The Office
January 6th, 2009
I’m long overdue for an office makeover. I’ve always been on the messier side, so I usually try to claim the creative artist’s exemption. But seriously, I can be clean. It’s just that I need to find a home for everything. I’m not exactly a pack rat either, throwing things away gives me alot of joy. It’s just that sometimes the paperwork piles up, and little things, like this expired coupon, get kept for too long.
Additionally I’ve also acquired more photo equipment last year than usual so they need a home too. This business is currently in its toddler stages and the kid that is my business needs to learn how to put her toys in the toy box. Don’t you like it when I personify my business? It makes me feel less guilty when I look at this pile on my desk:
Pictures are close up–I’m saving the wider angle lens for when the office is done. For this project I will be enlisting the help of Ikea and the readers of this blog for accountability. Feel free to email me and ask how the office project is going. I’ll try to update as I go. My goal is to get this office revamped by the end of January.
Hope everyone had a great holiday season! This year because of my shooting schedule I got to stay home and let me tell you, the traffic in LA is perfect during Christmas and New Year’s. Everyone’s gone and the freeways were not congested at all. As an LA veteran usually I schedule everything around times when the traffic is low, but this season it was pretty clear at most times.
You know traffic in LA is bad when that’s the first thing you think of when people ask you how your holiday season was. But all in all it was a nice break, time with husband, family and friends. Oh, and I tried a slice of baguette with blue cheese and honey for the first time. It’s supposed to be really good with champagne. But I thought it was all right. Maybe I’m just a cheese whiz and crackers kind of girl.
I also got to take a short weekend trip to Vegas and see one of my friends win a small poker tournament and another friend hit a royal flush in pai gow. I love watching people play poker, perhaps more than I love playing poker myself.
My 2009 is off to a great start. Hope the same is true for you!
Nancy and Ricky, Wedding
December 29th, 2008
This week I came across an interesting thought, that one reason why people marry is because, subconsciously, they desire a witness to their lives. A person’s every move and thought adds up to a single life to be lived, and one way of understanding yourself is have a witness (like a spouse) who will know you, perhaps, better than you know yourself. That was a little bit of what was going through my head as I covered Nancy and Ricky’s wedding, my last wedding of 2008.
If I had to summarize this wedding into one feeling I would say that throughout the engagement sessions and the wedding Nancy and Ricky were content. Content that they found each other, content that they now can progress through life as one. They spoke Cantonese to each other, and though I didn’t understand a thing they said it was just as well, because there were times when this language allowed them to be intimate in their own way—all I understood were the smiles, the kisses, and their eyes—eyes that said pretty much that this was the best thing to do and the best place to be.
Speaking of places, Ricky is a first generation Chinese immigrant, in that while I was born in Los Angeles (which makes me second generation since my parents were the ones who immigrated), Ricky didn’t come to the United States until he was in his teens. So he has achieved what my parents had achieved: the establishment of the American Dream. It’s no walk in the park to pick up a language, get a new job, and establish a life here. But that’s what Ricky did, and he thanked his mom and dad for supporting him all the way. Then his mom burst into tears. It must be that mixed feeling of sorrow and joy, which also made me believe Ricky when he thanked his mom for raising him because he was a really mischievous kid. Also, Nancy’s dad did double duty. Reverend Lau walked her daughter down the aisle, handed her over to Ricky, and stepped up to marry them as a reverend. I think we can all learn much from these acts of love.
Some pictures below:
Sunny and Brinton, Wedding
December 22nd, 2008
It has been quite cold (for Southern California standards–so it’s probably not that bad) lately. But pair cold weather with warm emotions and lo and behold the holiday season has arrived. While everyone was getting in line for some last minute shopping, Sunny and Brinton celebrated their wedding season by marrying this past Saturday in LA Koreatown among beloved friends and family.
Usually when I show up for a 6:30am shoot at the salon the place has just opened and there’s only one or two people there, ready to make up the bridal party. But when I got to Hills Beauty Club Salon there was another wedding party too, and the whole place was full of life, makeup and hairspray. I hear this is the go-to place for the Korean Bridal Experience (caps because this is serious stuff!), and they did not disappoint. Everyone looked ready for, well, a wedding.
The bridesmaids were practicing all day for their toasting speeches. The ring bearer and the flower girl, brother and sister, were sharing orange tic tacs while Sunny and Brinton were exchanging their vows. I saw rice cake from the early morning (a bridesmaid brought it for breakfast) to the reception. Sunny and Brinton also memorized their vows, and the execution was perfect and heartfelt. It’s these little details and so much more that makes their wedding unique and fun.
Scroll down until the last picture for a slideshow!
