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I have this special connection with Brendan and Elizabeth. Actually, Ingrid and I both have a connection with the two of them. I used to work with them during my CALPACT days on the UC Berkeley campus. It was surreal getting to shoot them, because now we were in this completely different situation. I’m used to asking them to help me teach a class or something, not snuggle or kiss in front of me while I take photos of them. I think that’s what made it all the more fun!
Ingrid and Elizabeth had the architecture major connection. When we went inside Wurster Hall, the architecture major building on the Berkeley campus, I think they were both flooded with memories of all-nighters on the 8th floor. I just couldn’t believe how messy that place was! Well, they both survived and now were able to play inside the building, instead of having to worry about making the perfect cardboard structure.
Brendan and Elizabeth also have the biggest hearts when it comes to helping their friends out for their weddings. I’ve seen them at so many weddings decorating, and now I look forward to seeing them being on the receiving end of all that lovin’. You guys rock!
Elizabeth was having fun, while Brendan became a little camera-shy.
Our friend Stacy McCain, an event planner based in San Francisco, just pinged us to let her know about her wonderful new website! It’s so great to see Stacy’s fresh, fabulous work all in one place! We especially love this Mexican fiesta she created - love the colors and the mini maracas!
Ever wonder what a floral designer does behind the scenes? Here is a typically week in the life of Nancy Liu Chin. 
Monday
Usually Mondays are my day off. You will find me at Le Crème Nail Spa getting a pedicure and foot massage with Chin Chin (that’s my 10 year old dog) in tow. I order my usual Greek salad with a deviled egg from the nice Russian couple who owns the deli next door. I’ve been going there so long yet we’ve never exchanged names, and now it seems awkward to do so. The older gentleman always has a twinkle in his eye when I come in. He makes me smile. I notice his wife is always working while he has the easier job of order taking.
Monday is also the day I return my books to the library. I love the smell of borrowed books, and it reminds me of my childhood when I often had to stay at the library after elementary school because both my parents worked till 6pm.
In the late afternoons I go grocery shopping at my local Trader Joe’s or Safeway. And then it’s off to date night with KC, my husband. We go to the movies quite a bit since we are both movie buffs. The last movie we saw was Slumdog Millionaire.
This is Ingrid — Jerry is in Texas right now at the Foundation Workshop and I stayed behind to hold down the fort. I’ve been secretly, patiently waiting for this moment when Jerry can’t edit my entry and slap my knuckles so that I can….
….POST CRAZY NASTY PICTURES OF HIM! YAH!
Just kidding. I will save that for a different time, when he is out of the country, perhaps.
Jacqueline and Ray were our first wedding of 2009. It was a cold January outdoor (!) wedding, but Jacqueline and Ray are so ridiculously awesome and in love that I don’t think they felt the cold. I love the venue, I love their style, and I love them!
Sunday was the Alameda Flea Market and, as always, we were there in full treasure-hunting mode! This time we spotted some fabulous paper goods and crafting supplies..
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Sometimes as I’m crossing over the Bay Bridge for a shoot, I get certain feelings. Sometimes I get frustrated at the traffic on the bridge, other times I’m rockin’ out to Sesame Street or Muse, and then there are those times that I’m hoping for a good shoot. I remember driving across and feeling a certain nothingness before this shoot. It was like the calm before a storm. I didn’t know Charmaine and Saul (pronounced like sow) and had never met them before. This was a lifestyle session and not an engagement shoot. So the car ride over had a different vibe. Little did I know that it was going to be one of the best shoots ever!
Why? because, Charmaine and Saul were amazingly fun to work with. We talked and talked and talked and did some shooting in between all the talking. We explored nooks and crannies. Hit up some cool back lighting and found our way into a construction site! A photographer couldn’t have asked for a more relaxing and inspiring session.
Cindy and Dave made it incredibly easy to shoot their wedding. We were surrounded by great lighting, awesome city backdrops and beautiful people. And man, do these beautiful people dance! One of my favorite parts of a wedding is the reception dancing- everyone gets down and we’re surrounded by action. It’s sort of like setting us loose in the middle of a crazy funk parade!… if those things existed. Some photographers don’t even shoot receptions, but I think it’s the most expressive time, chock full of raw sweaty personality. Yum!
Cindy and Dave were a pleasure to get to know. I understood why they were surrounded by tons of old friends that simply adored them. We adore them too!
These days life is going by so fast that memories of our studio are dotted by these blog posts. More and more, I get excited about these posts because I really feel like we’re constantly evolving, growing, changing and in the midst of it all having a lot of fun creatively. Running your own business and managing everything is very hard work. We work 12 hour days constantly and get sunburns from our monitors. And just when we feel like hamsters on a huge human ferris wheel churning out work till no end, we get to see a glimpse of work that makes it all worthwhile. I hope I never get bored of posting pictures for our couples and for everyone else. When I look back thirty years from now, I hope I’ll remember all the nights of working, but most importantly I hope that I never forget the moments that I’ve spent with all our couples.
Thanks Jody and Mick for letting us share in something greater than just a party or ceremony, but moments that I hope to remember down the long long road.
Oh and to note, we had Lynn-Kai Chao shoot with us for the day. It was his birthday and he gave it up to come shoot with us. Many many thanks of gratitude Lynn-Kai. If you get a chance, make sure to follow his blog as well; he’s got a very bright future as a photographer!
One of the highlights of the entire The Special Events (a convention for wedding vendors) was this wonderful and intimate breakfast hosted by Carley Roney, Co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Knot (pictured third from the right). In attendance were Tara Guerard of Soiree , Joyce Scardina Bekker of Events of Distinction, Leighsa Montrose of Branch Out, Kevin Chin, and several other key wedding insiders. It was a lovely breakfast and fun was had by all. We shared about how the economic crisis was affecting newly engaged couples and the importance of connecting to people.
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