Darrell Photography

Tiffani and Demitrius | Engagement Session | Las Vagas, NV Wedding Photographer

2012-01-30T16:00:00.000-08:00

"We want to have our engagement session in Las Vegas. Are you cool with that?"

Two words: "Hell yes!"

I had an amazing time in December spending a whole day with Tiffani and Demitrius, in Vegas no doubt. The weather was bright and sunny....and 40 degrees. I felt so bad for Tiffani, but talk about being a trooper. Between every click on my camera was scores of teeth chatter and goosebumps. But Tiffani made dealing with the biting cold seem like nothing at all. Again, what a trooper!

We started out in Henderson, where they have a replica of the Ponte Vecchio. The place was literally deserted so we had the whole place to ourselves. It provided a good mix of backlit and lush grassy imagery. Demi and Tiffani are hugh 49er fans so a few shots of them with jerseys on was a must. And trust me, Demi was all for tackling Tiffani. :p

When Demi and Tiffani said Vegas, I immediately thought Neon Museum. It's such a cool place with old legacy neon signs jam packed into a lot. I could have spent hours in there just taking photos of them, but we were on the clock...and a budget. :)

We topped off the night with some shots with what makes Vegas so famous, the lights. Without the bright lights, as tacky and gaudy as some of them are, you don't truly have the Vegas feel. And again, Trooper! It was 10x colder at night, but Tiffani rocked her skirt with no problem.

Thank you so much for this opportunity, Demi and Tiffani. My wife and I had a great time getting to know you both. Thank you so much for buying into my vision for the shoot. It means a lot that you trust me. I'm really looking for your wedding in May!

Jimmie & Jennifer | Wedding | Palo Alto Wedding Photographer

2012-01-18T09:25:00.000-08:00

It was a treat to listen to an abbreviated version of Jennifer and Jimmie's story, but I felt like I already knew it since it was very similar to my own story of how my wife and I met. Friends first, that says it all. You could see how at the core of their relationship that they were best friends. They had no problem casually talking while I snapped away. Always laughing, and even kissing at the alter immediately after Dad handed Jennifer over to Jimmie. I was waiting for the officiant so say,"Aaaaaand we're done!"

It was such a great atmosphere complimented with gorgeous surroundings. Everyone was very upbeat and made my job easy. Thank you Jennifer and Jimmie for the honor of shooting your wedding.

Special thanks to Stephanie Luczynski at Wedding & Event Design, who did an awesome job with coordinating everything. It was great working with you!

David and Helen Fong | Family Portraits | San Jose, CA

2012-01-16T14:58:00.000-08:00

The last time I did a session for the Fongs, they were a family of 4. Now, a family of 5, I was happily surprised to see that they were going to be a family of 6. Cassidy and Preston were the same as always, with Cassidy as the girly girl and Preston as the happy-go-lucky boy. But Mikayla's eyes stole the show for me. Even now as I type I'm lost in those large deep brown eyes that scream out cuteness (I'm a father myself so I can say that). I can't wait to see how "number 4" is. Thank you David and Helen for your continual support of my photography. Your growing family is beautiful!

Dedo and Smith Families | Family Portraits | Hillsborough, CA

2012-01-11T11:49:00.000-08:00

Danny & Tiffany | Just for Fun

2012-01-09T22:32:00.000-08:00

We went to visit my sister/brother-in-law over the weekend to see them and our new niece (those photos to come soon). I saw some great lighting and just had to take a few shots of them, just for fun. New facebook profile photos for sure. :)

Nakagawa/Wong Family | Family Portraits | Sacramento, CA

2012-01-07T14:48:00.000-08:00

Cara & Carl | Wedding | Intercontinental Mark Hopkins | San Francisco, CA

2011-12-29T09:34:00.000-08:00

What a beautiful venue Cara and Carl had. The Intercontinental Mark Hopkins towers alone on San Francisco's Nob Hill. With guests flying in from Asia to Sweden to witness these two get married, intercontinental was an appropriate term. Cara and Carl, both very ambitious, let me know they wanted to make all their guests feel welcomed by talking to each one of them. And I don't mean just a "hi & bye". They spent many minutes with each guest. At the end of the night, I left remembering the elegance and sophistication of the venue, the food, and of course, the couple. Thank you so much for letting me play a major role in producing your wedding images.

Lo Family | Family Portraits | Sacramento, CA

2011-12-28T14:26:00.000-08:00

Timing is everything. With my photography schedule, I was either in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, the Bay Area, or Sacramento. And in the midst of all my planning, I had to plan for the birth of my 2nd niece. November/December were hectic months for me. But I was still able to take some photos for my sister and her family. As cold and damp as it was, the colors from the leaves really shined through. And my niece, Ava, was cheesing it up as always. Dimples are a good thing!

(Update: Thankfully, my sister gave birth a couple weeks after this shoot. Photos of Chloe Hope Lo coming soon!)

David & Deborah Liu Family | Dave Temer & Caroline Lau Family

2011-12-26T14:50:00.000-08:00

Lee Family 2011

2011-12-25T14:34:00.000-08:00

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy 2012!!!

Kaplan Family | Family Portraits | Old Sacramento

2011-12-24T14:13:00.000-08:00

I've mentioned this before, but I love how photography has reconnected me with friends from years past. I met Kimberly in 2nd grade, and we stayed in touch throughout Jr. High. And of course with the invention of social networking, Kim and I were able to reestablish contact a couple years ago. Now married with 2 boys, we had done a portrait session down in Southern California last year, but this time, we decided to meet up in Old Sacramento. With horse and carriages on every other street, railroad tracks bordering the Sacramento River, and the overall 1800s feel, it's probably one of my favorite places to shoot. I'm thankful that we got to squeeze this session in, just in time for the holidays.

