Five Years On…
September 8th, 2010 | PersonalThis is the fifth year of Louis Pang Studio. It has been one unforgettable and amazing journey. Going through our photo archive to find pictures that mark the milestones of our five-year adventure got me emotional. It has been a journey filled with hard work, pain, disappointments and a lot of joy, sweetness and successes.
Learned 3 things in the last five years. First, importance of genuine relationships. In a highly competitive industry, finding genuine friends are difficult. Some friends cannot stand with you when you are in a ditch, others can’t stand you when you enjoy success. Only REAL friends stay with you in ditches and successes. However if we look hard enough and take some risks, we will find some rare gems. Nobody succeed alone. So many of you have opened new doors for us, steeled our wills, and strengthened our courage .
Secondly, hunger and humility are two important ingredients to have in life. Hunger pushes us to attempt the impossible. Humility asks the simple yet difficult question, “Can you show me how I can improve?” I do not believe in being the best. I prefer being better because that is an ongoing adventure.
Thirdly, hard work and intelligence do not guarantee success. A farmer can plough the land, sown the seeds, nourish the seedlings. But if God does not send the rain or sunshine at the right time, the farmer labors in vain. We are undeserved recipient of God’s goodness and generosity. This gives Jasmine and I complete confidence to journey forward, knowing we are in the hands of the ONE who will never fail us.
2006
This was our home office in Tawau where we spent way too much time working.
Don’t laugh but these are works from the early days.
First Malaysian to start using the Asukabook. Really gorgeous albums. Today they are my key sponsors in my speaking stint at WPPI. RIGHT: Kah May & Faz’s wedding in Koh Samui and my first overseas shoot 
2007
Saved up some money & robbed a bank to make our first trip to WPPI. Joe Buissink’s Plus Class was a real PLUS. So inspired by his passion.
Bought the first model of Intel-powered Mac Pro. Additional 2GB RAM cost like U$400! The machine runs strong till today. We’ve upgraded it to 7GB RAM. RIGHT: Our first entry into WPPI print competition and Red lips won 1st place! UNBELIEVABLE!
On September 16, 2007 Jasmine and I moved from Tawau to Kota Kinabalu. That’s our new home. RIGHT: Don’t mess with the woman with an electronic drill!
Shot a GORGEOUS wedding in India. Spent my birthday in 3 countries: Hong Kong (because I just finished shooting a wedding here), Kuala Lumpur (for a stopover) and India. The couple, Gunjan & Chirag, got me a small birthday cake with a single candle. Very sweet! RIGHT: Speaking at PIX Singapore, a regional photography conference.
2008
Spent the Chinese New Year at Jerry Ghionis’ workshop. Met my pal CM Leung for the first time. RIGHT: Kah Yee is our first full time employee. Today she has blossomed into such an outstanding talent.
Added Graphi Studio Italian albums to our product offering. RIGHT: “Torch Bearers” won 2nd place in the WPPI 20×16 print competition.
Brought in gowns from Pretty in White and That Special Occasion. We can provide full fledged bridal sessions to our clients now.
“Pink Bikini” won 1st place in WPPI. RIGHT: Taught my first workshop. It was held in Penang.
2009
Attended our second WPPI. The print judging was such an eye opener. I took notes non-stop for two days. RIGHT: The WPPI crystal awards.
WPPI Awards Night was grand and inspiring. Told myself that one day I want to go on stage and accept an award.
Spoke at Wedding & Portrait Photographers Philippines (WPPP). RIGHT: Our apartment was burglarized. D3, D700 & 17-35mm stolen. Police arrested and charged a man but the equipment was never recovered. Thank God we have an all-risk insurance policy. Very touched by support we received. One friend offered to loan me his entire camera system for 3 months. Another offered me an immediate loan. Aren’t we blessed? Amazing friends!
