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After online infamy, wedding photographer apologises for ‘terrible photos’

SINGAPORE — For about 20 years, Mr Goh Chung Siew worked quietly as an unknown wedding photographer.

Photographer Goh Chung Siew said he personally found some of the photographs interesting, contrary to widespread online criticisms and derision. Photo: Jaclyn Ying/Facebook

Photographer Goh Chung Siew said he personally found some of the photographs interesting, contrary to widespread online criticisms and derision. Photo: Jaclyn Ying/Facebook

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SINGAPORE — For about 20 years, Mr Goh Chung Siew worked quietly as an unknown wedding photographer.

On March 26, he was commissioned by a bridal agency to photograph Ms Jaclyn Ying, 25 and Mr Kelvin Tang, 32. It seemed like another routine assignment with long hours and little pay – he was paid S$350 for 10 hours of photography and editing work.

But the 55-year-old didn’t mind it.

In fact, he enjoyed working with the couple so much that he felt he should something “extra” for them. So while editing the photos, he decided to render some of them in black-and-white. He also applied a blue filter to at least two of the photos.

“The couple are nice people. On their wedding day, I felt that we had some chemistry going on, so I decided to give them something more by trying out new styles,” Mr Goh told TODAY in an interview.

“I thought it was a nice gesture.”

But the newly-wed couple didn’t think so. Ms Ying, an education executive, apparently got upset and even shed a few tears after she received the photos, which she was unhappy with.

On April 10, she decided to post some of the most badly taken photos — among them candid and unflattering shots of the guests as well as the couple — on Facebook as a cautionary tale for would-be wedding couples.

The photos went viral, and even inspired memes on local and international websites. Ms Ying’s post has been shared more than 18,600 times. Her story has also been featured on the website Mashable.

She wrote: “Don’t take this the wrong way though — this is not a flame and shame post. We just wanted to share some of these hilariously bad photos with everyone, so sorry if your unglam face is in this.”

On Tuesday night, Mr Goh apologised to the couple, via a Facebook post, for the “terrible photos”. He also offered to buy coffee for Ms Ying and Mr Tang, and to apologise to them in person. 

“First & foremost, I would like to apologise to this couple for the 20+ bad actual day wedding photos that they have received,” he wrote. “I sincerely hope you find the remaining 800+ photos good. I thoroughly enjoyed covering your wedding that day.”

When contacted, Ms Ying said: "Yes, we accept his apology wholeheartedly."

Mr Goh told TODAY in Mandarin that he personally found some of the photographs interesting, contrary to widespread online criticisms and derision. But he acknowledged a “misjudgment” in some areas, such as his decision to apply a blue filter on some of the photos.

He added: “Times are different, and there is a generational gap. So, the photographs I sent did not appeal to the couple.”

When TODAY contacted Ms Ying, she said she had at least expected that her wedding photos would be clear, well-composed and well-lit. She and her husband had paid more than S$3,000 for an all-in-one package offer from a bridal agency, which included a 10-hour photography session as well as other services like outfits, hair and make-up sessions.

For Ms Ying, one upside to this is that multiple firms have approached her to offer to do free photo shoots since her post went viral. She has responded to radio station 987FM’s offer for a free, three-hour photo shoot with Multifolds Photography, which typically costs S$1,980.

“We don’t bear any ill-will towards the bridal shop,” Ms Ying said in a reply to Sharon Au, who had offered her a photo shoot with her and her team at styleXstyle.com.

Mr Goh said he has not heard back from the couple since he issued the apology. But he has re-edited and sent back a new batch of their wedding photos — this time without the use of the blue filter.

Reflecting on his unusual brush with online fame, the photographer said the incident had taught him to be more careful in how he presented his work, and was ultimately a “blessing in disguise”.

“I got recommended to join a photography group with young photographers who are experienced in wedding photography, and I intend to learn from them,” said an upbeat Mr Goh.

“I did not earn enemies, but friends instead.”

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