Korean Hanbok Family Photoshoot at Bukchon Hanok Village (December 2022)

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Annyeong Chewys! It’s been such a really long time since I updated this dusty blog of mine that I had almost forgotten my login password hehe. Time flies~ Both littlemisschewy and minimisschewy are in primary school now. So before minimisschewy entered Primary 1, we went on a winter vacation to Korea (Seoul and Busan) with my parents last December (in 2022).
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My last trip to Korea before this was a couple trip with misterchewy. We did a hanbok photoshoot as well but it was at Gyeongbokgong and it was in May or June so the weather was pretty good. For this family trip, I really wanted to have everyone dressed in hanbok and I’m glad that nobody had any violent objections LOL.
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Since it was mid December, the weather was really cold. Sub-zero temperatures if I’m not wrong.. We rented our costumes from Hanbok That Day and they had a pretty nice variety of hanboks for adults and children. Tip: Always book the earliest rental slot and arrive at least 5 minutes early to avoid the crowd.
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We booked a one-hour photoshoot via Sweetescape and were very lucky to be assigned a local photographer who converses well in English and is also very talented as evident from the photos here. You can look up @jinkim.photography on Instagram.
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Like I mentioned, the weather was crazy cold and freezing! We actually donned our thick jackets but had to chuck them on the roadside whenever we stopped for photos. It was pretty hilarious!
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Some lovely shots of the grandchildren and grandparents.
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I have always wanted to strike a couple pose in Kdrama style! Hahaha.
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The following photos were actually taken before we walked to Bukchon Hanok Village. We had arrived a lot earlier than our photoshoot time slot and decided to seek refuge from the cold at this pretty Baskin Robbins ice cream shop while waiting for our photographer to arrive.
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What’s better than having ice cream? Having ice cream in cold winter weather! Brrr!
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Yup ice cream is always a good idea!
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Hope you guys enjoyed this set of photos from our Korean hanbok family photoshoot! Till’ the next time! 🙂

Korea-Seoul Apr’19: Hanbok Rental and Photoshoot

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Dressing up in a traditional Korean hanbok was the first thing on my must-do list when I was planning our Korea trip. I think it is one of the best ways to immerse yourself in the culture and get a unique experience especially if you visit tourist landmarks such as the royal palaces while wearing the hanbok. If you like watching Korean dramas or movies that portray traditional Korean culture typically in the Joseon Dynasty, you will definitely find joy in this hanbok experience.

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There are many hanbok rental shops and we highly recommend Hanbok Girls for a number of reasons. Firstly, the rental price is very affordable, at prices starting from 10000 won only. Prices depend on the type of hanbok (traditional or special) and also the length of duration of the rental (2hr or 4 hr). There are no hidden prices and everything else is FREE. Lockers are provided at no extra cost so you can leave your bags and clothes in the locker while you walk around freely in your hanbok. Hair service and accessories are also provided. If you need a bag (for ladies) or a head gear (for men), or even footwear, these are all provided for your use. Secondly, the location of Hanbok Girls is superb! It is just a 3-minute walk away from both Gyeongbokgung station and Gyeongbokgung Palace. This means you spend less time travelling and can have more time for photos at the palace.

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Thirdly, Hanbok Girls has a decent selection of hanbok although everything is on a first-come, first-served basis. You need not worry about not knowing how to put on the costume as there are a few staff who will go around helping customers at the fitting rooms. Lastly, if you want some professional photos taken, there is a studio located inside Hanbok Girls! Speaking of convenience, you can have some photos taken indoors before you head outdoors for more photos!

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We met Joon, the photographer from INT Studio and he took some photos for us in his studio before we walked over to Gyeongbokgung Palace. It was a good idea because we were already warmed up and got to know one another a little before the outdoor shoot. Joon told us that the weather was not so good but I guess that is from a professional photographer’s point of view. Apart from the weather, I was also a little worried about the crowd but photographers always have this magic (no I’m not talking about Photoshop here) and most of the photos seem to portray misterchewy and I in our own world lol.