Shot a wedding in New York and proceeded to the Fifth Avenue Apple Store RIGHT: Spent 5.5 days with Joe McNally at his workshop in Santa Fe, New Mexico. We struck up a good friendship.
We brought our workshops to Brunei, Singapore and Perth.
These two images swooped 2nd & 3rd place in WPPI.
2010
Organized five days of workshops and a one-day seminar for Joe McNally. Over 380 people from 12 different countries attended this event. It is still the largest paid photography event in Malaysia.
Spoke & judged at WPPI 2010 Convention. A great honor to be the first photographer based in Asia to do so. RIGHT: Accepted the International Portrait Print of the Year Award at the awards night. The unforgettable Oscar moment
Went on NTV7’s live interview on its Breakfast Show. “Hey Mum, I was on TV!” RIGHT: Malaysia’s largest English daily ran a three-page feature in our journey in photography.
Officially opened our brand new gallery/studio in Kuala Lumpur last week. It is the fruit of a lot of sacrifice, hardwork & inspiration.
September 8th, 2010 at 3:11 pm
Congratulations on your amazing accomplishments! May you enjoy many more great years ahead!
September 8th, 2010 at 3:22 pm
Congratulations Louis! You are an inspiration to the industry.
September 8th, 2010 at 3:43 pm
great journey Louis!
September 8th, 2010 at 3:45 pm
totally get inspired from this article,, great job and all the best in coming future
September 8th, 2010 at 4:43 pm
Congratulation !!!
September 8th, 2010 at 4:44 pm
I’m really inspired to follow your footsteps Louis. Once again congratulations from me and my mrs Rachel (who is one of your huge fan btw). God Bless!!
September 8th, 2010 at 4:52 pm
Congratulations, Louis. It is an amazing record of your journey so far. The verse you shared is one of my favs too. God is good indeed, and I am sure He will continue to watch over you and Jasmine (and the brand) in years to come.
September 8th, 2010 at 5:20 pm
Thank you for sharing your amazing 5 years journey! Really inspiring to learn how you’ve made such great achievements in such a short frame of time.
Here’s wishing you & Jasmine many more years of inspiring stories!
September 8th, 2010 at 6:09 pm
Amazing journey you have been to, Louis… Thanks a lot for sharing these! More greatness will continue to come to LPS and thank you for continuing raising the bar in the country
Not sure if I’m a gem, crystal or stone to you but, you are a gem to us! ;p
September 8th, 2010 at 6:12 pm
Hello Louis,
Congratulations on your 5th year celebration. 5 years already? Time flies when you are doing what you love.
The stories that you share with us, offline and online, blog or not are great tale for inspiration for many photographers out there. Keep up the good work.
A decade will come, and it won’t be far off
September 8th, 2010 at 6:16 pm
Jon: I will never forget the class of 2008. So many fantastic photographers have come from that workshop. Would love to think I had something to do with the success you guys have. The truth is you guys are amongst the hungriest and most talented bunch I had ever met. I am proud of you and happy for the success you enjoy.
Milan: You are certainly a gem.
September 8th, 2010 at 6:43 pm
Louis, i havent got a chance to tell you i am honored to be at your opening that evening, a REAL honor! hearing your speech and looking at your photos really touched me that night, and to urge me to be better. this blog post is just a reminder that every small step will form a journey. 5 years is just a small part of yours, and many more will come. thank you for your friendship and mentorship.
Shen
September 8th, 2010 at 8:17 pm
Louis, I still can’t afford to get you do me a shoot!
However, from all your hardwork all these years, you deserved what you get now! May you have many more 5 years coming for you! God bless!
September 8th, 2010 at 9:33 pm
Wow. How amazing. Even your first year shot was nowhere near embarrasing to be laughed at, its purely talent! I never skip reading (and look at the pics) your blog. Its speaks of achievement and dreams. Love it. All the best for you, Jasmine, and your team to soar higher.
