Storyteller, Explorer & Maker
HONG RAY
hen it comes to photography, there is nothing I do with more pleasure and passion. I consider myself very lucky that my job is also my beloved hobby. I started to enjoy taking pictures ever since I was a child.
When the first mobile phone with a camera appeared, around when I was 14 years old, it felt hard to take my eyes, and hands, off it. Because I also loved blogging, I thought about entwining the two of them, the results being my very first photography website. Among the photos I posted there, there were a couple of images I took at one of my relative’s wedding. To my surprise, that got me a lot of attention, so when I was just 18 years old, I received my first real assignment as a wedding photographer.
Up to these days, I never stopped doing that. I can’t find moments that are more candid and charged with strong emotions than at a wedding. So I became attracted, just like a magnet, to capturing images from these special moments in everyone’s life.
Although many years have passed since my first wedding attendance as a photographer, I still do it with the same excitement, because they are such unique events, each time. And this passion was so intense in my case that it managed to guide me through my career, in the last 14 years.
Today, I couldn’t be happier, because I had the incredible chance, and still do, to follow the path I wanted.
I’m someone who values freedom and connections with people from all walks of life. Despite life’s challenges, I strive to learn from every experience and make the most of it. While driving or editing, you’ll often find me immersed in self-help audiobooks, delving into topics like Stoic wisdom and mindfulness. These books have shaped who I am today, and I encourage others to explore them too.
My passion for exploration led me to discover hidden gems across Singapore, inspiring the ‘Adventure Prewedding’ concept in 2016 and the SEA Adventure in 2021. I’m a hands-on DIY enthusiast, with a workshop in my studio filled with 3D printers and industrial tools. My four adorable cats keep me company, helping me find moments of zen amidst my busy days. At night, I indulge in personal projects or tinker with my classic car, unwinding from the day’s editing work
After a busy period of work, the best reward is getting out on the open sea and witnessing the sun setting on the horizon. It relaxes me and allows me to feel grounded and reflect on life.
If you ask me what my favorite moment at a wedding is, after seeing so many in my life, I would say that my preferred one is the speech and vows part. It is very emotional and sincere, with most people (including me) barely holding back their tears. Listening to those words, I remind myself that the couple have chosen me out of everyone else in Singapore, to document the most important day of their lives. So I have a responsibility to do my very best and not treat it as just a job, no matter how tiring it gets at times.
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