Chris Shum Photography Wedding Journal

2011 in review

2012-01-23T19:34:00.000-08:00

A little late for 2011 review, but better late than never =)! Looking back, it was a rewarding year and I was very happy to have met many of the brides and grooms and helped them treasure their precious moments with my pictures.

And looking forward to 2012, we are continuing with our re-branding effort (and studio setup). Can't wait for the completion to meet our new clients and greet all our acquaintances there!

Family Fun at Disneyland Resort, Hong Kong

2012-01-12T21:07:00.000-08:00

Disneyland Resort is definitely a popular place for photo shoots in Hong Kong. This was my fourth photo session at this resort within the year. It was a gorgeous, warm afternoon for Maria and Alan's family to enjoy this beautiful place. Their lovely kids Kate and Kyle just couldn't wait to have fun in the grass. Kate was very proud to lead our way at all times, while Kyle enjoyed playing with everyone else in his family and explored by himself too. We all had lots of fun until sunset and Kyle was so tired that he just fell asleep on his mom's shoulder our way back.

Family Fun at CUHK, Hong Kong

2012-01-09T22:21:00.000-08:00

It was my second visit to CUHK this year. I had so much fun meeting Maria and his lovely son, Arthur. Before the photo shoot, we emailed and chatted a few times to bring out ideas of how to make their session more fun. Maria told me Arthur loves sport and suggested to spend some time playing sports at CUHK. It was a record low chilly morning in Hong Kong so it turned out to be a great day for playing sports. We also discovered a new interest for Arthur - he loves to take pictures! After I showed him some basic steps in using my camera, he started taking some pictures, and even promised me to be my assistant when I come back next time!

Family Fun at Kowloon Park, Hong Kong

2012-01-08T19:38:00.000-08:00

It was another nice and warm winter morning in Hong Kong. I met Teresa and Virgil and their two lovely girls earlier in the year at Repulse Bay. The kids sure have grown fast in a few months. This time we had our photo session at Kowloon Park. The park has changed a lot since I left Hong Kong, and I had a tough time chasing the girls as they were running so quickly around the park. But then we have discovered some very unique locations inside the park. Thanks again for the wonderful time together and also bringing me back to the park where I have fond memories of my growing up.

Veronica + Kevin: Married!

2012-01-01T14:45:00.000-08:00

Happy 2012!

Looking back at 2011, it has been a very eventful year and I have managed to stay busy as always. I've enjoyed the time with my family, and happy to have met many new friends, couples and families this year, and stay connected with many of my old friends. I have a feeling 2012 is going to be great and restless, and I'm really looking forward to it.

Here's the posting of my last wedding of year 2011, and I wish the newly wed, Kevin and Veronica, a great year to come, and also wishing the best for everyone in 2012!

e-session blog post: Veronica + Kevin e-session in San Francisco
Getting Ready at: Private residence in San Jose
Ceremony at: Covenant Presbyterian Church, Palo Alto
Reception at: Peking Duck, Palo Alto
Wedding Ceremony Coordinator: Kyle & Tiffany Lessler
Reception Coordinator: Alice Hwang

Family - Love - Expecting: Lina + Andy + Shalyn (Inspiration Lake, Hong Kong)

2011-12-21T14:19:00.000-08:00

I met Lina, Andy and Shalyn earlier in the year in Hong Kong and had a wonderful newborn session at their house. Shalyn sure grows fast. Now she can walk and even run very well. It was my pleasure to meet them again at this beautiful place - Inspiration Lake - on Lantau Island. A perfect place to have a relax walk around the lake for the mom-to-be, and lots to be explored for the young kids.

Thanks so much Lina and Andy for taking me to this wonderful place and allow me to be your photographer again to capture the precious moments of your life. I am looking forward very much to meet your new additional family member very soon!

Family - Love - Fun: Captain + Angie (Disneyland Resort, Hong Kong)

2011-12-20T15:04:00.000-08:00

It was a perfect day to have some fun outdoors. I met up with Angie, Captain and their lovely son at Whampoa, the place where I was staying. Then they took me on the highway straight to HK Disneyland Resort. The ride was unexpectedly smooth and it was quite scenic too, not quite what I had expected.

I have actually been to the Disneyland Resort many times before for photo shoots. The is a lovely place with a beautiful landscape, and it never disappoints me to find special scenes for photos. We enjoyed the warmth and nice weather, especially little guy. He was so happy running around and playing with his parents until sunset.

