WCA Fine Arts was established to cater to a very niche but very discerning clientele who appreciates the highest Archival Quality Giclee prints. All of our Canvas prints are handmade in house, produced from digital artwork using a combination of our technical and manual skills to achieve the highest quality print

Our canvas art is printed on heavyweight award-winning digital inkjet canvas using the best inkjet technology, a process which is referred to as Giclee printing. All our canvas are printed at high resolution with UV ink which results in the most vivid lifelike color and the most outstanding color accuracy. With proper care your canvas will keep looking new for anything up to 100 years in ideal conditions.

The Canvas is finally carefully stretched over around the sides of a box stretcher frame by hand ensuring a high quality finish. We use tensioning wedges to fully-tighten the print as the woven canvas relaxes over time, these wedges allow you to easily retighten or stretch your canvas art if necessary in the future.

Prints are thoroughly checked by our staff at each stage of the process for faults, however small. If a canvas print doesn’t meet our high standards, it won’t leave the doors.

This post, we introduce you one of our sponsors, Simplr and their handmade album and keepsakes. We love absolutely love them, so much so that we would like you to check them out too! Read on!

Great quality only comes with great materials

Fabrics from Japan, ribbons from the U.S., mats from the U.K., boards from Holland, headbands from Germany and vellum from France. Place them into the hands of a skilled artisan and the end result are the finest keepsakes and albums that will last a lifetime.

Handcrafted, one by one.

Every album and keepsake at Simplr is crafted by hand, individually only upon order. Every box that’s made to fit an album is measured and crafted accurately to the millimetre. Every care is taken to ensure that every box, folio and album that goes out will be well loved by your clients.Every keepsake from the Artisan range is wrapped with acid-free French vellum, personalised with imprints, beautifully ready to be presented to your clients.

Simplicity, with options

We all love options, but dread the complications that come with it. That’s why we’ve made everything simple even with options. From ordering to payment, all you have to do is click away.

Serving photographers worldwide, crafted right here at home

We’re grateful for the trust placed in us by photographers all around the world, and with that, the onus is on us to be certain that we do not fail them. If an album or keepsake is something we wouldn’t be happy receiving, it’s not going out the door.

Photographers need to stay in shape, fit and healthy as a fiddle!

Depending on shoots, most photographers carry 1-2 body cameras, 3-5 lenses, video lights, batteries, battery chargers, data cards, tripod, laptop, cables and most importantly food. You probably wouldn’t realise it but these would easily weigh about 10kilograms or more! Not only do you have to worry about the gears, but also maintaining a positive impression on your clients throughout the 5-hr long shoot! Wedding shoots saps the most energy especially at outdoor locations under hot weather, and with unpredictable circumstances.

When you deal with many clients and in different environments, it is important that you are able to adapt and comply with the needs of the situation instantly. Sessions may be demanding physically and mentally which will cause exhaustion. It is important to know some basic information about keeping well and healthy.

1)     Food – You need food for energy, to sustain your physical and mental state throughout your shoot.  Keep fruits (apple, kiwi, strawberries), dried fruits, nuts (almond, cashews) and water close by. Avoid sour/salty food and coffee/tea as they dehydrate you and you may end up running to the loo more often.

2)     Exercise – To keep your body in tiptop condition and alert at all times, stretch, run and simple weightlifting exercises to train your muscles to hold your posture upright. Yoga classes, pilates and compound bodyweight exercises (push ups, squats and sit ups) are good exercises to start with. Keeping your muscles in check allows you to lift and hold your equipment better and steadier.

3)     Sleep – Everyone’s sleep needs vary. Try to get a minimum of 7 hours sleep every night. Lack of sleep causes your body’s organs to perform substandard causing irritability, moodiness and disinhibition. This may affect your professionalism in front of your clients. Fix a sleeping time every night and commit to that hour! You will definitely feel refreshed in the morning!

When we feel great, we make our clients feel great too! Be the best you can be, for yourself and your clients!

Anna: Honestly speaking? This might sound shallow but I got attracted to Canon because of their awesome marketing campaigns. I was in the marketing line back in my corporate days and am curious about brands that execute interesting campaigns. Luckily enough for me, Canon wasn’t all talk and no substance cos after I bought my first Canon dSLR (the 350D), I came to realize how user friendly Canon products are and also appreciated the fact that the after sales service is awesome compared to many other brands in the market.

Asther: My boyfriend (now husband) had been a Canon supporter throughout his life. It was his Canon Ixus 400 (with Canon underwater housing) that got me hooked into photography. And then I got a taste of how a Canon DSLR felt like when my sister-in-law loan me hers for a trip back to my hometown.

I have tested other brands of cameras previously, but I found that their features & buttons were a lot more confusing (and some, complicated) to the non-technical me.

Since I’m pretty used to the buttons, terms & features of a Canon camera, (and hubby’s un-dying faith in Canon cameras) naturally I also chose Canon as the main brand for my photography equipment. Even all my printers (old & current) were by Canon cos I believe in the “connectivity” for best result when it comes to printing my images. And YES, I use original Canon photo papers range as well.