The Honda Family | Family Portraits

2011-11-28T13:14:00.000-08:00

When you think of good neighbors, what comes to your mind? State Farm? Wilson from Home Improvement? Mr. Rogers? Well, I personally think of the Hondas. My family moved next door to them when I was about 11 years old. And looking back, I realized how much the Hondas put up with. Not that we were bad neighbors, but I know I spent many nights in our backyard playing 1-on-none basketball, while our dog Kiko (and later Kobe) barked at every leaf that moved. God only knows how many times they went to bed thinking, "Is that tubby kid playing ball again?" Of course there are other neighborly things that I recall. One morning, during a hot summer drought, we woke up to a flood of water in front of our front lawn. HOA had posted days with which we could and could not have our sprinklers on and we were dinged for it. However, Mr. Honda was upfront and already had conversations with HOA that one of his sprinkler had burst, which caused all the water to flow out to our lawn. And there was the time when my father wanted to build a patio table, and Mr. Honda helped him put it together. And then there was....well, you get the picture. In fact, you'll get 3 below. :)

Michael & Amy | Family Portraits

2011-11-28T06:15:00.000-08:00

Talk about lucky! Last weekend was forecasted as heavy rain, high winds, and overall gloomy weather. But thanks to a real early riser (Mike and Amy's son Adam) and an 8am morning shoot, it proved to be perfect timing for a break in the rain and even a little bit of morning sunlight. We were all on a tight schedule, but the hour that we had worked out just perfectly. What a great shoot, and a great family.

Jarvis & Irene | Family Portraits

2011-11-23T09:58:00.000-08:00

Timeless. That's what I thought when I saw old friends from college Jarvis and Irene. They look exactly the same as they did back in the good ol' UC Berkeley days. Before any of the tuition increases, before the Occupy Movement, and sadly, before Cal Football had any relevance(Oh how I loathe the Tom Holmoe years). This is one of the things I love about photography. It reconnects me with people that I haven't seen in years and in the process, I can provide them with images that hopefully put a smile on their faces.

Thanks for the opportunity! You guys have a beautiful family!

Linda & Eric | Wedding | San Francisco, CA

2011-11-23T08:59:00.000-08:00

There's nothing like getting up at 4:30am to go shoot a wedding. That's how it is with all day weddings and why not? Maximize the wedding day since it's going to blow by really fast anyways. And while you're at it, throw in 4 dresses, a stretch H2 limo, and a bridal party that could have just been called, "The Party." That's how fun it was to ride with Linda and Eric's crew. Thanks for letting me hang with you all on your wedding day. I definitely had a great time. Congratulations again!

Special thanks to Make Up Artist Su Young Kim (650.242.6619) who did a fabulous job and traveling to each site to ensure Linda was taken care of.

Also, check out wedding video shot by Lumitone.

Jen & Daniel | Wedding | Los Angeles Wedding Photographer

2011-11-22T12:41:00.000-08:00

Some weddings you can just feel the love. Not only between the couple, but between the couple and their guests/friends. This was one of them. So much so that everyone that had a responsibility in putting this wedding together was a friend of the happy couple. From the coordinators to the musicians, the ushers to this photographer...sort of (I met Jen a number of years back, and outside of a couple of Facetime pre-wedding sessions, hadn't met Daniel until the wedding day). But it was really a wedding/reception built by friends and family. How cool is that?

And to top it off, they had THE BEST CENTER PIECES EVER!!!! A "Might Mug" at each table? Are you kidding me? Absolute genius! And I got to take one home to my son. Bonus points for me. :)

Thank you so much, Jen and Daniel, for including me on your wedding day. Congratulations again!

Sharon & Michael | Wedding | San Francisco, CA

2011-11-21T15:50:00.000-08:00

Little Rock 9

2011-11-18T10:49:00.000-08:00

Last night while driving home, I was really thankful for my high school American History class. I don't remember a whole lot, but I do remember the "Little Rock Nine." Even if your recollection of the civil rights movement has been clouded by today's relatively comfortable life, the name "Little Rock 9" conjures up images of the 9 students, in 1957, who courageously attended Central High School in Little Rock, AR after racially segregated schools were declared unconstitutional 3 years prior. A few years ago, I heard Terrence Roberts, one of the Little Rock 9 speak at a conference but never got a chance to meet him. But last night, I got a chance to listen and meet Minnijean Brown-Trickey, another one of the Little Rock 9 at an event for the San Mateo County Community College District Foundation. It made me realize that we are in a unique lifestage to still have access to those that experienced the civil rights movement first hand. We have living today people who have walked with Dr. Martin Luther King, campaigned with Cesar Chavez, and fought Japanese internment camps (see Fred Korematsu). How awesome is that? If you ever get a chance to talk to someone with their unique perspective on life, remember the thank them for what they've done. It's because of them that allows us to have our comfortable life today.

And on a lesser extent, I can say I'm one degree away from Oprah. :p

Happy 90th Birthday to Grandpa

2011-11-02T09:53:00.000-07:00

I think I'm in the minority when I say that I've had the honor meeting all 4 of my grandparents and one great-grandparent. Which is why I find it important to have my son see my grandfather whenever we can. It's a rare thing to see 4 generations together this day in age, but thankfully I'm able to capture it within my own family. Today is my grandfather's 90th birthday and we wish him the all the best. He tells us that he's going to live till 100, and we're going to hold him to that, and more.

SR Mentoring Series 4 | 2011

2011-10-20T14:37:00.000-07:00

This was final workshop shoot for the SR Northern California Mentoring series. It took place in a beautiful church in my old stomping grounds, the Oakland Hills. Looking back at my very first workshop shoot, it makes me thankful that I invested in the mentoring series with Scott Robert Lim. I encourage everyone serious about their photography to find a mentor, it makes a world of difference, and it's a small price to pay when you consider what you'll be able to do with it.

Looking forward to future destination workshops!

