It had no name yet but the entire concept and brand was in my head. I knew it had to start with the letter “a” because I wanted it to be first in any list.

A playful dare by my wife turned into a one-man business hitting a six-figure annual revenue in less than 24 months. And I picked up a WPJA award along the way for my very first wedding. “You have the cameras and time — you can do it,” she said. I now joke with my wife that it was my mini MBA: to grow a startup from scratch with zero presence to one that still attracts enquiries from UK, USA, Canada and Australia, all while handling marketing, sales, operations and the back office alone. No studying case studies here.

In the past four years I’ve seen couples getting married in all manners of places and ceremonies: hotels, churches, temples, religious centres, beaches and even a cinema hall. I’ve entered homes ranging from humble abodes to those resembling palatial private resorts. I’ve seen mothers shed a tear when they receive their first cup of tea.

I’ve attended intimate candlelit dinners with sand between my toes as well as cavernous sixty-table wedding banquets. I’ve seen parents nod with quiet approval when you dedicate them during your thank you speech. I’ve partied with you until the wee hours of the morning (while on the job, of course!). And most importantly I’ve seen you grow up into a fine couple thanks to your childhood montage.

And where would your wedding be without videography? I’ve had a chance to work alongside dedicated men and women passionate about cinematography, delivering wedding highlights in time for lunch in as little as three hours. Feed these unsung heroes — and the photographer — well.

So what’s next for ambi photography? I’ve put my trigger happy, auto-everything Nikons down to rest while I dabble with classic film cameras. It’s about reconnecting with photography as it was meant to be — a careful, composed and thoughtful approach to producing memories that entertain and delight. However the economics and ergonomics of vintage cameras mean they would be out of place during a lively, extended gatecrashing session or a three-hour Indian temple ceremony.

So in the true spirit of pro bono work I have selected ten eleven handsome couples for my Made in Singapore series of experimental bridal and engagement shoots. I will be using a mixed media approach that hopefully should not resemble conventional pre-wedding photography. The vintage cameras in this sense are but tools to be wielded in the same way as an impressionist might dither over a particular paint brush, or your regular hairstylist pick his favorite German or Japanese scissors.

I’ve had many of you write in and say nice things about my work. I thank you for this. However my quest isn’t done yet.

Warm regards,

Yu-Shan
ambi photography
Singapore

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Congratulations to the top ten couples who followed instructions and made the cut. Actually, make that eleven couples. I accepted a last minute application from a couple who listed their hobby as swing dancing. This will make for an interesting shoot!

These couples are representative of Singapore and it is their varied backgrounds that keeps wedding photography fresh and unique for me. One groom vowed to have their portraits taken at the seven modern wonders of the world. They just visited the Taj Mahal and the Great Wall of China is next.

Every couple will be photographed with different classic film cameras from my growing collection. I have a particular weakness for all mechanical Japanese cameras from the 70s and 80s. When you hold their metal bodies in your hands you wonder why they don’t make cameras like these any more.

Look out for the first couple to be posted this May.

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1. Wanted: Enthusiastic, Gorgeous Couples

Now I need your help to get me to the next level.

I’m offering my services, without charge, for pre-wedding couple shoots lasting up to 2 hours in one venue. You’re free to experiment with your outfits and accessories but preference will be given to bridal and retro/vintage wear. You’ll need to be responsible for your outfits, hair and makeup. And, oh, your engagement ring and/or wedding bands would be good too.

For your info my usual rate is $500 per hour.

You’ll get back 10 photos in high resolution jpegs and you’re free to use them as you wish. And you’ll allow me to share the outcome on my blog and use them as part of my portfolio. You may receive more photos if the shoot is going really well.

So what’s the next level of my creative expression? Watch the movie Norwegian Wood. The colors and tones really woke me up during that plane trip from/to somewhere. And I won’t be shooting with digital cameras.

All photo shoots will commence from late April onwards.

