It is a wonder, a real wonder. I feel every time I shoot alongside Kevin it’s always new experience, even though every wedding has the same routine. I think no matter how many weddings I shoot in I think it will always feel like this—crazy and challenging and wonderful. Absolutely wonderful. It’s always a different angle or a different lighting environment. Hanging on every moment to catch those moments, weddings are definitely my venue. I can only think about what mine will be like…10 years from now…

But enough about that—this time Michelle Darlene Photography and I assisted KevinLeVuPhotography in the hottest wedding of the year, and I mean hot. It must’ve reached the 90’s during Julian and Cynthia’s wedding, but not to worry, enough running around to find the perfect shot kept us cool. And with such a great family these guys have, it was easy to forget the heat and enjoy the festivities.

This time I had some great “accidental” shots, great candids. I had a blast shooting these two and they are definitely people you’d want to add to your friend’s list. Congratulations Julian and Cynthia Perry! Good things!

Take a trip up ’bout an hour plus and you’re definitely not in the same place. From weather to fashion, architecture to traffic. We’re back again to Los Angeles for a double header this time with Kevin, Michelle Datuin. It seems more and more that our cameras attract too much unwanted official attention. I think every shoot involved some public official telling us we couldn’t shoot without a permit. And the struggle continues, just to photograph in peace! Well as with the way the world turns, Susan and James have finally decided to make it official after 11 years together. Best wishes and the like, to you both!
Good things everyone!

Well here we are again with Mike and Brittney, finally tying the knot.  This time it was a trio of fotog-photographers Kevin Le Vu, Michelle Datuin and I, all got to experience this young couple’s beginning into life and love.  Although still quite young, these two definitely have the love and support of their family and friends to get them through any of marriage’s speed bumps.  It was a blast shooting this troop.  From getting ready to partying the night away, this family certainly knows what it means to have fun and look great doing it.  I have a bit more than usual this time to post, but hopefully you’ll see what I love about each one!  Good things everyone!

What is this, the Old West? Nope, just the old western town in Paramount Ranch–perfectly preserved in modern day Agoura Hills. With the new summer heat and the abundant insects to go along, Kevin and I were thrilled to shoot our next couple: John and Rumy. Once again, these two were beautiful in their shots and despite a little common nervousness, we got some great candid moments.

Well, Kevin and I have been growing and going strong for some time now, and although I don’t need lavish gifts to hold our promises to each other, it’s still Really nice getting them. Hee hee Thank you dear once again, it’s my honor and privilege to live and work beside you.

Well it’s the day before my college grad for me, and I’m not so psyched. However, I was psyched to shoot Liz and Paul for their engagement session with Kevin on this unusually cold May weekend.  They’re a young, on-their-way-to-becoming-doctors couple, with grounded personalities and beautiful faces.  Right from the get go they were troopers, and pummeled through dirt, sweat, security guards, water, and even poison ivy to get these shots.  But hey, that’s just a day in the life when you’re shooting with us, we push whatever we can to get the shot, but I must say, I can do without the poison ivy, thank you very much.

We started the session off with a little one on one for the couple, who were pros in their own right.  It was actually a great way to loosen the nerves all round, have a good time, and capture the two in their own element.  They were true and true which each other, and with us, which I think we able to capture in our photos.  They were naturals and it definitely shows.

We made our way through Carbon Canyon where we ran into more than our share of dust and slippery slopes, not to mention a very questionable shack.  But as we finished there, I began to remember my love/ hate relationship with Los Angeles as we drove up to the Walt Disney Concert Music Hall.  Traffic, parking fees, one-way streets—it’s a nightmare, but damn that building looks cool in photo.  So does that one, and so do these fountains.  Shoot, Los Angeles is the place to be.

But after about 5 hours, you realize that time has disappeared and it’s time to wrap up. But, not before Liz and Paul invited us out to cpk for a quick dinner and a little chit-chat.  Thank you again guys!  So it’s back home to Orange County where I’ll be editing with a cup of coffee on my right and piece of chocolate on my left.  Good things guys!

Well it’s a been a long time it seems but I’m finally done editing.  Cammie and Tri certainly gave me a challenging task shooting and editing this time.  But a challenge, like all challenges is both nerve racking and fun at the same time.  It was Kevin, Josh and I for a this 12 hour plus wedding that exposed me to both a traditional Vietnamese wedding and our western ceremonies all in the same day.

We were all over orange county this time, which was taxing on our cars as well as our iphones.  I must have gotten lost at least two times.  But hey, all in good fun right?  More and more I’m beginning to understand the flow of a wedding and how the bride is probably going nuts inside.  Nothing is ever what it’s supposed to be, and sometimes that’s good, sometimes not so good—but, everything does work out in the end—as far as I’ve seen; and all us photographers can do is capture all that we can.