Credit list -

Hair done by the following hair stylists at Visual Image, Fremont

http://www.visualimagesalon.com/

Donnavie - Mye

Vhina - Whitney

Casey – Alicia

Nina - Mye

Benjamin - Whitney

Makeup Artist - Jennifer Toy

Fashion Stylist - Stylist Kristen Fretcher

Wedding Gowns provide by - Zabrina Deng

Robert & Jeannie | Maternity | San Francisco, CA

2011-10-20T13:19:00.001-07:00

The one thing I love about photography is the variety. You've got landscape, macro, food, wildlife, people, and many others. And within those partitions you have a multitude of subsets of photography. You can never get bored of it. It's nice to mix it up here and there, and shooting a maternity session for Robert and Jeannie was a great break from the weddings and portraits. Being a father myself makes me appreciate this type of photography on a multitude of levels. The joy of seeing a couple on the verge of being new parents and being able to capture that is an honor. Thank you Robert, Jeannie, and baby Yu. See you all next month for the infant shoot!

The Womack Family 2011 | Family Portraits | Vasona Park

2011-10-20T08:35:00.000-07:00

Darrell: "Ella, why don't you go take a picture next to Jadon?"
Ella: "You know our names?!?!"
Darrell: "Well, of course!"
Ella: "How?"
Darrell: "From last years shoot. You don't remember?"
Ella: "Nope" and walks off....

Well, it's good to know that I left such a great impression on Brian and Elizabeth's children. :) Thankfully, I was asked to take their portraits again for a 3rd straight year. We tried to do everything we could at the park, from swings, to merry-go-rounds, to the open fields and trees. Vasona Park really has it all, and we didn't even cover half it. I feel so fortunate to be able to capture the Womack Family again. They are such a fun bunch. Thank you so much for your support.

Oh, and Ella was holding my hand by the end of the shoot. Let's see if she remembers that next year! :p

Michael & Peien | Wedding | Millbrae, CA

2011-10-11T08:55:00.000-07:00

Mental Note: It's not easy nor efficient trying to discuss a client's wedding while playing basketball with him (Michael Lang) over the span of 5 Sunday nights. You're bound to miss as many jumpshots as you are wedding details (that would be Mike missing jumpshots, not me).

Good thing Peien got wind of our wedding photography discourse methods and was able to provide us all with more insight. In the end, everything worked out fine, with only one verbal slip of the word "Onion" in place of the word "Union." Fortunately, it was an intimate wedding where only the couple, pastor, and photographer caught on and held in the laughter. Congratulations to Mike and Peien! Thanks for letting me capture your wedding day. My wedding gift to you, I'll resist shooting a 3'pointer in your face for the next couple weeks...if I can resist. You know I'll launch it from 40 feet! :p

Venue: Millbrae Bible Church
Make Up: Karla Emm; J'Adore Beauty

The Ta Family 2011 | Family Portraits

2011-10-11T08:33:00.001-07:00

When I think about early adopters, I think about the Ta Family. I've been photographing Loc and Christina since I started 4 years ago. And each year it gets better and better. We always seem to find some creative way to make each shoot unique and fun. I'm feel very fortunate and thankful to the Ta family for specially making the trip annually from Southern California just to let me photograph them. One day I promise we'll do a shoot down there.

Justin & Sara | Engagement | San Francisco, CA

2011-10-04T08:42:00.000-07:00

It seems like every time I do a shoot, I enjoy it more and more. And although the end product of all my shoots are the images, it's really the byproduct of happiness and friendship that I cherish the most. With Justin and Sarah, simply put, it was an amazing afternoon of shooting that couldn't have worked out better. I was really appreciative of how much planning they put into their engagement session. From props to driving arrangements, to make-up and attire. It really helped me, as the photographer to be able to concentrate on what I was there for and to dig deep into that creative cave I call my brain. Sara is a local girl, so we wanted to capture images from areas of the city. We started in SOMA, worked our way to the Presidio, and ended at one of my favorite beaches in the outer Richmond District. It was a day filled with great images, laughter, and retro tunes from the great Notorious BIG. Oh, you didn't know? Now you do. :p

Thanks again to Justin and Sara, for trusting me with your e-session. I'm looking forward to your wedding next year!

The Wong Family | Family Portraits | Palo Alto, CA

2011-09-28T08:24:00.000-07:00

Hanson: "So tell me what experience you have with unix."
Darrell: "Uh...I have none."
Hanson: "So tell me what experience you have with day-to-day operations in Data Centers."
Darrell: "Uh, I have none."
Hanson: "So you're telling me that you have no sys admin experience, no data center experience, and pretty much no life experience at all? (turns to the DC manager) I like him! He's hired! Whoop-D-Whoop!"

That was over 10 years ago, and it's probably not how the job interview went, (although I think Hanson did say "Whoop-D-Whoop" once or twice) but I knew they were taking a chance on a kid out of college with no real-world job experience. It was the tail-end of the dot-com boom, but I'm glad to have had a chance to experience that work culture. That experience created a unique set of friends that I definitely appreciate.

Since then, we've all gotten married and had some kids. It was the first time meeting Hanson and Leona's children. They were full of spunk and energy, it was hard to contain their glee. Great for me and great for the Wong Family photos. Thank you Hanson and Leona for letting me photograph your family. I had a lot of fun. Let's do it again next year! :) Whoop-D-Whoop!

The Thomas Family | Family Portraits | Sunnyvale, CA

2011-09-15T10:37:00.000-07:00

I first met Trevor and Laurie at my son's daycare. Their daughter Katie started there at the same time as Jordan. Reports from the care givers depicted them as inseparable. It's been over a year since then, and I found out they were looking to adopt. Part of the process of adoption is family portraits. I was more than happy to help out. After perusing the agencies strict guidelines for the family portrait, we spent about an hour shooting at a local park. Aside from the shooting, it was a great time for the kids to get reacquainted. Katie's eyes are so captivating. It's no wonder that Jordan likes her so much. They are just so hypnotizing! :) Thanks to the Thomas family for allowing me to play a minor roll in their pursuit of adoption. I had a lot of fun with you all!

Alvin & Alice | Wedding | The Golf Club at Brentwood

2011-09-01T11:06:00.000-07:00

It was a family affair. Literally. To the left, right, side-to-side, I couldn't escape the faces of someone I knew. One of the greatest and nerve racking moments in shooting a wedding for a family member. This wedding was definitely personal. Not only was Alvin one my closest friends growing up, he's my cousin. Funny thing was, my very first memory of him was of us playing in my parents garage, then getting into a fight, and him sinking his teeth into my left arm. Today he claims that I bit him back, but I have no recollection of that. After all, I've always been the "good little boy."

