Steven Leong’s Blog

Its 3rd January 2010 today, most of us are probably still reeling from the fact that we now have to write 2010 for “year” instead of 2009 on forms and refer to dates in 2010 as “in this year” rather than next year.

It is said that in life, you’d be lucky to meet a SINGLE true friend who truly made your life change for the better; I am lucky to have met more than one; and she who had made 2009 so special to me is perhaps the most important to date.

Well… 2009 wasn’t all good, again, I bear witness to actions beyond my imagination when they feel that they are threatened… I too bore witness to the amazing feats of the Kuala Lumpur 2009 5th Asian Para Games performed by people who we would not even expect to be able to walk besides us on the sidewalk.

Last but not least, a special thanks goes to everyone that has worked with me in 2009 especially Norman Hiu, Kenny Gregory, Ronald Shanker, Habeebah Sideeka, Jason Lee, Dr. Chen WS, Edward Chan, Peter Lim, Allan Ow, Mae Foo, Kris Wong, Eric Chan, Eric Chih, Malini and many others.

Now… enough talk and on to my favorite photos of 2009.

It has been quite some time since I have last written anything because I was moved or touched but today is rather unusual if not special.

Last night, a friend commented, “Photography is no fun at all, because you always have to bring along so many things then go out early in the morning and come back at midnight” (quote modified from typical IM-style English) and not so long ago, I found a suitable reply for my friend’s comment in some stories I read.

These are stories that we (as photographers) never want to read about or hear but sadly (or fortunately, depends on how you look at it) we tend to be involved in them. (continue reading…)

Nearly 2 months ago, I had the privilege of being employed by Aaron and Marianne for their wedding. It was a very different wedding with a meticulously planned flight-themed dinner at Hotel Istana and I was very lucky indeed to have the chance to shoot such an elaborate, well-planned and well-executed wedding.

Now… on with the photos. (continue reading…)

Another rather happy day for me… yes, I don’t normally read the In-Tech pull-out of The Star newspaper, the largest English daily newspaper in Malaysia but it was one of those days that I did not have any assignments in the morning nor the previous night, so I got up really early and started flipping through the newspaper page by page and to my suprise, my face and name was on The Star~!

Featured along side Mr. Ng Kok Leong, the photo editor of The Star, a 25-yr veteran photographer, it was a real honored to be mentioned in the same breath as Mr. Ng and of course, to be standing on the same stage with him.

As Mr. Ng said, “It is nice always nice to be recognized for your work.”; I was beginning to think that I am destined have my work unrecognized and unnoticed, receiving this recognition will be a real driving force for me to achieve more and work even harder.

Now… its time to process more photos.

It was early 2008 that Shirley called me on the phone; she still hasn’t fixed her wedding date yet on that time but was just scouting around and doing some research regarding wedding photography. I could still remember she asked me, “Steven, I don’t even have my wedding date confirmed yet, are you sure you don’t mind meeting me to discuss in more detail?” And I told her, “No… I don’t mind that you will probably not book anytime soon, come over.”

We met and she became a friend and not just a client.

I guess this is actually quite common for wedding photographers, many of our clients eventually become our friends as most would have met their wedding photographers months if not a year or more in advance; from the 1st meeting to the actual wedding, we would meet and talk so much that sometimes I even think of things in my sleep that I would like to tell some of my clients. Having seen and being part of so many weddings, there are many things I can advice my clients to do or not to do.

(continue reading…)