To see the slideshow click below or click here.
Chrysalis Client Parties
December 19th, 2008
This week I got to do some more shooting for Chrysalis at their client holiday parties. It was a good time to be had by all. There was plenty of great food courtesy of Shutters on the Beach, fun karaoke courtesy of our clients, and even dancing to celebrate the season. Here are some pictures taken at the Historic Farmers and Merchants Bank in downtown Los Angeles.
Today was a “normal” day.
December 12th, 2008
I need to make a better effort to blog more often. Perhaps once a week? I know, a bit on the sparse side still, considering that some people update online about 3-4 times a day. Lately I have been getting away from blogging and reading blogs. Instead I’ve been busy with other things, and keeping in touch with family and friends via an old-fashioned cell phone or over a meal. Now I try to limit my internet time to my photography business stuff, photography sites, and recipe sites. It has been good for me because lately I’ve been quite busy with life bursting at the seams.
When I was a kid my dad would always give me a journal every year, just something the salesmen at his company passed out to their clients to keep track of appointments and such. Well it was a page a day and I remember journaling every day. It was short though. Most pages looked like this:
Today was a normal day.
I’m not sure why that was the most constant journal entry I’ve written, but I can say for sure that now my days are anything but normal, and I’m glad. I try to switch it up every day so that I’m doing what I need to do, but at different times of the day. Last week I got to take a break and go to the Getty and listen to the audio tour of the museum. I only had time to cover one and a quarter exhibits. What a deal. 5 bucks to learn about history and how the French used to have this style where high heels were made of glass chambers filled with water and a fish. So these French society women would wear these shoes for a day and by the end of the day the fish would be dead. Good thing that type of fashion faded quickly.
In any case, this week has been a bit of a breather, and then I finish off the year with two more weddings and a few events along the way to top off a very blessed year.
Until next week, my fellow readers!
Some more engagement pictures
November 24th, 2008
Ricky and Nancy ordered a slideshow, so we did another set of pictures. Thanks especially to Dennis for the yogurt shop shots.
Spirit of Chrysalis Awards
November 13th, 2008
I had a lot of fun covering this event. Chrysalis is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping economically disadvantaged and homeless individuals become self-sufficient through employment opportunities. It was great seeing everyone get together for a great cause.
Look, an old friend.
President and CEO of Chrysalis, LaRae Bechmann
The food looked gorgeous.
Thomas Tophia, Chrysalis’ client of the year.
In addition to a silent auction there was also a live auction. Privately chartered yacht trip, anyone?
Vibiana, the location of this event (in downtown LA, on second and Main), was a great location.
=)
Studio
October 30th, 2008
Back in the studio again this week with Team Dutch. Needless to say we were fully hydrated and caffeinated for the two and a half day shoot. It’s always a blast being in the studio with Dutch, Emma and Kevin too. We get to focus on controlling lighting and styling elements on products that don’t move. Well, we have to think about gravity but defying gravity is like solving a puzzle so that is enjoyable too. It’s a nice complement to the photojournalism pics I am usually taking.
Here Kevin’s cleaning the glass, we’re getting ready to shoot water stickers that go on the sliding doors at the supermarket. Water will serve as the backdrop.
Meanwhile Mrs. Emma and I were on the other set shooting the smaller stuff. Try styling a stack of cards for a while and you’ll get “wonky” too. It’s alot of fun–you get to see everyone go nuts in a happy hour sort of way.
Incidentally if you watch the shows Entourage or 24 you’ll see that they’re fully hydrated thanks to product placement.
We also shot a new sibling in the family. It’s currently available in New York and scheduled to debut in LA soon. It’s shaped like a grenade for a reason: my husband test-drived it and half of a bottle is enough to give you a healthy buzz.
Erin and Sam, Wedding
October 7th, 2008
I just got back from New York and I miss it already. The wedding was at Quiet Please Farm (Kerhonkson, NY) and I saw many things that I have never seen before in my life. I saw a cow with a spot in the shape of a heart on her head, as well as a shack where the farm boils syrup from the maple trees to sell. This city girl couldn’t be more pleased. I got all giddy when I saw a wheelbarrow.
But really, at the point of it all, was Erin and Sam’s wedding, which was personal, intimate, and really beautiful. Everyone was at their best and it reminded me (again) why I love to shoot weddings: seeing the couple happy. Besides, everyone rejoicing together at the union of two people makes for a lovely weekend.
And…Erin showed everyone up on the dance floor. Scroll down and you’ll see.
Nancy and Ricky, Engagement
September 1st, 2008
Kicked off my Labor Day Weekend with Nancy and Ricky at Seal Beach.
