AXIOO

I've been to Bali numerous times, either to shoot a wedding, pre-wedding, or even for holidays. But this is the first time, I went to Bali doing something completely different, a little deeper than usual... Yup, this time I carried my scuba diving gears and went for scuba diving in Bali. I left my kids at home, brought the wife and a few friends, amongst them are our previous clients who have become my diving buddies, Andry and Enzy.

We went to two different diving sites, Tulamben on the first day, and to Nusa Penida on the second day. Tulamben is one of the most famous diving site in the world, in fact, it is the top 15 diving site in the world. One of the greatest attraction in Tulamben is the Ship Wreck Liberty that sunk right off the coast, and the beautiful Coral Garden around the area as well. The water is supposedly very calm and very clear. Yes, supposedly... Sadly when we got there, the waves were so high that we had to wait a few hours before we even could get in, and when we got into the water the waves were still very rough and caused the water to be murky. In short, we didn't enjoy the dives very much that day.

On the second day, we went to Nusa Penida, famous for the two things, Mata Rays and Sunfish, or as the locals call it, Mola Mola. Mola Mola is a 4 meter tall fish that literally looks like a sail. They travel along the East Australian Current or the EAC (watch Nemo). IF you ever decide to dive here, make sure you wear a full diving suit, plus a vest and maybe a hood so that your brain don't freeze, because the water is extremely cold.

Well, we saw plenty of Manta Rays, but unfortunately no Sunfish. But all in all, the trip was an unforgettable one and I will defintely be back for more dives here. During the trip we managed to take a few underwater shots for you to enjoy, courtesy of Andry (our future underwater photographer :p).

Enjoy!

- Donny 

Towards the last leg of our journey, we drove past southern Germany through Fussen, NeuSchwanstein castle, then head down south towards Austria. Have you watched The Sound of Music? Most of the scenes from that movie was shot in Salzburg, southern Germany & Austria. So here we are enjoying every fresh breath up in the mountain. Breathe in, breathe out...it doesn't get any better than this. 

The view is magnificent! We marveled as we reached the top, soaking in the moment. I said to myself, "We'll never forget this moment". Pinched ourselves a few times before jumping around and laying on the wildflowers for this shot. Life is great! 

Day by day, we come up with new travel itinerary and finally ended up in Lech, Austria. I wanted to stay here for at least a week longer, turn of my phone and enjoy the summer activities. We were so lucky to have found a Rote Wand Hotel through Tablethotels. This is by far the warmest & most memorable hotel stay ever, by that I mean they're awesome...considering we stay in hotels for almost 30% of the year. Thumbs up for the hospitality. If any of you get a chance to visit the area, try staying here, you'll know what I'm talking about. Oh yes, don't forget to visit the local cheese factory.

What makes a great photo? I think it's not the location, the dress, the make up...yes those things helps, but for me a great photo has meaning. For William & Yola, being in love means doing the everyday things together. It really is as simple as that. Who wouldn't be mesmerized by love when you're in Paris and soaked in the romantic atmosphere? But love doesn't happen that way. Love is a process, it evolves from being together doing even the simplest everyday activities.

When you're in love, the food taste better. The TV show is funnier. A simple supermarket trip turns into a playground to discover each other's favorite snacks. There's even a joy brushing your teeth together. You simply don't want the day to end. The best part is being in love does not end in a day, it's a lifetime journey.

We hope these simple portraits reminds you both what it means to be in love. Enjoy your everyday together :)

Cheers XOXO - David

Marcus & Sianny invited us over to Semarang for their awesome wedding. I love the surprises when going for out of town weddings, it seems like anything can happen. So many unpredictable things beyond my control, new culture, new venue, new wedding vendors...love surprises. Ever since we shot for their pre-wedding portraits a while ago, i've been waiting for this day. I know it's gonna be a joy to shoot and I was right. 

The whole day Marcus smiled from ear to ear as if he just won a billion dollars. Jumpy and funny, he showed the silly side of him i didn't know he had. I love it when the groom is overjoyed! Sianny as elegant as always, shines in her wedding dress. No wonder Marcus was soooo happy to see her. 

