2008-7-26 Volunteer Wedding shooting for Joanne & Todd @ Stanford Park Hotel

Couple months ago, we got a very bad news from one of the professional photographers community that Rob Snavley (wedding photographer) got really sick and hospitalized. He couldn't photoshoot the clients wedding he originally signed up . Being part of the professional wedding photographers community, I volunteer to take over and photoshoot Joanne and Todd's wedding who have originally signed up with Rob.All profit goes to Rob's medication expense. That's what I have been always talking about, wedding photography is not just about money, it is about people, it is about bringing good/happiness to people. My goal is to serve the couple and preserve the moment in their weddings so that they don't have to worry about the photography part .

Joanne and Todd's wedding was at Stanford Park Hotel , Palo Alto. It was a really really nice court yard setup and cozy. Joanne is the kind of bride who is excited at every minute and if she wants to laugh, she just laugh out loud and totally having a blast. She played a guitar song before the reception and wrote the lyric dedicated for her beloved Todd and it was so touching and sweet. Beautiful Beautiful wedding. After the wedding we also went to the GORDON BIERSCH with a bunch of friends and Todd's Irish families, Beers, Guitars , Singing, great night !!!

2008-7-23 Vintage Theme engagement portrait for halloween wedding couple ~Michelle & Matt

I'm really excited again to have some more clients requesting for something special, something unique and nontraditional. When you see this engagement portrait I just did last Sunday, you will understand what I'm talking about .

Michelle & Matt is a real unique couple, their wedding will be in the Halloween day this year 10/31. I'm really excited for them and can't wait. However, I actually didn't need to wait too long to photo shoot this fun couple as I will be in charge of their engagement portrait too :)

First of all, Michelle and Matt already knew they wanted to do something different already. They wanted to shoot something with the vintage outfit and a dancing dress. In this photo shoot I was pretty much like a movie director, created every move and scene. I tried to created this dramatic collection of photos with a unique joyful atmosphere. The result was totally fun and yet elegant.

The whole photo shoot was done in a secluded area in Palo Alto to avoid distraction. We first shot with the Vintage outfit and then they changed to some casual clothing. Working with Michelle and Matt was a great experience as they are so much fun in entire shooting. Remember to come back for more pictures !!



Alright, Are we ready for our engagement portrait session ???

2008-7-14 The sweetest gift from the sweetest bride ~Carla

The most rewarding thing being a wedding photographer, for me, is the client's compliment and see my client's appreciation and smiling face. I just did a bridal portrait for Carla last saturday. Since she really needed the picture quick in order to send to her mom and surprise her before the wedding, I have all pictures ready and made a slide show for her already 2 days after the shoot. Broke my own record !

