I always believe in giving. “The more you give, the more you get back” is the mantra I still believe in today.

Every now and then, I try to give wholeheartedly as much as I can.

So when Louis Pang contacted and invited me to share my journey as a photographer at his Inspire+ seminar last weekend, I didn’t think twice about it. I said “Yes” immediately and had gotten goose bump after I had agreed to the invitation.

The idea of sharing the stage with my mentor is a bit overwhelming.

So last weekend, I shared with a room of aspiring photographers about how I went on and did an 180 degree turn from someone who was burnt out a year and half ago to someone who is shooting from the heart, improving and enjoying his life as a photographer every single day. I shared that every now and then a photographer needs to venture out of his/her comfort zone and create work from the heart.

And I shared my slideshow during the 15 minutes sharing session.

I met lots of aspiring photographers during the 1 day seminar and it was an honour to share the stage with Louis. It was a good feeling to be able to give back to the community and I would like to do it more in the future.

Thank you to all the participants and thank you to Louis for the opportunity.

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Our philosophy in designing Books is simple – we let the images tells the story.

Or in the simplest term – our images are powerful enough to tell the story.

We don’t
- over collage
- put words in the book
- over edit
- over crowded the pages

We do
- simplify the collage with average of 3 – 4 images per pages
- use breathing spaces for the arrangement of the images
- mood editing – according to the flow of the images
- use 170 gsm Matte Textured paper
- we listen to our couple. we present our mock design before we print.
- we are a perfectionist.

Our book comes in different flavours
- start with 80 pages
- more that 25 different type of covers/colors
- different sizes
- additional pages upgrades available

We are proud to say that we are different from any other (wedding) photographers.

We are WOW.

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It has been a busy end of October for my team & I. We will be covering a 3 day corporate event at PWTC starting tomorrow. We are nervous but ready nevertheless.

Everything has taken a back seat this last few weeks. Albums are far from being finished (Aizat – am getting there! will let you know ASAP), and at the same time, businesses are pouring in. Thank God for the energy that I have and the support of the team behind me.

I am proud to announce that I have two Junior Photographers working with me side by side – Nazir Azhari & Faris Fakri. They are working their way up with me to become an associate and a co branding with my studio, WOW Art & Photography. To start things off, we are running a November White Studio promotion just for my junior photographers all month long.

So far, I am excited with 2010. I’ve been working closely with a creative and talented designer on my branding. And after few brain storming with ideas and concept, I am pleased to revealed the new Hafiz Ismail Wedding Photography logo, as you can see above.

I am also working closely with a website designer for my new web portfolio which will be revealed soon. So stay tuned!

I>

I will post more on the ongoing projects and what nots in the coming posts.

Til then.

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Untitled from Hafiz Ismail on Vimeo.

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“Thanks for your photography services for our reception the other day. We seriously enjoyed working with you! You made me did things that I would NOT forget forever – not just in photos but the experience. And I felt it is worth more that what our album will be. Thank you! Azi and I really appreciated it!

By the way, I would not have stepped into a Buddhist Temple if not because of you! ”

Azi & Faizul, Kuala Selangor.

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Time sure flies! It’s now the 4th quarter and 2010 is getting ready to kick in! I am busy as ever with rebranding, marketing and thinking about my 2009 as well as my plans for 2010. Enough of the serious stuff. Lets get back to some fun!

I will do anything to get a great shot and moment out of my clients. The title says it all. Well, not exactly “torture” them but more on getting more out of my clients so that I can give more to them.

I love it when a client, especially the bride questioned me with a concerned expression, “What lying down on the grass? Are you Hafiz?”

I will simply replied back, “Trust me..”

The photo above was taken before the actual shoot and the rest is history….

So if you feel like being tortured by me, am opening my 2010 slots now!

Til the next post.

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Wishing all Malaysians a happy Ramadhan!

The photo above was taken by my client Aizat during our Outdoor Portraiture session. I was not in my best state after a tiring shoot. Nevertheless, the session was a fun and exciting one!

Check out our Studio Ramadhan promo at www.wowphoto.my.

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“We feel like crying when we look at our wedding photos in your facebook and blog. You’re the best! Thanks for making our dream come true!” – Aizat & Nasa

Their sneak previews –
1. Come and follow me
2. Lovely Smile
3. Autumn

A great satisfaction when my client loves my work.

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I was in Terengganu last weekend for a wedding assignment. I love traveling and I love outstation assignments. I would take the opportunity to stay a bit longer after or arrive a bit earlier (like 2 days before) just to absorb the culture, take my time off and take a break.

Day 1 – Thursday
We took off from Shah Alam on Thursday at about 5pm and arrived at the bride’s house at 11pm. Basically, we went straight to our accommodation for the weekend once we arrived and slept like a dog til the next morning.

Day 2 – Friday
The solemnization was to be held right after Friday prayer so we had the morning to kill. Nazir & I went to breakfast – East Coast style. Nazir had Nasi Kerabu.

We went location scouting right after that.

Then off to the assignment til the evening.

We went out for dinner that evening. We headed to Seberang Takir to a place that Nazir had been before. Specialty – big glass fruit juices.

Day 3 – Saturday
The reception was held from morning til about 4pm.

We were free in the evening. We went out for a seafood dinner with Syahril & Farah – two friends of Ailin and our new friends. Unfortunately, it was raining heavily with thunderstorms and high winds that night. No photos. The seafood was good! And cheap too! 4 people = RM86.

Day 4 – Sunday
We took the newlyweds out for an fun funky outdoor session until 1pm. We had Syahril & Farah helping us out. I taught Farah the art of veil throwing. She’s a fast learner!

Syahril & Farah went back to KL the same day while we were too tired to drive back. So we stayed another night.

I went out at 6pm to try at Timelapse photography of The Floating Mosque.

Then the storm came in.

I had a simple dinner later with few friends.

Day 5 – Monday
We headed out of Kuala Terengganu at 9am. We drove slowly and stopped at couple of places.

Thanks to my Garmin, I’d marked few places for future references and for my future outdoor sessions in Terengganu.

We spent about 2 hour in Kuantan. Since it was an internetless weekend in Terengganu, we stopped by Starbucks in Kuantan to catch up with emails and whatnots. We left at about 4pm and arrived at WOW at about 7pm.

Tired but inspired.

Am looking forward to this weekend and the weekend after. I will be in Seremban this week and Kuala Kangsar the weekend after.

I love to travel!

Til the next post.

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This weekend will be a hectic weekend for me.

I have a wedding reception to cover this evening in Bangsar. Straight after that, I will be heading to Grik, Perak – 4 hours away from KL – to cover another wedding on Sunday. Will be staying there until Monday where we will be having an outdoor session with Ikmal and Aida, the newlywed.

I’m packed and ready.

Oh ya. This single-bag-packing-configuration would not be possible if I didn’t get the Thinktank Airport Security 2.0. It’s big, spacious and er big! Thanks to Leo Koo over at Hambone for recommending it to me! Now I’m ready with expanding my equipment thanks to this bag.

Did I mentioned that my other D300 is with Nikon Malaysia? The D300 kept switching off while I was shooting. Sent it to Nikon last week and found out that the motherboard has to be changed. Luckily it is still under warranty. So, I’m back with D200 as my second body. Hating it but I’ll have to make use of it to the fullest.

Looking forward to produce masterpieces that I can be proud of this weekend. Pray for my safe return!

Til the next post!

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