If there is any project that I really regret that I couldn’t do it due to my schedule this year was Amanda and Des’s wedding. I seriously hate the situation that I needed to be overseas trip on the wedding day. From the start, they showed the potential to be my perfect couple. But well, it’s all good at least, my boys from Foto Expression will surely look after them with special care *lol*.

But well, at least I could still play a little bit of them for creating this simple portrait films for them. Love love love love… you can call me bias. But I really think this really suits to their personality – cheeky and lovely. Please check it out!

You know that I am good of picking up songs for my couples based on the personality, but this time I couldn’t take the credit out of this. It’s too perfect, it’s so them. They also brought up how they never liked something that’s too commercial. I guess how they love me too, low profile *lol*.

I love the fact of this simple concept how it doesn’t overwhelm the connection or chemistry between them. According to Amanda, Des was always romantic. So she had no clue of whatsoever that Des would propose to her on that day. It’s because Des always treated her like any other day. He’s always relax, fun and treat her with care . It’s really great to hear their relationship story.

They reckon that people started thinking that they never got married any time soon as they have been engaged over 2 years. So they felt that they need a reminder to their friends and families.

Most of footages were mostly filmed in palm beach, so we needed to drive a bit. In fact, it was my first trip there. It’s totally worth it. I guess the location spots were all decided because of Des’ bike. Do you all see the bike? I admitted that I am no a bike person. But I totally call it as one of the best piece of art in motorcycle I ever seen. It looks so cool and vintage (what Des mentioned it was an old restoration). When we parked for lunch, everyone just stopped by to have a look at it. Now, I knew why Des really insisted to have the portrait films done. He wants to have a piece of memory to remember his darling (Of course, it’s Amanda ).

Anyway, I really had a great time even though it was such a short time that we enjoy each other companion. I am sure listing you guys are one of my favourite couples that I ever work with. Please check out a bit of behind the scenes photos here of how much fun we had.

Richard and Virginia are like a heaven for me. First my camera loves them, and they love me. So it can’t go wrong from there

Like any other couple, they wanted the best of the best for them to treasure their wedding story. They were ready to do whatever it took.

On the other hand, I am Wiki Lee, a professional and does 1000% committed to every wedding or project that I am commissioned with. I know exactly who I am. I am even ready to reduce number of weddings that i do in 2011 so I can focus on the quality.

But for someone who never known me and said in the first email inquiry to give me ’20 reasons why I should do their wedding’, I was so deeply honoured to know someone really wanting me to go out from my sabbatical so badly to shoot their wedding. I seriously didn’t ask much for someone who wants to book me. I just want them to love me the way I am, just let me to be the artist that I can be. But this couple gave me twenty. Even in their list, one of them was that they were willing to sell their car to fund to have me. (No no, I am not that expensive ). But knowing the sacrifice they were willing to take was something that I wouldn’t dare to dream for someone to do that for having my service. It’s quiet flattering to know that. After all, I believe I am just an average photographer who has a great God (quote from Ken Duncan).

In short, they are awesome and cool people like us

Like most other couple who came to my studio for meeting prior to the making of portrait films, they didn’t know where to start. That’s why I asked from the simplest questions to the very personal questions. From there, normally I can sense they wanted to open up or they were too shy. Sometimes, I feel my job is like a pre-marriage counsel . But mostly they always come up with pretty much similar story than the others. The question is how I can create an unique and personal.

Ok here was what I learned about them.

1. They love Thristy merc, because they enjoyed their concert as a couple. I even spotted a thristy merc poster on their bedroom.
2. They’ve been going out since high school. It’s never easy for Richard to get Virginia at the start as she had a boyfriend when Richard made the move to her.
3. I could sense from the story, Virginia was kind of like Richard’s companion too.
4. When Virginia was finally available, Richard was so excited to woo her back.
5. When they dated back in high school time, Virginia’s parent was a strict one. Thus, they went out behind their back
6. Richard is kind of man with a gift love language. On the hand, Virginia is a more devouted person who loves making card to show her devotion to Richard.
7. Richard is a basketball freak. He is a professional basketball referee.
8. Richard proposal to Virginia was a tricky one. How he made a sign “Marry Me” with rope lit by fire on the beach.

So I hope all of your questions after watching the below films, you found the answer there

But when coming to create some works for a couple, sometimes my taste can be a bit too much. That’s why my question after that meeting, I asked them “Do you want a nice one or a creative one but kind of weird?” Their response was “In Wiki we trust”. They wanted me to deliver the best as I can be. So there you go below, my kind of the benchmark work for the portrait films; creative and yet storytelling

As soon as I heard how much they love Thristy Merc and listened their story, I knew straight away that All my life by Thristy Merc would be the soundtrack for their portrait films. Their video clip was the inspiration for this portrait films to portray the journey in backward. The morale of this film is for Richard always remember the day of when he fell in love with Virginia.

The films was premiered at their reception. With a blurry projector, I thought it went well. I received so many people stopped by to say the great work on that presentation. So thank you Richard and Virginia for the opportunity you gave us to document some part of your life story into something to remember. I definitely treasure the friendship we made

Their wedding story will definitely come up soon (I hope) in this blog. It was a busy day but it was definitely a fun day but not so much fun for me as they were too many tall people around them . Yes, I am a short guy .

Come back tomorrow, I promise that I will at least pick one photo from their wedding to be the photo of the day.

