Pregnant Mummy Photo Shoot - Series VII

Read a newspaper article when I got back from outstation recently and realised it was regarding a mummy that I shot earlier and was flabbergasted with her story. Apparently, this mummy had underwent three major surgeries – lump removal from her breast, varginal hygroma and cardiac valve recovery. Despite the obstacles, the optimistic mother has managed to overcome all and now even delieverd a healthy triplets to the family. During the earlier shooting, I have actually noticed the scars on her body and we have talked about it. However, she just mentioned her experience lightly and did not seem to be too overly bother with it, something that I now admired even more. There was another thing that caught my attention – when I asked whether she is bothered by the scars and would like those to be removed via post editing. Without hesitation, she rejected and emphasised that those scars would stay with her. Compared to some of the clients that I encountered previously, she was indeed a lot more rational and sensible. I have now created an album dedicated to her and share with all, as a show of respect for her courage. Equally, I am honoured to be involved in undertaking such a photo shoot assignment with her family.

匍从外埠摄影回家，在报章上看到一张很熟悉的面孔，惊觉到是不久前给她拍摄过的怀孕妈咪。细读了报导后，更惊叹她整个怀孕过程的高风险度。据述，这妈咪在怀孕时曾动过三次大手术 - 乳房肿瘤手术，子宫水瘤手术和修复心瓣膜手术。可是乐观的她勇敢的面对了这些危机，现在还为家人生了三胞胎！

较早拍摄期间，我注意到了她身上很明显的三个疤痕，也谈了起来，没想到原来背後有着这樣的一个故事。现回想她之前的清描淡述，我也很佩服她。

还有一件事使我印象深刻; 当我问她对那几个刀疤是否介怀，需在那些照片作后期处理，把它消除时，她很快的拒绝了，并强调我要把它保留。比起我之前我遇到的一些客户，她理性的多。

我这次特地为她作了一个专册放上网跟大家分享，表扬她的勇气。

如有兴趣，您们可以根据以下的网址读到有关她的故事：

http://search.sinchew-i.com/node/495747?k=梁詩敏

能够为她家人拍了那一册照片，也是我的荣幸。

Pregnant Mummy Photo Shoot - Series VI

Frankly，I enjoyed the time spent watching the selected photos with mummies. There are two reasons for such.

One, I can improve myself technically based on their feedback, especially on my lighting techniques, understand the dos and don'ts on lighting style and angle(s) that are a definite no-no for woman. I called it the 'Siberia' angle – everybody knows where it is but nobody wants to go there.....

What interest me the more was to understand their feelings during the photo shoot over such a short span of time communicating with them.

Many of the mummies will ask and remind me to take 'beautiful' shoots of them during the process but no one seems to know what 'beautiful' means nor the courage to give me 'beautiful' postures. Hence，most of them will sigh upon watching their photos, regret for missing some of the poses they would do if given a second chance.

An equally fascinating observation was that some of the mummies will insist that I show them photos of other mummies, then without fail, most of them will admire how beautiful those mummies are and almost without fail, then question me why I could not make them look equally pleasing.

Well, seriously, at this junction, there is nothing I said will help the situation as the outcome will be a self-inflicting one. I can only grin.

Personally, to take a nice long-lasting shot (I confess that I do not know how take beautiful photo of people), there are many factors at work; the most important being the coordination and understanding between mummy and the photographer, not to mention mummy's emotions during the shoot.

Some of them understood fully what they wanted, put aside their normal-self, did something unconventional, be someone different during the process. When this happens, most of them will be very satisfied with the results and I am happy for them too as I have help fulfilled their wish.

In contrast, if they feel this is not what they have wanted it to be at the end, then let's hope they will not repeat such mistakes in future shooting and hope for a better result. As a photographer, I cannot guarantee full success, can I?

Else, it definitely has to be me….. simply not good enough for them.

I will have to constantly self-evaluate my techniques, be honest to my self and not simply put the blame on my subject and forget to look at at the mirror.

