Robin & Ivy 26th Dec 09
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Thomas & Erin 5th Dec 2009
Last weekend was perhaps one of the most exciting weekends since the start of my montage creations. I had 3 montages being aired in different hotels throughout Saturday & Sunday.
One of the montages was completed in Usain Bolt fashion. The client called me up on Thursday afternoon and told me that his wedding was a Saturday luncheon.
I met him to pass me the photos on Thursday night at 11pm and started doing till 3am before my batteries ran out. I did managed to deliver the DVD to his hotel on Friday for AV testing, however on Friday night he asked whether he could made a slight change to the montage.
That feature made me stayed up till 3am again. Woke up at 9am and finally delivered to the DVD to his hotel at 11.30am, an hour before his luncheon. It was indeed a tiring effort but thankfully the client appreciates.
As much as I was excited throughout the weekend, I was equally having negative thoughts“What if the DVD didn’t work out or hanged halfway?”I guess experience plays a big part as you start to anticipate more projects.
All that negative thoughts were finally brushed away when the weekend was over and thankfully none of the brides/groom called. Monday came and I’ve received msn and sms from two clients telling me how good my montage was and how much everyone was impressed with what they saw.
Some of their guests already asking for my contacts!My heart skipped a beat when my client told me even a renowned photographer commented well on the montage.
It’s a pity though that I’m not able to upload the montages for public viewing, as my clients were quite shy about it. (They are agreeable for me to present privately though)
Nevertheless, my montage was seen in Club Chinos, Holiday Inn Atrium, Raffles Town Club, Fullerton, Ritz Carlton, Park Royal Beach Road….
Next Stop M Hotel, Furama Riverfront, Noble House….
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Mengfung & Sukma 29th Nov 2009
Another commissioned work on 29th Nov 2009 last Sunday at Fullerton Hotel!
This is probably the first project that i've done for a total walk-in stranger through facebook. We discussed everything over email & sms and only got to see her when I passed her the DVD.
A total different kind of Montage as the story was revolving her pet Kitten rather than the usual childhood->growup->courtship kinda montage.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
CheeChew & Callie 7th Nov 2009
The day is 7th Nov 2009
Today marks a very special day for me since my start of providing this montage service.
Special indeed as I’ve personally witness how it is like, to have your work shown in front of nearly 500 friends and family members of the blissful couple. Tonight was the completion of my ‘first’ montage work after I decided that I should provide it to earn another source of income.
Thinking back on how it began….
I have a colleague coming to me sometime after my wedding.
“Anntonii, I like the way you do all these video stuff before the march in. Please help me do for my daughter for her wedding, just give me your quote.”
A simple request and it was how fast the deal was concluded.
23rd August was the date I’ve first met with the bride and groom.
The pressure comes when you don’t know your clients personally.
“What were their expectations?”
“Can I deliver to their request?”
All these negative thoughts lingered around my head as I walked towards them.
I take some time and pain to explain that I’m not really a professional but someone who tried his best to do up his own wedding montage.
“It’s ok, my dad says your work is good!”
The bride exclaimed.
I felt a certain load rest upon my shoulders as I tried to keep up to their expectations.
We discussed over a few times and changed quite a bit till it was finally approved by them just 1 week before their wedding.
Finally the day comes as it was aired during the start of the banquet.
For some stupid reason, I was late for the banquet and the montage was one third shown.
As I entered the darkened ballroom, I tried to scan around for the reactions of the guests.
Some laughed, some cheered and others simply smiled as the montage rolled to its finale.
It helps when you have a bunch of colleagues who support you as I received a lot of cheer from them when the lights were back.
It was really amazing to see something that you’ve done been view by hundreds of people at the same time. Though it’s not a movie nor mtv… it’s a story been told with merely photos, something which cannot be recreated.
I’m all geared up for my 2nd, 3rd & 4th Montage as the deadline draws itself nearly. Hopefully it will draw the same praises all around.
Regardless of the whatever outcome in years to come, whether I will still be doing this montage services is not really important, as tonight is indeed a memorable night.