In the mean time, you can also see the behind the scene (BTS) images taken by Adiv and Ilona of Foto Expression during the portrait films shoot and of course their engagement session in between the making of portrait films. You’ll see now why I love this guy now

About one month before their wedding day, was my very first time I met Khemara and Maria. Since it is my promise that every project that I do in 2011 will be personal than ever, I love meeting them in person before the wedding. After a little bit of chit-chat, then I asked them a trivial question “what do you want to be remembered by from your fusion portrait films?”. Then Khemara started to share his life and his 10 years relationship with Maria. They admitted there were ups and downs. After hearing their story, I then proposed to create a story, my wish they can see this video everytime they have a fight to remember what they’d gone thru with their relationship. It is the message from the past for present and future that they must fight for their relationship till the end. That’s what this portrait films is about.

Since I started my personal approach in 2011, I heard and created nothing but masterpieces of my works. It really transforms what I want to become. I guess the couples get to know me better, what I think and what I wish to do for their best. But on top of that, they must work hard too. In this case, they must act. There was one scene where we ruined Maria’s make up .

I will keep doing this as much as I can to produce a beautiful moment about the relationship as long as I am still appreciated. Talking about appreciation, here is what Maria wrote to me on my facebook after the meeting.

Before you watch the film, you must know both of them are Anime and games fans.

This film was premiered at their reception last Saturday. What I heard from Khemara and Maria, it’s been the hot topic that night.

I can’t thank them enough of how they treated me with nothing but with respect and trust. It’s never easy to open up their struggles to a stranger. Thank you thank you…

Please come back to this space to watch their awesome wedding fusion video. The day was rainy and a lot of traveling but their bridal party is a crack up. We still had a great time.

This is one of the most awaited portrait films I ever produced. I’ve lost count how many people have asked me when the film will be blogged publicly. It’s not surprising as the story from this portrait films/save the date is addictive. I am not sure how many I have watched this film. I can say it’s a lot

You’ll find out soon after watching it.

Matt + Jen came to our studio to book Ilona as their wedding photographer. In the meeting, they tried to convince me to shoot their wedding videography. As some of you may know, 2011 is my sabbatical period (I will share my thought about it as soon as I have some spare time). As soon as they left the appointment with Ilona, she couldn’t wait to share the story of why I should shoot their wedding. Of course, I had no hesitation initiating an email to them to find out who they were. “Were they the type of clients who have full faith in my works?”. The answer is obvious, isn’t it?

The best way to describe the process of making this film is like someone gave me a licence to kill I can do whatever I had in mind. I told them, “OK, I need radio station! I need cinema access! I need a hotel room! I need this people and more people to be involved!” And they gave it all to me. They were so committed to make this film. If it does sound like it’s a tiring process, I could tell you I had the best time shooting.

You may need to watch more than once to understand the film fully as there are several time-shifting events. The film was premiered at their engagement party a few weeks ago. I heard the presentation and the reaction to this film was definitely the highlight of the night. Darn, I missed this proud moment, ops I shouldn’t take the credit from this

A little background from the film is that how Matt proposed Jennie. The uniqueness of their proposal was that Matt proposed to Jennie via her favourite radio station, 106.5fm. I am sure a lot of sydneysiders are familiar with Richard “the love god” Mercer. That’s how we titled the film, from his radio program “Love song dedication”. So what you heard from the film was the real voice of his. The proposal is just one of the many steps that Matt must complete before the proposal. That’s what he called “The big plan”. If I need to tell all the story or steps of how he did it entirely, I need more than 10 minutes of film at least . The film itself already involves so many people and parties.

Without further ado, please check it out!

Here are some photos and video of behind the scene:

Thank you thank you thank you for everything, Matt + Jen.

I am really looking forward shooting their wedding in September. It’ll be the first time ever in our entire career, I will fight for space with the photographer of the day, my wifey, Ilona who btw posed as a masseuse in this video. She didn’t know that she had to help out until we’re in the spa, so she had no choice.:D

When I met Michelle for the first time (probably the second time, as the first time was in Mark + Nicky’s wedding), I knew their wedding was going to be something to remember. On that meeting, we share something in common how we love our maccas (Mcdonald). Her laughes and smiles are always contiguous to the surrounding. I bet people will always be happy to be around her. Keep it that way, sis. You go, girl! Don’t let Jin to take away your happiness. *lol*.

Then the second time I met her, she brought me some kind of herbal tea for my gout. I knew she was a constant stalker for my facebook, but her gesture to bring that was much appreciated. My heart melted.

The third time of meeting her was when Jin finally made an appearance. He just came back from overseas work assignment. I had so many first impressions about him but definitely it never crossed my mind that he was a great salsa dancer. That’s how he first time met her. As soon as I heard about the story, that’s how I wanted to make a Fusion portrait films about who they are and how they met.

The idea of their fusion portrait films was not a complete original as I was inspired by “Where the hell is matt”. That’s also how I got the soundtrack from. The film was viewed over 34 millions in youtube up to today. What an inspirational short film.

Since we are very much limited in 3-4 hours of the making, we only sticked the places near the dance studio. We wish to do it next time in several different countries like the original. So anyone who has the money and is willing to fly me over, I will shoot it for free. HAHHAHAHA

Their fusion portrait film has been modified since it was last time presented at their reception. I received a wonderful reception after the presentation. But I just wasn’t too pleased how the story was not clear in my first try. So here is the modified version, “Salsa Everywhere”.

I will blog their fusion wedding films next week. So stay tuned!

Special thanks my team, Aswin and Ilona of Foto Expression who helped out on the day.