My travel journal - Silhouette of Hong Kong, my hometown

2011-12-20T01:23:00.000-08:00

I just came back from Hong Kong. This was my second trip to Hong Kong in 2011, and it was a very busy yet rewarding trip. During my visit, I got to meet my family, and most of all, my dearest grandmother, aunt and uncle, and ate a lot of authentic yummy food, like wonton noodle, dim sum, chiu chow snacks and hot pots. I also met many friends and families, old and new, and explored a few interesting places while shooting some family sessions and giving photography workshops. The place I have visited most was Lantau Island - including going through the Hong Kong International Airport (Chek Lap Kok Airport), I also went to a few other locations like Discovery Bay and Disneyland Resort, and traveled via different transportation, while enjoying the various scenic views.

I couldn't wait to share my photo sessions and very much looking forward to meet these families again soon!

Here are some spontaneous shots I took during the trip while working and touring around town.

A nice view from my aunt's apartment - at break of dawn.

Some older buildings in the town I grew up in.

Double decker buses going side by side and back to back.

The nice houses near the Peak.

On my way down to Central District from the Peak. What was the crowd gathering for?

The crowd was surrounding the popular TV actress and singer based in HK - Linda Chung Ka-Yan.

Even the construction workers took a break to check it out.

The Connaught Place - an old iconic building in Central.

The brand new Apple Store at ifc, Central sure draws a big crowd of fans.

The forever expanding landfill that would eventually connect HK island and Kowloon.

This reminds me of the plastic fences we used for our kids when they were toddlers.

2 eagles were hovering over the ifc 2 building - the tallest building in Hong Kong.

I enjoyed so much watching the sunset with a stunning city profile of Central at Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon.

Veronica + Kevin Sneak Peek (Palo Alto, ca)

2011-12-03T19:37:00.000-08:00

The lovely couple, Veronica and Kevin, tied their knot in Palo Alto at the beautiful Covenant Presbytarian Church. Here is a sneak peek of their wedding day. More pictures will be posted soon!

ISPWP Contest Fall 2011

2011-11-29T04:17:00.000-08:00

I'm very happy that one of my pictures was awarded in the latest ISPWP contest. Congratulations to Jasmyn and Jon! Congratulations to all!

Family Fun at Linda Mar Beach (Pacifica, ca)

2011-11-16T20:56:00.000-08:00

It was so great to see Clara and Anthony again, and meet with their little guy, who has grown so much! I remembered last time I saw him, he was still a baby in Clara's arms. And that was almost 3 years ago! Come to think of it, I have known Anthony and Clara for almost 5 years. I first came to know the couple when I was the photographer at their best friend's wedding. Then later I was honored to be their wedding photographer at their wedding. That's one of the most satisfying aspect as a wedding and family photographer - being there to capture the important moments for my clients, and see their families grow.

The weather that day was warm, with a bit overcast, which was perfect for the shoot. The family had so much fun on the beach, in the sand and in the water. They even had a little visitor who was totally photogenic! I had lots of fun that day!

I am also very proud to publish my new branding logo and studio name as Chris Shum Photography. Stay tune for more upcoming changes!

Family Fun at Hidden Villa Ranch (Los Altos Hills, ca)

2011-11-10T03:17:00.000-08:00

It was a beautiful day in Fall after an entire week of rain. The family decided to visit the Hidden Villa Ranch - a quiet farm with lots to explore. We walked through the ranch together, enjoying the nice weather and fresh air after the rain, and had lots of fun looking at the organic garden and a close encounter with some farm animals too!

Jasmyn + Jon: Married! (San Francisco, ca)

2011-11-05T13:52:00.000-07:00

Autumn has always been my most favorite season, especially for shooting. I just love the fall colors. After taking Jasmyn and Jon's lovely e-Session, I have been looking forward to their wedding day eagerly. It was another beautiful day in San Francisco, with a perfect blue sky. The wedding party started with the typical busy morning, and we had lots of great moments of the bride and groom while they were getting ready.

The St. Patrick Church where the ceremony took place was just beautiful. It was a very touching and unforgettable moment to witness the lovely couple finally tied their knots. And the cable car ride around town following the ceremony was such a cool idea! It just happened it was Fleet Week in San Francisco, so it was exceptionally festive and crowded in the City. The gorgeous couple and their wedding party have attracted many envious looks from the passersby and we had so much fun walking through the crowd at Ferry Building and the Piers. Even the Marines joined us for a picture!