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Joon is very friendly and easy to talk to, which makes us feel very much at ease throughout the photoshoot. He also gave us many ideas and guided us with the various poses. We also noticed that Joon used a variety of camera gear, which looked very heavy for him to carry around, but it also shows that he is committed to delivering a dynamic set of photos for his customers.

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Joon also has a keen eye for detail and knows where are the good spots for great pictures. We expected the crowd to be scattered all around the Gyeongbokgung Palace but Joon hows how to avoid and prevent unwanted photobombers.

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Photoshoots are usually quite tiring, especially if you are looking at anything more than one hour. However, Joon did not rush through the shoot and the pace was pretty comfortable and leisurely. We actually enjoyed the photoshoot and it was really fun!

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There are just too many photos to share so here are some of my favorites. Let me know what you think! 🙂 Joon is very popular and his sessions get filled really quickly. You can contact him at intstudio.seoul@gmail.com if you have any questions or want to book a slot!

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Hanbok Rental Shop:

Hanbok Girls

Address: 8, Jahamun-ro 2-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
It is on the 3rd floor of the blue building on the left alley at exit 3-1 of Gyeongbokgung Station.

Hanbok Photography:

INT Studio

Email address: intstudio.seoul@gmail.com

Mother’s Day Photoshoot by ChicChug Creations

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On Sunday, we went for a Mother’s Day photoshoot with ChicChug Creations, a lifestyle home based studio located along Gangsa Road. The name ChicChug was inspired by a simple old way of making a shutter sound when the older generation improvised a camera shape with their fingers before they said “Chit-Chuck”.

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Wayne and Geraldine, photographer husband and wife duo specialise in newborn, baby, maternity, cake smash and family lifestyle photography in Singapore. They place strong emphasis on the importance of storytelling and emotion, capturing the intimate relationships between couples and among family members.

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For this Mother’s Day mini photoshoot session, the floral setup is done by Le Fairy Meadow. It is classic and elegant, which is very befitting of a Mother’s Day celebration.

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I was initially worried that the girls would be cranky because they did not manage to nap before the shoot. Thankfully, they warmed up really quickly as Geraldine was good with kids and they kept smiling as Wayne fired away on his camera. I’m sure having plenty of professional experience helps too! I have never seen the kids being so cooperative before!

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We certainly had a very enjoyable photoshoot and highly recommend ChicChug to everyone who wants to have their precious moments captured at an affordable rate!

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ChicChug is accepting limited slots on 12th and 13th May 2018.

Session package details:

– Location: ChicChug life-style home based studio (at Gangsa Road)
– $250 nett rate
– 3 generations photoshoot moments
– Formal to casual candid moments
– In permutations and combinations
– Up to 15 high resolution edited soft copies return in DVD
– 1 x A4 fine art print in frame
– A deposit of $50 to lock the time slot and date Booking with ChicChug Creations

To book a slot, email info@chicchug.com by 6th May 2018!

Chocolate Ville: Most Romantic Place in Bangkok

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Hello everyone! I figured I need to finish up my Bangkok travelogues so here I am! I had many friends and followers asking me about Chocolate Ville when I posted IG stories during our trip so this post is for all of you who are keen to know more about this beautiful place! Some had asked if Chocolate Ville is located in Hua Hin and the answer is no. Chocolate Ville is also not exactly in Bangkok, but it is rather near Bangkok. Depending on traffic conditions, it would take about 30 to 45 minutes’ journey by car from Pratunam area.

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We had a private driver for our trip and since Chocolate Ville operates only from 4pm onwards, we got our driver to pick us up at around 3pm so that we would have ample time to walk around for photos before having dinner there.

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Being the unofficial planner for our trip, I had to find places that are suitable for all three generations. In one of my previous posts, I blogged about our day trip to Maeklong Railway Market which was not particularly well-received by the group. Good thing everyone liked Chocolate Ville because of the pretty and romantic European village theme which has a unique “Dining in the Park” concept.

