Prior to meeting Isabelle, I was worried that parts of our conversation would be lost in translation as I do not know sign language. My worries were uncalled for. Her mother, Isabelle’s sign language interpreter, joined us and I watched how Isabelle’s mother patiently and swiftly signed Isabelle’s responses to my questions. Sometimes, she even completed Isabelle’s sentences before Isabelle finished signing. The close bond they share is undeniable; Isabelle teased her mum’s photo-taking skills with eye-rolls, and her mum would retort back playfully. While Isabelle and I could not converse verbally, her heart and passion for photography was heard loud and clear. Isabelle might be small-built, but she definitely has a larger than life personality. If I could describe her with two words, they would be “tenacious” and “inspiring.” Read on to find out more!
What are the earliest memories of your childhood?
My life started with an eight-month stay in the hospital. I have plenty of memories of hospital stays, visitations, check-ups, and different therapy sessions. But it’s not a painful memory as my parents gave me a happy childhood.
My parents sent me to different courses to learn art and drama. One of my happiest memories is an art course that I attended from four to ten years old. I felt like I was transported into another world full of creativity.
Have you been treated differently because of how you look or because you can’t hear?
I have eight fingers but people don’t realise it at first glance. My arms can’t be fully extended too. With new people, often times, the conversation starters are about my physical challenges and photography journey. I think because I do many things like others — writing, typing, eating, walking, photography — my disability isn’t that obvious.
DEAFNESS IS AN INVISIBLE DISABILITY.
What are some of the most awkward situations you have been in because people didn’t realise you are deaf?
Deafness is an invisible disability. Also, I don’t wear a hearing aid, so it isn’t obvious.
I have to use my phone to communicate my food orders. Sometimes I get wrong orders when I try gesturing, especially to elderly servers who don’t understand gestures or read English.
When people ask me for directions, they often say “Sorry!” and walk away when I tell them I’m deaf and I may need them to repeat themselves. There’s nothing to be sorry about; just text or write it out and ask me again.
I LEARNT NOT TO BE AFRAID OF MY DISABILITY... IT CAN BE MY STRENGTH.
When I meet new people, it can be a little awkward when they speak to me or speak without looking at me. I can attempt lip-reading but I may miss parts or most of the message. It’s even more challenging now with Covid-19! With people wearing masks, I can’t rely on lip-reading at all. Sometimes people also forget to gesture despite knowing I’m deaf.
Was befriending others in school a struggle for you?
Not really. As the only deaf student attending art classes with a small group of hearing students, everyone learnt together. Perhaps the children were young then and didn’t see any difference between us. I attended Singapore School For The Deaf in my primary school years. Everyone could sign so it was easy to understand each other.
I was thankful that in secondary school and LASALLE College of the Arts, I was never bullied. I was thought to be easy-going and approachable. Initially, classmates didn’t know how to approach me. I had to show them by typing, writing, or phone messaging. I had to break the ice first.
In secondary school, I was also thankful that there was a small group of deaf people spread out across different year groups. All of us could help each other.
How did you grow to become comfortable and confident in your own skin?
I had to accept myself first before others could accept me, and love myself before loving others. I learnt not to be afraid of my disability. It is not only my weakness, it can also be my strength. It just depends on how I view my disability; I don’t allow others to define my disability.
How did you turn your disability into your strength?
Sometimes I forget that I am deaf; I see myself as the same as others. But when there’s something I cannot do, then I realise that I am different. But that doesn’t stop me from trying to find a way to do it. My parents also remind me that I am uniquely different. They sent me to different courses like art, drama, dance, and sports for exposure. Every experience boosted my confidence. I stopped viewing my disability as a weakness but I started seeing the strengths I had, such as in photography. If it weren’t for the confidence built up over the years, I might not have been that adventurous to pick up photography in my later years.
I also cling on to the verses in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10. I’ve always remembered the phrases “My strength is made perfect in weakness” and “For when I am weak, then I am strong.” It’s pretty much my life motto, and reminds me to depend on God for all things.
What inspired you to pick up photography?
I was inspired by my deaf primary school teacher. He was a photography hobbyist. He would show our class photos from school events after major examinations. We would all be laughing at the candid and “unglam” moments; it brought so much joy to our class.
Photography started out as a fun hobby but gradually, I started volunteering as an event photographer in school. I also participated in photography competitions and won an award. I started to post my photos on Facebook. One day, my uncle asked my mum if I had been looking though photography books. He told my mum that one of the very simple images of raindrops I captured was similar to a photo he saw in a museum taken by a renowned photographer! He told my mum to watch out for me as I might have some talent in photography.
Why did you decide to pursue photography as a career?
I remember school events where plenty of people were talking and I felt out of place and excluded. However, through taking photos, it felt like I was entering their world and I could connect with them and “hear” their conversations.
After attending the Institute of Technical Education (ITE), I was at a crossroads. Should I go to a polytechnic to pursue a diploma in accounting and have a stable job, or go to LASALLE for photography despite being unsure of where it would take me? I was praying to God to help me choose which path to take, and I experienced this peace when I chose to go to LASALLE. I wasn’t so keen to work from 9-5. I like to move around on the job. My job now gives me that freedom and I love that every job I take is unique. I believe God knows all that was on my heart, hence He led me to LASALLE to hone my skills.
PEOPLE SEE MY ABILITIES THROUGH MY PHOTOS; MY DISABILITIES AREN’T VISIBLE TO THEM.
After graduating from LASELLE, I started shooting. From 2016 till pre-Covid, I was mostly doing event photography but was moving towards family, portrait, wedding, and maternity shoots too.
What are some challenges you encounter on shoots since you aren’t able to communicate with your subjects verbally?
In some shoots where a lot of subjects are present, it does get overwhelming because there are many things to take note of. Before shoots, I will liaise with my subjects through text messaging or email to get to know them better. I prepare photo references and go through them with my mum. I will highlight key words of what I want to capture.
During the shoot, I sign the keywords to my mum. She roughly knows what poses I want and communicates that to the subjects, saying things like “Issy is going a little closer to you,” “Stay in your poses while Issy shoots a few more photos,” and more.
What is the most fulfilling part of your work as a photographer?
Making my clients smile when they look at the images I capture. When I did event photography, clients did not realise that I am deaf and that I was the one taking the photos. In a way, people see my abilities through my photos; my disabilities aren’t visible to them.
Fill in the blank. “To me, God is ____.” Why did you choose that word?
Faithful. Because His love and faith in us is unending. There are times we doubt ourselves. But God knows our abilities best, even better than our parents on earth! He is the author of our lives. How can we doubt God’s faith in us?
*This interview has been edited for length and clarity.