In the evening, we headed back for reception at the beautiful Terra Gallery. The place was already fully packed with guests and the air was filled with the wonderful aroma of good food. It was really impressive how Tiffany and Julene have organized the reception so well, attending to the finest details to make this perfect party!

Congratulations to Jasmyn and Jon once again!

e-session blog post: Jasmyn + Jon e-session in San Francisco
Getting Ready at: Westin San Francisco
Ceremony at: St. Patrick Church
Reception at: Terra Gallery
Event Planner: Tiffany, Devoted Catering by AmieeAlan
Hair & Makeup Artist: Tommie, Joseph Cozza Salon, Inc.
Florist: Svenja, Chestnut & Vine Floral Design
Transportation: California St. Cable Car of San Francisco
DJ/Emcee: DJ Justin Credible

Baby Kennice: Hello World!

2011-10-26T09:17:00.000-07:00

Watching the birth of baby Kennice was so amazing that I couldn't use words to describe. It was my honor Josephine and Matt trusted me in capturing this magical moment for them. It reminded me of the time when I watched my boys coming to this world, which I thought I have almost forgotten as time goes by. Thanks for helping me recall this memorable experience and letting me be your photographer again!

Lately I have been getting numerous requests for photo sessions other than weddings. Within the last few months, I had many maternity, newborn, family sessions, and even a funeral request. And just last weekend, I got a birth photo session to capture the beautiful moments of the birth of a new life at the hospital. It just struck me that my photography works completed a full circle in life! As a photographer, I get these opportunities to witness and capture the precious moments of life, the joys and some occasions, sorrows, and that really captivates me and made me so passionate about my job. It also perfectly meshed with my philosophy - my photography helps to document people's cherished moments at any point in life into beautiful images.

Here is the birth of baby Kennice through my lens:

Melody + Joseph: Bridal Shoot (San Francisco, ca)

2011-10-21T22:19:00.000-07:00

One year after Melody and Joseph's wedding, the couple decided to celebrate their anniversary by having their bridal shoot at the beautiful City Hall in San Francisco. After having fun exploring and leaving their footprints in almost every corner of the City Hall, we headed down to the Bakers Beach. The traffic was a bit rough on our way to the beach, but luckily, we arrived at the perfect time with the gorgeous late afternoon view of Golden Gate Bridge. We stayed and enjoyed the beautiful scenery until sunset!

Mon Petit Prince: Happy 1st Birthday! (San Mateo, ca)

2011-10-20T20:02:00.000-07:00

Judy and Michael originally planned to have the photo session with their little Prince around his 100 days. But there had been little things that got in the way and finally I was able to meet with Judy, Michael and little prince in person on his 1st birthday party!

On the morning of the photo session, it was a bit chilly with an overcast and even some slight shower. We went to the Central Park in San Mateo downtown and spent a lovely morning with big little Prince and his loving parents. Then Judy and Michael invited close families and friends and celebrated little Prince's 1st birthday at the close-by Champagne Restaurant. It was a fantastic lunch party with lots of yummy Dim Sum for everyone to enjoy. Thanks Judy and Michael for letting me be your photographer to capture the precious moments of your family.

Jasmyn + Jon's Wedding Sneak Preview (San Francisco, ca)

2011-10-12T09:37:00.000-07:00

Jasmyn and Jon tied their knot in San Francisco at the beautiful St. Patrick's Church and had their reception at Terra's Gallery. Here is a sneak peak of their wedding day. More pictures will be posted soon!

Family Fun at Seattle, wa

2011-10-07T01:04:00.000-07:00

Seattle is a beautiful city that can energize me to press on the shutter non-stop. I was also very lucky to have my best local tour guides - Kim and Kevin. They showed me around some very cool spots of the city. Thanks again for showing me this gorgeous city and I won't forget all the kindness and smiles of this lovely family.

Donna + Peter: Married! (San Francisco, ca)

2011-09-29T15:09:00.000-07:00

On Donna and Peter's wedding day, the weather in San Francisco was gorgeous. I first went to Donna's residence. She looked so fresh, joyful and energetic, and quickly led me to her room to show me her beautiful wedding dress. It was such touching moments to see Donna's mom helping her dressed in the gown, and skillfully doing the last touch ups to make sure Donna looked perfect in her gown, and riding happily with Donna to the beautiful Old Saint Mary's Cathedral Church.