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I mean honestly, who would have thought that such a place exists around Bangkok? It is so not Bangkok at all, if you know what I mean! And also, did I mention that admission is FREE?!

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Even my in laws could not resist having their photos taken with their grandchildren!

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There are many nice photo spots around Chocolate Ville so it is really important to arrive early to give yourself time for photos, as well as avoid the potential crowds that might start to stream in during dinner time. Also, the entire place is quite huge!

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I observed that the crowds came in at around 6ish even on a weekday but it could be that Chocolate Ville is a popular choice on Valentine’s Day (yup we visited on 14th Feb!). Heh not surprising at all since I reckon Chocolate Ville is the most romantic place in Bangkok!

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Besides arriving early to avoid the crowd, good and bright lighting makes your photos turn out really nicely!

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As with the rest of Bangkok, it was also a little hot and humid over at Chocolate Ville. I strongly recommend wearing light, breathable clothing there. Thankfully, my nursing dress from JumpEatCry is made of polyester material which is very soft and cooling to wear.

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I love that there are numerous bears of different shapes and sizes scattered around Chocolate Ville. This is one of my favorites!

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Yup it happens. Just another unglam moment lol.

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I strongly advise that you make reservations if you are keen to dine at Chocolate Ville as the entire place gets filled up pretty quickly. I copied what everyone else did, which was to leave on Chocolate Ville’s Facebook page, a 5-star rating with a specific template:

Dear Chocolate Ville,
I would like to reserve a table for (number of) adults on (date)
Please find the details as below for your reference :
Guest name: XXX
Date: XXX
Time: XXX
Preference: non-smoking area, Riverside, and sunset view.

Thank you so much!
This is the first time we visit Chocolate Ville.
We’ve learned from friends recommendation that Chocolate Ville provides delicious food and nice scenery.
We hope we can have a great time in here.
We understand that you will cancel the booking without notification if we come late.
So that would be great if you can confirm the booking for us so that we can mark it down on our schedule.
Thanks a lot for your assistance in advance.
Have a nice day.
I hope to get your reply soon.
Thanks.

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The above is cute and funny but hey, it works. Someone from Chocolate Ville will confirm your reservation by providing a reply to your comment.

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As it is a central restaurant, the same food menu will be provided regardless of where you choose to dine in Chocolate Ville.

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I was feeling quite ravenous from all the walking around Chocolate Ville and managed to only take photos of half of what we had for dinner. The food was quite good and also reasonably priced. The menu features a good mix of Thai and Western food. Alcohol is strictly served only after 6pm.

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Since the night is still young, it is a good idea to head over to Talad Rot Fai Srinakarin night market which is about 30 minutes by taxi. Estimated taxi fare is around THB 350 to 400. There’s also Grab in Bangkok if you prefer!

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A quick recap:

– Make reservations on Facebook if you intend to dine at Chocolate Ville.
– Wear light and breathable clothing.
– Remember to bring along your camera.
– Chocolate Ville opens only at 4pm.
– Take a taxi around 3.30pm and aim to arrive around 4pm for ample time to explore.
– Alcohol is served only after 6pm.

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Would you be keen to visit Chocolate Ville during your next holiday to Bangkok? Let us know! Stay connected with us on Instagram @missuschewy and on Facebook www.facebook.com/missuschewy 🙂

Chocolate Ville
Soi Nawamin 74, Yak 3-8, Kaset-Nawamin Road
Klong Kum Subdistrict, Bueng Kum District
Bangkok 10230, Thailand

Opening Hours:
Daily
4pm – 12 midnight

Hong Kong Photoshoot with Shoot My Travel

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During our Hong Kong trip late last year, we dedicated some time to a casual family photoshoot in Central area. We wanted a little tour around the area as well, and what better way than to engage a freelance photographer via Shoot My Travel? It’s the perfect way to experience the city through the lens of a local photographer! Shoot My Travel photographers are available in over 250 destinations so you can always easily engage one wherever you go. Wylie was our photographer and we communicated via emails and subsequently whatsapp prior our trip.