September 8th, 2010 at 9:43 pm
5 Years and still counting!!! you’re a great inspiration ever since i started DSLR!
congrats for all the amazing seminars and awards Louis!
All the best in Years counting! God bless you!
regards,
hee
September 8th, 2010 at 11:19 pm
Congratulation, Louis! A great 5 years. Don’t stop. Keep going. “Stay foolish and stay hungry.” (Quote from Steve Jobs)
September 8th, 2010 at 11:55 pm
How inspirational! Thanks for sharing your journey with us Louis! Here’s to many many more awesome years ahead for you and the team. wOOt!
September 8th, 2010 at 11:57 pm
Happy 5th Anniversary Louis & Jasmine. It has been great seeing LPS grow over the years and we are blessed by your friendship.
September 9th, 2010 at 12:29 am
Congratulations on your fifth anniversary, a true inspiration! I only knew LPS recently via The Star. Amazing pictures!! Guess i would earn hard to hire you for my wedding anniversary! God bless your ministry through your talent!
September 9th, 2010 at 2:52 am
Congratulations! Your success will be an inspiration for others.
More powers!
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September 9th, 2010 at 3:18 am
Wow Louis, you and Jasmine have came a long way to build the successful LP studio. Seeing the journey of your big success in the photography industry and yet find u both are really down to earth, humble, genuine people. Jeremy & I are truly honored and inspired to get to know both of you! Honestly, meeting you & Jasmine from wppi this year it was really highlight of our time in Vegas and made wppi worth of going. Congratulations to your 5th year anniversary of your studio. God has great plans for you 2 and using your giftedness to inspire more people. Thank you!
September 9th, 2010 at 5:57 am
Wow!!! such an amazing journey for you and your team. Happy anniversary LPS and thank you for keep on inspiring us
September 9th, 2010 at 7:37 am
Louis
Congratuations. The hard and sincere work does bear fruits. All the best for your future endevors.
Be Blessed !
-MP
September 9th, 2010 at 8:53 am
Congratulation. all the best for the coming years that you continue to growth , creating amazing image and may the blessing of the Lord be with you always !!
September 9th, 2010 at 9:08 am
Louis,
Thank you so much, you don’t know how much this post just inspired me and answer a lot of questions in my confused head just now. Not to mention most importantly guide me back to God. I truly believe every person we met in our journals is there to affect our life. I bet that is how God use to guide us closer to him. I am truly honored that we cross path in our life. Thank You.
“God Will Bless the Road Ahead” (Isaiah 43:19)
Jeremy
September 9th, 2010 at 9:35 am
Louis,
Congratulation on your 5th anniversary! I still remember the day I got inspired from your 1st Penang workshop.
All the best and keep up the good works!
September 9th, 2010 at 4:28 pm
Congratulations! It was an unforgettable experience to be shot by you in 2007 and inspiring to be taught by you in the 2008 workshop! God bless.
eugene & mun leng
September 9th, 2010 at 6:41 pm
Congratulation to your fifth year Louis, Jasmine and the team. I want to thank you all for the sharing and effort you all have done, and I have greatly benefit from the trainings, workshop and seminars.
God’s blessing is forever wonderful to prosper you, and He has great plans too…plans to give you hope and future. Jer 29:11.
September 10th, 2010 at 12:13 am
Congratulations!!!!! Keep it up!!!!! All the best!!!
September 10th, 2010 at 12:22 pm
Congratulation !! God Bless every steps you,jasmine and team made..
September 10th, 2010 at 2:38 pm
Congratss!!! You are truly an Inspiration…
September 10th, 2010 at 9:04 pm
I believed it’s not easy path for you
But at last you made it, don’t just stop here and keep progress., wish to see more beautiful pictures from Louis Pang 
Congrats!!!
September 11th, 2010 at 12:29 am
All well ends well….every journey has its own stories…but in the end it will be an awesome one!
