Art by Exposure Events

Recent Favorites

2010-01-21T16:57:00.001-08:00

Here are my favorite recent sessions. I apologize for my quick and dirty way of updating, but I will let the photos speak for themselves :) Some wedding & portrait sessions are not posted because they are in the process of editing or simply to respect some clients wishes . All are within the last 3 months of 2009. Here we go:

Ryan & Laura - Engagement & wedding for Portrait by Tony. Fun and daring couple. We were not suppose to be on that dock! Engagement was at Vasona Park.

Ryan & Laura's big day at Jack London Square.

Demetrius & Precious - Very polite and shy couple. Engagement was in Santa Cruz. A classic example of a beautiful shotgun wedding. It was all planned within a month. Engagement to wedding inside 30 days! Had to work fast. Halima, Precious's mother, is the queen of organization and detail. She rocks!

The beautiful Palmdale Estate in Fremont was their venue. Though it rained, it made for some really beautiful dramatic scenery!

Foul weather, beautiful photos:)

Xander & Peanut (Erin) Baby Shoot - Getting ready for the holiday season with some cute photos of these little cuties.

Narciso & Marigold - Friends of friends. Their family and friends are like my relatives. Very friendly couple and over the last 6~9 months, I have gotten use to having coffee with them:) Engagement was in Evergreen area, San Jose.

Prep was at the beautiful Fairmont Hotel.

Classic Catholic wedding while partying was at the Freedom Hall, Santa Clara.

Took this gorgeous snapshot of Medori as the 2nd photographer for Tony of Portrait by Tony.

Prienna's 1st Birthday Party - Cuco & Laurie's beautiful little girl, Prienna, had a wonderful birthday party at their residence in Hollister. Got to capture all the joy!

Some of Prienna's little friends from her party:)

Rona White & Kids - Portrait session at Vasona Park. Impromptu portrait session. They were here for the holidays and found out I had an opening while all her kids were in town. The oldest was leaving town the night of the session so no room for mistakes! Needless to say, they came out lovely.

The Quinanola Kids - Fun shoot at The Jungle. Audrey & Oliver are absolutely adorable! They really got into their face painting. Dad got face painted too!

Joining the Q's is their cousin Sophia. She is so full of energy!

Baby Ariah & Mom - Session at the very famous Vasona Park. It seems like yesterday I photographed Kimmy's maternity session. Her little girl is already a year and a half old!

Enjoy!

One Man Team

2010-01-21T14:29:00.001-08:00

Dear friends,

I apologize for not updating this blog. To be quite frank, this holiday season was nuts. So much photography, so little time:( So now that it has calm down a bit, it’s time for me to do my yearly updates. Getting ready for the new wedding season is always time consuming since I like to present both my recent and past work. For those interested, I will do a simple quick collage of some of the best sessions over the last couple of months. This should bring this blog somewhat up to speed. Darn you facebook :)

Stay tuned…

Roy & Sherene

2009-11-30T19:01:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the delay folks, been busy (good) capturing history:) One of them is for my new friends Roy & Sherene. They got married in Berkeley and had a fabulous reception venue at the Berkeley City Club. This was a wonderfully emotional wedding. Both Roy and Sherene's families are very close knit which truely is a joy to photograph. Sherene's sister Shawna, was kind enough to send me a letter of gratitude for capturing her sister's big day. This is her letter that made my day:

"Hi Ian, My name is Shawna Johnson (Sherene's sister). I was the maid of honor at Roy and Sherene's wedding on 10/18/09. I just finished looking at all the pictures, and I am speechless! These were the best pictures I have ever laid eyes upon. The way you captured everyone's expression(s), was remarkable. I am not sure how long you have been in the business, but hats off to you, because no-one can touch what you do. You have such a delicate way of capturing beauty....it is a God-given gift you possess. Your pictures made me cry (tears of joy), and laugh (candid shots). I wanted to personally thank you from the bottom of my heart, and say I will cherish these pictures forever! You made Sherene and Roy's special day a long-lasting enjoyment! Everyone that I have shared the pics with, have ALL said how gorgeous your work is. Please keep brining happiness to people....please keep making people smile, and most of all....Please continue to be blessed in everything you do! Sincere Thanks, Shawna Johnson"

Once I read this letter, I was both speechless and proud to do what I do. This letter embodies what I want to do for people on their most precious days of their lives. It makes me happy to know that whenever Roy and Sherene look at their wedding photos, it will always be accompanied with a smile.

On with the pics...

Here is Sherene getting ready with her mom looking so proudly at her.
Some of my favorites early in the day.
Down to minutes before the "I do."
Roy and Sherene as one.
The entourage as they were heading to the reception.
Special moments as the night came to and end.

To Debs, of Studio LAL, your input and help is forever appreciated:)

Daddy's Little Princess

2009-11-03T16:17:00.001-08:00

This photo is a sneak peak of Roy & Sherene's wedding. Stay tuned...

Small Town Wedding

2009-10-31T17:09:00.001-07:00

So here is Cuco & Laurie’s beautiful wedding. They became one at the famous Mission San Juan Bautista. Afterwards, their fun reception party was at the Leal Winery located in Hollister, which I found to be a fun small town. From beginning to end, their day was one long party! On one occasion, Cuco and the groomsmen had a shot at a local bar (The only one apparently) before heading off to the Mission. They were starting the party early, while the girls were busy getting ready over at Laurie’s house. The girls were also having their own brand of fun by reviewing the photos of the bachelorette party. There were some things this photographer did not need to see. Mix a limo full of girls, alcohol and a camera… You get the picture! Overall, the day was full of laughter, love and tears. All the ingredients of a wedding full of loving friends and family! Check out the fun below.

The famous Daisy's Saloon. Shots before the big "Yes, I do."

Laurie looked absolutely stunning as she was finishing getting ready. She was so excited that the day finally came for her and Cuco to be married.

The Old Mission San Juan Bautista. Beautiful Mission, inside and out!

Cuco & Laurie's wedding entourage. It was a very large wedding party. Also, the yummy cake. It was the perfect dessert after dinner!

This was cute. Cuco proposed to Laurie via special shoes with a message on the tongue. It said "Marry me Luv." She wore the shoes during their first dance.

Special thanks to my partner in crime, Debs, of Studio Lal. She was a real trooper for this wedding. Did I forget to mention it was 100 degrees that day? 8^D

Roy & Sherene’s Engagement Session

2009-10-09T13:16:00.001-07:00

Here is another couple who’s engagement photoshoot I want to share with you. Roy and Sherene wanted to have their shoot at the beautiful Berkeley Marina. When I first got there, I was a bit concerned since the fog and the wind was coming down. The wind was especially crazy! I felt bad for Sherene since she went to get her hair done just for the shoot. As they arrived, they were very lucky. The winds died down and the fog lifted enough to allow some of the sunset to show. As you can see from the photos below, everything worked out beautifully. They are very much in love and are a lot of fun to be around. Working with them on their wedding day will be a blast! We even had dinner after at a fabulous restaurant called Skates. If you haven't been there, I highly recommend it as the view of the bay is gorgeous. I cant wait for Roy and Sherene’s wedding, their venue is so beautiful!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Beauty & the Firefighter

2009-09-19T10:43:00.001-07:00

If you are looking for a vineyard as a venue for a wedding or simply want to do an engagement photo shoot at a gorgeous location, Leal Winery in Hollister is your place.It’s about 45 minutes drive south of San Jose, well worth the drive as it is easily the best winery I have ever shot in. The engagement session you see here, was shot at this wonderful location. Laurie & Cuco, beauty & the firefighter, were fortunate enough to not only have their engagement session done here, but is their actual wedding venue. Needless to say, we were all excited to start shooting:)

Cuco & Laurie also requested to have part of the engagement as a impromptu family photo shoot. They brought their super cute daughter, Prienna, as well as Cuco’s mom to help babysit during the rest of the photo shoot. And shoot we did! It was difficult to walk from one planned location to another because there were so many great photo ops on the way. Not to mention the fact that the shoot was only to last about 2 hours!