The ceremony was solemn yet elegant. After the ceremony, Donna and Peter decided to walk around China Town and the Ferry Buildings, and they sure have attracted the attention of many passerby. The reception was held at the City Club of San Francisco. It was a beautiful place and the newly wed and their guests sure had a great time!

Last but not least, thanks for my new associate, Newton, who tagged along with me the entire day and made a blast of Donna and Peter's wedding together.

e-session blog post: Donna + Peter e-session in San Francisco
Getting Ready at: Donna's residence
Ceremony at: Old Saint Mary's Cathedral
Reception at: The City Club of San Francisco
Hair & Makeup Artist: Jessica Lee
Florist: A. Hana Design
Transportation: Red Tie Transportation
Cake: Carolyn Wong
DJ/Emcee: One Final Touch

Back to the beautiful Seattle!

2011-09-26T09:23:00.000-07:00

I was so excited to meet the family of Kim and Kevin in Seattle, a beautiful city which I just visited a couple months ago, but only spent a few hours to explore. This time, with two great local tour guides, Kim and Kevin, I was introduced to some gorgeous places in Seattle - the beautiful Seattle Public Library, Luther Burbank Park, Volunteer Park, Seattle Asian Art Museum and the fantastic view of Seattle from Kerry Park. Thanks so much to Kim, Kevin and their three lovely kids for bringing me back to this lovely city. More pictures of their beautiful family will be posted very soon!

ISPWP Summer 2011 Contest Awards

2011-09-14T16:42:00.000-07:00

So delighted to have 2 of my pictures awarded in the latest ISPWP contest. Congratulations to Veronica and Kevin, and to Claudia and Tim. Congratulations to all the other winners!

Jo + Matt: Got Baby! (Redwood Shores, ca)

2011-09-05T21:52:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Jo and Matt for the second one on its way! Can't believe time flew by so fast and Cady is already going to Kindergarten! It seems just yesterday when we photographed her two year ago. I'm sure Cady will be a wonderful big sister and we are so happy for them and wishing all the best for them.

Monte Scramble Golf Tournament 2011

2011-09-01T22:31:00.000-07:00

This is my second year capturing the Monte Scramble Golf Tournament. The tournament was first launched last year for fundraising to support a local elementary school and it was a blast! I was so thrilled to see the number of players doubled this year! Everyone was having a great time enjoying the game, the yummy food and beverages, and the company of other Monte dads. Thanks so much for the hard work of the excellent hosts who contributed so much to organize this event and made this so successful. I am looking forward to capture the next one again.

Suli Family Reunion (Stanford, CA)

2011-08-31T23:13:00.000-07:00

Vancouver Trip 2011 - Victoria

2011-08-30T21:39:00.000-07:00

The day we went to Victoria was a beautiful day. This is the first time the kids went on a car ferry, and they were so excited. We waited in line patiently, and saw people got out of their cars playing frisbees, walking, eating, taking pictures on the side. After about 30 minutes of waiting, our car started moving again towards the huge 7 storey ferry.

Our Vancouver friends told us the breakfast on the ferry is awesome. So as soon as we stopped our car, we rushed up the stairs to look for the restaurant. However, there were already tons of other passengers who were much faster than us. And as we got to order, breakfast was already sold out! Luckily the other food we ordered were very good also.

After we settled into our unique little hotel in downtown Victoria, we started to explore the island. We passed by the interesting Chinatown, then went to the beautiful harbor front. It was so festive there! The parliament building, the Empress hotel, the vendors, and many different kinds of street performers surrounding the harbor. There were seaplanes busily going in and out of the harbor, and the boys were so excited about that, since it is their first time seeing a real seaplane.

The next day we went to the Hatley Castle, which is a castle inside a university campus. Since it was summer, the campus was quiet and we were able to enjoy a very relaxing morning. And before we left Victoria, we discovered this pretty little town Sydney and had a nice lunch there. Victoria is a very interesting and beautiful place. I am sure our family will be back soon.

Chun Chun + Jack Married! (San Francisco, CA)

2011-08-15T23:34:00.000-07:00

It was a beautiful summer day in San Francisco, exactly like the day I shot their e-session at Stanford. While I was waiting for Chun-chun and Jack at the City Hall, I saw a lot of commotion going on, with many news reporters and journalists gathered. I then saw the SF Mayor Edwin Lee playing ping-pong with the China ping-pong team who visited the States 40 years ago!