Congratulation Louis…Thanks for being an inspiration, mentor & a friend..
p/s: Haha..That Brunei picture is a memorable one…Was the only Malaysian to follow your workshop because I can’t get into one back in KK…
September 11th, 2010 at 4:58 pm
Gosh, Fifth Year already?? That is so fast. We still remembered our first conversation during the Palm Square Bridal Fair up to Winning the 1st Prize from EPSON + your seminar in STAR.
(JoJ) You have groomed me to be the Photog today, and I wanna Thank you for that. I’m sure there’s tons of Adventure waiting for you to unfold, Have a Great One and Enjoy every bits of it. Lastly a BIG Congratulations.
September 13th, 2010 at 7:03 pm
Congratulations to you Louis and your excellent team! I am deeply honoured to have learned from you and would definitely do it again. God bless.
September 15th, 2010 at 2:32 pm
Louis, Amazing! May i know how do you get the All in risk insurance? i was looking for it but no one offer this in Miri
September 17th, 2010 at 8:48 am
Its only been 5 years? What a ride its been!
September 17th, 2010 at 10:57 am
congratulations!!!
September 29th, 2010 at 1:23 pm
wow~ what a glimpse of your life journey in photography.. sure you have inspired alot of people out there including me~
keep up the good work~
September 29th, 2010 at 1:47 pm
wow~ what a glimpse of your life journey in photography.. sure you have inspired alot of people out there including me~
keep up the good work
October 11th, 2010 at 2:38 pm
Hello Louis, this is Liz from Tawau!
Still remember me!
Reading through your words, I am touched!
Me and Fui are related in one of your ’special moments’ up there!
Your home was burglarized! I never forget the time Fui told me at 2am that the photo shoot session was cancelled!
In the end, we still get the great pictures! Thank you very much!
October 12th, 2010 at 9:05 am
It amazing.
October 14th, 2010 at 4:08 pm
Hey Louis,
Congratulations and thank you for being there as a friend and mentor to share your knowledge and experience with us, I still remember how we formally met during the short meetup on WPPI and how open and humble you were to everyone…congrats again and may there be more success in the up coming years.
October 18th, 2010 at 12:50 pm
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October 20th, 2010 at 7:11 pm
Hey man. This is inspiring and yet touching reflection of the 5 years. I am blessed to have witness and journey along with you in some places that you went.
Thank you for inspiring and being a true friend to us.
October 23rd, 2010 at 9:37 am
Louis…..Truly inspirational to browse thru the pics on yr website n even more inspiring to hear your life story. I have definitely learn a lot just by looking at yr pics!!! Have been visiting yr website so often and i am one of those guys who seldom leave comments……but just have to say something this time around.
Hope to attend one pf your courses in the near future. Dunno whether u still remember me……. We met in Bali recently during a wedding at the Conrad?? Rgds and best wishes.
November 4th, 2010 at 4:44 pm
Hi! I’m a huge fan of thebridescafe.com. Let’s hope I will able to hire you when my big day comes. Otherwise, I will just have to ‘fly in’ an all american photographer. No Asian photographer comes close, YOU simply are The Best!
November 11th, 2010 at 3:30 pm
nice site and the picture of the web site are very good
November 16th, 2010 at 11:28 am
Hi Louis,
This is such a heartfelt reflection on your journey to create a photography studio. I especially enjoy how you continue to make an effort to serve as an ambassador of sorts for the amazing artistry that is available in Asia. I imagine it would be easy for you to “stay local” and be revered as a “local legend”. Instead you’ve continuously pushed the boundary of your audience and challenged yourself to become a world-class professional. I have a lot to learn from you and hope that we meet in the very near future
Warmly,
Parris Whittingham
July 12th, 2011 at 10:32 pm
i am truly impressed, no inspire is the word. i am now studying photography an seeing your work makes me go out right now and take some shots to include on my portfolio. thanks for inspiring young dreamers like me.
August 5th, 2011 at 4:12 pm
Louis, you are the best! keep it up!