Look Who it Was Random video

Grieving through Remembering | Joan Leong | TEDxPickeringStreet

1,188 views · Published 29 October 2018 · 9:17 · Indexed 3 October 2026

Channel: TEDx Talks · 2018 · Nonprofits & Activism

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Talking about death has often been viewed as a taboo subject. Society has conditioned us to celebrate a life lived when it is an adult, but we hush a baby’s death like it is something to hide. A life, any life, deserves to be celebrated and treasured. With adults, we have a lifetime of photos perhaps. But with babies, we may only have those few hours, if at all. In those painful moments, in death, we celebrate life. Around the world, more parents are choosing to have professional photos taken of their stillborn or dying babies, facilitating the grieving process by allowing themselves the time and space to honour their babies.  Joan has always loved telling good stories. She started an early career in speech and drama at the age of 17, evolving to capturing moments through photography and crafting stories through television shows. She has produced popular large format reality shows, such as The Amazing Race Australia (which won an International Emmy), Asia’s Next Top Model and Cash Cab Asia. Through her work, she aims to share stories of transformation and growth. Her latest project ‘The Kings’ (https://www.tlcasia.com/thekings) tells the inspirational love story of a transgender woman and her wife, chronicling their journey of struggles and acceptance in the modern landscape.
She volunteers for ‘Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep’ (https://www.nowilaymedowntosleep.org), a worldwide network of photographers who stand in the gap when families have suffered a stillbirth or early infant loss. She believes through remembrance photography, that families will be able to tell their life stories of love. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

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