Sometimes DIY is really better

人生有三件事，最好不要假手于人。

1.Fringe, specifically bangs.

How many times have you woke up in shock that your fringe is in far far away land then what you wanted?

And draws you back to the dark days when your discipline mistress sniped it off when you failed hair check.

Or even if you stayed awake, some stylist just can't stop snipping on your fringe until you pulled away from her grip.


2. Eyebrows.

Beautician love tyrants. Despite you saying 100 times, "Please don't shape too high/thin/curvy", "Natural natural", you still have to walk out of the place in shock.

Not mentally, but everyone on the opposite bench of the MRT think you are.

3. ID photos.

They are so important and highly dangerous. One wrong decision will affect your entire life.

Yeah, it is passport photo time again, one good thing about it is you get to change every 5 years unlike the god damn IC. Have to pay $100 or $150 to do it.

You used to have to make up at home, do your hair, but by the time you reach the studio, you are all sweaty, your make up runs, your concealer melts and the wind had blown your hair in Medusa trend.

How many times have you got sabotaged by heartless photographers when they don't inform you about misfortunes.

Like HELLO this is obviously something misplaced!

You can't choose your favourite angle, dead lighting, messy hair and what not.

That is all the history when there digital camera cost a bomb and the Internet was at a crawling speed of 56k dial up and only hook up with one computer.

Do it yourself.

All you need is a dark room with white wall, table lamp and a white umbrella, or any white cloth to diffuse the harsh light or bounce up the ceiling.

Cheap tripod $7.90 from Fairprice, remote $49 since GX1 has got such accessory, splurge! If your camera doesn't have one, use a timer. And a mirror to check your pose.

Timer shot with SX100 last time. It was mad, I think I used like a full hour for this picture.

You can take all your time to check.

When you go to the studio you only get one shot and that is going to be your fate. In the digital world, you can just snap and snap and snap, no worries about negatives.

Can't decide to be spectacle or not?

Teeth or no teeth? Try some headbands?

Or more accessories?

Most importantly you get to edit off your pimples.

One last thing, read through the ICA guidelines for passport photographs on the web, if not you will still have to go down to get ugly photos taken.

I know there is an App for passport photographs but I prefer using proper camera, and the lighting is wonderful. No Photoshop, just removed a hideous pimple and my skin is like Wooooow.