But I digress. It was a great honor to be shooting Alvin and Alice's wedding. Alvin and Alice have always been a supporter of my photography and what a great way to show full confidence in my work than to have me there as their wedding photographer. At the hotel Alvin and Alice played hide-and-go-seek as they found creative ways to avoid each other before the ceremony. After a couple hours there, it was time to brave the sun and head to the ceremony site.

The ceremony was great. Very well lit, albeit slightly harsh. But I was able to obtain some great photos of the bridal party as they walked down the aisle. It lasted the right amount of time and before you knew it, dinner, slideshow, and dancing. Congratulations to Alvin and Alice. It was a long time coming, but your time finally came and it was one great party.

A special thanks to The Golf Club at Brentwood. Very classy and the employees that work there have got to be one of the most accommodating hosts I've come across. They took notice of my wife trying to hold two plates of food and my son at the buffet line. Someone quickly took the plates and helped her get her dinner. I really appreciated that.

And I'd like to end with my personal favorite photo. Me and Alvin all grown up. Of course, "grown up" is a relative term.

Cara & Carl | Engagement | San Francisco, CA

2011-08-23T08:42:00.001-07:00

What do you get when you combine a Sunday afternoon and minimal automobile/pedestrian traffic? You get free parking and great photographs at multiple locations with very little time wasted. Cara and Carl had only planned on spending a couple hours with me as we cruised around San Francisco for their engagement session. But the roads were so wide open that we ended up shooting the whole afternoon as we liberally drove wherever we wanted to with little resistance.

We slyly shot in the Embarcadero Center, dodging the pesky "permit-demanding" security mall cops. And after a wardrobe change headed out to Crissy Field and neighboring regions to finish up the shoot. Thanks to Cara and Carl (well, mainly Cara) for braving the cold and letting me have my way with them...photographically. See you in October at the wedding!

Sharon & Michael | Engagement | San Francisco, CA

2011-08-23T08:01:00.001-07:00

You hang around me long enough, and you'll get wet. Ok, that didn't come out totally right. But in the case of Sharon and Michael, it was true. We started the day in Ghirardelli Square, the spot where Michael proposed to Sharon over large mounds of ice-cream. But ice-cream wasn't in the cards for us on this day, unfortunately for me. We worked our way over to China Beach, a favorite location of mine. I had initially planned just for some simple "walking along the beach" photos but Sharon and Michael were game for anything and by the end of the shoot, were thigh-deep in the Pacific Ocean. It was a fun shoot, great energy, and great company. Thanks for driving....and thanks for lunch! :)

Yosemite Video

2011-08-18T16:21:00.000-07:00

If you've read my blog recently, you know that I love Yosemite National Park. I came across this awesome video about those that go to Yosemite climb the giant natural monuments there. Due to my fear of heights, this type of photography isn't something you'll find me doing, but I definitely appreciate what's being presented here. Everyone takes pictures, but photographers/artist take pictures to tell a story, in this case, the micro-culture of climbers. So very cool. Enjoy!

http://vimeo.com/27101039

SR Mentoring Series 3 | Coyote Hills | 2011

2011-08-04T07:45:00.000-07:00

Yosemite | Vacation

2011-07-28T21:47:00.001-07:00

My family had a chance to visit one of my favorite places in the world, Yosemite National Park. It's such a majestic place, I'm just surprised when I talk to fellow Californians who have never been here. This was probably my 10th time here and it still amazes me. It should be one of those places on your bucket list to visit. You just cannot fathom the convenient concentration of 5 waterfalls within the Yosemite Valley, the various hikes and trails that open your eyes to the importance of wildlife and conservation, and the beauty and sheer size of Half Dome in person. Postcards and my photos below don't do it justice. About the only thing I'm disappointed in is I've never seen a Black Bear here. As a kid that was all I wanted to see. And now, armed with some great camera gear, my thirst to photograph a Black Bear in Yosemite still persists. Some day....some day....

The Merced River Flowing quite nicely thanks to the mild summer

A view of Half Dome, Nevada Falls, and Vernal Falls from Glacier Point.

My beautiful wife and son enjoying their hike on Mist Trail

My favorite shot of the trip!

Kimberly & David | Wedding | Berkeley, CA

2011-07-28T08:11:00.000-07:00

Jewish weddings are probably in my top 2 favorite types of weddings to shoot. They are so much fun, and everyone is high on happiness. So it was a great treat for me to shoot Kimberly and David's wedding at the Brazilian Room in Tilden Park. The morning started overcast, but the morning fog quickly burned off to light up the great lush hillsides that perpetuate the park. The timing of the ceremony called for the sun to be directly above the couple. Not to fear, though. Thank God for tall and strong friends as the bridal party constructed and supported a homemade chuppah for the bride and groom to be married in. As cool as that was, from my point of view, it was instant diffusion of light that pointed in my favor.

If you haven't been to a Jewish wedding, you're in for a real party. The hora is a great tradition to experience. Dancing circles within circles, opposite rotations, and the couple raised into the air on chairs. It's such an exhilarating time. The pure emotions that photographers can capture within this minute of dancing is pure gold.

Thank you Kimberly and David for letting me capture your wedding day. It was a lot of fun and I wish you both the best! Mozel tov!