I was just grateful that Cuco and Laurie were super easy going and was just as excited to be there as I was. We were all being comedians that afternoon so it was easy to get happy expressions, especially from Laurie. She easily cracks up whenever Cuco whispered into her ear…Hhhmm, what could he be saying :)

Leal Winery is a beautiful venue. Look at the backgrounds!

Judging from Laurie's expressions, what do you think Cuco is saying to her? :)

I love these tender moments. We were just wrapping up the shoot and as they were walking out of the vineyard, this moment happens!

Stay tuned to see Cuco & Laurie's big day at the Leal Winery. Hope you enjoyed the photos!

A Relaxed Sunday Wedding

2009-09-17T17:18:00.001-07:00

Less than 100 guest.No bouquet toss. No garter toss. No dancing at the end of the night. Sounds boring? Not even close! In fact, I love weddings like Ron & Jen’s. Let me simply explain… More photo time with the couple and families. This is a dream for a lot of wedding photographers. Often, we are not given the proper time to do a photo shoot due to time. Either because things are running late or because the couple must entertain a large amount of guest. Don’t get me wrong, huge weddings can be fun if planned correctly. But if things start to run late, the photo shoot time always gets cut:( The thing is, it’s those photos that make up most of your photo album!

It was a lot of fun working with Ron & Jen because I had so much time with them. We actually went out several times for a photo shoot during the reception, allowing for some great family as well as sweeping landscape photo ops. Later on, we also manage to grab some golden sunset shots, all without sweating the time. I also loved that they were so open to just walking around and trying new ideas. The beautiful images were just oozing in by the buckets! Everybody that came to the wedding were close family and friends so the emotional shots were also abound. In the end, they had a lot of great photos to choose from. The only hard part was choosing which photos to put onto their album. But I’ll take that problem over any day! So enough talk, here are some photo highlights…

Share with passion. What words to live by...

I love the no stress look. Doesn't she look beautiful?

The cute little flower girls. They were so excited to walk down the isle dropping flower petals. And of coarse our groom, Ron, who's face lit up with joy as he saw Jen coming down the isle.

Small weddings are awesome. Look at the passion in which Ron kissed his bride :)

Here is proof that there is no such thing as too much time for wedding portraits!

What a relaxed Sunday wedding! I couldn't have asked for more as a photographer. Great couple, beautiful venue and lots of time to capture their day. Thank you Debs of Studio LAL for always providing support and the extra pair of eyes for my clients big day. Check out her stuff over at her blog, she's got some fancy shots herself!

A Walk in the Park

2009-09-16T14:50:00.001-07:00

Jennifer & Ron recently had their wedding at the Cinnabar Hills GC located in San Jose. But before I show you some images from their big day, I would like to introduce you through some of their beautiful engagement photo session over at Vasona Park in Los Gatos. They brought their adorable new little puppy, Chico, to be part of their engagement session.

Jen & Ron openly admitted that they are shy about taking portraits. I quickly reassured them that the session is not a typical portrait engagement and that to think of it as more “lifestyle” type of photography. I like to capture movement and relaxed expressions. These are often difficult to capture as your timing must be impeccable. However, I do believe that they produce a much more organic feel to each photograph that my clients simply adore. I hope you see what I mean!

Chico was so excited to be at the park. All those ducks and geese!

A simple walk in the park creates such natural and beautiful engagement photos:)

stay tuned for Ron & Jen's big day! Have a wonderful day everyone!

Love at the Bahia

2009-09-08T14:58:00.001-07:00

First, let me start off by saying that the Bahia Resort in San Diego is absolutely beautiful! There were crazy thoughts in my head of relocating there, then I woke up:(

I was fortunate enough to do a wedding there recently. My new friends, Aris & Noemi, were brave enough to have both Debs and I flown to be part of their special day. We arrive the day before to get settled down as well as attend their rehearsal dinner as part of their guest at the famous Phil’s BBQ. Man, the food was mouth watering, and I manage to meet all of Aris & Noemi’s closest friends and family before the big day. They were most accommodating and they love to party!

The next day, the weather could not have been more perfect. Sunny but cool, and there was a light breeze in the air. As usual, there is more going on with the ladies getting ready compared to the men. Aris was definitely a goofball, which made capturing him with smiles all the easier while Noemi’s natural beauty work extremely well to both b/w and color captures. Both Noemi and Aris could not hide the nervousness and excitement on their faces.

Their wedding went off happily and was very relaxed. There were plenty of tears during the reception, a real testament to the closeness of their families. It was nice to see some old acquaintances (past clients), specifically Jarred, Allen and Nikki from the former band MUD. They were always a great bunch to hang with. Alas, the wonderful day was cut short for us as we had to fly back to San Jose asap since we had another wonderful couple to capture the following day!

Here are some photos I want to share with you from their day...

Special thanks to Debs of Studio LAL for carrying my luggage, j/k! Actually, for helping me get some fabulous images of this day:)

Cypress Manor Estate

2009-09-04T09:26:00.001-07:00

Recently I photographed a wonderful venue that would be perfect for a small wedding or event. It’s located in Los Gatos and has a very classy environment. The place is called Cypress Manor, and I was commissioned to photograph the property for their up coming website. As I explored the property, I can't help but feel that it’s a magnet for a classic black and white photojournalism. Think Kennedy’s in the 60’s. remember all those b/w photos of JFK and family? The property has a large and well landscaped front and backyard. There are many little nooks in which to do some beautiful portraits as well as large groups. It’s also a great place to shoot an engagement session. Services start from just the venue all the way up to including catering and valet parking. Here are some of the photos I took of the estate:

So if you know anyone looking for a venue, have them at least visit Cypress Manor. I am sure it will be one of the top choices. I will post the website link to this venue as soon as the website is launched.

ABE

Erin Jade’s 1st Family Portrait

2009-08-01T13:33:00.001-07:00

Last weekend I photographed a maternity shoot with Allen and Eva. It is the couple’s first baby, and the excitement is written all over their faces. We started off at a nearby park and eventually migrated into their home. As I was doing post production, I realized that it is their first family photo. Though Erin, the little girl, is not yet born, she was kicking and twisting during the shoot as if she wanted to let us know know her presence. I can't wait to meet and capture her in photos as she grows! Here are a few photos of mommy, daddy and baby…

I also took some singles of Eva as Allen was changing. Doesn't Eva positively glowing?!

