Herman Chow Portraits

04/07/2024

When A Woman Loves Herself, It Radiates Through Her Photographs.

Remember, YOUR FACE IS THE MARKETPLACE.

With True Elegance,
Your introvert Fairy Godmother

30/06/2024

I am fat - I hear you.
I have too many wrinkles - I hear you.
I have nothing to wear - I hear you.
I hate to be photographed - I hear you.
I hate my own photographs - I hear you.
I need to lose 20kgs before I can be photographed - I hear you.

As a photographer, I've heard it all. Nothing is new to me.

I'm just curious:

When was the last time you said WOW to yourself?

When was the last time you were kind to yourself?

When was the last time you celebrated who you really are?

Every woman entrepreneur deserves a beautiful portraits of herself because SHE IS WORTH IT. (Period)

With True Elegance
Your Introvert Fairy Godmother

28/06/2024

When a woman loves herself, it radiates through her photos.

Beauty Is Not a Competition

Every woman aims to embody her unique essence, celebrating her body and projecting confidence.

Are you currently aligned with your most genuine self?

I vividly recall the day spent shopping with my client for her photoshoot wardrobe.

Why did we go shopping?

Because my client was searching for ways to showcase her true essence and radiate confidence through her clothes.

Here's the truth:

You don't need to be a model to shine like a star or stand out in a crowd.

All it takes is the right photographer and their creative team to work their magic for you.

Remember, projecting a genuine and confident image isn't just about vanity.

It's about feeling grounded and true to yourself, enhancing visibility and connecting deeply with your audience.

With True Elegance,
Your Introvert Fairy Godmother

21/06/2024

11/06/2024

Why did I start street portraits?

It‘s more than just fun. It has a deep connection to Brand Authority.

Lately, I’ve been going out with my camera, asking strangers if I can take their picture.

And I‘ve observed something fascinating through this experience.

These strangers, despite not knowing me at all, are surprisingly open. Their genuine responses to my questions have really struck me.

But why am I telling you this?

How does this relate to you as a business owner? It’s all about being ”real.“

Many business owners, like myself, wear masks all these years.

Over time, we accumulate various layers of identity that don‘t always reflect our true selves, and often, we aren’t even aware of them.

These masks can negatively impact us personally and in our businesses.

They prevent us from genuinely connecting with our audience.

One day, I found something fascinating: Personality.

So, I started to dive deeper into personalities and explore who I truly am.

I discovered many layers of identity within me that had accumulated over the years and weren‘t representative of who I am. It was an eye-opener.

Through this exploration, I realised one remarkable thing:

Discovering and expressing my true personality has been transformative for my brand. It has become essential for building expertise and forming genuine connections with my audience.

Showing your true personality isn’t just beneficial, it’s impactful.

It helps you stand out and connect sincerely with others.

As a business owner, being true to yourself can set you apart as the go-to expert in your field.

03/06/2024

I’d rather go to the dentist than audition for TEDx.

The thought of memorising a 7-minute script and presenting to more than 10 judges made me extremely anxious. My palms got sweaty, my heart raced, and I felt butterflies in my stomach.

If I had known how scary an audition could be, I might not have applied for TEDx.

I never dreamed of giving a TEDx talk. In fact, I hadn’t heard of TEDx until 2017.

A few years ago, I stumbled upon TEDx videos on YouTube and was fascinated by the presenters and their topics.

I thought, "Wouldn’t it be cool to present on the TEDx stage?"

But then I doubted myself. Who was I kidding? I’m an extreme introvert. How could I speak in public? The audience will judge me. Those TEDx speakers are confident, talented, and eloquent.

My mind was filled with doubts and uncertainties.

One day, on a whim, I posted on Facebook: "I will present at TEDx."

That was it. Just a simple statement.

Months later, I saw a TEDx advertisement online. I was excited but also nervous about applying.

The theme for TEDx Amstelveen was "What the world needs now."

I applied, even though it was a spur-of-the-moment decision.

I didn’t know that only selected candidates could audition. I thought anyone who applied could be invited to the audition. Well, I guess I was one of the lucky ones.