Yours truly,

Yu-Shan
ambi photography

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AMBI REVIEW 2011

Best wishes for 2012.

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1. Brides & Grooms of 2010

My name’s Yu-Shan, I’m a wedding photojournalist in Singapore and this is my philosophy as I approach every wedding.

THERE are certain immutable truths about traditional wedding customs from China that happen in Singapore.

Number One. The groom has to carry the bride from the bridal room and down to the waiting car. All without stopping or propping up the bride on something convenient. This is no laughing matter if she resides on the 21st floor.

Number Two. The bride will invariably hold her drink better and — graciously — outdrink the groom. All the more so when the potent fire water is baijiu, a clear distilled liquor whose alcohol content and fragrance are eye watering to the unwary.

Wedding date: Saturday, 30 July 2011
Lunch: Pan Pacific Orchard Hotel, Singapore

Congratulations Chen Kan & Han Jing.

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Wedding date: Saturday, 23 July 2011
Dinner venue: Villa Halia, Botanic Gardens, Singapore

Kailing did something that no other bride had done before. She gave me a personal gift after her wedding. “Hey, no need,” I protested, “I’m just doing my job.”

“I want to thank everyone who had a part in our wedding,” she said. With that kind of attention to detail and gratefulness, you could see she was head-over-heels-and-happy-crazy finally getting hitched to her handsome beau, James.

Congratulations James and Kailing. And thank you for the thoughtful gift.

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1. James & Kimberly
2. J.A. & S.L.
3. Louis & S.Y.

ROMANTIC Paris was the theme for Leslee & Liz’s wedding lunch. From the laser-cut miniature Eiffel Towers to the French-inspired menu, everything was sprinkled with joie de vivre and a splash of pink.

Wedding date: Saturday, 16 July 2011
Wedding dress: Alfred Angelo
Lunch venue: Garden Suite, Mandarin Oriental, Singapore
Solemniser: Dr Phua Tan Tee, PBM

Congratulations Leslee & Liz.

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1. WC & Tammy
2. Rico & Fiona
3. J.B. & Tresia

ERNEST and Elise chose a most unusual venue for their solemnisation: a movie theatre. The cinema theme extended to the tickets needed to enter the venue and a short clip of his favorite song that she surprised him with. A life of mini surprises for each other bodes well for them.

Wedding date: Monday, 11 July 2011
Venue: Golden Village, VivoCity, Singapore
Solemniser: Dr Phua Tan Tee, PBM

Congratulations Ernest and Elise.

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1. Ernest & Elise’s Pre-wedding

ARNAUD and Joyce met at Oxford University. They share two loves of their lives: sailing and photography. And, incredibly, they often combine the two together.

They had their solemnisation in a quaint village church in France (which I would have loved to have attended). And held their traditional wedding day in Singapore. Living and working in London meant they had to choose their trusted photography and videography partners carefully.

Wedding date: Sunday, 10 July 2011
Dinner: The Sentosa Resort and Spa, Singapore
Videography: Octopus Wedding

Congratulations Arnaud and Joyce.

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OKTAVIA and Dian’s story is one of heartwarming love. He finally married his childhood sweetheart, flying not just her but their entire families from Indonesia for their wedding celebration. And in addition to their newfound responsibilities to each other, they’ve also made Singapore their new home.

Their wedding was also a chance for me to see the Blessed Sacrement Church up close. For years I passed its iconic blue roof on the way to IKEA Queenstown. The interior is classic 1950s modernist. An Eames lounge chair would not look out of place in there.

Wedding date: Saturday, 9 July 2011
Church: Blessed Sacrement Church, Queenstown, Singapore
Solemniser: Rev Fr Gerardus Suyono
Videography: A Cinematic Story
Lunch: My Humble House, Esplanade

Congratulations Oktavia & Dian!

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1. Dennis & Sara
2. Shawn & Nita
3. Hardeep & Pearl