I love the one of her looking like Cleopatra of Egypt. The sepia tone just works on that photo.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Help Me Help You

2009-07-25T16:23:00.001-07:00

Once in a while I go on a photoshoot to help a friend out on a gig. One such time was on an engagement session at Vasona Park. I love this park, it has so many spots to shoot from. It's conveniently located off hwy 17 in Los Gatos, which makes for a great place to have dinner after a photo shoot. Here are some of the cute shots from the day…

BTW, these set of photos were done on a cheap but very capable D40. Now, you are probably wondering why I felt the need to mention that. Lately, I have been getting a lot of negative remarks about the choice of equipment I use. It always makes me smile when a "photographer" believes that his or her equipment makes their talent. An analogy would be as if buying a Ferrari would instantly transform you into a race car driver. Maybe it does something for your ego, but hardly your driving skills! It's the same in photography, there is no magic bullet to instantly transform you into a great photographer just because you had the money to buy the best equipment. Like most things in life, talent is achieved through hard work, decipline and the persistance to constantly learn. It takes time and dedication to master one's craft. I am not saying that professional equipment is useless. Sure it makes the job easier and faster. But for MY type of work (this is essential), it is but icing on the cake. There is nothing wrong with using the right tool for the right job. But surely one does not really believe that their tools is the reason for one's greatness.

So the next time you want to hire a photographer, judge not the equipment he is carrying, but on this quality of his photographs. After all, that is what you came to purchase. So I leave you with this funny, but accurate quote:

"Ask not what your equipment can do for you, but what you can do for your clients." :)

-Ian

Shaun & Mandy

2009-07-22T13:21:00.001-07:00

Here was a beautiful wedding of close family & friends. Shaun, Mandy and their families were from all parts of the country. Most of the guest were from out of town, and some have never been to California. It was great to converse with life outside California as well as describing life here in the Bay Area. It made me want to do a road trip! Both Shaun and Mandy’s parents were extremely friendly. I loved hearing Mandy’s family talk, as they had the beautiful Southern accent we seldom hear in the Bay Area.

Shaun, while getting into his handsome suit, was as nervous as can be. Though he is not one for taking photos, he was a real sport at taking directions during the portrait session. He is a very well mannered fellow.

Mandy absolutely look stunning in her wedding dress. The design of her dress was of yesteryear, which by nature loaned itself to a classical style of photography. Naturally, the b/w shots of her are my favorites. She also had a habit of smiling which made for excellent candids. I loved how she never sweated the small stuff during her wedding. She was determined to have a fabulous time at her wedding making our job much more pleasant.

Here are some of the highlights of their day...

Special thanks to Debs, of Studio LAL for sharing her talent with me on this day!

First Friday… Metro Style

2009-07-06T18:47:00.001-07:00

Every 1st Friday of each month, San Jose’s art community puts together South First Fridays on the Sofa district. Recently, Metro News (Paper) joined in the festivities by opening a photo exhibit in their building. The exhibit was created and coordinated by Debs and is very unique in a sense that the general public is encouraged to enter their photography work. Each month, the paper puts out a “Theme” in which entries must be based on. During the night of the show, people visiting are encouraged to vote for the photograph that best represents the topic. Digital and traditional prints are accepted to make it even easier to enter. What’s the cost? $0. What do you get if you win? An article in the paper about you and how you arrived at your winning photograph. If your an aspiring photographer, this is a gig you do not want to miss. If your a pro, an article about you could land more work. Win-win if you ask me :)

A collage from the last 1st Friday…

The “Theme” will only be posted on the actual paper, NOT online. This keeps the paper in circulation and encourages corporate Metro to keep the show going. The paper can be found anywhere in San Jose through as far north as Palo Alto. The paper is also free. I hope you can participate in this wonderful event. Remember, it’s free to enter and free to visit the exhibit. So mark your calendars and I hope to see you on First Fridays at the Metro Photo Exhibit! More info at Metro Active.

BTW: Did I forgot to mention that there is drinks, food and live entertainment?! See you guys on August 7th!

Friday Night Lights

2009-07-03T21:55:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! Just wanted to share some cool photos I took during a Friday night outing in downtown San Jose. Debs and I went to one of our favorite cafes in downtown called Caffe Trieste. We got lucky as they had a live acoustic show on that night! I also took some snaps of one of my favorite steakhouse, Original Joe’s. If you are craving steak, this is the place to go! Just don’t ask for any steak sauces, they will get offended:)

Have a great and safe 4th everyone!

baby Ariah & Mommy

2009-06-18T06:03:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone,

It is so amazing how fast time flies. And children are one of many ways to mark the passage of time as it whizzes by. It seems like yesterday that I shot Kimmy's (Ariah's mother) maternity photos. Little Ariah was still baking in the oven and we were all excited for her arrival into this world. Fast forward a year and here she is, as cute as a button and ever so growing so fast! I ran into Kimmy and little Ariah at a recent birthday party I was photographing (see below, A Precious Little Birthday Party). It was then that I realize how time just flew by and how quickly she has grown. I wanted to capture her as she was for I knew that she will be changing rapidly, as all babies do. So I decided to photograph her and her mommy at the Vasona Park on Los Gatos. I had asked Kimmy to have Ariah wear the same cute outfit she had on at the party including all the little jewelry she had on that day. Both mommy and baby looked fabulous and the weather was perfect! As usual, I like to take the little details especially knowing that little ones always grow fast, and it's those little details that parents will always cherish once it's gone.
Enjoy!

Modern Classics; Wedding of James & Lisa..

2009-06-10T22:36:00.000-07:00

When James and Lisa interviewed me as a possible wedding photographer, they told me that they want to have a photographer who can mimic the classics. No, not the stand and pose all day or control my wedding(Mr. photographer) photography, but a special blend of journalistic and classic b/w photography. They really didn't care for portraits as they saw it as uncomfortable and unrealistic. Lisa and James certainly have the look for such a session, and they promised that their theme for their wedding will help along the look they are looking for. Lucky for me, they chose me as the right one for the job. Actually, I am sure Eva, a past bride, had a lot to do with it by showcasing the wedding book she received from me back in 2007...Thanks Eva!!!

It was a simmering day in Morgan Hill (104F!), a heat wave in May that peaked on their wedding day. Debs and I felt like we chugged 5 gallons of water and still, with all that gear, felt no relief from the harsh heat. We were fortunate enough to have such a nice and caring couple that insisted we take breaks and cool down! After all the hard work, I believe I achieve what Lisa and James were looking for. What do you guys think?

Beautiful furniture for a beautiful dress...
A painting of pixels with the flower girl...
Beautiful Lisa and her gorgeous bouquet...

Speechless.Color is candy for the eyes, but b/w is candy for the soul...
From this day forth...
A beautiful Corvette of yesteryears. Hot rod red indeed!
Never could go wrong in vineyards. Don't they fit the classic look? Did I mention it was hot?!
To a beautiful and kind couple, congratulations!
Thank you to James and Lisa for being such a cool and caring couple. I love the fact that they truly allowed me to express my real desire and style in wedding photography:) My sidekick for the day is Debs, of Studio LAL. Hey Debs, Annie Leibovitz would be proud!

A Precious Little Birthday Party

2009-05-20T13:27:00.000-07:00

I just love little kids birthday parties. The excitement they wear on their faces can only be rivaled by only two other events; Christmas and Halloween:) As a photographer, they really push the envelope of journalistic style photography because they never sit still! Because they usually cannot take directions for portraits, their expressions are far more pure. Perhaps this is the reason why so many parents prefer environmental lifestyle portraits of their kids over those on a studio. I had a chance to capture one such event last weekend, in a form of a birthday party. A pool party complete with yummy Filipino style bbq! Needless to say, it was a fun, high sugar event. The little boy, Nathaniel, was just about as adorable as adorable could get. All his little friends were there to celebrate his 2nd birthday. Grandma & grandpa flew in just for the occation. Debs came as well to help capture the little ones, but I know it was about the wonderful food:)

Here are some of the photos from the celebration....
Kids, they are all precious aren't they?