Pixie Dusk | Boutique Shoot

2011-07-11T20:08:00.000-07:00

I was introduced to owner and founder of the online boutique Pixie Dusk, Julie Hwang a couple month ago, and found out she was looking for a photographer to shoot her products. It was a unique opportunity for me and in early July, together with Make Up Artist Fei Interrante and model Caity Maclennan, we knocked this out the park. Julie was very organized and was able to provide me with clear and constructive descriptions of the look that she was going for. Caity was one of the easiest models I've worked with as she showed a lot of natural modeling talent. And Fei was nice enough to remain with us the whole time to do touch-ups when needed. And she even helped with my lighting at times! :)

Overall, it was a great experience with great people. Please check out Pixie Dusk when you get a chance. Very cool and chic clothes, and my wife loves her cardigan. :p

Missie & Rey | Wedding | For Renai Photography

2011-07-05T09:11:00.000-07:00

Over the 4th of July weekend I had the great opportunity to shoot with one of Hawaii's great wedding photographers. Eddy (of Renai Photography) and I met a couple years ago on the island of O'ahu where I was a groomsman in a wedding, and he was the photographer. Through a few emails and social media, he and I were able to stay in touch. Unfortunately for me, this wedding was not in Hawaii, but being able to shoot with Eddy in the eastbay is good enough for me. Congratulations to Missie and Rey, high school sweethearts that really ought to be commended for their strong affection for one another. Aloha!

Alvin & Alice | Engagement Part II | Santa Cruz, CA

2011-06-25T20:11:00.000-07:00

Sometimes when you got it, you "got it." Ok, well, maybe I don't actually "have it" yet, but I did feel incredibly fortunate last weekend when I got to shoot part 2 of Alice and Alvin's engagement session in Santa Cruz. A couple months ago we were trying to nail down a date to do this shoot, and settled for June 25th. We arrived at the wharf to grab an early lunch together, then on a whim decided to put the famous Boardwalk on hold to walk the whole pier. Little did we know that the very same day was the annual "Woodies on the Wharf" event. My instant thought was to quote the movie SUPER 8, "Production Value!!!"

I'm not really a car person. The only other time I've shot cars was back in January. But thank goodness for that one experience. These woodies were awesome, such elegance and class. And it didn't hurt that Alice's dress matched one of the cars perfectly. The owners were great people and one even let us take a shot in her old Mercury. And to think that we were prepared to just have the Boardwalk be the highlight.

Ok, so now on to the boardwalk. I'm deathly afraid of heights. And you may laugh at me, but going on the Sky Glider was a big deal for me. I mean, even as I type this, my palms are sweaty. How lame, right? But it weipo; (<--see, the sweat made my fingers slip and i hit the wrong keys) was worth it to get a few shots of Alvin and Alice as they soared over the Boardwalk eating cotton candy.

Anyways, it was a great shoot and we had a lot of fun doing it. Looking forward to the wedding in August!

Janelle & David | Wedding | Sainte Claire Hotel | San Jose

2011-06-17T15:00:00.000-07:00

Every wedding I shoot generally has something memorable about it. Sometimes it's the cake (or more specifically how the cake tasted!), others it's the groomsmen dressed in tuxedos and Air Jordans (I so wanted to do this 6 years ago at my wedding...wife said no). Never have I come home and the first thing out of my mouth is, "I really liked Janelle's wedding dress!" Wah?!?!?! It's true, I really loved Janelle's wedding dress. It was chic, modern, and it didn't hurt that the top reminded me of the Jordan 2009's. Maybe that's what it was.

Anyways, it was a great day for wedding. The venue was classy, the bridal party was fun (and cooperative!), and I managed to find this one area that just had the best lighting in the whole building. I even managed to run into some old friends from high school and college.

Thanks to Janelle and David for giving me the honor or shooting their wedding. They are such a great couple, and one of the classiest couples you could meet. Here's to to your future, and may you eventually meet the Royal family some day! :)

Scott Robert Studio | Killer Video Light | Review

2011-06-07T23:18:00.000-07:00

A couple months ago I shot a wedding solo. Nothing new in the world of wedding photography, but shooting a wedding without an assistant can slow you down a little bit. For me, lighting is the main reason I have an assistant. I do have strobe stands, but nothing beats having a person you can use as your light stand. It's faster and you can get your results in a timely manner. But, none the less, I was solo on this assignment, so, it helped to have equipment that's easy and quick to use to compensate for the time lost.

It was during the cocktail hour to which I had to take detail shots of the reception area. I was about 15 minutes into it when I got to the cake. It was placed close enough to the window where the available light could produce a fairly good image. I took a picture and looked reviewed it. It was decent, but not great. I was about to get a strobe from my bag, when the coordinator rushed in a said, "They're announcing the bridal party in 1 minute!" The "cocktail hour" had quickly turned into a "cocktail 20-minutes." Enter in Scott Robert Studio's Killer Video Light. I quickly pulled this out turned it on. I held it up with my left hand, and holding my camera with my right, took the picture.

Below are two photos. The first is with available light. The second is with the Killer Video Light.

As you can see above, not a horrible photo, but needed some work in Photoshop. But I wanted to bring out the drama in the cake...if there is such a thing.

This was exactly what I was trying to create, and it took me only 30 seconds to take out my bag, turn it on, and snap the photo. Using Scott Robert Studio's Killer Video Light allotted me the time to get a great cake photo as well as the sequence below without feeling too rushed.

Ann Sobrato High School | Morgan Hill | Graduation

2011-06-03T23:47:00.000-07:00

So now I can add "personal paparazzi" to my list of services. I was recently hired to take some family photos for the Tran family in Morgan Hill. They liked their photos so much, they asked me back to take photos for their son, Quang's high school graduation. It was great to see the energy at this graduation, and I hope it carries over into their college careers. Congratulations to Quang, and to the class of 2011 at Ann Sobrato High School.

Ardenwood | Fremont, CA

2011-05-30T21:21:00.000-07:00

On Memorial Day my family took a quick trip to the Ardenwood Historic Farm in Fremont, CA. The first time I was here was for one of Scott Robert's photography workshops, so I didn't really get to explore the grounds. Little did I know that they had a number of peacocks walking around. And fortunately for me, this one was showing off its plume.

SR Mentoring Series 1 | Palace of Fine Arts | 2011

2011-05-27T14:14:00.000-07:00

I had another great time hanging out with the Scott Robert bay area photography crew, new and old. Scott's mentoring series started up this past week, with a number of new members. We all had a great time learning and shooting. And somehow, for me this workshop turned into an impromptu family portrait session. This can only happen in a Scott Robert workshop. Enjoy!