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It is very important to discuss your preferences and expectations with your photographer so that you can have a smooth photoshoot on the day itself. Based on previous experiences, a shoot in the morning is better for us because the kids are chirpy and smiley, before their nap time that is. After deciding on the date and time of the shoot, we moved on to settle the location of the shoot. I told Wylie that I wanted to avoid modern architecture as I preferred Hong Kong’s colonial charm. She provided some really good suggestions and Central appealed the most to me.

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I totally forgot about planning our outfits for the shoot and was about to haphazardly throw in some clothes into our luggage when Wylie texted to ask if we will be in matching attires. It was difficult to pick out something coordinated which we have not worn before in previous shoots but I finally managed to go for a neutral-colored theme, with the girls watching matching dresses. I think we look pretty ok in the photos!

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Wylie went the extra mile and got her assistant to help us with our bags and stroller so it really lightened our load during the shoot. They arrived early and we got to commence the photoshoot right away. This is very crucial especially when you have young children! Every second counts! LOL.

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The shoot was a relaxing one and we got to explore the area which we couldn’t have done so without Wylie showing us around. It was a pity we could only one hour because the kids usually get restless very quickly! I would definitely recommend going for at least a two-hour shoot if you can afford the time. Shoot My Travel has various packages that can cater to your needs.

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Rates start from USD$234 and gift cards are also available to surprise your friends or loved ones! For more information or to book a photographer, visit https://www.shootmytravel.com/

The Chewys’ Hong Kong Disneyland Photoshoot by WanderSnap

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During our recent trip to Hong Kong, I featured WanderSnap in one of my Instagram posts and subsequently received a handful of DMs asking me to share more about this revolutionary photography portal. In case you missed it, I had previously blogged about our very first experience with WanderSnap in Bali earlier this year. 🙂

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WanderSnap affordably connects families and businesses with local photographers to create beautiful work and life images. What I like about WanderSnap is the flexibility it gives. You won’t find yourself groaning about fixed photography packages that are way out of your budget. Instead, there is a huge pool of snappers for you to choose from based on how much their works resonate with you, as well as the snappers’ hourly rates. Of course, that keeps everyone happy!

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Why hire a snapper from WanderSnap when you can simply take selfies? Honestly, I’m so done with selfies. As we are a growing family (from two to four lol), it gets incredibly challenging having to make sure everyone is in the frame, and smiling at the count of three. On good days, we get a good shot out of 20 tries. On bad days, let’s not talk about it. LOL.

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We visited Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo Disneysea last March and one of my biggest regrets is not taking enough photos while we were there, having the time of our lives. For our Hong Kong trip, I made up my mind that selfies are not going to cut it. Naturally, the first thing that came to my mind was WanderSnap! We had such a great experience in Bali, so why not do it again? You can search for a local snapper based on destination and there is a large pool of Hong Kong snappers for you to choose from! Also, there are really good Singapore snappers if you are planning a casual shoot of some sort 🙂

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Creating beautiful memories in Disneyland is a dream come true for me. Scott Abraham was our snapper and you can view his WanderSnap profile here. He is from Scotland and is currently living in Hong Kong while furthering his studies. Even though Scott is only 21, he has many years of photography experience and his works speak for themselves. Scott’s travel and landscape photography is just so amazing and impressive! Also, I found it hard to believe that he is only charging US$50 per hour. We engaged Scott for 1.5 hours and purchased his admission ticket to Disneyland. Best decision ever!

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We communicated via whatsapp the day before the shoot and agreed to meet at 10.45am outside Market House Bakery along Main Street, U.S.A. Scott arrived early and was already waiting for us to commence the shoot.

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Thankful for great weather on the day of our photoshoot, albeit a little too bright and sunny! Haha. Mini misschewy was having her morning nap but not to worry, you will get to see her very shortly 😛

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Having a snapper with you means you get tons of pretty photos! Prior the shoot, I told Scott that my wish was to cover at least Main Street, Fantasyland, and Toy Story Land. It always helps to do some homework beforehand!