Giang & Sabrina Reloaded

2009-05-13T18:17:00.000-07:00

Just finished Giang & Sabrina's portrait photos and I felt like sharing with you guys! The colors came out so nice since it was overcast. Enjoy and have a wonderful day!

BTW, they got married at the beautiful Hakone Gardens in Saratoga. If you are in town, check it out and visit this gorgeous park!

Love, Shots and Rock & Roll

2009-05-01T15:40:00.000-07:00

If you have been following my work, you know that I also photograph musicians and their bands. One such band, which my work was featured on their last album as well as promos, was MUD of SF. Their keyboardist, Aris, was recently engaged to his long time love, Noemi. Needless to say, I was thrilled when they chose me to be their photographer, especially when the location is at the beautiful Mission Bay in San Diego. Below are the beautiful photos of their engagement session in Palo Alto last weekend. They were a lot of fun to be with, especially when Aris constantly makes Noemi laugh. I thought it was romantic when Aris performed for Noemi on the ukulele! Below is a collage of photos from our shoot. Enjoy!

Which one do you guys like? I couldn't choose:)

Thanks for visiting and have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Weekend with Friends

2009-04-17T20:38:00.001-07:00

Last weekend I went to visit a couple of friends whom I've known for several years through band photography. Aris (keyboardist for the band MUD) and I have become good friends from all the time I have worked with the band. Aris and his fiance Noemi recently decided to tie the knot and they chose me to be their photographer. Both Aris & Noemi are extremely kind people and I can't wait to capture their special day as it will be like spending time with old friends. Not to mention all the food!

On the day I came to visit, we had a great time BBQing, especially the giant oysters! It didn't take long for the neighbors to join the fun, coming over for a quick bite and some drinks. I took a couple of snapshots on real b/w film to capture some of the moments. Debs shot in b/w as well, with her favorite medium format Yashica that always seems to get attention everywhere she goes with it! I love the creativity and flexibility of digital, but film is where my heart is. I try to shoot as much film as I can when I am not working, though it is getting harder and harder to find film locally :( Thus, I hardly use film for that very reason when I am out working.

Having fun with new and old friends.Click on the photo to see the collage better.

For those of you who are photogs and are interested in what I used, here is a quick rundown. I shot with my trusty old Nikon F100 with TriX 400 film, pulled to ISO200. I develop my own b/w at home (Yes, good ol' bathroom/darkroom setup:) with Kodak HC110 developer, dilution "H" @ 8 minutes; 72F. I have some color film from this get together, but I haven't had a chance to get them processed. when I do, I may post them later on this post. Enjoy!

Portrait of a Happy Family

2009-04-15T21:32:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago I decided to tag along a family portrait session with Debs of Studio LAL. That day, I was suppose to just keep her company and maybe be a walking flash stand for her. She was photographing the Fruge family, with their little adorable man Jack. Jack was so cute that it wasn't long before I took some snapshots myself! He was so charismatic and playful that I couldn't resist capturing this little bundle of joy. The Fruge family was a real pleasure to work with and was incredibly easy to capture. They were easy because they wore their love for each other on their faces!

Look at this little man!

His little eyelashes is so cute. It's important to capture the little details of kids because they grow so fast!

Jack with dad. Look at that smile!
"Generations"
Fruge family 2009...

Yup, they wear it on their faces...
Doesn't these photos make you want to hug a family member?! Have a wonderful day everyone!

Giang & Sabrina

2009-04-10T19:53:00.000-07:00

I met Giang & Sabrina through her cousin, Eva, who’s wedding I shot back in 2007. Sabrina was one of the bridesmaids and I remember her saying jokingly that when she gets married, she wants me to be her photographer. Here we are two years later, just amazed at how time flies and how she kept her word. Giang is as cool as the day I met him. He is very mellow guy with a heart of gold. They are an absolute great match! Their love for each other was witnessed in front of their closest and dearest family & friends, whom are just as friendly as they were. Everyone helped set up and clean up the venue! Their ceremony was held at the beautiful Hakone Gardens in Saratoga, California. Such beautiful colors adore the carefully maintained park. A perfect place for portraits! My partner in crime for the day was the talented Debs of Studio LAL. Her ideas during the day is both creative and priceless! Here are some photos I want to share from the day…

Love the heart shaped box!

Our beautiful bride in the last hour before the isle...

Not a nervous bone on this guy, he was ready for this day!

A little infrared never hurts. I love how it makes a scene glow!

Hakone is such a gorgeous park to do portraits, don't you agree?

These two photos are my favorites of the day...

To our new friends Giang & Sabrina, best wishes and happy days!

A Fine Day in San Jose

2009-03-30T12:25:00.000-07:00

Just did a fun engagement in downtown San Jose and the weather was gorgeous! Our couple, Shaun & Mandy, were lucky since the weather has been weird here in the Bay Area as of late. Mandy was excited to do the shoot while Shaun was a bit shy at first. He eventually came around once he understood my style of shooting, which was relaxed and natural without having to pose for every shot. We had fun walking around and chatting, all in a while I was capturing their most cutest moments:) Photojournalism at its best! Here are some I would like to share with you guys...

We started in a secluded area so Shaun can start feeling comfortable. You can always tell a couple is really into each other by the way they kiss each other, with eyes closed!

In front of the San Jose Art Museum. I love the lines behind them!

A crazy amount of sun flare, but I love the shot:)

Have a wonderful day everyone, and thanks for visiting!

Where We Met...

2009-03-23T11:38:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! Here is an engagement session I did of a couple who requested to have their shoot at where they met. Giang and Sabrina were classmates when they went to college in De Anza College. Hearing a story about meeting in college is not new, but to have and engagement session there is. Most couples go choose engagement sessions based on the beauty of the locations. Lucky for these two, De Anza is one of the more beautiful colleges in the south bay! Check it out...

Stay tuned for Giang & Sabrina's wedding!

-Enjoy

Model Portfolio: Darren

2009-03-06T12:02:00.000-08:00

Here is a photo shoot for the ladies... I did a model portfolio with a hairstylist friend of mine, Miranda Barton. Our model's name is Darren from San Jose. The guy was cool, a bit soft spoken, and was very friendly. His look is very flexible, from shaggy to slick back hairstyles. As usual, Miranda did a fabulous job!

See more of Darren's shoot here.
Happy Friday everyone!

Roll with the Royce

2009-02-27T16:39:00.000-08:00

Is it Friday already?! This week's archived Fridays is a beautiful couple I worked with whom had a fancy Rolls-Royce for the day. I shot for a colleague of mine, Tony, who was already booked for the day. It was a gorgeous day to photograph a Vietnamese wedding. The couple and I had a fabulous time rolling in the Rolls! Here are some of my favorites...

The Royce...

Stealing a kiss...

Enjoy and have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Weekly Favorites

2009-02-20T11:15:00.000-08:00

My archived favorites this week takes us back to early 2002. I just transitioned from film to digital format photography. This couple was the first wedding that was exclusively digital. It was rather difficult since there were hardly any good fast software to help photographers other than Photoshop 6.0. To compound the issue, I was still learning Photoshop! I remember being so excited to be able to see the photos right away, and be in total control of all my photos. I also remember the peace of mind digital offered because of being able to back up the photos multiple times, unlike one set of film. Funny thing is, digital (to me) still misses the "look" of film. This is probably why most photographers, like me, spend large amounts of time editing digital photos to mimic film. Can't have everything I guess! Enough tech stuff, here is a small set of b/w photos I took in that wedding.