The pictures/slideshow quickly spread to her whole bridal party and got a lot of WOW. Carla was so sweet to gather all the compliment and response from her friends and made me this "gift card" with one of the images I took and wrote me a thank you email. I just love this stunning bride-to-be !!! She told me unfortunately she has already hired another photographer to serve her wedding in south carolina already before she hired me for her bridal portrait, but when her younger sister is getting marry, she is going to hire me as a photographer for her sister's wedding as a gift to her sister . Yeah,, I'm so looking forward to it.

~~~~

Here is what she wrote in the email and my "gift card"-

Chung,

I could sing your praises for the whole world to hear of your incredible talent and gift for capturing raw beauty in all you see. Not only are you a very gifted artist, but you are also a pleasure to work with. I had the most amazing day with you and your assistant. You were so much fun and you made me feel so special – something every bride should feel! I will remember this day in my special memories of my wedding and related events.

As the bride and subject of this photo some may be inclined to find my rave reviews biased, but the overwhelming response from my friends and family prove otherwise. In addition to my personal endorsement, here is what they had to say…

2008-7-12 Nontraditional Urban bridal portrait for Carla @ downtown San Francisco

Every Bride Deserves Her Own Portrait Session .

It was such a fun fun fun afternoon with Carla for a nontraditional / urban bridal portrait shooting in downtown San Francisco.

Carla contacted me like 3 weeks ago and asked if she could book me in such a short notice and be able to ship the prints for her mom in South Carolina before the wedding date which is on 1 August. Sure , I love shooting engagement , but love bridal shoot even more, as I can have total control to bring out the best part of the bride's beauty. Carla told me in the beginning already, she really wants something nontraditional , a little bit on the edge and wants to shoot in San Francisco. Eventually , I came up with the downtown contemporary magazine style theme for this stunning bride.

After she have her hair done and make up done at Saks Fifth Avenue, she is all ready and waiting me at her hotel lobby at Hilton San Francisco 4:00pm on time. She was just so stunning walking in downtown san francisco with her gold gown which made her even more unique, fits her perfectly. Honestly, photoshooting Carla in downtown SF was a little challenge for me, because she is just so gorgeous and attracted too much attention from people walking by....with millions of greetings and jealous eyes.

It is really hard to believe Carla is not a model and had no photoshoot experience, she has total trust on me and followed all my instructions on posing and great smile all the time. Our photoshoot last for 3 hrs. Thanks for my assistant's help on capturing some of the "behind the scene" shots and also Tamantha's help being a driver and assisting on our photoshoot.

The photos turn out amazing and I'm sure will surprise her fiance when he comes back from his bachelor party in mexico!! Congratulation again to Carla and all the best for the wedding at Hilton Head, South Carolina. !!



I love this tungsten light background.



Carla listening to my instructions, the outcome was beautiful , the mono tone makes this picture feel even more comfortable



In Downtown San francisco, people keep walking by...



This colorful background was near union square



This one is one of my favourite, her smile was so beautiful, shot with natural light.



This walking in the Downtown SF candid shots turned out to be one of Carla 's favourite.



My Canon 5D with the 70-200mm 2.8/IS



The golden dress and the door background matched well.



It was so funny Carla found this "Carla -- LifeTime Guarantee" in a jewelery store :) Her fiance would be the happiest man !



When we were shooting this picture outside Tiffany, people asked me if we were shooting the catalogue for Tiffany :)



Carla always have great smile.



Walking with Carla in downtown SF is not easy :P :P ,,, as she caught too much attention , everyone walked by was like,, "she is so beautiful.... "



These 2 are also my favourite, totally having fun and elegant and sexy.



Carla gave me this pose right I put her on that spot, i said she is a model in her blood!



This is a shot I always wanted to take everytime I drove pass crissy field, I finally did it !!



The wind just came at the right timing ! optimum speed at 13 mph :) :)



Demonstrating Carla how to pose in this long hallway shot.



Love the shadow and the curve in this picture



We were inside a hotel near downtown, the setup was perfect to produce this super classy shot.



I was shooting Carla at about 20-30 yards away, instructing was difficult, but she posed very naturally already.



Street shot with SF building as background, a shot couldn't miss for a SF downtown shooting, very luckily we got a parking spot just right next to our shooting location, perfect !



This is is also one of my favourite (top 3), the atmosphere is so so so comfortable








Here is the slide show of all shots

http://www.chungliphotography.com/p/carla/



This is what Carla just emailed me....
"Chung,



I could sing your praises for the whole world to hear of your incredible talent and gift for capturing raw beauty in all you see. Not only are you a very gifted artist, but you are also a pleasure to work with. I had the most amazing day with you and your assistant. You were so much fun and you made me feel so special – something every bride should feel! I will remember this day in my special memories of my wedding and related events.



As the bride and subject of this photo some may be inclined to find my rave reviews biased, but the overwhelming response from my friends and family prove otherwise. In addition to my personal endorsement, here is what they had to say…"

2008-7-10 Ashley's Bridal Portrait @ Antioch

Just released Ashley & Antonio's wedding album to them, they loved it. Before I post their wedding album, I'm going to post some bridal portrait I did for Ashley earlier at her house in Antioch. All natural lighting , no fancy lighting equipment.