Have a blissful wedding,
Mr & Mrs Wong.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Photo Memories
Recently I started out doing freelancing on wedding montage. I was kind to receive a few deals from the circle of friends I knew. Most probably as a fresh entry, my rate was one of the lowest you can find in Singapore.
The package that I’m offering is ridiculous. Yeah, if I would to do this full time I might as well go work in some fast-food joint serving burgers.
Anyway I met my first client not long ago. Of all the clients that I had, they were probably the ones whom I was a complete stranger to.
The rest I will would know either one of them. (Nope... to be technically true, I only know all the brides-to-be on my client list… how come???)
We had a short discussion about how the two of them met and how their love story begins. The bride-to-be eagerly presented her side of the story and the groom-to-be was there trying to correct or edit her story. Who says guys don’t remember anything in a relationship?
As I slowly sip my coffee and listen to them, you could see the looks on their face as they had a light hearted argument over what the guy did when he wanted to know her. It is great to think back the happier days.
When the story was finished, I requested them to pass me their childhood photos. I offered to scan for them since its part of the value-added services I provide.
I was quite surprised by both of them reaction as they each took out a large photo album that contains all the memories since young.
“Hey this is me when I’m young” The bride-to-be exclaimed when she showed me one of her baby photos.
“Wah, I still remember this time when I had this camp” The groom-to-be sounded like he was talking to himself.
All of us had a good laugh on how vintage the photos had become. Some had turned brown and each photo tells a very distinct story of their memories.
I wonder how many of us would really take out my photo album and looked at our childhood photos? I probably forgotten all the photos that I’ve taken in my life if not for my mother’s safe keeping.
My wife wasn’t that fortunate as her family wasn’t able to afford a camera then. She often regrets how sad it is that she was not able to share with me her part of growing up.
She will always try her best to describe the place, the buildings and the rest is up to my imagination. Maybe the whole montage idea of putting childhood photos is not because of showing your guest how you grow up.
I secretly believe that it is a remembrance of how you were brought up by your parents. You would not remember so much about your childhood more than them.
They were the ones whom watched you cry, watched you drink your first milk, and watched you take your first step.
The beginning of the montage symbolized how grateful you are that you are able to walk in with her bride into the ballroom. It is because of their timeless and sometimes forgotten efforts that make you who you are today.
I don’t know when I will have the time to look through my childhood photos again after my wedding.
I hope you look at your childhood photos more often.
Remember not how you grow but how you were brought up.
You will see a different light.
The package that I’m offering is ridiculous. Yeah, if I would to do this full time I might as well go work in some fast-food joint serving burgers.
Anyway I met my first client not long ago. Of all the clients that I had, they were probably the ones whom I was a complete stranger to.
The rest I will would know either one of them. (Nope... to be technically true, I only know all the brides-to-be on my client list… how come???)
We had a short discussion about how the two of them met and how their love story begins. The bride-to-be eagerly presented her side of the story and the groom-to-be was there trying to correct or edit her story. Who says guys don’t remember anything in a relationship?
As I slowly sip my coffee and listen to them, you could see the looks on their face as they had a light hearted argument over what the guy did when he wanted to know her. It is great to think back the happier days.
When the story was finished, I requested them to pass me their childhood photos. I offered to scan for them since its part of the value-added services I provide.
I was quite surprised by both of them reaction as they each took out a large photo album that contains all the memories since young.
“Hey this is me when I’m young” The bride-to-be exclaimed when she showed me one of her baby photos.
“Wah, I still remember this time when I had this camp” The groom-to-be sounded like he was talking to himself.
All of us had a good laugh on how vintage the photos had become. Some had turned brown and each photo tells a very distinct story of their memories.
I wonder how many of us would really take out my photo album and looked at our childhood photos? I probably forgotten all the photos that I’ve taken in my life if not for my mother’s safe keeping.
My wife wasn’t that fortunate as her family wasn’t able to afford a camera then. She often regrets how sad it is that she was not able to share with me her part of growing up.