Senthil & Harini | Family Portraits | Sunnyvale, CA

2011-05-22T22:01:00.000-07:00

I was very fortunate to get in contact with Senthil and Harini. They have a very lovely family and it shows in their photos. Thanks so much for the opportunity.

Jeannie & Raymond Jones | Wedding | The Citizen Hotel, Sacramento, CA

2011-05-15T23:59:00.000-07:00

I was so grateful to be able to shoot the wedding of Jeannie and Raymond. The wedding was located in downtown Sacramento at the Citizen Hotel. From a decorative library, to a sizzling mezzanine bar, to lavish suites with breathtaking balcony views, this hotel was a dream to photograph in. Sprinkle in a very well coordinated wedding and you had the ideal wedding to shoot.

Thanks to Jeannie and Raymond for trusting me in my vision for their shoot, especially after having been told that other wedding photographers had called them repeatedly to try to shoot their wedding because of the location alone. It meant a lot to me that I was chosen. Thanks and congratulations to the Jones'! There's a new couple that the world will have to try to keep up with.

Please also check out my friends at Smoosh Photobooth! Gavin and his team are great people to work with. Special thanks to my cousin, Alvin for the assist!

Tran Family | Morgan Hill, CA

2011-05-09T13:06:00.001-07:00

Why do you take pictures?

2011-05-04T09:38:00.000-07:00

I received an email from a previous client the other day that hit me hard. She informed me that my client had lost the birthday DVD of photos and really wanted another copy. As it turns out, one of the toddlers at the party, tragically died in an automobile accident. He was only 3 years old, and she wanted to give them the family portrait that I took of them. I went through the photos and found the family she was talking about. Tears started to accumulate as I thought of my own son. I wanted to take him out of daycare and just hug him for the rest of the day.

Looking back on that birthday shoot, the family portrait station wasn't even required. It was just something I thought guests would enjoy. I am grateful that I did this, because now this family photo becomes something even more special.

This is why we take pictures. This is why we have photographers. To capture a moment that hopefully brings fond memories and a smile to others. I am truly saddened for their loss, and my heart and prayers go out to Leo's family.

The Yang Family | San Jose, CA

2011-04-28T22:16:00.001-07:00

SMCCCD Foundation Charity Golf Tournament

2011-04-25T23:48:00.000-07:00

I had a great opportunity to photograph a charity golf tournament put on by the San Mateo County Community College District Foundation at the Stanford Golf Course in Palo Alto, CA. What made it unique was the appearance of golf pro Russ Cochran, currently on the Champions Tour. Participants had the chance of playing 1 hole with Russ and he showed everyone why he was the professional. And I was lucky enough to spend the whole day with him on hole 11. He was such a courteous and amiable person, and he made my job easy and enjoyable. Everyone had a great time, and they were able to raise a good chunk of change for students and future students of the district. Thanks to Stephani Scott for organizing and approaching me with this project, Rick Bennett for his hard work to make the event happen, and Chancellor Ron Galatolo for his continued support. And a final thanks to all the participants and donors. It's people and organizations like you that help students fulfill their dreams.

David and Becky | Wedding | Santa Clara, CA

2011-04-07T15:55:00.000-07:00

With hundreds of family and friends all to help celebrate the love between David and Becky, you know it was meant to be. Becky and David are such great people, and the bridal party was extremely fun to work with. Thanks to everyone who made my job a lot easier. Congratulations to David and Becky. You really deserve one another. Thanks for letting me capture your wedding day.

Candace & Mike | Wedding | Half Moon Bay Ritz Carlton and Golf Links Part II

2011-03-28T16:26:00.000-07:00

So I finally found some time on the weekend to work on some of the ceremony/reception shots from Candace and Mike's wedding. It also marked the 1st time I used another Scott Robert Studio product, simply known as the "Killer Video Light." You can see the results in the ring and cake shot. Fun times. Enjoy!

Candace & Mike | Wedding | Half Moon Bay Ritz Carlton and Golf Links

2011-03-19T13:52:00.000-07:00

A rare California tornado warning couldn't keep this wedding from moving forward. You could just tell from talking to the two families that they could weather any storm thrown their way. It was such an honor to be able to capture Mike and Candace's wedding, as they made the long trek from New York to host their wedding in "Sunny" Half Moon Bay, California. As a photographer, you always want to have the mindset that you are going to bless your client with your customer service, your professionalism, and ultimately your pictures. But in this wedding I felt very blessed to be a part of their family for a day. The Chaos and the Grants were such gracious people, and real troopers when it came to taking their photos. I really want to thank them from the bottom of my heart and I hope that some of the imagery below will remind them of their special day. And as you can see, I haven't even gotten to the actual ceremony or reception. We just had too much fun taking these photos. Congratulations again to the Chaos, the Grants, and of course, Mike and Candace.

Sandy & Steven | Wedding | Foster City, CA

2011-03-12T16:24:00.000-08:00

When I first sat down with Sandy and Steve, I knew they were going to be a fun couple to work with. And then after their engagement session, it was further solidified that the 3 of us were going to get along just fine. The day was set with harsh sunlight but interesting cloud formations that really made some of the images pop (thanks to my Scott Robert Studio radio trigger system). It was refreshing to see a bridal party so full of life and really getting into the games later in the evening. The "eating a cookie off your forehead" game made for some fun images. It was also great to work with Beno Hwang (Beno Mix Productions) for a 2nd time, and Alvin Shen (HD Video Inc.). I've heard a lot about Alvin and he was awesome to work with.

Thanks again for letting me be a part of capturing your wedding day. Congratulations again to Steven and Sandy!

SR8 - Chabot Space and Science Center

2011-03-08T08:57:00.000-08:00

Well, it's been almost a full year since I joined the Scott Robert Mentoring Series. And in that time I have been blessed with 1st class mentoring from Scott himself, as well as the support and care from my peers simply known as the "SR Crew." It's been so fun for me to be with like minded people in regards to photography. About 20 of us took the plunge and signed up to be lifetime members of SR's year long program and we all entered in with various skill levels, but with one common goal, to get to the next level.

