Cover Winners of Tatler Singapore x Sony "Wedding Photographer of the Year"
Winners of Tatler Singapore x Sony "Wedding Photographer of the Year"
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Each were presented with the “Wedding Photographer of the Year” award, celebrating their individual portfolios and unique style of wedding photography
The happy tears that well up in a groom’s eyes when he sees his bride walking down the aisle, the emotional father-daughter dance at the wedding dinner, the bouquet toss where bridesmaids either leap for or dodge from the blooms, the couple driving off into the sunset, or the grand ballroom-wide toast where guests shout blessings at the top of their lungs all for the couple… Weddings are always a beautiful spectacle—with moments that will be remembered for a lifetime.
But often times, the couple and their nearest and dearest may be too caught up in the activities of that special day—or end up in a happy drunken stupor—and potential miss out on some special moments. And that’s where the wedding album comes in most valuable, with images that not only captured the happenings of the day, but also every beautiful emotion—when photographed by a keen eye for detail.
These unique nuances of wedding photography require an acute level of storytelling. It’s not just in the composition, fine balance of light and shadow, the depth of field or the texture and lines of an image—the subject matter is amplified in these cases where emotions are spontaneous, caught in countless moments over the course of a day and night, almost non-stop. Capturing the emotions and essence of that fleeting moment in an image is what sets a good wedding photographer apart from a great one, and there are but a few who do this in breathtaking fashion. These same set of photographers are also known for their pre-nuptial photoshoots, for which they go to—and travel to—great lengths to encapsulate couples’ love stories in a visual anthology for all to see on the event day.
Ivan Seah of Ivan Seah Photography with Sony's Sean and Tatler Singapore's Dana Koh
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To celebrate these notable visual storytellers, Sony and Tatler Singapore joined forces to look for the “Wedding Photographer of the Year 2023”. 30 submissions and nominations were received, with a mix of both exceptional pre-nuptial images and heartwarming wedding event captures, and over two special co-hosted evenings. We gathered these photographers at Tatler House for some champagne, a panel discussion and a whole lot of networking, where industry leaders and up-and-coming wedding photographers got to share tips and tricks, and their best pieces of advice for turning their passions into a business.
The first event was to kick-off the contest, gathering photographers from all walks of life and specialties at Tatler House. After going through the mechanics of photography submission and judging criteria, the evening featured a model showcase on poses and styling, where attendees could have a hands-on session with Sony's range of cameras, and it was hosted by Tatler Singapore’s branded content editor, Adriel Chiun.
The second and final evening happened a few weeks later, and welcomed a more intimate group of guests, including industry veterans and Sony's Alpha Professionals LightedPixels’ Kelvin Koh and FreshFromKenneth’s Kenneth Lee who shared their career journeys and valuable insights during a panel discussion moderated by Tatler Singapore’s branded content director, Dana Koh. A veteran photographer who founded LightedPixels in 2003, Koh is best known for his signature wedding photojournalism style that's often credited to have influenced a generation of photographers in the way they approach wedding photography. He has also won Tatler Singapore’s Best of Singapore (Wedding Photography) list for 17 consecutive years. As for Lee, the film director produces videos that encapsulate wedding events and a couple's love story in the most cinematic fashion. He has filmed some of the most extravagant nuptials the island—and region—has seen, and takes pride in evolving with the couples or families he works with, sometimes even documenting their growth and love over several years to tell the truest story.
The final night then saw six out of 30 photographers get awarded with the coveted title of “Wedding Photographer of the Year”, each of whom presented a unique point of view when it comes to wedding photojournalism, having submitted a collection of stunning photographs that ranged from dramatic pre-nuptial images in far-flung locations, to some truly epic moments between the bridal couple and their families on their big day.
Here are the winners:
Above Photo by Muhammad Syazwan Faez of IjabQabul Photography
Photo by Muhammad Syazwan Faez of IjabQabul Photography
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Muhammad Syazwan Faez of IjabQabul Photography
Best known for… His masterful play on light and shadow to capture the essence of a moment. It is a deft skill to filter out the chaos of a wedding—especially multi-cultural ones with vibrant outfits, décor and rituals—and Syazwan manages to always find a sense of peace while also encapsulating the effervescence of the event, the couple, and their loved ones in action.
For more information, visit ijabqabulphotography.mypixieset.com or contact heyijabqabul@gmail.com / +65 9645 1315.
Above Photo by Melvin Lau of Multifolds Productions
Photo by Melvin Lau of Multifolds Productions
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Melvin Lau of Multifolds Productions
Best known for… Bringing out different, unexpected facets of a couple, a place and a traditional setting. Melvin’s play on perspective creates a signature style of focal points or subjects within each image, using landscapes, lighting and even décor to frame each shot in a unique fashion. Having travelled to some truly exotic locations across the globe to get the pre-nuptial shots any couple would be envious of, he isn’t afraid to go the extra mile to find the perfect angle.
For more information, visit www.multifolds.com.sg or contact smile@multifolds.com.sg / +65 8826 9398.
Above Photo by Kenneth Lee of Said & Meant
Photo by Kenneth Lee of Said & Meant
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Kenneth Lee of Said & Meant
Best known for… An intriguing use of space, bringing an alternative point of view to the subjects at hand through the use of framing and “extreme” angles—don’t be surprised to see Kenneth on the floor of a shoot or scaling buildings to get a bird’s eye view of the event happenings below. Another noteworthy element about his work is the skillful use of “empty” space—be it a white wall, blue sky or a city scape—that further highlights the couple and their raw, honest emotions in a frame.
For more information, visit www.saidandmeant.co or contact hello@saidandmeant.co / +65 9816 9358.
Above Photo by Renee Lee of Just Like Magic Co.
Photo by Renee Lee of Just Like Magic Co.
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Renee Lee of Just Like Magic Co.
Best known for… Exactly what the company name says—magic. Renee manages to capture some of the most joy-filled and joy-fuelled moments in a couple’s life, from their wedding day, their journey to the wedding, and their romantic escapades. She has an artful way of incorporating these natural elements into a picture, with sunbeams, rainbow-like bokehs and of course, the glow of a full moon.
For more information, visit justlikemagicco.pixieset.com or contact hello@justlikemagic.co / +65 9790 2525.
Above Photo by Ivan Seah of Ivan Seah Photography
Photo by Ivan Seah of Ivan Seah Photography
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Ivan Seah of Ivan Seah Photography
Best known for… His affinity for light play and eye-catching perspectives. Think couples photographed through the legs of a thoroughbred, an architecture feature of the iconic HDB void deck, or in the reflection of his own shadow. Ivan also enjoys capturing huge smiles and candid moments, be it amidst chaos or not, while still finding purity of contrast, colour and emotion.
For more information, visit www.ivanseah.com or contact info@ivanseah.com / +65 9838 8196.
Above Photo by Darren Yau of Darren and Jade Photography
Photo by Darren Yau of Darren and Jade Photography
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Darren Yau of Darren and Jade Photography
Best known for… His fun-loving personality, which is reflected in the images he captures that consistently invoke high spirits and a vibrant energy. Colours are a key element of his imagery, breathing even more life into the exotic environments he’s shot at, and amplifying each and every emotion—be it a crying groom, a wedding couple’s kiss as they’re body surfing the crowd, or skipping into the sunset. He also likes to get really high—photographically—and isn’t afraid of scaling to grand heights to snap his subjects from truly breathtaking points of view.
For more information, visit darrenandjade.com or contact darren@darrenandjade.com / +65 9768 8739.
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