She will always try her best to describe the place, the buildings and the rest is up to my imagination. Maybe the whole montage idea of putting childhood photos is not because of showing your guest how you grow up.
I secretly believe that it is a remembrance of how you were brought up by your parents. You would not remember so much about your childhood more than them.
They were the ones whom watched you cry, watched you drink your first milk, and watched you take your first step.
The beginning of the montage symbolized how grateful you are that you are able to walk in with her bride into the ballroom. It is because of their timeless and sometimes forgotten efforts that make you who you are today.
I don’t know when I will have the time to look through my childhood photos again after my wedding.
I hope you look at your childhood photos more often.
Remember not how you grow but how you were brought up.
You will see a different light.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
In the beginning...
Recently I had a coffee session with a friend. We were talking how busy we had become and were trying to update each other on the work that we are currently doing.
“I’m actually doing wedding montage services now…” I began.
“You know those slideshows that’s screen before the wedding couple’s first entrance?”
I have to explain further to ensure he knows what I’m talking.
He gave me a stunned look.
“You are married right? You don’t know what it is?”
I was rather surprised by his look.
In my heart I was expecting to see his response as
“wah.. this kinda of services got anyone will find?”
“No lah, you should have told me earlier man!”
“How come?”
I was taken aback by his response.
“You know, my wife and I had a hard time trying to do our wedding montage during the dinner. We don’t know much about the software and don’t know what we want to show our guest”
I was nodding my head in his agreement.
“If I know you are doing this, I would have engaged your services!”
“Actually I don’t quite understand that there will be a demand for montage services you know”
I told him.
“Why not?”
“I mean, who would spend a couple hundred of dollars for the less than 10 minutes kind of outcome? Furthermore couples usually will want to do the montage themselves, or the groom would have to do it for his wife. ”
“Anntonii, you just went through your wedding right?”
My friend asked which I nodded.
“You know how busy it is to plan a wedding? Especially the last 3months before the actual day? Who will have the time to sit in front of his/her computer and do something that takes a long time?”
“But there is easier software to use mah. PowerPoint, Photostory, windows movie maker.”
“Easier software will result to lousier outcome mah… Imagine people already spend $1000 per table in a grand ballroom but when the montage comes out, it’s lousy and crap. A lot of people will surely say a lot bad reviews behind their back.”
“You as a Montage designer, what’s your take on a wedding montage?”
I paused to think for a while.
“A Wedding Montage is like a short story, something to tell the guest about how the couple met and get together. It is not just a collection of photographs but also a flow of storytelling because most of the guest will only know either the bride or the groom.”
“So that’s not important?”
He asked me back.
“Nope. It is important… it is something which bring out the wedding couple. That’s why I learned the software to do for my wedding as early as 9 months before. It was really a lot of hard work though. ”
“There you go, I tell you.. there will be people who will appreciate your work”
“Yeah… maybe there are”
I told my friend that even my own brother commented my work after he returned from a few weddings.
“People already spending a few thousand dollars on other stuffs… why would they think two three hundred dollars is a big deal?”
I agreed with what he said.
“Bro, how much you quoting people?”
My friend was curious.
“$188 - $238, if you got any friends who are interested can refer them to my website.”
I replied.
“Aiyoh, so cheap. Are you crazy or what? “
He laughed.
“I’m new and want to be competitive in the market, so have to develop an ‘Entry Price’ loh”
I replied confidently about my market knowledge.
“But I think you earning more for your full time job leh… you know how much effort you have to put in for every montage?”
I nodded.
“Bro, you and I are married. We know a lot of couples are very tight in their budget for their wedding. There are a lot of monies being spent of every single item and maybe that’s the reason why I don’t really want to raise my price”
“Besides I’m still a newbie in this line. Who am I to command $300 or even $400?”
I continued.
“Ok, just make sure you are happy doing it. It’s all that matters.”
He advised after sipping coffee.
“Yeah… perhaps until the day when I’m not happy”
Starting up is always difficult.
There will be a lot of self doubt and obstacles waiting to trip you.
You will do a lot of cold calling to strangers whom you don’t know to tell them about you.
