Style goes both ways

It was very comforting to get clients who share my style in photography. It made my life easier as what they want is common with what I can and love to do.

Not just that I always ended up falling in love with their home decor!  Both Stephanie and Melissa's homes are so well decorated in my taste that I keep wishing that my home looks like theirs. A photographer's dream. Lots of natural light, and white/neural colors with cute/chic decors.

That was newborn Emerson, and below is 3 years later.

Baby Marisa

Marisa's mom got a bunch of cool fabrics for this photoshoot and I got to play around with a wider variety of fabrics than what I usually carry to my client's home. So, you can see a different tone of photos here due to a warmer/brown/earthier backdrop that I didn't usually use before. It's a good way to try different styles; it IS a different style for me even if it's just a change of backdrop color because I like white photos and not brown. :-D  If I can do a warm tone right, it gives a cozy feel to the photos whereas the white photos have a clean/fresh feel. 

Sibling of the twins

It's that 3 years mark that my clients come back for newborn sibling photoshoots!  These twins were my first paid clients who gave me a paycheck and encouraged me to keep moving with my photography business.  I will never forget how it felt and they will always be in a sweet spot in my heart.

They just got a little sister!  And oh how they have changed. I'm flattered and honored that this family asked me back for a sibling photoshoot after all these years.

Christopher for Christmas

This handsome boy rarely smiles (at least during the shoots) and he's a busy bee and only gets busier as he gets older. But his parents are the most chilled and easy-going parents ever to do a photoshoot with and always fun just to even hang out. His mom is my idol for fun parenting. If Scarlett gets a lot of fun time and if I prioritize her fun over other things, thanks to Christopher's mom. 

 

'Tis the season with Cheryl

 Excellent choice of location by Cheryl's mom. I couldn't think of any better location for Christmas theme photos. San Jose Christmas in the park is pretty empty in the early morning, yet the lights are on once they open and music everywhere for little children.

Baby Emerson

This photoshoot was from 3 years ago. I've been putting it off to posting that they are welcoming a new baby brother already. I can't wait to do another newborn photoshoot with this lovely family. 

Behind the scenes

Thanks to Jim for this photo. I always like to see how I look during my photoshoots. Makes me very nervous TBH.

birthday photoshoot

Birthday photoshoot by myself only gets worse this year around. I didn't do birthday party for my daughter this year so we can just take it easy at home. I was assuming it will give me more time for a photoshoot in the house under controlled setup. Well, I didn't prepare early enough this year. 

I waited for her to nap to take a sleeping photo and holding pose similar to last year. I did manage to get something similar, but costed me dearly. She woke up after 30min nap and that was it for the whole day. We were all exhausted and cranky from not enough rest.  It reminded me of newborn days when I have to get the setup and photoshoot done for a few major timelines, when we had to risk her nap and our energy and rest time.  At least, we don't do it monthly or quarterly anymore. 

So, after I gave up on the sleeping photos on her actual birthday, I need to get her birthday cake and balloons. Well, we went out of the house late, so after getting balloons and cupcakes for photos, the sun is gone and no more light left for the day. Losing sunlight is a bankruptcy for a photographer. The wind was strong outdoors so I couldn't get her a photo with her cake and candles. :-(  I didn't even get her photo of holding the cake or blowing candles because we have to shield the wind with all our hands. 

So, the day is over and her actual birthday photos were non-existent. I might just have to make peace with it or try it again next week, assuming it's only a week late and forget the fact that it's not actually her birthday. I guess she wouldn't mind blowing the candles again for the photos. 

 

While I'm getting the camera ready to make her hold the cupcake for photos, she reached down and ate it. So no more cake photos. LOL. 

American Southwest

Lower Antelope Canyon, Arizona

Horseshoe Bend, Arizona

American southwest landscape is amazing.  Grand sandstone structures that I thought only exists in Game of Thrones. I was simply awed and mesmerized. I wondered why I took so long to go see these places. Then I remembered that I reserved these places  as backup many years ago for then I can no longer do international travel easily. Duh! That was a nice strategy though because this summer road trip didn't disappoint me.

Of the many sacrifices that parents make, photography is pretty high on my list, especially travel photography.

My full frame DLSR is now replaced by mirrorless (that extra noise is a big loss in my book!). L glasses are replaced by pancake lenses. I said bye-bye to long-exposure shots because instead of 10lbs tripods, I carry a 25lbs toddler on my back now. Instead of setting alarm to catch sunrise shots, I now "sleep in" any minute I could. Instead of waiting for the sunset, I just mostly point & shoot whatever I get because said toddler might wiggle us both over the cliff if I take longer than her patience, searching for the perfect frame. All in all, any photo I could manage to get are mediocre at best.

Majority of the trip, my camera just stayed in my bag because my hands were full with the toddler; and photo documentation was very sporadic.  A few days of no photos, and lots of photos when she's under control.

Last year after Hawaii trip, I said no more traveling for a while. But old habits die hard. I still love traveling and photography even though something's gotta give.  I now aim to make memories of myself with Scarlett, in photos or not.

How things change in a year!  Hats off to our road trip buddies. We had such a fun time with lots of laughters and frustrations with two kiddos in the car.

Pictures here are from Lower Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend in northern Arizona.

See the raft in the Colorado river? See how small it is and how large the landscape is? Amazing! 

Babywearing selfies

I love to spam my baby wearing photos on specific Facebook groups, but I don't post my babywearing selfies here because it's all me. But I am finally posting them here to apply for a March membership drive photoshoot event with BA-BWI.