Photo Headshots with Photographer Anna Wu (AnnaWu.com) in San Jose

I had the pleasure of being the portrait headshot photographer for San Francisco Bay Area photographer extraordinaire Anna Wu. Anna wanted to include pictures of herself in her website. We started the shoot at HP Pavilion where the San Jose Sharks play, until we got kindly asked to leave by the guard after about an hour there (oops!). Her friend Dan went to meet us at Guadalupe River Park next to the arena, and we decided to do a shoot-off (with Dan as our model) to see how we can learn from each other's styles. In addition to being our model, Dan graciously became our assistant. We then went to Berryessa Creek Park for an outfit change to finish off the shoot.

High fashion photo shoot in Chinatown, San Francisco. The case of the lost purse.

After attending the off-camera lighting lecture from the Scott Robert Mentoring Program, our group got to work with a high fashion model, Ayumi, who lost her purse. She was so upset, she ran out of the middle of the shoot to find it before it was my turn to shoot. Ayumi eventually found it, and I directed her to think about the lost purse, pursuing to find it, and then feel relieved about finding it. (She was laughing in between since the direction was unexpected). Thanks to the model Ayumi Perry, fashion stylist and artistic director Monique Zhang, jewelry designer to Sally Bass and Jana Morgan, and my lovely assistant Renea for holding the flash as a spotlight who also runs Grandeur Photography in Sacramento. And of course thanks to SR and the whole crew including Jeremy and Zabrina (JeZa Photography) who organized the SF workshop.

For those curious about lighting, there's an overhead light above her face, and a flash in the back as a spotlight. This shot was inspired by JD Cooper (JD Cooper Photography) who was talking to my buddy Jeff about doing a shot at this location of the bar.

Upset Pursuit Relief

Creative Fashion Director Monique Zhang ~ Creative Design and Styling http://www.facebook.com/MoniqueZhang ~ Monique Zhang, Fashion design ~ Sally Bass, Jewelry design ~ MODEL: Ayumi Perry ~ Makeup and Hair Artistry Team: Jessie Weng ~ Alpha Borriboonratana (Sweet Fuss Hair & Makeup Artistry) ~ Ethel O'yang (eTheLook Beaty by Ethel) ~ Wardrobe Assistants: Anna Kwan ~ Sandi Lee ~ Mei Cheung ~~

Bridals at Casa Real Ruby Hill Winery - Pleasanton, California

I had another awesome time with the Scott Robert crew in August. The venue this time was at the elegant Casa Real Ruby Hill Winery - Pleasanton, California.

Kalie Strosnider - Punk Rock

Rayfil Wong - Urban Sophistication

Kateryna Gomez - Graceful Sophistication

Kristina Owyoung - Chic Elegance

Many thanks to SR and crew:
Makeup & Hair Artistry: Jessie Weng Professional Wedding Makeup Studio
Fashion Stylist: Zabrina Deng
Wedding Detail & Set Design: Sarah Dawson
Florist: My Little Flower Shop by Kristi Poon
Cup Cakes: Dorcas Tang
Cake: Maria Sohail
Mentor: Scott Robert
Venue: Casa Real Ruby Hill Winery - Pleasanton, California

New point and shoot camera! Panasonic LX5

I've had the new Panasonic LX5, and this is by far the best point and shoot that I have owned. It's time for me to sell my Canon S90! I'm usually partial to Canon point and shoots, but the Canon G11 is just too big to carry around and the S90 doesn't have a hotshoe.

Things I like about the camera:

• It's small -- it fits tight in my jeans because of the protruding lens, so a jacket pocket would probably be better.
• Wide angle lens (24mm equivalent on a full frame)
• It has a ton of features, half of which I won't probably use. It has manual adjustments which is a necessity for control. I did try face recognition today (it will show the name of the person it's focusing on) and in camera cropping which are nice additions.
• It has a hotshoe - perfect for off camera flash. The picture below is composed with a 2 flash setup triggered/received by Cybersyncs from Alienbees.com. Cybersyncs are nice and compact and reliable.

Check out the Amazon reviews and click on the picture below for the original size.

strobist: flash on camera right with umbrella. bare flash hitting the background purple gelled

Exif data

Camera	Panasonic DMC-LX5
Exposure	0.005 sec (1/200)
Aperture	f/5.6
Focal Length	19.2 mm (90mm equivalent?)
ISO Speed	100
Exposure Bias	0 EV
Flash	On, Fired

Maternity Flair - Maddy and Gabriel part 2

Maddy and Gabriel wanted more maternity pictures, this time near some water, and closer to sunset time. We got some great pictures, and the sunset added flair (and flare) to the images.

 

Family portrait photographer in San Jose - 85th birthday

Isabelle contacted me to take pictures of her family and extended family of 30 people. It was grandpa's 85th birthday, and the whole family celebrates it every year. This is one big happy family, and I tried to capture their happy expressions as much as possible with only 1 hour to shoot.

 

High fashion photo shoot in Chinatown, San Francisco part 2 ~ Victorian Romance.

Victoria was the first person I shot in Scott Robert's workshop. The group that signed up with Victoria was hesitant until Sarah (Sarah Dawson Photography) gave an incentive to have 6 minutes instead the regular 3 minutes for shooting her. Three minutes isn't a whole lot of time for a shoot, especially if you're trying to apply something new, so I jumped at the opportunity. These series of shots were at the stairs entrance to the Four Seas Restaurant. Who would've thought that this location would be a place for high fashion pics: little room to work in and tons of guests walking in and out of the restaurant. But we made it work -- it was quite an experience!

One flash was used for this series (because I left my other flash in the car - doh!). I desaturated the images but left a hint of color to give it that romantic tinted b&w magazine feel. The flash was held by my lovely assistant, Anna Wu (Anna Wu Photography). Many thanks again to Scott and team, and Jeremy and Zabrina (JeZa Photography).

Creative Fashion Director Monique Zhang ~ Creative Design and Styling http://www.facebook.com/MoniqueZhang ~ Monique Zhang, Fashion design ~ Justine Parish, textile design for pleats ~ Jana Morgan, cuff design ~ Naomi King Starlite Jewelry Designs, Gemstone Bracelet on wrist and as hair accessory, and Gemstone Earrings on Victoria ~ MODEL: Victoria Pham ~ Makeup and Hair Artistry Team: Jessie Weng ~ Alpha Borriboonratana (Sweet Fuss Hair & Makeup Artistry) ~ Ethel O'yang (eTheLook Beaty by Ethel) ~ Wardrobe Assistants: Anna Kwan ~ Sandi Lee ~ Mei Cheung ~~