The Man Behind the Lens – Edmund Tham of E-Gallery {MYS}

In today’s age of technology, anyone armed with a DSLR can claim to be a wedding photographer. The prospects of marketing themselves is also much easier now, by snapping and sharing the photos through blogsites and social media for the whole world to view. However, many do not realise that photography is an acquired skill and basically, an art by itself. Malaysia has been blessed with many a talented group of people specialising in wedding photography. Photographers are a dime a dozen, but who truly makes the cut? It depends. As the saying goes, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. One of the aims of WedInk Tattle is to weed through the clutter and showcase the best of the best within the industry so that you can be assured of the quality of deliverance.

Ranked by Wedding Photojournalist Association (WPJA) as one of the Top Nine Wedding Photographers in 2008, Edmund Tham of The E-gallery has since come a long way. In this exclusive interview, Edmund tells of his romantic nature (hint: find out which song moved him to tears) and explains a concept that he pioneered in Malaysia (and Asia) – Trash The Dress!

1. WHAT ARE THE FIVE KEYWORDS THAT BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY SIGNATURE?
Stylish, candid, everlasting, stunning, creative

2. TO-DATE, WHAT IS THE MOST DEFINING MOMENT IN YOUR LIFE AND JOURNEY THROUGHOUT YOUR CAREER?
Too many defining moments that had happened in my life… One of them is when my father passed away when I was 18 years old. The moment when I proposed to my wife. When Wedding Photojournalist Association (WPJA) ranked me as one of their Top Nine (9) Wedding Photographers in 2008. When my clients shed happy tears of joy when they see the stunning beauty of their wedding and marriage union captured by my camera lenses.

3. EDUCATE US A LIL’, WHAT EXACTLY IS TRASH THE DRESS PHOTOGRAPHY? THE THOUGHT OF DESTROYING A WHITE WEDDING DRESS SEEMS SO PROFANE.
This concept was first introduced in the United States in the early 1990s. Trash The Dress (TTD) is a sort of post-wedding ritual; an edgy extension to wedding photography where an immaculately dressed couple decide to trash their wedding clothes to signify their commitment to each other. Destroying your wedding dress means you don’t intend to get married again.

4. HOW DO YOU WORK ON THE CONCEPTUALISATION? ARE THE OBJECTS AND THEME THAT SURROUND THE SHOOT, SIGNIFICANT TO THE COUPLE?
Concept can be derived from anywhere! From things that happen in our everyday lives, the movie that you watched, a book that you have just read… Possibilities are endless and really, it could be just about from anything. It depends on how you digest your surroundings and interpret it to create your own concept.

Discussion with the couple is a must to understand their respective backgrounds. Only then I’m able to propose a concept that is well-suited or linked to their unique backgrounds.

5. IF A COUPLE IS INTERESTED ON A TRASH THE DRESS CONCEPT SHOOT, HOW SHALL THEY GO ABOUT?
I’ll explain the concept to them so that the couple fully understands the real meaning of TTD. While I’ll talk about the concept, we’ll also chat about things that are related their lives, work, hobbies, etc. From there, I’ll develop the concept for them. For example, I had a client who was a chef in a hotel. I proposed for them to have a TTD shoot in kitchen and of course, food-related!

6. AS THE PIONEER OF TRASH THE DRESS IN MALAYSIA (AND ASIA), DO YOU SEE THE TREND PICKING UP AMONG ASIANS?
The trend is catching up albeit in a slow manner as Asians are generally quite conservative. But I believe that the TTD concept will be the next big thing among young couples.

7. QUOTES YOU LIVE BY
Work hard and you shall reap the rewards.

There’s a popular Chinese quote, literally translated as “you can never finish earning all the money”. But I always like to say, “Yes, but it is also very easy to spend all your money!”

8. WHAT IS CURRENTLY PLAYING IN YOUR MIXPOD?
愛，很簡單 (Ai Hen Jian Dan) by David Tao.

It means ‘love can be simple’. Every time I listen to this, I’ll get a very special feeling…and I sometimes will even cry while listening to the song.

9. WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE MORE IN MALAYSIAN WEDDINGS?
Malaysian weddings in general are steeped or bound by traditions and customs or even religious rites. Therefore, they couldn’t run too far from the established norm. Having said that, I do wish to see weddings that are of different cultures, and also weddings with different concepts for the ceremonies celebrating the blissful union.

10. APART FROM COVERING WEDDINGS, WHAT OTHER AREAS OF SUBJECT INTEREST YOU?
Besides wedding photography, I like interior shoot. I worked with a lot of Interior Designers in town to capture all their masterpieces. I am a very home-concept type person. I like the “home-y” feeling. I believe a comfortable home will improve your luck and chances in life.

11. AS A PHOTOGRAPHER, YOU WOULD HAVE SHOT MANY WEDDING LOCATIONS/VENUES. CAN YOU RECOMMEND YOUR PERSONAL FAVOURITE CHOICE OF VENUE TO OUR READERS?
Tokyo, Japan!! We should learn from the Japanese people. Everything is just too good! Their attitude, food, art, style and culture are just fantastic.

12. WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE E-GALLERY?
To be engaged by more couples so I can be a part of their special day and capture those memories to last forever. Have more job assignments and hopefully be in a better financial situation. On the professional front, it is my hope that I can one day set up a branch to gain more international exposure and recognition as one of the top wedding photographers!

13. THROUGH THE LENS, A DREAM WEDDING IS …
…a wedding that surprises me and is beyond my imagination.

Edmund Tham frequently travels abroad for wedding assignments. Drop him a line at his work mail if you’d like to schedule an appointment at his uber cool studio located at Damansara Perdana.