Also, I must say that I had the pleasure of shooting the guys by myself, which was bundles of fun, so you’ll see a few more of those in there.  When it came down to the reception, it was party shots and photobooth fun until the night was over.  Grueling schedule, great fun—but bring some coffee and chocolate please.

Today’s been a long time coming, I’ve been secretly very excited about this trip for some time now.  I’ve never really liked Norcal, except for a few relatives that live there.  Nothing about our other state half really interested me, the weather is dreary, the space is cramped, and I can’t go anywhere without a full body parka.  However, an unsuspecting city with all its character and antiquity has made me turn over a new leaf.

Tuesday morning we woke up bright and early again for a very short, although bumpy plane ride to Oakland.  Once we landed, Kevin, Jessie and I all took a ride in what seemed like a death cab and scared the living bejeezes out of us.  After the life-scare, we arrived at what I have now deemed “Indie Cenral”.  Shari and Ryan are a young couple, who by after a quick 10 minute introduction seemed to have a lot in common with; they were even animal lovers with their very sweet pitbull Boon.  That kind of connection with clients is rare I suspect, and with that, shooting and conversing came with little, to no effort at all.

After introductions we stocked up on breakfast food and coffee and began a really fun and unforgettable day of shooting.  Shari and Ryan gave us an exclusive tour of what Oakland has to offer.  And while the sightseeing may not be there for the average tourist, it was a photographers candy store with all its quaint pieces of history and vintage style.

When it came time to flying back to the OC, the three of us reveled in what was one of the best destination shoots we’ve been to.  But not before being shaken to my core by the plane—I’d forgotten the feel of these small jets, someone pass me some seltzer water.

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I think for the first time I’m having trouble writing. I’m not sure why, but writer’s block has a sneaky way of getting the best of you when you need it most. Although I want to say so much about this wedding, I find the words…non-existent. Fortunately, for me, I have a trick to getting around the writer’s common cold, and that is—to simply write about it.

Well, now that I’ve warmed up let me tell you about a wonderful event that was more than I expected—in so many ways. Firstly, it was very early, 6 AM start for Kevin and I, north from our cozy home to South Pasadena where we gawked in awe at the Victorian inspired Langham hotel. It was an odd mix of period century portraits and Asian gardens, but beautiful all round.
It was been a journey for Kevin and I, photographing these two, as we did there engagement pictures as well. And it’s a journey that I really got to appreciate the moment when I saw Candace walk down the isle instep with their very own wedding march sung by a life long friend of theirs.

Sitting there with my camera, waiting for those invaluable moments, I can’t help but be more infatuated with this couple, more smitten with them than their actual guests and even more lovesick with my own significant other. More often than not I find myself tearing up at every wedding we shoot, even though I had only met the couples just months before. I think there’s something about being behind the lens of a camera and witnessing life, besides just bear witnessing. I think that from the point of view of a photographer—or an aspiring one—angles and color and the moment you click: all that comes together to form a memory that is otherwise lost forever. That whole process I take pretty seriously and I love to lose myself in it.

Either way, a day of shooting a wedding usually results in me crying over something! But when the day is done, and I wipe my face clean of the blood, sweat and tears, I can say quite honestly that these two were generous, loving and come from good family ties; it was a privilege to shoot their wedding and I wish them all thousands upon thousands happy wishes. Good things!

After a much too long break from shooting, Kevin Le Vu, Jessie Valdivia and I, met up in Downtown Fullerton where we joined Brittany and Mike for their engagement session on what was an absolutely beautiful day.  And after Saturday’s rain it was a wonder, but that’s Socal for ya, and I gotta say, I was loving every minute of the sun’s rays.

Mike and Brittany are a young couple, going to be married later this year and it’s always so captivating getting to know two people from naught and for however long we’re with them, we get to see a little snapshot of their lives, how they met, the love that flows from their eyes; it’s really quite sweet.

Anyway, it was clear from the beginning that the next three hours were going to be easy with these two.  They were perfectly willing to get down and dirty with us during this shoot and I’ve gotta say, that this so far, has been the most physical of our shoots to date.  But no worries, with my new boots, (that I proudly got on sale) I was well equipped for any weeds, barbed wire or slippery slope that came my way.   And I always love the end of shooting when the sun is just about to disappear and its light illuminates everything with such a look that it can only be captured in that moment and then it’s gone till tomorrow.

As I was editing these photos, I noticed that I took much more vertical shots than anything, which I really didn’t realize while I was shooting.  So when posting I had to pick two pictures that would pair nicely to each other or so I thought.  As you guys scroll down, lemme know what your opinions are—professional or not, how you would pair two pictures together.  All in all: great weather—great couple—great company.  I even ended the day with fresh baked cookies and a hot cup of coffee…now how ‘bout that.