Cousins make the best of friends!

Ready… set… go….. and these four energiser bunnies took off. A split second later, the oldest boy (who was leading in front), turned around and waited for the youngest one. #ohmyheart. These boys are really the sweetest!

I must admit when I first found out that the session comprised of 4 little boys under 10 years old, I was slightly apprehensive. I was afraid that my legs wouldn’t be able to keep up with them, and that I wouldn’t get photos which tell their personalities. However, after the short walk from the carpark to the park, I knew that we’ll be ok! Honestly, there were so many favourites from this session!

I WHALE always love you!

Hello little boy… it has been 3 years!!

From farm animals to dinosaurs and now to sea animals (he saw a whale in a shadow on the ground)... #ohmyheart how this little boy has turned into a cheeky, goofy, funny little man. I cannot believe that he is 5!

To think that I've photographed him since he was but a teeny tiny one month old! Dear little boy, as you grow another year older, may you never lose your childlike wonder and joy, and I pray you'd grow to be a man after His heart.

Watch this cheeky little face grow - one-month old; six-month old; one year old party; and two-year old portrait

'If you're happy and you know it, then your face will really show it!' 

This gorgeous family flew in from Sydney, for a very short visit with their family. I first photographed them when big brother was ONE. Eva first found me on google and after a few quick emails, we managed to squeeze in an hour long cake smash photo session for their smiley little tyke.

When she contacted me again for a portrait session, I got to meet her smiley, cheeky little bub number 2. Big brother E who was all cuddly in our last session, is now a handsome little man. He was also the protective big brother, who ensured that his little brother was well taken care of.

'Oh baby, we've waited a long time for you to arrive...'⠀

The beautiful Sogawa family were completely adorable to photograph! Kohki-chan was one cool little baby, who when he smiles, becomes the cutest thing ever! One thing I love about photography is that in that short span of an hour, I feel like we've become good friends - as we swap life stories. I especially enjoyed having cups of coffee (they met as baristas in Starbucks in Tokyo) over sweet cakes at the end of our session.

Baby Kohki is Malaysian made, and as the family make plans to head back to Tokyo after 5 years here, they wanted photos to remember this brief, but love-filled chapter.

Before they flew back to Japan, they surprised me with such a sweet message - that caused me to grin from one ear to the other, and reminded me why I chose to do what I do.

In a nutshell, she said that she would only love to have me as their family photographer, to document baby's growing up years. And that if I visit Tokyo, to please get in touch with her.

#myheartsang :)

Love is about growing together,
learning about each other,
and not giving up. 

The Kengs annual family portrait this time, saw the cheerful little now-3-year-old miss exploring, and having a little bit of fun in the park. She was joined by her baby brother, who was really smiley, with easy chuckles. I love watching families grow, and spending time with them, picking up where we left off, and getting to know the growing little ones.

Watch them grow: 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017

Find JOY in the ordinary

Singing at the top of your voice, skipping to your own beat, laughing out loud, the anticipation of ice-cream, or even being unafraid to cry - photographing these two sisters reminded me about the importance of not letting anyone dim our happiness and joy, and also not being afraid to show our true emotions.

Waiting for my best friend to grow bigger,
so that we can play.

Playing with cars, laughing silly, and skipping, running, and jumping - the Flynn boys kept me very occupied. 

Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass
It's about learning to dance in the rain.
- Vivian Greene

"A single mother, fighting the biggest battle of her life."

Cancer.... it just creeps up on you, when you least expect it. It doesn't care if you are young or old; fat or thin; healthy or unhealthy. It doesn't care if you're white, brown, or yellow; rich or poor; good or bad... 

When I first read Sha's story through a friend's (Kimberly) dayre post, my heart instantly went out to her 4-year old. My first thought was... besides donating money, what else can I give? I reached out to Kim, who connected us ... and I had the honour of making memories for Sha and Aniq, her adorable son. 

For Sha, her journey began in April 2016. What she thought was pain, possibly caused by her pregnancy a few years earlier, was diagnosed by doctors as Stage 3 lung cancer. A surgery and bouts of chemotherapy later, she was given the all clear - NED (no evidence of disease).

