Update Post - AD photography

Actual day photography

We started looking for actual day photographers some 2-3 weeks ago. Went to Lightbox and Visio Workz (both recommended by friends) and also got quotes for their packages from several others.

We were quite impressed with Lightbox for Kwang's (he's the boss and chief photographer) good natured disposition, clear and honest presentation and of course nice end products. His video product (which was a collaboration with Mirage) got me wanting videography since I felt it was valuable to capture these moments on video. Keeping these in mind and as the benchmark, we went on to the next one week later.

Visio Workz also had a rather high standard of end products. Chris also presented herself quite well. What we felt uncomfortable with was that we could not speak to the photographer until we confirmed the package. On advice from friends, we know that it is important for us to feel comfortable with our photographer on the actual day. The price quoted by Visio Workz was actually cheaper.

After looking through the other quotations given to us by email. We concluded that the range of AD photography/videography packages ranged from 1.5k from the lower ranged to 5k on the upper end.

After much deliberation, Michelle and I kind of decided on the first, Lightbox since we felt comfortable with Kwang's attitude and professionalism. Their price may not be the cheapest (about 2k eventually) but I think they can deliver a good end product.

Getting the final quote in a few days, and then after that, hopefully we can settle yet another matter...

Our Wedding Blog

Michelle, my baby and I are getting married in November of this year.

There is so much to do. Looking back, there is so much we have done too. Here is a recap...

The Proposal

• Inspired by Cyril Takayama, a very successful French/Japanese magician, I had the idea of using magic to propose to Michelle. I looked through all the tricks that are available on youtube and the internet and learnt how they do it through fundamental trick tuitorials and then self discovery. Practising for several weeks, I set up my own routine and was ready.
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• My routine consisted of the following:
  - Voodoo ash trick: I make ash mysteriously appear on my tightly closed palm by tapping the top of my palm with a cigarette (in my case I used a twig).
  - Restoring an empty soda can: This one has a really amazing effect and I personally liked it alot. I take out an opened, empty crushed soda can, and with magic, I can make it restore to its uncrushed state, fill itself up with soda again with the lid restored too.
  - Card tricks. I was training a Cyril routine which involves alot of classic tricks but eventually I scrapped this because I didnt think it was suitable to do outdoors (planning to propose at Botanic Gardens). Here is a video that inspired me to learn this routine anyway (Click Here). I do the Hershey's Kiss routine instead, only I do it twice. First I let Michelle pick a card, then I make the card continuously appear on top of the deck even after thorough shuffling. And mysteriously, the card she picked has a hershey's kiss picture on it. Then I magically pop a real hershey's kiss out into Michelle's hands and have her eat it. Then I repeat the trick again. This time using my prop Hershey's Kiss. This prop will contain the ring which I will use to propose. In addition, you know how Hershey's Kiss has a tail where you use to open up the wrapper? I stuck more than ten of these together end to end and stuck the end of the long tail to the ring, the other end exposed outside the kiss as normal. The trick was to let Michelle keep pulling the tail and watch it grow longer and longer until she reaches the ring!
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• I went out to get the ring when during the last few days of the great Singapore Sale. I went and get the biggest, most worthwhile ring I can get my hands on and afford from GoldHeart Jewellery. Thanks to Ariel, my diamond "Sifu" I learnt how to pick a ring, more on this in a later post.
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• So when the day came 14th July 07, we went to Botanic gardens. First stop was the food center toilet. I had to get ready my props, in my pockets and in proper places in my bag! Once ready we went to our usual spot for picnicing. I had previously told Michelle I was learning magic as a hobby and would do a show for her. So I set up my phone to video mode and capture the routine, which I said would be useful for me to review my mistakes (yes, I actually have a video of my proposal!). The first trick didnt go too well because of the poor placement of my prop. She saw through that one... The second trick with the can went quite well actually. To this day, she still cannot figure it out and wants me to do it for her again! The last and most important trick went semi-well. I couldn't do the real hersheys and have her eat it because it was all melted and went gooey (ycuk!). She saw through most of the card tricks (guess I need more practice with my sleigh of hand) but didnt suspect the ring in the prop.
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• When the ring was finally unveiled, I got to one knee and proposed. She was touched and perhaps alittle shocked I think. We spoke and spent more romantic times at the picnic, before she had to go meet her family for the Fireworks Festival at the Esplanade. I didn't follow.
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Overall, I think my proposal was quite a success, I know I put alot of effort into it. Hope it was a pleasant surprise for her and I'm glad we have a video of this precious moment to look back at.