Oh! And the after service by Canon has been fantastic throughout my journey with them. Fast, efficient AND friendly.

Grace: Initially, I started using Canon because it was one of the cheapest entry level digital SLRs in the market at that time. I didn’t really do much research. My boyfriend (now husband!) at the time bought us a second hand Canon 300D and I stuck with Canon ever since. Since I had small hands, the camera was handy and light enough for me. Over time, I started to love the different Canon prime lenses and bought more and more gear! I love the skin tone colours, and the effects these prime lenses produced (especially wide open). With the 5D Mark II that can shoot video as well, I am even more excited about what my camera can produce.

Fiona: Love the vibrant & warm Canon colors but most importantly, I love Canon because it’s user-friendly and very intuitive. The buttons are ergonomically located and the menu functions are easy to navigate.

Anna: Shorts, tank top and flip flops. This was for a pre-wedding shoot in Bali and boy oh boy, hot wouldn’t begin to describe the weather then.

Asther: My PJs! Hahaha… There was a shoot I recently did at a resort where I was staying with my family for a short getaway. My clients came to me for their family session, and I was wearing my PJs for the shoot. Well, I don’t wear the conventional PJs but it’s still a PJs to me. Hehehe…

Grace: A dress to shoot a beach wedding! It was a short dress, so I didn’t really do things like squatting to get a shot! It was a really hot day so I was glad that I was wearing something simple and light.

Fiona: White buttoned-up blouse, a black tie, mini skirt, high socks, mary janes and two ponytails. I was going for the school girl look while shooting MUSA’s Halloween party.

Please bring along your manual (as you know, we are Canon users, so it might take us a while to discover where the buttons are on other brands!)

Date: 4th March 2012
Time: 4-6pm
Location: L1-47, First Floor, SStwo Mall, 40 Jalan SS2/72, Petaling Jaya

Do email us at hello[at]bloomworkshops.my or call +60 17 612 0717 (Diane) to inform us of your attendance.

We look forward to seeing you really soon! And just to make this post more interesting, here’s something for you to consider!

Anna: I would say the weddings where the newlyweds are enjoying themselves. All out.

Asther: Gosh… They’re all very memorable to me, each unique individually. Cos I remember my sessions in relation to how I connected with my clients & the little ones. Yeah… I’m pretty emotional that way.

Grace: I think it must have been the first time I went to Bangladesh to photograph a local Bangladeshi couple (Ali & Farhat) who discovered us on the internet! I wasn’t sure what to expect, and it was a whirlwind experience! We stayed there for 10 days, ate absolutely delicious bryani, got to know the local culture better, and came home with a wealth of experience and lots of great images!

 
 Fiona: It will have to be Sofia & Islam’s wedding in Pangkor Laut Resort where the couple and family arrived at the  island in a private helicopter and their pre-dinner cocktails involved a sunset sail on YTL’s Princess yacht. The photography & videography crew also had the opportunity to hop on the heli for an aerial shoot! That was some heart-pounding action at work!

Photo above was taken using an iPhone by Diane

Being a photographer, especially a female photographer has never been a bed of roses. The challenges are real and let’s hear what are the challenges our ladies experience through out their career.

Anna: It used to be trying to overcome the stigma that women can’t be photographers. Now it’s just trying to look put together even after a long day of shoots. Kidding!

Asther: For me, it’s just like any other career I guess. As a Work-At-Home-Mother, it’s the juggling between motherhood & business owner part that gets to me often. Cos naturally, the child is a lot more attached to the mother especially at the younger age.

I know a few male photographers/videographers who are Work-At-Home-Fathers too and I’m sure they’re facing almost the same challenges as I do.

Another challenge will have to be physical strength. It’s pretty challenging carrying all the required gears for a shoot, hence, I try to minimize the usage of different gears during my photo sessions.

Grace: Initially, I was constantly physically tired after every wedding shoot. I remember vomiting in the hotel bathroom once halfway through a wedding dinner because I was just so exhausted! Since I am small (just 5 feet in height and petite by normal standards), it’s even harder to lug all that heavy gear around. But over time, I built my stamina and strength and now I can go on shooting for 10 hours straight without a break. (this also means standing for 10 hours!).

The other thing I think concerns female photographers, especially those who are married and wanting to start a family… is the fact that pregnancy and childbirth does affect the business for a few months at least. I do think about this constantly, and wonder how to balance the challenges I’ll face once I get to this stage. This is pertinent for wedding photographers especially since most clients book up to 1-1.5 years in advance! I think clients need to understand that photographers have a life too and should not be upset if their female photographer is not able to shoot their wedding because of pregnancy. And once the kids are here, I think that would be even MORE challenging!

But as of now, I enjoy all my work challenges!

Fiona: I’m thankful and grateful for being blessed in terms of my photography career because being a female photographer has never been a disadvantage. If anything, being one of the first few female photographers back then helped create a longer, lasting impression, as people seemed to be pleasantly surprised that it was a lady behind the big bulky camera for a change.

Anna: As clichéd as this may sound the couples, families and individuals whom I shoot, people in love, life and my parents.

