“Hi my name is Anna and not only am I narcissistic wedding photographer but….I’m also a fitness junkie.”

There I’ve admitted it.

I’m a fitness junkie.

It’s all my Dad’s ‘fault’. He used to be active in golf, water skiing, speedboat racing, windsurfing, ballroom dancing, weight lifting, etcetera. And you ask me where I get all my gungho-ness from? ;p
Pic shot by my sis

In the past week alone, I’ve had 3 different guy friends who commented that my biceps were getting intimidating and that I will never get any dates with muscles like that.

Aaaaand I also had 1 client (you know who you areeeeee ;p) who questioned my sexual orientation -_____-
Oh, I like men in case you’re wondering what my answer to my clients’ question was. It’s just that with work and working out, I don’t have time to date :p Hmm..or maybe the biceps are scaring them away? LOL!

Anywayyyyyy….back to the topic.

Besides the comments regarding the ‘intimidating biceps’, I occassionally get stares from strangers. They always have this look which seems to say, “Itu lelaki ke perempuan?!!?” (Is that a man or a women?!!?).

And recently, at Subway’s checkout counter, the cashier (a skinny young man) looked at my biceps and said “Perempuan boleh ke angkat berat? Tak takut besar?” (Women can lift heavy weights? Not afraid of getting big?). I was just too flabbergasted by his shallowness and just muttered “Can, why not?” before waddling out with my groceries in one hand and my sandwich in another.

In hindsight, I should’ve jumped across the counter, given him a headlock and twacked his puny head with the footlong sandwich. But I didn’t wanna waste my sandwich.

All this just because I am somewhat more toned (or daresay, muscular?) than your average Malaysian female. Pic by Edmund.

Now, this blog post is to explain how I look the way I do and why I do it.

I’m not proud to say I used to club a lot when I was muuuchhhh younger and when I say a lot, I mean A LOT.

It was during one of those days when I was nursing a hangover at home that I saw an article on the Summit Climbing Gym and thought to myself, “That’s it. I should be doing that instead of drinking myself silly every other day”.

And that, was the point of no return.

I started climbing approximately 8 years ago and since then, have maintained a somewhat healthy lifestyle. There was one point in time where I would climb at least three times a week, killing my fingers and feeling good about it.

Boy, was I addicted to climbing then. Pic by Edmund.

Nowadays, I just go once or twice a week, time permitting.

I also picked up serious weightlifting at about the same time so the muscles actually come more from heavy weights instead of climbing.

I don’t lift much weights anymore though.

My life now revolves around shooting, editing pictures and when I have time - working out. I’ve also included jogging (much slower pace than running. My lungs can’t take it yet ;p) and swimming into my fitness regime.

And most fun of all, I’ve started doing CrossFit regularly at Pushmore. And it is with this workout that I’ve come to realise that I am now a fitness junkie.

When I wake up in the mornings, I log onto the Pushmore blog just to check out what the workout of the day (WOD) is :p

When I reach the gym, I’ll usually come up with all sorts of excuses on why I don’t wanna do the workout but deep down inside, I just want to torture myself and attempt the WOD.

And I do it every single time I go :p

Pic courtesy of Pushmore. The ripped guy next to me is Mike Tee, Sze Ning’s boyfriend and he’s also my webhost provider from Density. I tiang lampu them every chance I get :p

Sado masochist?

Nah, I just like the feeling I get whenever I’ve had a good workout. The feeling where I go, “Yes, I deserve a cigarette for THAT was a good workout” :p I kid, I kiiiiidddd.

When I don’t workout for one or two days, I feel like shit. Seriously, I feel absolutely lethargic, moody, cranky - not my usual happy self at all.

The feeling I get from a good workout - be it climbing, swimming, jogging or CrossFit, is unexplainable. The endorphins released just make me feel on top of the world and it sure feels much better (and cheaper!) than a night out clubbing

And the muscles? I think of them as an added bonus to the perpetual high I get from working out!

So friends, accept me, muscles and all. Don’t worry about me not finding a man with these ‘intimidating’ muscles for I’m sure, one day I’ll be able to bully someone into liking me for who I am. Kwa kwa kwa.