6 months after, while at work, she suddenly collapsed and was taken into the hospital. Because she was a cancer survivor, doctors did a full scan. That was when they discovered that the cancer is back, this time with a vengeance.

"I was told that the cancer is not only back in my lungs, it has also metastasised to my brain. And when there is a relapse, the cancer is immediately classified as Stage 4," she told me softly.

What impressed me most about Sha ... She doesn't let the disease define her. She told her story without any anger or 'why me, why me'. Instead, what I sensed was her positivity, and her steely determination to overcome and survive this, for her son.

The relationship she has with Aniq, her 4-year-old little boy is also something so precious to photograph. "Aniq knows where my meds are, and he understands when I'm tired and need to rest. I'm very thankful for him." 

HOW YOU CAN HELP
Living with her parents, who are pensioners, Sha is the sole-breadwinner of her family. Her only hope of survival now is through monthly immunotherapy sessions, for at least 2 years. Unfortunately, these sessions are only available at private hospitals. This means, that they come with a heavy pricetag. With her insurance quota almost bursting, and a lack of funds, Sha chose to stop her sessions.

However, with her Give.Asia page set up by Kim, at the time of writing, enough funds have been raised for at least 2 immunotherapy sessions. If you can help, please continue to give and support. No matter how small the amount... a little bit goes a long way.

HELP SHA BEAT THE BIG C
For every family portrait session in the months of September and October 2017, I'm giving RM200 into Sha's fund. So if you're looking at getting good family photos, while helping a little boy have his mother for longer... now is the best time :)

Family faces are magic mirrors looking at people who belong to us,
we see the past, present, and future.

Easily one of the coolest families I've photographed! I love photographing families who aren't afraid to just get really comfortable in nature, a baby who lights up at the sight of food, and is just keen to explore everything around her.

'I like that!' A few months later, on my birthday, she remembered and gifted it to me. I was the happiest 6 year old with a gold ring of her own. That is the earliest recollection I have of my mummy. I still remember looking forward to every Chinese New Year, where it would appear from her safekeeping, and I would wear it proudly, showing it to anyone who said hello to me (I was a little bit of a showoff then..maybe now too!).

Mummy is the one we (with the exception of the baby in the family, my brother) are really afraid of. With dad being busy at work most of the time, she became the disciplinarian at home. I remembered vividly once when I was in primary school. She found out I told a lie, got so incensed that she immediately took the rotan. The next thing I knew, a game of chase around the large dining table at home ensued. I ran till the both of us were out of breath. Just when I thought I had evaded her... - to all children, if you have been naughty, please accept your punishment quickly. If you run, the punishment is a lot worse... I speak from experience.

As I grew up, moved out and got married, mummy became one of my closest friends. Problems with work, arguments with husband, falling out with friends - she always have good advice and I know she will always have my back. 

Whether she works full time or is a stay-at-home-mom, whether she has a helper or not, whether she has one, three, ten OR one kid on-the-way - mothers are cheerleaders when we feel down, they are the maids who wash and iron, sweep and mop, teachers who help with school work, doctors who worry and look after you when you are sick, and they also feed and cook! They wear so many hats!

In honour of the superwomen in our lives, from now till the end of May, Samantha Yong Photography celebrates MOTHERS! When you book in for a photography session for May 2016, you will receive a box of beautiful blooms (worth RM50), from the gorgeous people at Boxing Blooms, delivered to the special lady in your life! On top of that, everyone can get matchy matchy, with a set of 4 personalised family t-shirts (worth RM216) from blackmilkproject. 

Sessions are limited, head on to CONTACT ME, if you would like to book one in.

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MORE GOODIES!

Psst... if you haven't heard, one of my favourite vendors - the talented peeps at blackmilkproject is running an instagram giveaway! Join in the fun for some awesome personalised goodies + a free session with yours truly! Contest ends 30 April 2016.

The beautiful Iking-Azmi children are wearing tops from the blackmilkproject's food truck collection.