Dancing the night away...
A very classic look. I love this one!

The final moment before dad walks her down the isle...
Friends and family admiring the beautiful bride....

Enjoy and have a great weekend everyone!

University Optometry

2009-02-16T12:16:00.000-08:00

Every so often I get a request to do product or corporate photography for local businesses here in the bay area. Depending on the scale of the job, I often accept the project not only to explore other facets of the trade, but to bring these experiences with me during a wedding or portrait session. There is no substitute for experience. And by doing all types of photography, I feel that it has given me the confidence to be able to capture one's special moment in any photographic environment.

University Optometry, located in Palo Alto, is one company I would like to share with you. UO came to me looking for some product photos to be taken for their new website. The project presented some unique photographic hurdles, mainly due to high reflectivity of the actual products and small size. I did the photo shoot on location while it was open to the public. Patients and staff were busy hustling around, but I manage to capture all that they required for their new site. Here are some of my favorites...

Detail shot of the bling! It's like ring shots eh?

On this photo, I wanted to capture the different beautiful styles you could get for the frames.

This necklace doubled as a holder, cool!

The University Optometry crew. Should you need glasses, please visit them in Palo Alto. Tell them I sent cha:) Wonderful and very friendly people!

I hope you enjoyed the "different" type of posting here at Art by Exposure. Until next time, have a great day everyone!

Weekly Archived Favorites

2009-02-14T20:19:00.000-08:00

Hey guys,

Here are some more favorites from the past that just caught my eyes. Check 'em out!

Here is a set of wedding rings captured in very little DOF, creating a beautiful out of focus blur. The focus is just so that you can see the exquisite beauty of the diamonds, but not the distracting background.

Parasols for the ladies. Seeing them in a row was beautiful. There were 12 bridesmaids, total of 26 in the wedding party on this particular wedding!

Love under the California sun. More parasols!

Here is a photo of a beautiful church in SF. I love the somewhat modern architecture this church has. As the daylight hits the church, the unique layout of the stained glass as well as the chandelier glows and must really be seen in real life to appreciate it's beauty.

I hope you enjoyed the favorites of the week. Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Favorites Friday

2009-02-06T11:53:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone,

Just wanted to post some of my favorites for the week. Just random captures that I am most proud to share with you all. Enjoy!

Happy Friday everyone!

Nature's Artwork

2009-02-02T11:30:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone,

Every time I go to Yosemite, I am always awestruck by the sheer beauty of park. I try to go at least once a year to simply enjoy the view and be humbled by nature. The cliffs are magnificent and the waterfalls are grand. On a clear night, it's so dark that the sky is literally covered with stars. You can clearly see the Milky Way and the Andromeda galaxy! Satellites wiz by and are often captured by cameras as streak of lights.You can also see rock climbers with their flashlights on as they prep to sleep on the rock! Crazy! If there is a photographer, painter or naturalist in you, you simply must visit the park. It truly is a feast for the arts! Below are some of the photos I took since my last visit. Enjoy! :)

Half Dome. As if it was sliced like cheese!

Here is photo I captured with a man posing underneath Bridalveil waterfalls. I wanted to illustrate the sheer scale of the area.
Rushing Waters. At night, when you go to bed, the sound of the rushing river is both incredible and terrorizing. It's loud!
Set sail.
Yosemite Valley.

Yosemite on a clear night. Climbers with their flashlights on El Capitan while the Andromeda Galaxy is clearly seen by the naked eye.
Satellite trails paint the skies in all directions.

Out for the Night

2009-01-20T17:45:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone!

Just over a week ago, I decided to pry myself from the studio and go see a show. It's been a while, but I made an effort to go because one of my favorite local bands was playing. The place was called The Blank Club and the band was MUD. I have covered them before (in a past posting), and in fact were one of my past clients. They have since become my friends and I love to see them live. I also got to see some other fabulous bands, Loquat and Scissors for Lefty. Since I got there later in the evening, I only saw the last song by Loquat. Their last song must have made an impression since I ended up buying their latest album based on it! I got to see MUD and Scissors for Lefty for all their glory and let me tell you, whadda show! I didn't think I would be shooting, but you know me! Below are some photos from the night...

First up, MUD. Nikki working the lyrics while my friend Aris is on the keys...

Nikki singing her heart out. She always gives 110% during their shows...

I love this shot. Just bits and pieces of the band is seen, but makes the whole!

Here is Scissors for Lefty. What can I say... Great music and great entertainers! They had their very own fog machine which made for a really cool light show. The band seemed bigger than the flyer suggested because of it! Check it out...

No band is properly captured unless there are some great b/w! So here they are in beautiful monochrome...

So go out and see your local bands. There are some really good ones out there and you seldom here them on mainstream radio. Just make sure to remember how to nurse your own hangover the next morning!

San Jose in the 30's

2008-12-17T22:23:00.000-08:00

30 degree weather that is! I know to much of the nation is not that cold. But to us in San Jose, it's freakin freezing! Hopefully we will have snow this Christmas, though snow reeks havoc in a city. Especially when the city has no clue how to drive on ice! Anyways, I thought I should share a photograph I took over at the Almaden Valley Park in south San Jose during a gorgeous, but cold sunset yesterday. Enjoy!

Lisa & James

2008-12-15T19:35:00.000-08:00

James & Lisa's engagement session was a fun. They decided to have a 50's theme, complete with an authentic dress! We started our afternoon at the Hayes Mansion, and then met up in downtown San Jose. The city was packed since there was a carnival there as well as Christmas in the Park. Lucky for us, Lisa and James were not shy and did not mind shooting in the crowd! Here are some beautiful photos from the afternoon...

Strollin through the park...

A secret whisper...

That dress is so beautiful!

San Jose at the speed of Light...

I hope the kids are hanging on!

A gorgeous sunset...

Special thanks to Debs of Studio LAL for her help during the photo shoot. Enjoy!

A Beautiful One Year Anniversary

2008-12-01T11:28:00.001-08:00

Here are a few of Eva and Allen's one year anniversary photo shoot in SF. It was actually a trash the dress session rolled into one, but we'll get to that in another post. It's actually over one year, however we couldn't shoot at the time because Eva and Allen decided to have their honeymoon at their one year mark. When they got back, Eva was stressed out weather she would fit in her dress again. To her surprise, it was actually too big! Needless to say, she was very happy and looked as stunning as her wedding day;) Here are a few photos from the session...

Eva's hair and make up was done by the very talented MUA, Miranda Barton. My partner in crime for the day was Debs of Studio LAL. Great artist from the Bay Area!

-Enjoy!

A Teaser of things to Come...

2008-11-21T21:23:00.000-08:00

Here a teaser photo of a 1 year anniversary / trash the dress session with a couple (turned friends:) I worked with last year. I cannot believe it's already been over a year since I shot their wedding! I know that the wifey, Eva, is anxiously waiting see any photo from the session. Stay tuned as I will be posting more teasers as the days go by...Hehehe

Sunset at Baker Beach,SF

Hall Love

2008-11-11T15:08:00.000-08:00

Favorite of the week. Taken in a small hall in SF, will all the emotions intact! Enjoy!

