| Friday, August 31, 2007 |
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If you're a dog parent or dog lover in the San Francisco Bay Area, then you probably know about the brand new Wag Hotels, the first luxury hotel for dogs and cats.
Ritu Raj, the founder and force behind Wag, kindly sent these images over today. My photography is appearing on the sides of San Francsico city buses in an ad campaign for Wag Hotels. Pretty cool, huh? You can also see more of my photography throughout the Wag Hotels San Francisco store.
If you haven't stopped by Wag Hotels, please do. The place is AMAZING and caters to the most discerning dogs and cats in town! |
| Monday, August 27, 2007 |
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On August 25th, Elizabeth and Kaan tied the knot on a private ranch in Angels Camp that has been in Elizabeth's family for generations. The couple said "I Do" under a large oak tree where, just 28 years before, Elizabeth's parents stood in the same spot and were married. It was a joyous gathering of two families from two continents, as Kaan's family traveled all the way to Northern California from Turkey. And the rustic setting provided a gorgeous backdrop to this simple, yet elegant wedding.
Congratulations Elizabeth and Kaan! |
| Elizabeth possessed the most delicate features and amazing blue eyes. Such a gorgeous bride! |
| My wonderful assistant, Lara, captured this beautiful shot... |
| We were blessed with a gorgeous sunset... |
| Dancing under a canopy of stars... |
| Wednesday, August 22, 2007 |
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| This is my second of three engagement sessions this week. Sandra and TC are such a fun couple with an up-for-anything attitude! Sandra is also one of my frequent blog visitors, so I'm excited to post this session. Tonight we met at the de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park. What a great spot with lots of opportunity for amazing imagery. This week has been nothing short of perfect weather and tonight was no less. Beautiful light from start to finish. I can't wait for Sandra and TC's wedding next month! |
| I just love the vintage, textured look! |
| No engagement session would be complete without a DOG! Here's Molly, a Boston Terrier pup. She and her "parents" just happened to be walking by, so naturally I asked if we could "borrow her" for our shoot. |
| I just love this series... |
| Towards the end of our session, my good friend and studio partner, Gene Higa, showed up to join us for dinner afterwards. I didn't want Gene to feel left out of all the fun so I handed him the camera and here's one of his shots in typical Gene Higa fashion... |
| Tuesday, August 21, 2007 |
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This is my first of three engagement sessions this week. I had such a fun evening with Joann and Tom, my clients who are getting married next month at Thomas Fogarty Winery in the beautiful Santa Cruz mountains. This couple were up for anything! We began our session at the Palace of Fine Arts, taking advantage of some gorgeous light before heading over to Crissy Field. I captured some beautiful silhouettes and images with flare! I also played a bit with textures. Let me know what you think!
Thanks, Joann and Tom. I can't wait for the wedding! |
| What a great way to end a perfect shoot! |
| Sunday, August 19, 2007 |
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A gorgeous setting, a buddhist ceremony, and lots of laughter throughout the day made the wedding of Michelle and Scott simply unforgettable. The couple exchanged vows on August 18th at the beautiful Hakone Gardens in Saratoga, which boasts the oldest surviving Japanese-style gardens in the Western Hemisphere. A reception with dinner and dancing followed at the San Jose Fairmont. Adrienne Disch of Adrienne Marie Weddings & Design coordinated a flawless event from beginning to end. Also worth mentioning, Michelle had tried to convince the chef at the reception to give Bogie, my pug, some leftover steak. It didn't happen, but it's the thought that counts!
Congratulations Michelle and Scott! |
| Friday, August 17, 2007 |
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I often get asked if I do baby portraits and, yes, I do! I love photographing babies.
Here's baby Noam from a recent portrait session. Look at those big blue eyes!
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| Saturday, August 11, 2007 |
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| Mimi + Tom and Jaclyn + Vincent |
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CONGRATULATIONS to my clients Mimi and Tom who were married on August 5th, and Jaclyn and Vincent, who were married today, August 11th.
Due to my recent unfortunate family circumstances, I was unable to photograph their weddings. I was very sorry to miss working with my lovely clients, but I made sure they were in the best of hands.
My good friend and studio partner, Gene Higa, and I were commissioned to photograph Mimi and Tom's wedding together, but as I was unable to Gene partnered up with another good friend of mine, the amazingly talented Jesse Leake. Talk about doubling up on talent! The wedding took place at the Santa Clara Mission Church and the Rotunda of San Jose City Hall. Check Gene's blog for a sneak peek. The wedding was simply gorgeous! And, speaking of Taylor Pham, who is my first featured vendor, she was Mimi's maid of honor!