说真的，我个人很享受跟妈咪看照片的过程，原因不外有二。

其一：我可以根据她们的回馈去了解和改进我摄影，尤其是打光的技术，明白到什麽样的灯光和角度是女人的‘死穴’，无论如何都不能用的。

而我最感兴趣的是在和她们这短时间沟通时，去尝试了解她们在拍照时的心情。

很多妈咪在拍照期间一再强调要拍得美，可有说不出美的定义，做不足‘美’的动态， 看照时唉声叹气，后悔当时不‘大胆’一点的把姿态摆起来。

最有趣的是有些妈咪硬是要看别的妈咪拍的照片，然后几乎全都会赞美她们拍得比自己的好看的多，然后回头问我为什麽她们的更好，是不是我偏心。

其实，在这情况下，我说什麽都是没用的。我讲什麽都会被看作是借口，自我辩护。只能傻笑。

个人认为，要拍一张耐看（我自认不会拍一张美的）的照片，是需要多方面的配合；最重要的是妈咪和摄影师的沟通，配合和妈咪拍照时的心态。有些妈咪知道自己要拍些什麽，在拍摄时把身段放下，作一些平常不会做的一些小动作，把它拍下留念。看照时她们自己也会满足的笑，在加下如果有丈夫在旁的鼓励，那就更美好不过了。我也会沾了她的光，为她高兴。

反之，如果觉得效果不好，那么自我检讨一下，下次拍照时避免重犯，希望拍出来的成绩会更标青。

不然，那就真的是我的问题了。。。。 功夫不到家。

我自己也要不时自我检讨， 对自己老实点，别老是怪别人不行，而忘了照鏡子。

Pregnant Mummy Photo Shoot - Series IV & V

In conjuction with the impending Chinese New Year celebration in my home country, I have now put on a supposedly two series of photos for all to enjoy.

And also would like to wish all a

HAPPY AND PROPEROUS CHINESE NEW YEAR AHEAD!

GONG XI GONG XI!!

趁着新春的喜气，一次性把两个系列的照片给摆上网给大家欣赏。

也藉这机会跟大家拜个早年，恭贺大家

新年快乐

万事如意

恭喜恭喜！！

Pregnant Mummy Photo Shoot - Series III

Most of the mummies would come alone during the photo shoot, not many would bring along their family members, especially the husband for the occasion.

Of course I am keen to know the reason why the husband is not here - is it because he cannot bear the brunt of seeing his wife baring her naked stomach and show it publicly or he just could not be bother.

So, whenever I met mummies who are friendly enough, I would satisfy my curiosity and asked them; the answer I received mostly was 'my husband is not free', a genuine answer I hope.

Well, for those who came with the husband, the mummy would turn out to 'serious' and 'indecisive' during the photo shoot. Whenever I asked them for different posing, they would naturally look at the husband first, hoping to get their 'permission' before doing what I suggested to them. I guess there is nothing wrong with that, just that I need to learn to be more patient and accommodating, allowing all the necessary 'eye-contact' to take place before finishing my job.

There was an exception though, a couple where the husband was clowning at the side to 'stir' up the emotions of the wife, which makes my life so much easier as I just need to focus on doing 'grab shots' to capture all her emotions. I even got the husband to do a joint photo shoot towards the tail-end of the session.

For this part, I have put up those pictures of mummies who brought along their family members, hoping to 'encourage' the others to do the same as well in their future photographic sessions.

Oh yeah, the playful couple was actually teacher by profession. If they maintain their jovial mentality when carrying out their duty in school, then the students will really benefit from it. After all, a smile is always better than a rattan whip.

很多妈咪来拍照是都是单枪匹马，很少说是跟家人，尤其是丈夫一起来分享这个过程。

有时我是相当的纳闷，想问她们到底是另一半不想看到自己的爱人把挺着的肚子赤裸裸跟别人分享还是他们其实一点都不想理。

冲着一些比较健谈的妈咪，我顶着胆子问了她们这个问题；答案大都是‘老公不得空’。 我恳切希望这是真的原因。

话说回来，跟丈夫来的在拍照时是非常的‘严肃’的，每当我要求妈咪摆一些比较另类的蒲士时，她们很自然先看老公一眼，得到了肯许后才听我的建议，所以很多时候我要耐着性子等他们‘眉来眼去’后才能继续拍摄。说真的，我不觉的他们有错，只是我要适应而已。

只有一对夫妇是相当特别，拍摄老公在旁边一直在逗老婆，把她弄的又好气，又好笑，而我就在旁边一直抓拍，把她的表情都留下来。 最后还把老公一起拍下。

这一系列里，我找来了那些有家人陪伴合照的照片给弄上来，希望可以‘勉励’那些单身来来妈咪，叫家人应该分享那过程。

对了，那对可爱夫妇都还是老师呢。 我可希望他们在执教是还是那样，那学生收益可大了，别老是给藤条吓坏了。