Nervous is a word mostly i hear from every couple before the pre-wedding shoot...but this time it's different for Imelda & Tahir. For the first time i heard "just do whatever you want us to do"...thank you guys for trusting me. A little bit about this adorable couple who have been together for about 7 years. Sometimes they consider their relationship a bit flat, i know what they mean, for most of us there's that ups and downs in a relationship and you guys deserve thumbs up for being together that long. We wish you more excitement for your journey years ahead. Helen & I get a chance to show the other side of them, having fun relaxing and laughing all day long in Hongkong and Disneyland. O yes thank you to Imelda's mom for accompanying us during the shoot and for your wisdom on "how to raise kids in a right way" we sure need more tips as Zoe is growing. Hope u guys like this series...

See you guys on your wedding...Lucky 8! (that's how long they will be together by they're married) -Ivan :D

I met Charlie & Felicia for the first time at Senayan City, and i remember they brought us a big box of "kerupuk udang". Then for another meeting they brought us a cake. and so on...just wondering if they always bring something when we have a meeting with them. That's so very generous of them ha ha :) I just got back from Surabaya last week to shoot their wedding in Surabaya and met with their big and warm family.

After a few possible places for their pre-wedding destination, we decided to shoot in Singapore. And for the very first time...i shoot and drive a Ferrari *i can get used to this :) Charlie has a thing with Ferrari, and now i know why. It's addictive, and now i can't get it out of my head. For now, it's on my wish list.

Charlie & Felicia is one of a kind...you know what? They have never kiss before this photoshoot, i'm the one who break their rules ha ha ha...but it just a lil innocent kiss. So, congrats again for your wedding and welcome to club!

Me OUT!

Do you remember Jordan the golden haired baby boy? Now he's two and a half months old. He is even cuter and chubbier. For this session, he fell asleep during the photoshoot. Our whole office came out to greet him, even Woofy our Westie wanted to check him out. For now, enjoy this episode of Jordan, before you see him again in a few months. I'm sure he'll be even more adorable.

Now i know why Jhonny & Irene picked Queenstown NZ for their pre-wedding destination. It's absolutely beautiful!! Their love for nature and fresh sceneries sets Queenstown as the perfect destination. This is my first trip ever to New Zealand, and i'll definitely come back for more. Not sure if it's the golden color that's so inviting or the good weather that we were blessed with, or is it just being in the presence of a loving couple that made this photo shoot a memorable one. 

Queenstown is synonymous natural beauty, surrounded by majestic mountains and nestled on the shores of Lake Wakatipu (interesting name for a lake, that kinda sound like 'Wah Ketipu") It seems like whichever direction we turn, there's a photo opportunity...the real challenge is choosing what not to shot. We had a great time together in Queenstown. Roamed around the vineyards, lakes and of course said Hi to the countless sheeps. The excitement kept us going though some parts of the town was flooded.

When shooting in a totally new place, having a local insight is priceless. Since Jhonny & Irene have been here for a few times, that automatically qualifies them as our local guide :) Big thanks to Irene's sister Evelyn & auntie who's presence made a big difference during our trip. I'm so looking forward to witness your wedding day. Cheers, Paulus ;)

2.191 days of up and down, over the hills, down the valley, up to the mountain. It’s been a colorful journey. David and I have been married for 6 good years now. And let me say this , “ Marrying him is the best decision I have ever make” :) Cautions: this particular blog gets very personal

So for our 6th year anniversary, we decided to do a road trip in Europe. We landed in Paris, then we drove to Germany, Austria and Swiss. A little bit of it all. Short but sweet. So here you go, let the pictures speak by itself

From Champagne, we continue east towards Germany then decided to stay overnight in Luxembourg. We knew very little about Luxembourg. It wasn't even in our original plan. But we thought since it lies at the border of France and Germany, that would be a nice resting place for the night before continuing on the next morning to Trier. We arrived in the evening and got a chance to roam around the charming old city center.