At the audition, I was beyond nervous and was relieved when it was finally over.

During the break, two judges approached me and said they were moved by my story.

I thought to myself, "If two judges were moved by my story, surely my chances of being chosen would be good."

And yet, at that moment, I felt I might be chosen to present on the TEDx stage.

And I was chosen 🫢.

My presentation became a cherished memory.

I’m glad I applied, or I would have missed an amazing opportunity.

So, would I still prefer to go to the dentist than audition for TEDx?

02/05/2024

"Masking the Void -- Finding Joy in External Distractions."

Today, I've realised another aspect of "street portraits."

A simple question about what makes you happy in life has received similar responses ---> having external things, including human connections like family, friends, and children, are reasons for happiness.

I agree that it's possible to find happiness by spending time with loved ones, as these connections bring warmth, laughter, and meaning to our lives.

However, I haven't come across an answer from a stranger about inner happiness.

It seems most people have totally ignored their inner world.

Let's not forget that happiness isn't just about what's around us.

It's also about how we feel inside.

When we are at peace with ourselves, kind, and understanding, that's when we're truly happy.

So, while our relationships with others are important, our own inner peace matters too.

It's like having a strong foundation for a happy life.

When we are content within ourselves, we can enjoy our connections with others even more.

Family and friends can indeed bring joy and support, but if one relies solely on external relationships to fill an inner void without addressing underlying issues, it may only serve as a temporary distraction rather than a long-term solution for true happiness.

Remember, everything starts from within ourselves.

With True Elegance,
Your Personal Trusted Personality Guide

02/05/2024

"Masking the Void -- Finding Joy in External Distractions."

Today, I've realised another aspect of "street portraits."

A simple question about what makes you happy in life has received similar responses ---> having external things, including human connections like family, friends, and children, are reasons for happiness.

I agree that it's possible to find happiness by spending time with loved ones, as these connections bring warmth, laughter, and meaning to our lives.

However, I haven't come across an answer from a stranger about inner happiness.

It seems most people have totally ignored their inner world.

Let's not forget that happiness isn't just about what's around us.

It's also about how we feel inside.

When we are at peace with ourselves, kind, and understanding, that's when we're truly happy.

So, while our relationships with others are important, our own inner peace matters too.

It's like having a strong foundation for a happy life.

When we are content within ourselves, we can enjoy our connections with others even more.

Family and friends can indeed bring joy and support, but if one relies solely on external relationships to fill an inner void without addressing underlying issues, it may only serve as a temporary distraction rather than a long-term solution for true happiness.

Remember, everything starts from within ourselves.

04/04/2024

Why did I start street portraits?

It's more than just fun. It has a deep connection to Brand Authority.

Lately, I've been going out with my camera, asking strangers if I can take their picture.

I've observed something fascinating through this experience.

These strangers, despite not knowing me at all, are surprisingly open. Their genuine responses to my questions have really struck me.

But why am I telling you this?

How does this relate to your business as a business owner?

It's all about being "real."

Many business owners, like myself, wear masks.

Over time, we accumulate various layers of identity that don't always reflect our true selves, and often, we aren't even aware of them.

These masks can negatively impact us personally and in our businesses. They prevent us from genuinely connecting with our audience.

One day, I found something fascinating.

It's called Personality.

So I started to dive deeper into Personalities and explore who I truly am with my own Personality.

I discovered many layers of identities within me accumulated over the years are not representative of who I am. Oh boy, it was an eye-opener.

Through this exploration, I realised one remarkable thing.

Discovering your true personality can be a game-changer in your brand as a business owner.

I've realised that showing up as your true self is crucial for any business owner looking to connect with their audience.

Discovering and expressing my true personality has been game-changing for my brand. It's become essential for building expertise and forming connections with my audience.

Here's the thing - Discovering your true personality is not a waste of time. It's not just a nice-to-have --> it's a "must-have."

It's the fundamental foundation you must have as a business owner to establish yourself as the go-to expert in your brand.