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Cracks me up to see Little misschewy acting all dainty.

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Look who’s awake! 😀

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I love Fantasyland because it’s very fairytalish (duh lol).

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It was Little misschewy’s second time on Dumbo the flying elephant! First time was at Tokyo Disneyland!

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It wasn’t part of the plan but stepping into the Fairy Tale Forest (presented by Pandora) gave us plenty of photo opportunities!

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Scenes from princess fairy tales come to life in a magical garden setting beautifully crafted in miniature scale.

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We paid Tinker Bell a visit! She’s really cute and funny!

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This is one of my favorite candid shots.

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Loving the oh so colorful Toy Story Land!

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Hello Sheriff Woody!

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The cast member working in Andy’s Toy Box created these bubbles for us! Major love!

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The Chewys are reporting for duty and looking out for Little misschewy! Haha.

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This photo gets me all teary-eyed. Some day my prince will come..

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Time for some ice cream to reward the girls for being quite cooperative during the shoot! Hehehe.

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I don’t think I will ever get tired looking at these photos! If you are planning to engage a snapper for your next holiday, get $50 credit when you create an account with WanderSnap via this link https://wandersnap.co/friend/travelwithcharlene during signup! Thanks WanderSnap and Scott for these priceless photos of our family! Feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions about WanderSnap. Also, stay connected with us on Facebook www.facebook.com/missuschewy and on Instagram @missuschewy 🙂

The Chewys’ Family Photoshoot in Bali by Bali Elegance Photography

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Hello! How’s everyone doing? I can’t believe we are passing the half-year mark really soon! Before I procrastinate any further, I’m gonna share the beautiful photos of our family that were taken on the second last day of our Bali trip in March this year. Our photos were taken by a local professional photographer, Gede Suwardana of Bali Elegance Photography, who has plenty of experience and specialises in shooting weddings, engagements, family portraiture, events, and also video productions!

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A few weeks prior our trip, we managed to lock down the date of the photoshoot with Gede. Thankfully, it wasn’t too difficult and to think that I was initially worried since we only had a few days in Bali. A little bit of shuffling of our itinerary did the trick! I’m happy to say that Gede was very prompt in his replies and it was a pleasure communicating with him via email.

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We had agreed to have the photoshoot within the resort premises but after checking into Four Points by Sheraton, Kuta, I felt that there were not many nice spots for photo-taking and texted Gede if we should change location, like to the nearby beach or something. Gede maintained that he would still want to swing by to have a look, and also it might not be such a good idea to head to the beach as the weather was quite hot. Plus, there was practically no shade at the beach for us to seek shelter if the sun became too blazing hot.

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Gede and his assistant reached earlier than the agreed timing and were waiting for us at the lobby area. After a brief hello, Gede suggested that we start the photoshoot at the rooftop of the resort before slowly making our way down. He reasoned that since it was still quite cool at 9am, the rooftop would be a good place to start off with before the sun became too hot. It was a simple suggestion but I felt really grateful to Gede for being so considerate!

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Gede and his assistant were quick in setting up their camera gear and got into action. It’s very important as children have very short attention span and also, they get tired easily. Like in photography, there is also a “golden hour” to photograph kids and I say it’s best to photograph them early in the morning when they are at their happiest, and when they are full of energy.

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Just look at Little misschewy! She was really cheerful and energetic, not forgetting pretty cooperative too!

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It is also evident in these photos provided by Gede that he was well-prepared with a variety of camera gear which allowed him to produce a dynamic set of photos for us! Gede managed to capture our precious family holiday moments from different interesting angles which misterchewy and I find very impressive.

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Honestly, I didn’t think much about these old school swings but we plonked ourselves there as per Gede’s suggestion and I’m pleasantly surprised by how the swing series of photos turned out! Gede managed to capture the essence of a fun-loving family like ours who love to laugh together over the slightest things.

