If you look through Kenny Loh’s camera lens you will see a big heart. Well, at least metaphorically.

For this renowned photographer and author of Born in Malaysia and Born in Malaysia - A Story of Kuala Lumpur, his equipment is secondary to his empathy for his subjects.

“I will always go for the story behind the subject first and to have a conversation with that person about his life,” Kenny says that he has come to a point in his photography where he needn’t have to think much about taking that good enough photograph.

He confidently declares that taking a genuine interest in a person's story will naturally help to compose a photo with soul and depth. Exercising empathy towards his clients has also helped them to discover more about themselves and the people around them. 

Kenny captures such moments of realisation and frames them in his gallery of photographs for them as if to freeze those moments for them to share and for further reflection.

“When I was shooting for my first book Born In Malaysia, I met a rattan weaver in Penang and after photographing him, I asked for his name. He replied, why do you want my name? I am nobody.

“Then I asked him, Do you have children? He said yes. A son working in Singapore and another working in IT somewhere. 

“I told him, Then how can you say you are a nobody? At that, he realised he was someone’s father and not nobody. He began to tear.”

Kenny’s search for good stories would leave him with hours of storytelling and sharing with his clients. From high-profile corporate personalities to the man on the street, Kenny would not hesitate to have a chat.

“Photography has become so much a part of me that it doesn't take so much effort to take that picture. As I begin to talk to the subject I would already visualise in my mind how the photo should look like.”

He does not only see with his heart, Kenny is also cognizant of sound created by elements in the environment of his subjects.