Asther: My beloved late father. He’s one of the very main reason why I decided to take the big step into taking my photography to the next level. After he passed away so suddenly, I was mourning him for quite a long time. I tend to flip through our old photo albums a lot, remembering our times together. To my great disappointment, I realized that we’ve not taken much photos when we were together (which was not often enough as he was in Kuching and I have created a life of my own in Kuala Lumpur). I was really sad… missing our moments together & regretting they were not captured in photos. He’s also a very determined & goal oriented person when it comes down to building up his own business. Everything about him inspires me to do what I do now. I still miss him very very much!

My daughter, Haley. Her birth has shown me “The Light”. After being a mother myself, I realized how much I love children, especially babies and I’m always at ease with them. They make my heart sings all the time, even when I’m feeling lousy. The journey of motherhood with Haley has taught me a lot about the growth of a little person. Hence, I decided on my niche in baby & pregnancy photography. I’m still learning everyday and loving every second about it!

Photographer Friends: Jenny Sun (without her, I wouldn’t be where I am now) and Jennifer Tai (my very talented & awesome sister-in-law)

Professional Baby Photographers: Baby as Art (by twin sisters Carrie Sandoval & Brittany Woodall), Robin Long (my next goal is to attend one of her awesome workshop!), Keri Meyers and Lana Bell just to name a few.

Grace: Everything I see in life. From God, to my family, to other photographers, to magazines… I am inspired by many things. My sister Lina definitely played a really significant role in inspiring me. She runs her own business and has shown me that I can do so much if I put my mind and heart into it. My husband Alex encourages me to discover myself and spurs me towards excellence in all I do. I don’t think Stories would be where it is today if it weren’t for Alex.

Photographers who inspire me: Jasmine Star (she is extremely personal and can connect with her couples!), Susan Stripling, Cliff Mautner, Jerry Ghionis (awesome teacher & photographer), Dave & Quin and Bobbi & Mike.

Grace & Alex finds inspiration for life while traveling & experiencing new cultures 

Fiona: Wedding Photographers: Jose Villa, Jasmine Star, Jessica Clair, Victor Sizemore and Zung, of course!

Light-Painters: Patrick Rochon, Aurora Crowley, Ali Artli, Charlie Lim

Portrait & Commercial Photographers: David Lachapelle for his surreal, pop-art-ish style. Ali Artli, Geof Ang (Internationally renowned Singaporean fashion & commercial photographer), Annie Leibovitz (for her ability to capture one’s character in each of her portraits, and of course, for being the first female photographer who made it really big, very early on)

We get asked this question often enough, so here’s our current list.

Anna: For weddings, I use two Canon 5DMK II so that I don’t have to waste any time changing lenses. For portrait sessions, only one body. Lenses used include 24mm f1.4, 50mm f1.2, 85mm f1.8, 70 – 200mm f2.8 and the 45mm f2.8 TiltShift (which I’d use more for portraits than weddings). During night receptions and dark indoor events, I’d have no choice but to use an external flash, in this case the trusty 580EXII.

Asther: As mentioned earlier, I started underwater photography as a hobby. It was the Canon Ixus 400 (and its Canon underwater housing) that followed me down under and later on we upgraded to the Canon Ixus 500. It is still around to this day! I am now using the Canon G9 for my underwater adventures.

My first DSLR was the Canon 350D with kit lens 18-55mm. I eventually upgraded to the Canon 30D & started shooting weddings with it while having the Canon 450D as my second body camera.

Currently, I mainly use the Canon 5D Mark II and Canon lens 50mm 1.2. I also own Canon lenses 24-70mm 2.8, 70-200mm 2.8, 16-35mm 2.8 and Canon flash 580 EXII which I occasionally use for events such as parties & weddings.

Lens used: EF70-200mm f:2.8L IS USM

Lens used: EF50mm f:1.2L USM

Lens used: EF24-70mm f-2.8L USM

Grace: My two favourite lenses are the Canon 50mm f1.2 and 135mm f2.0. Coupled with my Canon 5D Mark II, the results are just amazing. I am totally in love with prime lenses and would shoot entirely in prime if I could! The other lenses I own are the 17-40mm f4.0, 28mm f1.8 and 70-200mm f4.0. I also own the 580 EX II flash and other accessories / essentials.

Lens used: 50mm f1.2

Lens used: 135mm f2.0

Fiona: Main camera: Canon 5D Mark II and I always carry a backup 5D together with 2 flashes – 580 EX II

For pre-weddings: 50mm f1.2L and 85mm f1.2L

Lens used: EF85mm f1.2L at f1.6

For weddings: 16-35mm f2,8L, 50mm f1.2L and 135 mm f2.0L and sometimes my Sigma Fisheye 15mm F2.8 EX DG and Tamron Macro SP AF 90mm f2.8.

Lens used: Fisheye at 15mm at f2.8

Lens used: 16-35mm at f2.8

For events : 24-70mm f2.8L

For runways: 70-200mm f2.8

For studio shoots: 24-70mm f2.8L, Profoto 600W Monoblocs (x2), 300W Monobloc and Digicolor 550W.