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Mini misschewy was still a bit young to be able to fully appreciate our humour. Hahaha.

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“Give me 3 more months”, she says!

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So much love between these two!

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It’s really nice that there is a kids indoor playground situated within our resort and it’s air-conditioned too! Little misschewy’s face lit up even more when she saw the ball pit!

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Someone really enjoyed herself in the ball pit!

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Hehe in the meantime, Mini misschewy fell alseep comfortably in misterchewy’s arms.

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Love shots like this!

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Check out the coconuts! They were stamped with Four Points by Sheraton’s logo! Cute huh?

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Just chillin’ by the pool~

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A big thank you to Bali Elegance Photography for the precious photos of our first family holiday trip as a party of four! Do also check out Bali Elegance’s Facebook page for more of their works! If you are looking for a Bali photographer for your special events like weddings or proposal, etc, drop Gede an email at gede@balielegance.com! I believe his works speak for themselves 🙂

Bali Elegance Photography
Website: http://www.balielegancephoto.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BaliElegance
Instagram: http://instagram.com/BaliElegance
Address: Pura Pengulapan I/5A, Ungasan, Kuta Selatan, Bali 80364
Phone: +62.811.389.7979
Email: hello@balielegance.com or gede@balielegance.com

Capture Selfie-free Holiday Moments with WanderSnap

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WOW. I find it kinda hard to believe that it has been a little more than a month since we got back from our Bali trip! I will definitely be blogging about our very first vacation with two little ones in tow since I already have a number of requests coming in, but for now, let’s kick things off with our experience with WanderSnap! When misterchewy and I embarked on our three-week long honeymoon trip to Europe in March 2013, we the husband lugged our DSLR and tripod everywhere we went. We got pretty nice pictures at the end of the trip, but it was at the expense of the hubs suffering from muscle strains and backaches! Not forgetting the fact that it was quite a hassle and also time consuming having to set up the tripod and place the camera on self-timer mode!

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Now that we have a baby and a toddler, our aim is to travel light! Bringing our DSLR and tripod is definitely not an option, even though it is quite tempting because of the quality of photos a DSLR can give. I felt worried initially, that we might need to resort to taking boring selfies and end up with poor quality pictures for the entire trip! Luckily for us, we got to know about WanderSnap a couple of weeks before flying to Bali. In a nutshell, WanderSnap is Asia’s marketplace for connecting travellers with local snappers to capture selfie-free moments.

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As of today, there are over 250 snappers across 30 Asian destinations on WanderSnap. Through this platform, I viewed works by various photographers and made my selection based on our travel period, destination, type of camera gear used, and price! For each successful booking, $5 actually goes towards teaching photography to low-opportunity youth so they too can create art for a living!

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Why WanderSnap? It is a safe and trustworthy platform for travellers to engage local snappers to capture their holiday moments at an affordable price. Every snapper has their own styles, and by viewing their galleries, you can select your desired snapper if his or her style resonates with you. You can expect to receive about 10 to 30 edited photos per hour of shoot, which is certainly very reasonable. Online payment is hassle-free and the money will only be released to the snapper after the photos have been provided to the traveller.

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A few days before our trip, I decided to engage Sasha because I really love the photos that she had posted on her gallery. Her photos have a nice rustic feel and more importantly, Sahsa seem to have plenty of experience photographing families with young children!

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3rd of March was our 4th traditional wedding anniversary, and what better way to celebrate the occasion than to have our precious family holiday photos taken in a natural and candid way! I was in charge of our travel itinerary and had planned an entire day of sightseeing that day. We had a local driver to take us to places we wanted to see and Tanah Lot was our last sightseeing destination before returning to our resort.

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I chose to have our photoshoot at Tanah Lot in the evening because I heard that the sunset at Tanah Lot is incredibly beautiful! I think we were supposed to meet Sasha at 4pm to commence our 2-hour shoot but unfortunately, our driver was half an hour late in picking us up in the morning. Plus, the bad traffic conditions made the travel duration longer than expected and I had to text Sasha to postpone the timing of the shoot.

