JENG JENG JENG… The title says it all! I’ve finally decided on and confirmed the company for photography on my wedding day and also for our post wedding photoshoot. Wooot wooot! I think I couldn’t have emphasised any further how I simply adore Malaysian vendors, I feel they have raw talent, also the capability and guts to achieve results that are new and unique, yet still maintain that affordable price factor. Since engaging their decor services is out of the question due to logistics and possible transportation complications (goodbye gorgeous pelamins and tentages), I thought, why not bring the talent here kan?

I have been admiring HNHM | The Photoworks for a while now and have been considering them, along side local powerhouses as mentioned before here. Now a bit of disclaimer first, I am maha picky and fussy about my photographers. Of course the first level of picky would be the quality and appeal of the work itself, but beyond that my other criteria is that our personalities must match and they must be able to tahan my karenah and needs on the day itself, like for example kalau I nak amik gambar kat the water breaker thingy that I’ve seen before just on the coast by Gurame restaurant (which requires all of us to panjat a pagar illegally) then I will get that picture. Yeah that sorta thing eyyy. And since the fiance aka H is also super pendiam, the photographer must also be able to make him feel comfortable. And an indicator of that would be him actually joining the conversation during “interview” sessions with the photographers, instead of just smiling and being polite while I interrogate them. So with this indicator in mind to guide me through my photographer selection process (macam paham eh nak kena guidelines semua), I met all the shortlisted photographers one by one. Yessss I met them ALLLLLL muahahaa. Among the tough contenders were Fadly of AnAnalogAffair (periodically the only exchanges between H and him were *CRICK CRICK CRICK*), Zakaria of Zakaria Zainal Photography (a lovely guy who is very accommodating, yet still maintains that calm professionalism while he showed us his portfolio. Fyi he majored in photojournalism in NUS phiweeeeeet) and Halil of TheProjectPixel (he’s so quiet and sweet! truthfully, Halil went closest to the finishing mark as he and H had loads in common, and even shared some personal jokes btwn themselves. ewahhhh!).

Yet, somehow I still wasn’t satisfied so I booked an appointment with Hani MJ of HNHM Photoworks and travelled across the causeway just to meet her and hear what she has to say. Initially we were immediately sold on the outdoor photos sessions she had captured around JB, Iskandar Town and even Desaru. So we immediately placed deposit for our post wedding outdoor shoot, which included 5 hours of service. She also mentioned that if I wanted to go a few places for the shoot, she was willing to factor out the travelling time. Sweet kan this girl. Siggghhh. To top it up, Hani had this calm personality that I find will really complement my anxious disposition in nerve-wracking situations (aka cepat panic) and she was so easy to talk to that without even me noticing, H was already part of our conversations while we talked about the adat-adat perkahwinan that were still practised in Malaysia. What also appealed to me was that she had many fresh ideas to contribute. Rupa-rupanya I found out she does freelance creative consults for firms and events as her day job. Best nya!!

So I pikir, punya pikir, punya pikir, and realised that Hani could offer me that edge and uniqueness that I craved for in Malaysian vendors. Some of HNHM works that completely took my breath away:

Apart from the super lawa pictures, Hani’s personality also fits us both so well that it was hard to even consider the previous photographers that we’ve met. Plus, their photography packages are godsent! The one that suited us the most was 2 photographer services that cover 3 events, the nikah and two receptions, all of which can be split up on different days, 1 outdoor session (pre/post wedding), and it includes unlimited photos, 4R pictures in an album, a customised storybook album, 2 regular coffee table frames and also a huge 20″ by 30″ high resolution canvas print. I suka mumbo jumbo packages macam gini okay!!! And to cover our event in Singapore only have to top up 250RM (Hani is based in JB) and she also agreed to my offer to stay over at my place the night after our first reception (so that night jugak I boleh kepo-kepo tengok gambar and probably squeeze a few pictures out of her. chey siang-siang dah plan buat kerja macam gini hehhhh).

So apa lagi, dah signed, sealed, delivered when H and I made our second trip down to JB to top up the deposit for our awesome package with HNHM. Balik chop passport, tersenyum-senyum, nasib baik tak kena tahan abang immigration. I happy okay, finally dapat tutup chapter photography ni. Next project, DIY flower bouquet, gift trays and invitation cards. And ohh yay dah boleh start plan honeymoon!!!