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warning: long entry coz author is feeling sentimental

Today marks a very special day: Eye-Deas Photography is officially 2 years old!
(cue: Happy Birthday Song)

It has been a tremendous year this year, with lots to do and lots to experience. And it wouldn't be possible without God's blessings and wisdom and help from good friends and partners.
Eye-Deas Photography was coined by Mrs Teh Peng while I was in the dilemma of coming up with a catchy name for the photography services to be offered - a name that must strike a easy chord for the client to remember and something significant to represent the photographer and the company and thus, EYE-DEAS was formed :)

Actually the name EYE-DEAS is a catchy variant from the word 'IDEAS' and being in the photography line, the EYE is so very important coz it's thru the eye of the photographer and thru the viewfinder (aka the eye of the camera) when images form.


In fact I wanted to spell it as EYE-DIAS but that looks and sounds a little too foreign to me oso.. haha :)

Anyway, it has been a great journey, these 2 years... from the initial problems of starting up a business with no prior experience but only a fool's headstrong attitude of trying to make it work to facing more complex decisions and expanding the company.. every single step of the way was filled with God's directions, wisdom and His grace. He sent friends who recommend assignments to me and thus starting my base, He lets me fall but to be picked up again by words of encouragements and praises. He allowed my talent to extend to different genres of photography and in turn, teaches me to be very humble and to use my talents to bless others in turn.

The beginning of the company was a rash decision - some of my closer friends would have heard about it but I would like to share it with everyone here: it began after my ORD from regular service in the Army back in end 2003. With no capital and no directions, I was given a small lead in designing fulltime for a Christian magazine (which I'm still doing now) and thus I wanted to try my hand @ graphic designing. Seems that God has other plans as all the firms I applied to has given me a flat "No Vacancies" reply and once again, I was down and out.

Photography came in later as I tried my hand at some event coverages from friend's leads and job distributions and since then, it was a straight road into the the world of photography. Progressing gingerly like a newborn, I struggled (am still struggling) with competitive pricing, different vision and service quality... my mentor used to ask me this question: "What made me stand out from the rest of the photographers? If there's no distinctive traits of your work to make you stand out from the rest, you are just one of them. Nothing special. If you are not special, who will come to you?"

It was very solid advice that got me working on what is my style today - a form of freestyle monotone photojournalistic pictures. Although I'm still so young in the industry and relatively unknown in the wide circle of established photographers, I count my blessings for the fun-filled journey so far. I found the job that I wanted to do, which gives me free rein in creativity and schedule.

Of coz, in the beginning my parents and even Ms Clover, were rather apprehensive about me heading into this field as arts isn't exactly stable in terms of income and it may not even be lasting - it's true.. artists often are penniless and they will be unknown in the outside fields as Arts is just a 'hobby' to the many who believes in clerical, adminstrative and managerial status. What is an artist anyway? Can art feed one's mouth?

Well, I'm really blessed and humbled to say that YES it can, with the help of God and of coz, good friends who never give up on you when you are down.

Going into this line really isn't easy for me coz I'm not cut out for business but God just seems to find a way for me - blessing me with means and business opportunities to improve my range of services. I would like to say thank you to the people who has given me so much help and so much encouragements and I look forward to your continual support in the future.

To a very special person in my life, Ms Clover: Thank you for standing by me even when the future is dark and we can't see what's infront of me. Thank you for taking me in your arms and comforting and encouraging me to take the next step in faith and in togetherness, we will find a way. Thank you for fretting over me when I'm not working hard enough and for your patience when I lose my temper over issues in work and life. Without you, I wouldn't have gotten to where I am today also.

Future of EYE-DEAS

I guess, like all businesses, is to build upon what is the good and improve on them. To continue to strive for better pictures and services and blessing others with the talents God has blessed upon me.

Happy Birthday EYE-DEAS!!

^.^ Ron

Posted by ShutterBug on Thursday, December 01, 2005 at 21:18 | Permalink