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Thankfully, Sasha was very kind and understanding enough, so we agreed to meet an hour later at the ticketing entrance of Tanah Lot. We didn’t have any problems locating each other and chatted along the way to the temple. The hubs and I were quite surprised to learn that Sasha is a Russian living in Canggu (South of Bali). In fact, she had stayed in Sri Lanka and Thailand for a few years previously. Sounds pretty adventurous to me!

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One thing great about having a local snapper help capture our photos is that we could free ourselves from having to fumble with cameras and selfie sticks. Taking photos of the kids out of the baby carriers would be difficult, especially for Cayla’s case since she’s still a baby. With a photographer to follow us around, we could leave the baby carriers and stroller in the car. It was splendid because there were finally plenty of full body shots of the kids, instead of them partially hidden in the carriers. LOL.

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While some photos were posed, misterchewy and I are glad that Sasha managed to snap candid photos of our little family. As we had a long day, all of us were sweaty, sticky and tired! While it was slightly easier for misterchewy and I to keep smiling for the camera, the girls were a little cranky and not very willing to cooperate. It was tough to get them to smile because both of them wanted to sleep. Haha.

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It was really great that Sasha was being extremely patient and cheerful throughout the shoot. Plus she was really enthusiastic in engaging the girls. Her calm and positive demeanor certainly impressed us!

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Despite having to deal with uncooperative and unsmiling kids during the shoot, the hubs and I are surprised that the photos turned out better than expected! These photos portray what travelling with young children is like and when we look at them again many years down the road, we will definitely be teasing the kids for being so whiny and cranky during the shoot. Haha! Anyway, enjoy the photos and let me know what you think! 🙂 Also, scroll to the end of this post for a special discount code!

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Get $50 credit simply by creating an account with WanderSnap via this link https://wandersnap.co/friend/travelwithcharlene during signup! Till 30th June 2017! Thanks WanderSnap and also Sasha for these beautiful holiday memories of our family!

Cayla’s Mini Easter Photoshoot by The ALP Studio

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Back in August last year, we had the wonderful opportunity of working with Ashley and her assistant, Samantha, for Cayla’s newborn photoshoot when she was 7 days old. It was an eye-opening experience watching the baby whisperers working their magic and the photos turned out really wonderful. This time, Samantha, who had been trained by Ashley, took over the reins (and camera) at The ALP Studio, which is a subsidiary of Ashley Low Photography, to produce these cute images of Cayla as part of the mini Easter photoshoot session!

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I really adore their cute and dainty setups. So much thought and effort must have gone into these!

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Hehe Cayla woke up early that day and yet, didn’t manage to nap at all on our way to the studio. At her age, she’s easily distracted by her surroundings and I think she was also listening to the conversation that I was having with my BFF the entire car journey! It was a pity that we couldn’t get Cayla’s signature smile because she was obviously too sleepy despite the 30 minute power nap in the studio. But it’s ok, the photos turned out really cute nonetheless!

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Haha love her innocent expression!

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The mini session is 30 minutes long and includes up to two different setups. Limited slots are available so hurry! Adults get to enjoy some easter chocolates and snacks too! Do check out The ALP Studio on Facebook and Instagram 🙂

Cayla’s Newborn Shoot by Ashley Low Photography

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Hello chewy chewy friends! I’m finally ready to share Cayla’s newborn photos that were taken by Ashley when Cayla was 7 days old! Ashley is the only photographer in Ashley Low Photography which was started about 4.5 years ago, specialising in Newborn and Baby Photography. She has undergone specialised Newborn Photography training both in UK 2013 and subsequently, in Australia 2015. Besides that, Ashley also provides photography services for maternity, babies (3-12 months old), and family.

