My Pre-Wedding shoot at NTUC Fairprice

I've done a good number of crazy things in my life. Like for example, bringing this crazy big Lotso bear around Singapore and getting stomp, dressing like a crazy beer woman and even doing crazy videos teaching people how to pick up girls but nothing this crazy had happened before.

Getting onto the headlines and front covers of Local News paper. (Probably a slow news day but still..)

新明日报 on 31st May

So of course, when something goes that mainstream there will be a lot of questions and trashing online. I've also consolidated a long list of online sources at the end of this article. Although this article has gotten quite a bit of attention, (to be honest way way way more attention than I could imagine) it doesn't explain or say the full story.

Below is my full story.

Why NTUC?

So many people have comment that it's low class, it's crazy and it's not creative. Why NTUC? To be honest, we weren't looking to be on the news nor break the chart of being creative when it comes to photo shoot. Our photoshoot's theme is life story. We want something which is close to heart, something that we can relate even after 10-20 years, something we will enjoy and we know that standing in the middle of grass patches, at the beach or going to Taiwan and stand in front of a stone that certain idol has did it before really ain't our thing. Every couple need to choose "their thing" and this is simply ours. Something that we can go "awww" when we show our (hypothetical) kids in the future.

There are many super market in Singapore, in fact there is a giants right below my place but we are looking for something which is nice, neat, proper and we can relate. We spend a lot of time at Tampines Mall NTUC as well as the branch Tampines Central Community Club but these branches were logistically too troublesome and too crowded. As NTUC did this favour of allowing us to do a shoot, disrupting their operation is the last thing we want to do. And the City Square Mall branch is very neat, pretty and near my office. Which is the branch that i actually visit pretty often these days.

For Trolls who suggested places like Jason's to look atas, my note to you is, if there is where you find your story go ahead but I don't see a need to be all pretentious and look high class and NTUC ain't all that bad.

Bottom-line for us: Something fun and memorable for us, NOT about being creative or attracting attention.(At least not this time.)

联合晚报 front page on 31st May

Did you pay NTUC?

Nope, NTUC was very nice and all couples who wants to do this shoot can get it for free as long as you apply for rights.

Did NTUC pay you? Sponsor you? Give you a lot of products or vouchers?

I also wish I could tell you they did but the fact is no, they did not. They already allow us to use the venue and what makes you guys think I should ask for products or money?

Sunday Times.

Did you apply or just go in and shoot?

For the concern citizen, yes, all you have to do is to write in and get help and approval. Although I did not go through the conventional way.

How come so many other couples do before but you got featured all over?

This is the part where I did it a little different. I tried to look on the web for NTUC's contact but I couldn't find it and it hit me that I've a friend who works in the PR agency for NTUC and I approached them to help and on top of getting the approval, the PR company thought there is a interesting story to it and did their work and the rest were history.

联合晚报 on 31st May

Is it because you Brogger so they cover you?

To be honest, I have no idea but I will place my money on - no. Because besides STOMP! who credit me as a blogger, the rest just mention me as a social media manager. My blog site didn't even get a single mention.

Your picture very tasteless lor, drunk, no "effect", no strobe and all.

Like I mentioned, we wanted something very much close to heart. The picture that ST choose to published is something very very real. I party with my friends occasionally and I can get out of hand and my wife is never too happy about it. And that picture has the photographer in it which obviously means that it is a picture taken by the journalist and not my wedding photographer, so what effect are we talking about? And did the picture show you a 360 view? You can see what's on the other side right? So why be so smart and judge so fast?

For the concerned citizen who are worried that my picture turns out badly, this is a preview which is not even edited and low res. I say it looks pretty damn good.

Trolls

I just wish to clarify, I am totally cool with trolls. I mean, I am one of the biggest trolls online. I speak my thoughts but the main point is think before you troll. If you wish to comment such things like going to other places to be creative, I mean go ahead, no one is stopping you but those are not spot that are meaningful to me. My other 3 venues are actually our school, the basketball court (because I love basketball) and last but not least our very own love nest - our HDB. I am not doing this to clarify anything, I just wish that trolls online learn their lesson, if you want to troll, do it right and do it good. Like this one. (When I say "this one" I mean the guy name Smith Leong.)

Don't self pwn and insult all the trolls online.

You know how people always complain that online is a very trashy places especially forums like EDMW but if you read through the comments the EDMWers are actually saying something better instead of being jealous, narrow minded and spiting venoms. As much as I wish to answer all the trolls and haters, I think I really have no time for it and also because I believe in the power of self moderation. When there is black there will be white, when there is light, there is shadow. When we have trolls, we have people who will stand up and speak up.

Thanks You

Once again, I would like to thanks everyone for all the best wishes, tags, shout out and strangers who stood up for my shoot even when I do not know you at all.

Final Note

I think my friend put it pretty nicely for this Saga. Either way, there will be someone to say something but I just hope the online trolls are better that what I'm seeing now. Their arguments are kinda weak.

"Yah I read about this girl saying Wah so low budget so no class. If you splurge 40k on the photoshoot ppl say you never donate to charities instead. Singaporeans so hard to please"