Cool Pumpkins

2008-11-07T16:45:00.001-08:00

I know it's a bit late, but I wanted to share some cool pumpkins I saw during Halloween. Enjoy!

One for Friday

2008-10-31T14:54:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to share a simple yet beautiful portrait. Happy Friday everyone and have a safe Halloween!

Uninterrupted Kiss

2008-10-27T18:58:00.000-07:00

Uninterrupted Kiss. This was captured during a break from formal portraits. Real emotions, real moments, real time. Art by Exposure.

Happy Monday everyone!

Three for Friday

2008-10-24T16:10:00.000-07:00

Here are several of getting ready pics that are some of my favorite photos this year. Look at how beautiful that dress is in the back. Hope you enjoy the pics and have a great Friday everyone!

"Friday Night Lights"

2008-10-21T14:43:00.000-07:00

Hey guys,

Here is a couple of cool photos I took of a wedding cake this month. I love how the lighting and background makes it look like it was shot in a stadium.The cake itself was both gorgeous and yummy. Check out how the icing was made to look like ribbons. Very cool. Enjoy!

"Friday Night Lights"

"Grace"

2008-10-19T14:09:00.000-07:00

Here is another favorite of mine from this year. Because the family and guest were in the mail hall, this photo was captured with just the couple alone. Their solitude gives more power to the photo. Enjoy!

"Grace"

Favorite Unsung Photos

2008-10-17T13:09:00.001-07:00

Hello everyone! Today I decided to start a series of individual photos that are based on my personal favorites. These photos are not necessarily the focus of attention in a given event (hence unsung heroes), but are just great moments captured by me during assignments. Some are non wedding related, and are often highly emotional shots. Think of it as "The Best Of Art by Exposure" series. I will try to post a new photo each week so check back here often:) I hope you guys like them and please feel free to comment on any of the photographs!

Here is the first of many favorites. This little groomsman was waiting ever so patiently during a long formal photo shoot after wedding.

You will see more of this kid as I captured many great moments during the ceremony of the wedding he was in. Stay tuned...

Matthew & Cynthia

2008-10-03T13:50:00.000-07:00

You may remember a few weeks back of an engagement session I did that included a couple of adorable pups. Matthew and Cynthia finally tied the knot in front of their loving family.Everybody was so kind and friendly! It was such a pleasure working for such a laid back couple. Here are some of the highlights of their day:
-------

The intricate details of her dress. So beautiful! Cynthia actually had two pairs of shoes. One comfortable, the other painful. Since they were part of what she actually had, I suggested to photograph both pairs! I believe she will appreciate it 20 years from now :)

Here she is getting the treatment from the talented & excellent MUA Ann Ho. Check her out. Her work is outstanding! And of course, the beautiful dress.

Here is Matt with a busted wrist. He had an unfortunate accident weeks before the wedding. He had the cast removed early just for his wedding! What a trooper! Though the joke from him was weather the ring will fit since his finger is still swollen:)

Check out these unique rings!

Cynthia was positively glowing! I am sure she didn't mind the stares and complements she was receiving as we left the hotel!

The look of love and sincerity. The rings to seal their love.

The shots of my shots... Their engagement session on a large print. I was so honored that they couldn't just choose 1 :)

Mucho classic look. Rolls baby Rolls...

Their lovely reception was at the Corinthian Event Center in downtown San Jose. What a beautiful set up. I absolutely love this venue and always look forward to working in it! Congratulations to Matthew & Cynthia!

A special thanks to Debs of Studio LAL & Tony of Portrait by Tony. You guys made the ceremony and reception a lot more entertaining:) My two most favorite wedding photographers to work with!

Memorable Wedding

2008-09-14T09:29:00.001-07:00

The wedding of Richard and Clarissa was one of the most memorable weddings I've done. It was memorable because they played a lot of my favorite 80's music! I know, I know, 80's??!! Yup. I love the alternative music from that era. And they did too! It was like going to a house party in the old days except someone got married in the process :) Here are some of the magic that happened throughout the day...

Clarissa and her beautiful classy dress. She looked gorgeous!

The boyz... A toast to the man, as the single guy friends weep! Also below is one of my favorite photos of the little flower girls. It has a very old school look. Especially the little one with her hand tucked under her chin!

A most traditional ceremony. You can see the seriousness and the joy in their faces...

St. Claire is a beautiful church. The first kiss, with all the emotion intact. Photojounalism at its best!

So giggly afterwards... We went across the street to Santa Clara University to relish the beautiful scenery. There they were sneaking a kiss...

More fun shots with the newlyweds. I absolutely adore NON traditional portraits!

Captured as is. They were so photogenic. Plus, they constantly looked at each other which makes for a highly emotional photo...

A simple, sincere hug. Richard absolutely adores his wife...

The reception...On one of the photos, everyone was lined up and was learning the electric slide! After it became too hard, they just let loose and started to boogie. Check out the gorgeous cake, it had such a presence since they had a spotlight on it. And the last kiss for the night. As usual, the day went by so fast!

A special thanks to Debs of Studio LAL for being such a fabulous 2nd photographer. I love that she also has a knack of capturing highly emotional photos. Highly recommended!

A Family Engagement

2008-09-09T10:35:00.000-07:00

Here is an engagement session I did early last month that was truly unique. The couple, Cynthia & Matthew, wanted to include their pups for the photo shoot since they consider them their family. They decided to have it at the beach since the pups have never been to one. It was late in the afternoon and the fog slowly crept in. Though it got a bit cold, it didn't stop us from having so much fun!

Posing to the strange man with the camera. I love the expressions dogs have in their faces...

Got a bit cold, but the wine and blanket helped kept our couple stay warm! :)

They were so busy listening to directions that they didn't notice the surf coming in... Click,click,click! Capturing the moment was priceless!

This was so funny, the dogs didn't want to get in the cold water! They were giving it all their best to stay out. Also, it wouldn't be a classic California beach without the surfers!

This couple loves their pets. To include them in their engagement session was a wonderful idea. After all, I want to capture who my clients are and not want I want them to be... Enjoy!

A special thanks to Debs, of Studio LAL, for her help and support for this session.

Mr. & Mrs. Smile

2008-09-08T21:26:00.000-07:00

Here is wedding I did in San Francisco of a couple who loved to smile. Ernest & Elizabeth both extremely friendly and very shy, but it didn't stop me from getting them some memorable photos of their special day...

Here is Elizabeth doing some final touches to her wedding. She was definitely multitasking with just hours before her wedding!

A touch of class to add to the shoes...

Here, with a little help from her sister, was the beauty of the magical dress fully realized. She has such a classical look about her with her hair in curls. Beautiful!

Into the moment, where two lives become one. The joy in their faces were witnessed by friends and family!

What a gorgeous church!

Portraits with a classic feel, love it!

Blue skies, need I say more?

I love it when couples act goofy and they think I can't get them...Surprise! And the gorgeous cake. It's always neat to see cakes being built up at the reception, it's like art before your eyes.

More fancy shots...

The dress she had for the tea ceremony was both elaborate and beautiful. Not to mention all the bling she was receiving! ;)

Maghen & Jared

2008-08-11T14:38:00.000-07:00

Here is a truly classy wedding I did with Debs of Studio LAL. The wedding was set in a beautiful vineyard in Los Gatos called Testarossa. The couple were absolutely stunning and view had a very classic feel. I really felt like I was able to showcase what Art by Exposure was about, photojournalism mixed with classical fine photographic art. Here are some of the the outstanding photographs of the day.