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Prior my delivery, I received very detailed preparation guidelines pertaining to the newborn shoot so that I know what is provided by the studio, the duration of the session, what to bring along to the studio, and what to expect after the photoshoot. I was certainly very impressed by all the concise details given in the guidelines and this made me feel at ease before the photoshoot. I didn’t have to ask a hundred and one questions and I definitely didn’t feel lost when we reached the studio. Ashley’s studio is located at Oxley BizHub, and it’s clean, cosy and spacious. It felt as though I walked right into someone’s home!

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Ashley’s studio is very well-equipped and super baby-friendly. There’s a diaper changing station, complete with wet wipes and diapers sponsored by Merries! Parents need not panic if they forget to bring or run out of diapers at any point of the photoshoot. There’s also a private area for nursing, as well as hot water boiled in an airpot every morning, if you need to warm up or prepare milk for your little ones.

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A pantry that is well-stocked with snacks and drinks!

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Look at that huge array of props! It is also a nice area for children to get warmed up before a shoot. It didn’t take long for Chanelle to help herself to the toys!

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Ashley was building rapport with Chanelle and that made Chanelle less shy during the siblings and family shoot.

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According to Ashley, the best time to conduct a newborn photoshoot is when your baby is around 5 to 12 days old because they spend most of their time sleeping and hence, it’s easier to position them in various poses. Not forgetting putting on the cute outfits and accessories too! I was a little worried at first because Cayla was unusually awake at the studio even after her milk feed. To think I had told Ashley that Cayla could sleep hours on end at home! Haha looked like the little one was trying to prove something else! However, my fears were unfounded. It was an eye-opening experience watching how Ashley and Samantha (one of Ashley’s assistants) shush Cayla to sleep by gently rocking her and playing white noise that mimics the womb’s rumbly sounds. Takes plenty of patience too and that’s definitely one of the most important and inherent qualities of an amazing newborn and baby photographer.

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Much to my relief, Chanelle was pretty cooperative during the shoot, despite going through the Terrible Twos stage. Hurhur. I’m also very glad that Ashley managed to make Chanelle smile genuinely, which made the siblings shots turn out extra nice!

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Before the shoot, Ashley had also informed us that if Cayla was unsettled or showed signs of discomfort, she would not attempt to push the poses and would just move on and do what Cayla was comfortable with. It was evident that throughout the shoot, Ashley placed emphasis on Cayla’s well-being and safety, while striving to get the perfect shots at the same time. Despite Cayla staying awake for the first half of the shoot, the photos turned out much better than I had expected and I believe the following photos speak for themselves!

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With the wide variety of props and setups available, Ashley aims to change up to 5 different sets/concepts for each newborn shoot. If you have any preference towards floral, prints, neutral or pastel colors, etc, you can always let Ashley and her team know at least one day prior the shoot so that they can get everything ready and start the shoot pronto. Setup wise, Ashley provides a variety such as fabrics, baskets, beds, beanbags, and themes.

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Fabric setup. Love the bright sunshine yellow colors in this one!

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Hahaha omg Cayla looks 100% like misterchewy here! XD

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Basket setup. This is definitely my favorite setup of all! So heart-meltingly sweet and there’s a whimsical feel to it.

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I brought the name banner and donuts along because of the Donutella character and Ashley managed to incorporate them nicely!

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Bed setup. Awww I could just sit and gaze at sleeping babies all day.

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Theme setup. This was pretty impromptu and I borrowed the Singapore flag from my MIL when we picked Chanelle up for the shoot. Whenever I look at this photo, it will remind me of Cayla’s birth story!

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We had our Family shoot to wrap things up! Chanelle is generally a very smiley and cheerful girl but it’s wonderful how Ashley captured her playful side through all her cheeky expressions! It really brightens up my day just by looking at these photos!

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Our experience with Ashley Low Photography was nothing short of amazing! For more info on Ashley’s photography services, click here and also follow her on Facebook and Instagram!

*Mention MISSUSCHEWY and get $50 off the session fee for any shoots! Valid for full priced session only. Offer is till 30 June 2017.*