For Jaclyn and Vicent's wedding, I was fortunate to have the incredibly talented team of photographer Jules Bianchi and her sister and associate photographer, Joy, step in for me. Both are such wonderful friends that I have gotten to know this past year, and I know they'll do a beautiful job. I'm looking forward to seeing the images! Be sure to check out Jules's blog!
I'm truly blessed to have such great friends in this business and such wonderful clients!
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| Wednesday, August 8, 2007 |
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| Taylor Pham + Thi Cosmetics |
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I'm thrilled to announce my very first featured vendor, Taylor Pham, founder of Thi Cosmetics. Taylor is a talented makeup artist, a successful entrepreneur, and a beautiful person inside and out.
I've had the pleasure of working with Taylor at many weddings over the years, and I couldn't be more happy for her success or recommend her enough to all my brides. She is definitely one of the best in the business! Her products have garnered international attention and are used by women all over the world, and Thi Cosmetics is regularly featured in beauty and fashion magazines.
Just recently, Taylor announced the launch of her White Tea Foundation line, which is sold in 27 stores in Japan! I also want to plug my absolute favorite Thi product, Taylor's famous Lush Lashes, which are unlike anything else on the market! These are a must-have for the bride on her wedding day.
As noted on Taylor's website, her goal is to help Asian women recognize their distinctive beauty and to encourage them to feel sexy and beautiful in their own skin. Taylor believes "What makes you different, makes you beautiful."
Be sure to sign up for Thi's newsletter for exciting news, product updates and industry events.
Taylor's websites:
Taylor Pham
Thi Cosmetics
* First two photos are provided by courtesy of Taylor Pham, Thi Cosmetics. |
About White Tea Foundation:
Flawless Finish.
Capture the glow of luminous skin with Thi's Seamless White Tea Foundation.
So weightless, it redefines foundation. |
Gene and I were asked by Taylor to do her bio and press headshot last year. Here's the photo Taylor selected for her website.
Oh, and I just had to share that after the session, Taylor made Bogie's day by taking a photo with him, or might it have been the other way around? Hard to say! :)
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| Monday, August 6, 2007 |
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Pauline and Eddy exchaged vows under a spectacular skylight at the Ricon Center Atrium in San Francisco on July 14th. The day began at the groom's family home for a brief tea ceremony before heading over to the Westin St. Francis for getting ready shots and portraits of the beautiful bride. Afterwards, we took more portraits in and around the Japanese Tea Gardens in Golden Gate Park. The weather was a bit overcast and produced gorgeous light to work with. (Note to brides: Never fret if your wedding day isn't sunny!).
Congratulations Pauline and Eddy! |
| I tried a different effect with this image as I wanted to give it a vintage feel. |
| I love this Kate Spade dragonfly detail on the cake knife. |
| Thursday, August 2, 2007 |
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My beautiful dad passed away peacefully Wednesday morning after a year-long and courageous battle with cancer. Thank you everyone for your prayers for my dad and family during this difficult time.
This is very personal, but I want to share something that I think is very important. Family. Don't put anything before family. Moments. Treasure those moments with your loved ones, and treat the time you spend with them like there is no tomorrow. Photographs. Take lots of pictures. You'll be thankful later on to have captured priceless moments in time.
Becoming a photographer was a second career for me. I was a late bloomer to the profession, but I always believed that it was what I was meant to do with my life. I look back at all the photographs I have taken of my family, of my dad in particular, and I smile and remember those moments as if they just happened yesterday. That is the beauty of photography.
Every time I photograph a wedding and see a bride with her dad, I'm reminded of my own wedding day and the moments I shared with my dad. I've always told my brides that one of my favorite things to do when photographing a wedding is to document those special moments between a daughter and her father (and a mother and her son, too). Sure, the dress, the flowers, the venue, the cake, etc. are all important, but nothing is as important as your loved ones. Cherish your time with them.
Here is me and my dad at my wedding in 1994. It's a bad scan, I know, and I still cringe about my hair... it was the 90's afterall!. But I remember that moment like it was yesterday and I'll always cherish that time with my dad.
Love you, Dad. xoxo
*** I've received such an outpouring of kind words, prayers and support regarding my Dad's passing, and I would like to thank everyone who has taken the time to post a comment or send an email. Your kindness is like a warm embrace. *** |
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