You will experience a lot of people rejecting your services.
You will fall when people tell you that you aren’t good enough for them.
You will spend so much effort to improve yourself so that you will deliver a better service for them.
You will even come to a point to realize that you are really not fit for this business.
Successful business men always tell you that money isn’t everything in a business, interest is.
If there’s a love story waiting to be told…
I will show them how it’s done in 10mins.
“I’m actually doing wedding montage services now…” I began.
“You know those slideshows that’s screen before the wedding couple’s first entrance?”
I have to explain further to ensure he knows what I’m talking.
He gave me a stunned look.
“You are married right? You don’t know what it is?”
I was rather surprised by his look.
In my heart I was expecting to see his response as
“wah.. this kinda of services got anyone will find?”
“No lah, you should have told me earlier man!”
“How come?”
I was taken aback by his response.
“You know, my wife and I had a hard time trying to do our wedding montage during the dinner. We don’t know much about the software and don’t know what we want to show our guest”
I was nodding my head in his agreement.
“If I know you are doing this, I would have engaged your services!”
“Actually I don’t quite understand that there will be a demand for montage services you know”
I told him.
“Why not?”
“I mean, who would spend a couple hundred of dollars for the less than 10 minutes kind of outcome? Furthermore couples usually will want to do the montage themselves, or the groom would have to do it for his wife. ”
“Anntonii, you just went through your wedding right?”
My friend asked which I nodded.
“You know how busy it is to plan a wedding? Especially the last 3months before the actual day? Who will have the time to sit in front of his/her computer and do something that takes a long time?”
“But there is easier software to use mah. PowerPoint, Photostory, windows movie maker.”
“Easier software will result to lousier outcome mah… Imagine people already spend $1000 per table in a grand ballroom but when the montage comes out, it’s lousy and crap. A lot of people will surely say a lot bad reviews behind their back.”
“You as a Montage designer, what’s your take on a wedding montage?”
I paused to think for a while.
“A Wedding Montage is like a short story, something to tell the guest about how the couple met and get together. It is not just a collection of photographs but also a flow of storytelling because most of the guest will only know either the bride or the groom.”
“So that’s not important?”
He asked me back.
“Nope. It is important… it is something which bring out the wedding couple. That’s why I learned the software to do for my wedding as early as 9 months before. It was really a lot of hard work though. ”
“There you go, I tell you.. there will be people who will appreciate your work”
“Yeah… maybe there are”
I told my friend that even my own brother commented my work after he returned from a few weddings.
“People already spending a few thousand dollars on other stuffs… why would they think two three hundred dollars is a big deal?”
I agreed with what he said.
“Bro, how much you quoting people?”
My friend was curious.
“$188 - $238, if you got any friends who are interested can refer them to my website.”
I replied.
“Aiyoh, so cheap. Are you crazy or what? “
He laughed.
“I’m new and want to be competitive in the market, so have to develop an ‘Entry Price’ loh”
I replied confidently about my market knowledge.
“But I think you earning more for your full time job leh… you know how much effort you have to put in for every montage?”
I nodded.
“Bro, you and I are married. We know a lot of couples are very tight in their budget for their wedding. There are a lot of monies being spent of every single item and maybe that’s the reason why I don’t really want to raise my price”
“Besides I’m still a newbie in this line. Who am I to command $300 or even $400?”
I continued.
“Ok, just make sure you are happy doing it. It’s all that matters.”
He advised after sipping coffee.
“Yeah… perhaps until the day when I’m not happy”
Starting up is always difficult.
There will be a lot of self doubt and obstacles waiting to trip you.
You will do a lot of cold calling to strangers whom you don’t know to tell them about you.
You will experience a lot of people rejecting your services.
You will fall when people tell you that you aren’t good enough for them.
You will spend so much effort to improve yourself so that you will deliver a better service for them.
You will even come to a point to realize that you are really not fit for this business.
Successful business men always tell you that money isn’t everything in a business, interest is.
If there’s a love story waiting to be told…
I will show them how it’s done in 10mins.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
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