. Decided on some fine place to dine since he loves and appreciates food (which I happen to enjoy too). Biscetta was SO good.

It was a night I briefly experienced the atas high life in the whole 21 years of my peasantry, mediocre lifespan! We had one of the best meals ever with their $188 Fiorentina steak, and good ol' wine. Needless to say, my wallet was liberated by the bill at the end of the night. Still, no regrets. We would love to visit Biscetta again.

Thankful for the amazing past year with you Han. :) It has been nothing short of eye opening. Here's to more travels, eating and adventures to conquer together!!

Didn't mean to leave my blog to die but... Life gets in the way sometimes. Work and other life commitments have begun to take priority over updating my social media spaces. :')
I've started blogging in an attempt to archive some memories that I'd like to reminiscence on and share some of my personal works, but lately, this past time of mine has become more of a chore than a hobby. I don't know how long I'll keep this platform up... But I'm gonna try.

So just about two weekends ago, Han had his block leave so we decided on a short getaway to Redang!! It was AMAZING.




It was a little tedious to get to Redang cause it's on the other far end of Malaysia, but transport was pretty cheap so we've got no complaints.

Getting there

You can take a coach to Terrengganu, and then a ferry to Redang Island. You can either book a coach that picks up from Singapore, or at Larkin Terminal. But prices are SGD$60 for the former and RM60 for the latter.
The jetty from Terrengganu to Redang Island is priced at about 55RM for a return trip.

Accommodation

There are a number of resorts available, from budget ones at $80/night to the more expensive ones with jacuzzi and a seaside view at $350/night. It all depends on how much you're willing to spend!

Before you book your accommodation, however, make sure you check if your resort is located at the beachside. Otherwise, you'd have to arrange transport to go to the beaches or do your water activities every time.

We stayed at Taaras Beach & Spa Resort. Their beach is so clean with seawater so blue and clear!! I think the resort we stayed at was the best (and probably the most expensive) but the price tag ($200/night for a garden deluxe room) was worth it because we were given free water activities at different hours of each day, and our stay included breakfast. So it's almost like we're paying for the food/activities upfront?

After we arrived at the resort, we also found out that two of the best seafood family-run places were within walking distance from our stay (5-10min walk), so it was definitely worth every penny!! Nothing beats local food!!












We spent most of our days chilling by the beach, kayaking, snorkeling, drinking at their beach bar and hunting for food outdoors! Their coral reefs were super stunning. Oh and of course, we also got ourselves a good massage haha. Twas was a good breather from his army and my work schedule.

Honestly, it's a great spot for couples looking for a short getaway that's relatively far off from civilisation, with almost little to no crowd. Well that also means that you're hardly connected to the Internet or your social media platforms (their wifi is bad). But hey, that also means more quality time spent with each other right!!

Anyway, Redang captured our hearts during our short stay there. We wished we had a little more time (maybe four days instead of three?) on that quaint and peaceful island.





The total breakdown for our 3D2N trip (for two pax):
Accommodation - $400 (two nights, breakfast included)
Transport - $180 (coach and ferry)
Food - $100
Water activities - $50 (snorkeling, kayaking)
TOTAL: $730

That's about $365 per person, but you can probably cut down on the food cause we splurged a lot on food (like seven dishes per meal lol). Otherwise, you can easily get a plate of scrumptious fried rice at 10RM!! All of the dishes you can find out of the resort ranges between 6RM - 12RM.

We also spent quite on sum at the beach bar... We learnt that the locals tend to bring their own cartons of beer there to save on money. I guess we know now :')

Anyway, I brought my gopro to Redang and it was my first time trying some underwater shots!! They turned out pretty cool so I can't wait to get started on video editing. But that'll have to wait till my schedule is less tight.

Been a great break and it's back to the grind! More about that soon!!

Check out my other travel posts:
▶ Redang Island - Video Travelogue