Our groom rehearsing...

Simply an elegant bride!

A moment to cherish...

Two as one...

"I can't believe we did it!"

A timeless classic photograph...

I love this shot...

Special thanks again to Debs of Studio LAL for allowing me to be part of this couple's wedding day!

Mike & Grace

2008-07-18T17:38:00.000-07:00

Here is the beautiful wedding of Mike & Grace. Their wedding took place on a beautiful sunny day in Sunol Valley. I had the help of my best second photographer, Debs, from Studio LAL, whose eye easily matches my style. With the wedding party totaling to 26 and 300+ guest, there are so many photographs I would like to share with you all! Unfortunately, it would take pages of work so I am just showing you some of the highlights of their day. I have been in close contact with Mike and Grace since they signed up almost a year ago and also because I shot Grace's sister's wedding last year. Best wishes to my new found friends!

Here is a letter Mike gave to Grace on the morning of their wedding...

Custom comforter, sweet!

Grace with her mom in the background...

Beautiful dress details...

Our beautiful bride, captured by Debs...

Sunol Valley...

Another wonderful shot by Debs of Studio LAL...

Romantic shadows

Getting married is hard work ;^)

Beauty and the Dress

2008-07-10T15:30:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,
Here is a prime example of how a beautiful girl coupled with a gorgeous dress can lead to incredible photographs. All I can say is "WOW!" throughout the photo shoot! Once again, my favorite hair and make up artist was Miranda Barton, of Anthony Paez Hair Salons. Check them out!

Been busy, but good busy:^)

2008-07-07T18:43:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone,

It's been insanely busy here at the studio! Though I am not complaining, it sure makes things hard like updating this blog! Here is a wedding I did for good friend and colleague of mine, Tony. It was a small, but beautiful wedding in Monterey. The couple was fabulous and the weather was clear blue skies despite the crazy fires we had at the time of the wedding. Check out some of the photos below...

All in a Day's Work

2008-06-12T12:31:00.000-07:00

Last week I did a model/MUA portfolio shoot. All I have to say is that when you have a great team, things really do come to life. I had the pleasure of working with one of my favorite local hair/make up artist, Miranda Barton. Ladies (and men too), check her out if you are in need of such services, she truly one of the best I have ever worked with. Our model, Marina, was as stunning in real life as is on these photos. Overall I had a great time working with such professionals and they both had such great, upbeat attitude!

Beauty of a Dancer

2008-06-02T21:38:00.000-07:00

Last week I had a really unique opportunity to do a photo shoot of a talented dancer. Her name is Khalilah and not only is she a fabulous folk dancer, but she is also a beautiful model as well. She teaches her art in San Jose and was a real joy to work with.

Khalilah found me on a local ad seeking a videographer to capture her highly unique dancing style. Unfortunately, I do not do video! Wondering if there was something I could do in terms of photography, we ended up meeting and brainstorming for an experimental photo shoot. My goal was to capture the emotion she displayed (On a video of her dancing captured by family) while she was dancing. Based on the photos below, I believe we definitely achieve our goal beautifully. Enjoy!

A Beautiful Mill Rose Inn Wedding

2008-05-28T14:57:00.000-07:00

Here is the beautiful wedding of Laura and Chris at the Mill Rose Inn. I had posted about this cute venue a few weeks ago located in Half Moon Bay. Laura & Chris's day was perfect for this place because it was a small wedding. It was very cozy and just minutes from the beach. The couple was in love and the crowed was wonderful, what more can you ask for?

Not so Trashy Trash the Dress Shoot

2008-05-28T11:24:00.000-07:00

Back in 2002, I shot the wonderful wedding of Elizabeth and Damion. They are good friends of mine and since their joining, their family has grown to a party of five. Elizabeth wanted to save her wedding dress for their daughter Madi, so she decided to get the dress dry cleaned and stored. There came the idea! She figured, since she is getting it cleaned anyway, I might as well do a trash the dress session. She really didn't want to trash her dress, hence the title above, but merely to celebrate her 6 year anniversary. She was especially proud that she not only still fit in the dress, but she was actually smaller now than before the kids! She went through all the works, hair, make up, and the pampering! She hired the fabulous hair and make up artist, Miranda Burton (Anthony Paez Hair Gallery), to do her magic. It was like a recreation of the day they tied the knot, but having all this time for a personal photo shoot! Elizabeth absolutely looked stunning, see for yourself...

Here is Miranda doing her magic...

Look at the intricate patterns!

The magical dress from 6 years ago...

This photo reminds me of the flapper years

The back details of this beautiful dress

Stunning!

One happy mama!

At the end of the day, I was very humbled that not only was I there to capture their wedding day six years ago, but also be a part of their lives now. It's what makes what I do so rewarding to me!

Sainte Claire

2008-05-26T17:53:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! Long time no post , it's been really busy here at the studio. I just wanted to share a wedding I did at the Sainte Claire. The couple, Nina & John, were so cool and laid back. What a wonderful couple! They were super nice and the venue was gorgeous! Sainte Claire is located in downtown San Jose and has a very classic feel. It's one of the oldest building in SJ. Check out the hotel if your in town!

I want to also thank you The couple for providing us with the best steak dinner I have ever had in my life;^) Kudos to the Sainte Claire crew. Here are some photos of their beautiful day...

Women's kryptonite...

The dress!

A timeless feel...

The beautiful bride...

A father's love...

I love this venue!

Best wishes to Nina & John!

The details...

2008-05-15T10:29:00.000-07:00

Here is a wedding that I help shoot a couple of weekends ago. I just wanted to emphasize the detail shots since since it's often overlooked. Here at Art by Exposure, I truly believe that couples work so hard in preparations and the details that it is such a shame not to capture and preserve those "little" things. I also wanted to show some artistic, non traditional shots that could easily be printed large and become a piece of artwork in your home. When you look back at your at your photo book, I want to make sure you remember everything. Not just the photos of your family and guest, but the details and emotion that is unique you your wedding day. when your children see the book in the future, they will see a happy documentary of when mom and dad got married, not portrait after portrait photos that makes us all yawn with boredom! Enough chatting you say, here are the pics...

The colors!

The beautiful shoes...

The couple during a break from the shoot (priceless!)

Fabulous tones in B/W...

A beautiful Church...

A special photo both at the reception!

A passionate kiss...

A helping hand...

A very unique cake!

Jowin & Judith's Custom Album Design

2008-05-12T08:44:00.000-07:00

Here is an example of the custom designed books we do here at Art by Exposure. Judith & Jowin was married last year, and they wanted to visit other possibilities of what they could do with there wedding photos. So I did my usual art of massaging the photos and custom designing (No templates here!) a new book for them. Here is one spread example:

You can view the rest of the book here. Don't mind the blank pages, they are there to be place holders (because they are the first and last page). The ring shots were actually shot by me. They did not have any ring shots during their wedding and I felt that it was an essential part of a book. Even though the rings were captured last week, the photos integrate themselves as if it was captured at that time making the book feel complete.

They will be absolutely delighted when they see the totally reedited photos and 100% custom layout designed book!

An Engagement Session with Mike & Grace

2008-05-09T18:18:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago I did the an engagement session with Mike & Grace in SF. Mike had proposed to Grace in front of the giant arrow, so naturally, we started there. The weather was perfect and we all had fun! It was a very relaxed engagement session and it felt like I was hanging out with old friends. Kudos to Mike and Grace for being one of the coolest couples I have worked with. Here are a few from the day:

I also put together a slide show for the couple. Click here to see it...