(Photo by Henry Sun)

There were ups and downs, but we all were there for one another when we just couldn't get the shot that we wanted. Simple encouraging words or the infamous "Like" button on Facebook helped me through some depressing moments when I would compare my images with others. But we all experienced some form of hardship this year, but Scott never said it was going to be easy. So, after a year in Scott's mentoring series, I think it's safe to say that all of us have reached the next level in our photography. And we'll all eventually emerge as world class photographers one level at a time. Thanks to Scott for his devotion to education. And special thanks to JeZa (Jeremy and Zabrina) for your countless hours of work to make each workshop happen for us. Looking forward to all that's in store for the rest of us. With that, I give you the photos from our last class below. Enjoy!

Models:

Phoebe Dingman

Jacquelyn Walker

Crystal Natsuko

Joshua D. Kennedy

Makeup & Hair Provided by:

Regarding Makeup

Fashion Stylist:

All Futuristic Looks provided by Designer Jade Liu

David and Becky | e-session | Stanford University

2011-03-02T11:13:00.000-08:00

We had a great time doing this shoot at Stanford. David and Becky were ready to go, and at time already "going" while I was setting up a shot. :p Looking forward to their wedding in a couple weeks. Thanks to Brian Lee for the assistance!

Michelle Nicole Photoshoot | Hotel Kabuki | San Francisco, CA

2011-01-29T14:12:00.000-08:00

Enjoy the images below. Thanks to our models Jeannie, Michele, Jhoanna, and Shelley.

Sandy and Steven | e-session

2011-01-16T23:38:00.000-08:00

Everyone knows the phrase, "It's a small world." It's even more popular now with Facebook as you peruse your good friend's "Friends" and realize that he also know your other friend, who turns out is the sister-in-law of your good friend's wife's maid of honor, where you sang at their wedding, but you met her on a photography workshop in China. Confused? Well, you should be, because as "small" as this world is, it's still pretty freaking big.

But mutual friends tend to be how many people meet their significant others. Take Sandy and Steven. One from the San Francisco bay area, the other from New York. They had many mutual friends but never actually met each other. In fact, they even went to the same party and missed each other by minutes, as one left, and the other arrived. Oh life, how you like to toy with us. But they did eventually meet, and they found what they were looking for. Our engagement shoot began in Cupertino and finished at the Kohl Mansion in Burlingame. It was such a great shoot and we had lots of fun. Sandy and Steve were naturals at their posing. They were also naturals at laughing at me as I tried to pose with them. But anyways....

Congratulations to Sandy and Steve, who made the contemporary leap from "Mutual Friends --> Friends --> Engaged to " phases on Facebook. Looking forward to the "Married to" change this March.

And as always, special thanks to Michelle Ng for the assist.

SR Workshop #6

2011-01-10T14:59:00.000-08:00

As always, thanks so much to Scott Robert, Zabrina Deng, and J eremy Chan for all their hard work. Also, a special thanks to Renae Lamb and her family at EU-Tech for opening up their doors for all of us to shoot and learn.

Quick Shots from my phone

2011-01-04T21:17:00.000-08:00

I rarely stop to smell the roses. And I don't stop my car to take may photos sans my trusty 5DMKii. Not even with my phone. Images from camera phones can sometimes rank just below my 3 year old nephew's drawings. But on this day after driving my coworker back home, I noticed this gorgeous view of homes on a lake. I just had to stop and capture the view with something. Unfortunately, my nephew wasn't around to draw it for me, so I had to use my cell phone.

I'm glad I took the time to stop and smell the roses on this occasion. Or more specifically, stop and smell the dirty ducks. :p

Photos taken with my Droid Eris

Alvin and Alice | e-session Part I

2010-12-26T23:11:00.000-08:00

The Bible teaches us "the first shall be last, the last shall be first." Well, in my circle of cousins, it really seemed to hold true for my oldest cousin Alvin. However, he shocked us all last summer when he popped the question to his girlfriend Alice. I was honored to be asked to be their wedding photographer and over the Christmas holiday I had a chance to shoot part one of their engagement session. Fortunately for us, the forecast of rain was in error, and we had a great time exploring the very scenic Old Sacramento. Below are some images that I hope you all will enjoy. Please stay tuned for more images in 2011!!!

SR Workshop #1 | Revisited

2010-12-08T16:47:00.000-08:00

I was rummaging through some of my "old" photos when I came across my very first Scott Robert workshop. It was less than a year ago, but feels like such a long time b/c of everything that has happened since. Let's fast forward to my time in China, where I came to realization that OCF definitely has it's place, and it's one of my favorite ways to shoot, but natural/available light photography is just as important. It got me thinking about my previous shoots. Which led me back to SR Workshop 1. I thought, as embarrassed as I was, some of these photos have potential. So, with a little rework, I present to you a few of my favorites (again) from the first workshop. Not as dramatic, not as "WOW", but they still have their place in my photography world.

Models:
Amber (black dress)
Lipa (white dress)
Emily (yellow dress)
JinJie (bridal gown)

Hair Stylist: Jessie Weng Bridal Makeup &Hair by Jessie
http://jessieweng.com/

Makeup Artists: Sophie Chan and Doreen Chen

Fashion Stylist: Aine Frost
http://www.modelmayhem.com/1539613

Bike Props: Public Bikes
http://publicbikes.com/

Jessie Weng - Professional Makeup and Hair Artistry

jessieweng.com

Wang/Ouyang Family | Portraits

2010-11-28T23:28:00.000-08:00

Well wasn't this an eventful week. After the Thanksgiving festivities, I had to drive up from Southern California to make it in time for a family portrait session with the Wangs/Ouyangs. I won't even go into the details of the various connections I have with this family, but let's just say after talking to them, the small Asian American community got even smaller. Thanks to the Wangs and Ouyangs for braving the cold weather and making this shoot a success.