Pic courtesy of Pushmore

And, on the bright side, with these muscles I can double as your bodyguard whenever we’re out. Ok waaaaaattttttt

During the recent ‘Hari Raya’ holidays, I had the opportunity to go for a climbing outing with my group of climber friends. Well, in hindsight it was actually more of a food outing as we spent more time eating than climbing :p

We drove to Ipoh on the first day of Raya and spent the day at Tambun Waterpark just chilling out and climbing. Since we were in Ipoh, there was obviously a lot of eating involved as well. Hehe..

Here are some of the casual pictures from the trip. Wheeee!

Our first food stop for the day. A shop in Bidor which serves duck soup. It was overated! Had to wait 30 minutes for a table and another 30 minutes for the food :p

Nee On pretending to read the Business section

Ben at his element

Entering the climbing area behing Tambun waterpark

At the lobby of the dodgy (and cheap!) hotel we stayed in

World’s Best Ice Kacang. And it was only RM3.80! Valueeeeeee!

In the following pictures, its obvious who wears the pants in the relationship no? ;p

I osso waaaaannnttt. Shot by Edmund.

Following 3 shots taken outside the dodgy hotel while we were waiting for the rest to get ready

Edmund, sure or noooooottttttt?

Breakfast before leaving Ipoh. Yummmyyyyy!

Bought salted chicken too!

Late lunch at Black Canyon upon reaching KL

It was a couple of months ago that I received Carol’s email about a portraiture session. She mentioned that she was from KK but has been working away from home for the past 10 years. I thought to myself, “Cool! Fellow Sabahan!”

We corresponded online for a couple of weeks before her trip back to KL with her fiance. Despite both our tight schedules, Carol, Hong and I managed to meet up for drinks a day prior to our portraiture session.

I would usually recommend meeting up with your photographer or at least corresponding with them, prior to the shoot so that you know what to expect, especially for weddings!

Anyway, I don’t know whether its cause Carol and I have corresponded online or it’s just a Sabahan thing, but we could just yak about anything under the sun! Poor Hong just sat there listening to both of us yak on. Hahaha!

Our session was done on a weekday and this was great as it meant there wouldn’t be so many people gawking as the locations that I would usually bring my couples to are public places. That being said, there were some ‘gawkers’ at the location and you’ll see the pics below

Here are some of my favourite shots from the session with Carol and Hong.

Carol is an avid salsa dancer and she’s obviously taught Hong a few dance moves as well Just realised I’ve been shooting quite a number of couples who do salsa (like Olivier and Nadia!). Hmmm…maybe I should pick it up too ;p


We had some ‘extras’ during our shoot. First up was a curious pre-schooler…

…and then came along 2 guys on a motorbike. Heh.

Carol and Hong, I had fun shooting the two of you. Thanks for being so so accommodating despite the hot, hot weather.

Have fun with the rest of the preparations for your big day next year!

And thank you too for the chocolates from Holland! I love, love, love chocolates (which explains the spots on me face!). Hahaha! Layaaaaaannnnn

A couple of weeks back, Ea Wei and Pat had their wedding ceremony and reception in KL with the church ceremony at the Assumption Church in Petaling Jaya and the dinner reception was held at the Equatorial Hotel in Kuala Lumpur. I knew I was in for a good time as I had shot their ROM back in September and they make a great couple to shoot

Their church ceremony was attended by family members and close friends. A funny incident happened with the wedding bands, but I’m not at liberty to share what I thought was hilarious in hindsight ;p Ea Wei, if you’re ok with me telling the story, I’ll re-edit this blog post and spill the beans pronto! Hahahahah!

And the dinner reception was absolutely great. The reception area was cosy and the settings were beautiful especially the main table’s centrepiece.

As the night proceeded, Pat’s sister Cassie sang ‘L.O.V.E’ for the newlyweds’ second walk-in, Ea Wei had a ‘fun’ time opening up the champagne bottles, Pat and Ea Wei had what I saw as one of the sweetest first dance I’ve seen after so many weddings (I’m not talking about the choreography, but the emotion which was behind it. Yes, yes. It’s the female emo side of me is writing ;p) and the yum seng sessions were loud.

And when I say loud, I mean LOUD! I think I temporarily lost hearing on one side after going around a few tables shooting them ‘in-action’

Okay, enough of me yakking on. Most of the pictures are in the slideshow at the bottom of this post but I’ve also posted up some of my faves here Enjoy!