One more month guys!

A Beautiful Little Girl

2008-05-08T22:23:00.000-07:00

Today, while I was visiting some clients, I had the pleasure of meeting a very cute little girl. She had the most beautiful little eyes, though she had a little boo-boo on her forehead. She was not shy and she absolutely loved the camera! Here are some of the snapshots I took of her while she was playing.

Kids are so precious!

A Venue with Real Charm

2008-05-02T09:42:00.000-07:00

Hey guys! I was surveying a venue for a client who's wedding I will be shooting in two weeks. The place is called Mill Rose Inn, located in Half Moon Bay. The place is small, but is extremely charming (think cozy!). The place can accommodate a maximum of 150 guest, though 100 would probably be best due to size. The scenery is is both classic (perfect for b/w) and colorful due to a wonderful garden setting. It is also minutes away from the beach! Lot's of photo ops;^) Here are few pics I snapped while I was there...

As you can see, the place is both charming and cozy. If you know anyone looking for a (small)venue for their wedding, or simply want to get away from the city, I highly recommend this place!

Grace & Mike's Engagement Session

2008-04-29T18:33:00.000-07:00

Ooh, ahhh, it's Mike and Grace's engagement session. Here is a teaser pic from out shoot in SF. Stay tuned, I will post again soon with more photos!

No Pain Visit

2008-04-29T17:49:00.000-07:00

Last week I photographed a group of physicians for their website. It was nice to visit a doctor's office without the fear of needles ;^)

The session went well, and the doctors were more photogenic than they thought. Here is one of them.

Cheers!

Kimmy's Maternity Session

2008-04-21T12:33:00.001-07:00

Yesterday I got to shoot a maternity session with Kimmy, who is 5 months pregnant. I did the shoot at my friends house, Eva, whose wedding I shot last year on triple lucky 7 (07-07-07);^) I will be capturing Kimmy's tummy progression each month and then printing a large photo of all the sessions we did right up to her term end. Kimmy was a bit nervous at first, but as time went by, she was completely into the session. I had great time working as well as enjoying time with my new friends. I also met some new ones, Christy and Ross, who were just as fabulous. Thank you Eva for letting me use your beautiful home and for making some grub for lunch!

Here are some photos of the session. I decided to post some because I know that Kimmy is dying to see the results. Enjoy Kimmy!

The blue outfit looks great!

All this pink, could it be girl?!

Till next month!

Marisela & Victor

2008-04-21T11:08:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I helped shoot a wedding with a colleague and friend Tony, from Portrait by Tony. Tony's a great guy as well as an excellent photographer. We always have a blast when we work together! The couple, Marisela & Victor, were married at such a beautiful church in SF. They also had a wonderful mariachi band during their reception. It was a lot fun and the folks I met were very friendly. I put together a small show below with the images I captured for the couple. Enjoy!

Congratulations to Marisela & Victor!

A great studio to work with...

2008-04-19T18:36:00.000-07:00

Hi guys! I wanted mention a great photography studio that I have worked with. The site is called Studio Lal, operated by Deborah Arajs. Debs is also the primary shooter for Studio Lal and she is a fabulous photographer. when our schedules permit us, I love working with her during shoots. I find that her shooting style is very close to mine, making it very easy to edit and be transparent on the days we do work together.

Recently I had the opportunity to tag along on an engagement session with one of her clients. The couple, Jennie and Michael, were absolutely delighted to have two photographers at their session. Needless to say, we all had a great time and the photos of their session came out fabulous! See for yourself...

Too cute!

Couldn't resist, here is another!

My favorite one of the day...

The location that Debs chose for Jennie and Michael on their engagement session is the same spot that I chose for my own engagement session of Clarissa and Richard (see previous postings). It is located in south San Jose. She found the site accidentally while finding an alternate route to get home without traffic. Great find!

Here is Debs working hard with her camera permanently stuck to her face! (j/k)

Mud album released!

2008-04-19T16:34:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite bands, Mud, released their new album called Yearbook on April 15th. I have been a fan since I first saw them back in 2005, and was introduce to the group by a mutual friend. Since then, I have had the COOL opportunity of having to shoot their shows. I even was invited to their record company's premier private anniversary party, which I had the opportunity to capture and meet some music celebrities! Here are a few pics below, see if you recognize any of them ;D

A few months ago when they were in the works of their new album, the band's guitarist, Alan, insisted on his record company that I be the photographer to shoot for their new album. I was both honored and thrilled!!!! Here are some of the photos of the sessions up in Talking House Record's SF studio...Enjoy, and go check out their new album, Yearbook!

On the rooftop with the killer SF view...

This is my favorite one. Very dramatic!

BTW: Mud is having a cd release party on April 25th up in SF. The 411 below...

PLEASE JOIN US IN CELEBRATING THE RELEASE OF OUR NEW ALBUM "YEARBOOK" AT SLIM'S FRIDAY APRIL 25TH.PRESENTED BY IMEEM.COM.GET YOUR TICKETS NOW BY CLICKING ON THE FLYER.THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

Hope to see you guys there!

Richard & Clarissa

2008-04-19T14:58:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago I got to shoot Clarissa and Marvin's engagement session. I was delighted to do the shoot at this time of the year because of the fields of yellow flowers around the bay area. We got to shootin in a small park in south San Jose where all but a few runners pass by. It didn't take long the couple to loosen up since Richard is such a funny comedian! Here is a small slide show I put together for them to enjoy until their wedding...

It was a very relaxed and funny shoot. Richard really enjoys making Clarissa laugh. Overall, I cannot wait to shoot their wedding as I have a feeling it will be a lot of fun!

School Pictures...

2008-04-19T14:11:00.000-07:00

Ok, is it me or do school pictures look boring? I mean, it's no wonder most kids look mad or sad and the parents are forced to pick from the least bad ones. Forget creativity! And the backgrounds all look the same since the 1970's!

A couple of days ago I decided to take pictures of a friend's daughter and save her from those yucky school pics. She is such a cutie, especially with her mommy's hat! See for yourself and tell me what you think... (Click on the pictures for the bigger ones)

She's being shy...

Warming up...

There it is, the giant smile!

Here are a couple in black and white. These look like they were taken from 1960's! I love how black and whites instantly gives a classical feel. Check them out...

Gotcha!

Being goofy...

That's it? She wanted to keep shooting!

Rachel & Marvin's Engagement Party

2008-04-11T14:54:00.000-07:00

Here is an engagement party I went to by a couple I will be photographing in September. This was an unusual request since the engagement photos were already done. However, I planned on going so that I can meet the bridal party before the actual wedding day. This usually help eases people who are shy in front a camera by getting to know their photographer. I did not expect to be shooting in the party, but I couldn't resist! There was a real French chef who was making artistic dishes on the fly! Needless to say, I was most impressed by the beautiful decor and the hospitality I received.

I hope you enjoy the small slide show I put together that sums up the beautiful day I had with Marvin and Rachel. Till September!

It's alive!

2008-04-11T14:47:00.000-07:00

The Art by Exposure blog is ALIVE! Here you will see some of my recent work as well as my all time favorites in the wonderful world of photography. I look forward to not only sharing what I captured for my clients, but also the mundane weekly happenings. I love to photograph, and I sincerely hope you enjoy the work I will be presenting here.

Live long and prosper!

-Ian