Santa Monica/"The 'Bas"

2010-11-27T15:21:00.000-08:00

What does one think of when I say Calabasas? Nick and Jessica? The Kardasians? Maybe. But for me, it's my wife's "hood." For Thanksgiving we took our hunger for turkey down south. We even got a chance to meet up with my sister, Tiffany, and her family who happened to be on a Disneyland vacation. We met up at Santa Monica where we took some interesting photos...of my brother-in-law, Danny. And of course, being a photographer, my wife, Elaine and son, Jordan know how to pose for the camera. I think they got it down. :) And of course I had to take a photo of every Air Jordan represented at Niketown. We also got a chance to celebrate my mother-in-law's birthday. Fun times. Now I just need to make it back up north for a family photo shoot on Sunday....

Cushard Family | Family Portraits

2010-11-20T23:03:00.000-08:00

What a great day for family portraits. This time it was with the Cushard Family. Bill, Kim, Aaron, and little Elizabeth didn't let the rainy weather get them down either. They were great sports, and always cheery for the camera. Also, I had the benefit of having Jefferey Kuo assisting me this day. It always makes a shoot more fun when there are two photographers working together.

Thanks again everyone for a great shoot, and the opportunity. What a great looking family!

The Womacks | Family Portraits

2010-11-20T21:03:00.000-08:00

Around this time of year, I always say nothing good comes out of Stanford University. It really doesn't have anything to do with the students or the people. Although some would point at Tiger Woods and say otherwise. It goes deeper than that. Something only a Cal grad would understand. And on this day, the day of the Big Game, this Golden Bear traveled into enemy territory to meet up with an Oregon Duck and his family to take advantage of what little Stanford had to offer, it's gorgeous architecture and backdrop.

I first met the Womacks when they had just become a family of 4 and it has been a real blessing getting to know them the past few years. Now a family of 5, it's amazing how much energy and Brian and Elizabeth have. With Jadon and Ella both running around and little Evan just starting to walk, it amazes me how parents are able stay calm and collected. With the halls of the university shielding us from the rain, we still had a great shoot. I was able to capture some awesome images that wouldn't have happened had the weather not been so gloomy. Thank you to the Womacks again for making it out, and braving the cold. And thank you students for not messing with the car with the Cal Alumni license plate parked in The Oval. :p

SR Workshop #5

2010-11-13T23:33:00.000-08:00

Romantic Casablanca - Phoebe (black velvet mini dress)
Wardrobe Stylist: Zabrina of JeZa Photography & Phoebe
Hair & Makeup Designed by Visual Image Salon
http://www/.visualimagesalon.com

L'amour pour le vintage - Jacquelyn -(white vintage lace gown)
Wardrobe Stylist: Zabrina of JeZa Photography
Hair & Makeup Designed by Visual Image Salon
http://www/.visualimagesalon.com

Flamingo Doll - Amber (chiffon evening gown)
Wardrobe Stylist: Zabrina of JeZa Photography

Hair & Makeup Designed by Visual Image Salon
http://www/.visualimagesalon.comUtsukushii Elegance - Crystal (black & white gown)

Wardrobe Stylist: Zabrina of JeZa Photography
Makeup by Regarding Makeup
Hair Designed by Visual Image Salon
http://www/.visualimagesalon.com

SR x CM Destination Workshop | Shanghai & Beijing

2010-10-31T22:24:00.000-07:00

What an awesome week. I can't say enough about what transpired in China. As some of you know, I was given the green light to attend a week long destination workshop led by Scott Robert and CM Leung. It was an eye opening experience to say the least. I learned not just about photography, but also about myself and where I want to go with this so called life. I learned that sacrifice is very hard. But sacrifice is the currency to which dreams are achieved. The imagery below are just a small taste of what went on at the workshop. I encourage anyone who is serious about photography to attend one of Scott's destination workshops. You will not regret it. Special thanks also to Syezen, who did a fantastic job with the make up & hair styling, and Zabrina Deng or JEZA Photography, who did a masterful work with the wardrobe. Full credits below.

Instructors:
Scott Robert Lim http://www.scottrobertgallery.com
CM Leung http://www.cmleung.com
Workshop Managed by: JeZa Photography

Makeup & Hair Styling by: Syezen Make Up http://syezen.wordpress.com/
Wardrobe Styling by: Zabrina of JeZa Photography

SR Workshop #4

2010-10-01T23:48:00.000-07:00

I don't think I've written much in my blogs. I tend to let my photographs do the "talking." I try to stay away from "boring" my viewers with long narratives that only I would care about. But I think I'll write a little more this time. As some of you know, I've been trying to become a better photographer to help my business and ultimately to help my clients. Back in April, I embarked on a photographic mentorship with one of the best in the business, Scott Robert Lim. The energy that Scott brings to his workshops is amazing. It's infectious actually. And the mentorship program is just a taste of what he brings when compared to his destination workshops (so I've heard). Just for some background, I'm taking about 8 one-day workshops spread out over a year, and I just completed workshop #4. Later this month I'll have the opportunity to participate in one of his week long destination workshops in China.

I've gotten to meet a lot of great photographers through the workshops. Everyone is very supportive and helpful, which is ironic since the reality is we're all competing for the same business. But that's what makes this group, or the SR Crew, unique. I'm thoroughly enjoying myself when hanging and shooting with the crew. And the excitement I get when getting an image that I was actually aiming for is the best feeling.

Eventually, I'll write about workshops 1, 2, and 3, but 4 is where I'm at. This lecture we got was different from the previous 3. It was closer to a scolding than a lecture to be more factual. Basically, we (the class) didn't implement anything that we learned from Lecture 3, but instead did our own thing. Well, Scott was going to put a stop to that. It was a lesson that we all had to hear and adhere to. Getting back to the basics was the only way each of us would get back on the path to becoming elite photographers. So, here are some images from the day. Enjoy.

Dat and Chunhua | e-session

2010-08-28T21:04:00.000-07:00

SR Workshop #3

2010-08-23T23:53:00.000-07:00