Saw the below in Ea Wei’s room. LOL! The irony of it all ;p

Love love their expression here. So happy (abadenn?!?)!

Think this looks loud? This was just the tip of the iceberg

Do check out the slideshow below too! Just click on the button and wait for awhile as the pictures load

Ea Wei and Pat, you know what I loved most about you two?

I know this sounds really cliche (I have the right to be! I’m a wedding photographer. Ngeheheehe!), but on the day of your wedding, in a room full of your friends and family, you guys had your private moments when you gave each other ‘the look’.

I don’t know how to explain it, but it was like no one else was around but the two of you and that you two only had eyes for each other. Man, I’m so cheesy that even I can’t stand myself sometimes :p Hehe…

Or perhaps it was just a look which meant ‘Yay! We can do it legally now! :p’ Hehehehe…i kid, i kiiiiiddddd.

Thank you for entrusting me with the responsibility of capturing your memories for you. Can’t wait to shoot the one this weekend in KK! See you two very very soon

Aramaiteee!!

Was just sorting out my pictures when I realised that hey, 3 couples whom I shot approximately a year ago will be celebrating their 1st year anniversary!

I still remember shooting their weddings like it was yesterday. Ok, ok. Let’s just say I can remember it as if it was just a couple of months ago ;p

Aaryan and Zanni, your intimate wedding at Carcosa was absolutely memorable. Still remember how the bears (and the BMW emblem!) flew off your friend’s car when you two were driving back after the solemnisation? Haha! That was actually quite funny in hindsight.

Puvan and Kavitha, I am forever grateful to the two of you for inviting me to be part of your gorgeous ceremony. You trusted me and my camera with capturing your ceremony for you even though I had never shot an Indian wedding prior to that ;p So daring arrr youuuu?

Zul & Shakira, I don’t know whether or not I’ve told you this before, but when you two hired me to shoot your wedding in Kulim, the first thing I thought was “What? They’re willing to pay for my flight over there to shoot their wedding?!?”. Hehe. Hope you two are enjoying the first year of marriage

To the 3 couples and also the other couples before them, here’s wishing you a very, very happy anniversary and here’s to many more wonderful years to come.

And thank you for having hired me when I was just starting out. Words can’t express how grateful and blessed I feel to have been part of your big day.

Love.

I was back in KK recently (eh, all my recent blog posts seems to start with that line :p) and I had the pleasure of shooting Jullian and Marie’s couple portraiture session.

I had met Jullian previously when he had a stopover in KL. But it was my first time meeting Marie and boy! Is she gorgeous or what? Marie reminds me of a doll - with her big eyes and porcelain skin, it was no wonder that Jullian shamelessly approached her when she was working at San Francisco Coffee House a couple of year ago :p.

Had the pleasure also of shooting together with Ian, a photographer based in Miri and also Jullian’s best friend. He’s the one who referred me to Jullian and Marie. Thanks again for the referral!

Here are some of my favourite shots from our session.

Awesome t-shirt eh? And guess what? Marie bought it for Jullian. LOL!

Isn’t she gorgeous?

Jullian and Marie, thanks for putting up with the KK heat and just going along with my ‘directions’. I had fun shooting you two and I can’t wait for your wedding in Miri come November See you both soon!

And Ian, thanks for the behind the scenes pic (which shows how much I tokkok and sit around on my ass all the time :p I kid, I kiiiiid ;p) and heartiest congratulations on the birth of your baby For those in Sarawak who are looking for a photographer, Ian’s the man to look for! Check out his blog here.

I’m still alive and well. Albeit a bit busy, a bit too busy too blog.

Am currently in KK (yes, again ;p) for a shoot and will be running in the Borneo International Marathon event tomm morning. Unfortunately not the full nor half marathon for I didn’t have time to train So I’ll just run the 10km and target to finish it within an hour and five mins.

I hope to be back to my regular blogging schedule by next week when I get back to KL for I have TONS AND TONS of pictures that I would loooooove to share with you! Can’t wait!

In the meantime, here’s wishing ‘Selamat Hari Raya’ to all my Muslim friends and clients. Hope y’all had an awesome break during the holidays. WOOT!

Love

Edit: I’ve updated my calendar of booked dates. Feel free to check it out here.