Chun-chun and Jack's wedding was simple, yet lovely. After the ceremony, we walked through almost every corner of City Hall to get some distinct shots. We also had lots of fun shooting at the Palace of Fine Arts and Crissy Field afterwards. Thanks so much, Chun-chun and Jack. I sincerely wish you both a wonderful life together!
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Ping Pong Diplomacy Match at San Francisco City Hall

2011-08-14T20:47:00.000-07:00

I was waiting for my wedding couple for their wedding shoot at the San Francisco City Hall. Then I saw a lot of commotion on one side of the hall. There were many people, especially news reporters and journalists. It turned out to be the 40th anniversary of the Ping Pong Diplomacy between China and US, and they had a friendly match between the old Chinese ping pong team and our SF Mayor.

Vancouver Trip 2011 - Seattle

2011-08-14T11:51:00.000-07:00

We passed by Seattle downtown before we made our way to Vancouver. The weather was super nice that day. Thanks to my friend Kim's recommendations, we first went to the other side of the bay near Alki Beach to get the view of the Space Needle and the downtown profile. It was the day before Fleet week and we heard and saw the Blue Angels flying over the city and in and out of the tall skyscrapers.

When we were heading to the downtown area, we caught sight of the familiar green/white icon at the top of a red brick building. It was the Starbucks headquarters. So we quickly made a turn to check out the place. Unfortunately to our disappointment, it was just a regular office building with a tiny Starbucks cafe on the ground floor.

It was already noon time when we slowly made our way through the downtown traffic to the Pike Place Market. But it is such a lively and fun place with so many people and things going on. The live seafood market stalls reminded me of the markets in my hometown Hong Kong. How I missed those "fishy" smell and wet grounds =)! The other thing that struck us were the variety of musicians performing on the street. We heard piano, saxophone, violin, guitar and even the Chinese instrument erhu!

We sailed along with the crowd inside the market to search for food. The market was full of fine smell and interesting food and art stores. We finally picked one with open kitchen which has a few seats in the front. The clam chowder and the seafood sandwich were super good and we felt so contended.

Our next stop was the Space Needle. Even though it was a weekday, the line was somewhat long so we decided just to walk around the vicinity, and we found the amazing architecture of the Experience Music Project museum and the Science Fiction Museum close by. There were just too many things to explore in this beautiful city with too little time we had. I can't wait to come back to visit when I have my next photo session here!

Mooyoun + Justin Wedding (Bridge's Golf Course, San Ramon)

2011-08-05T09:43:00.000-07:00

Mooyoun and Justin's wedding reception was held on a very beautiful day. The Bridge's Golf Course has many unique picturesque spots, and I especially like the tunnel. We had many great shots around the place! The wedding couple was very lively and their families and friends all share their happiness and excitement every moment.

Thank you Justin and Mooyoun for allowing me to capture this important and wonderful day for you!

Hello, Baby Eli!

2011-07-23T12:23:00.000-07:00

From my experience, photo sessions with babies are always challenging, as babies are ever so unpredictable, but it is also the fun part!

It was a hot afternoon when I had the photo session with baby Eli. He was a bit cranky when I arrived, and Kristin and John worked so hard to cheer him up, using every trick they could think of. And we got a lot of super cute shots of Eli and the sweet and loving moments between father-and-son, mother-and-son, and parents-and-son.

It always melts my heart to be able to capture these precious pictures for the family, for them to treasure and look over and over again for years to come, as these moments come and go like a breeze.

Chun-Chun + Jack Engaged! (Stanford, CA)

2011-07-19T22:19:00.000-07:00

I have been to the Stanford campus many times before as it is a very beautiful campus with very unique architecture. However, this is the first time I got a special tour led by 2 insiders to many places around the campus I have not been before.

Chun-Chun and Jack are both graduates at Stanford. The campus was where their love was nurtured and it brought back many sweet and precious memories to them. So Chun-Chun and Jack specifically requested to have the e-Session taken on campus to save these wonderful memories into beautiful images. While they eagerly led me through these different places like dorm and the music room, not only did I get to explore some beautiful new spots, but I also felt like going back in time with Chun-Chun and Jack to relive their special memories.

Thanks again to Chun-Chun and Jack for sharing with me their sweet moments on this beautiful campus!

Donna + Peter Engaged! (San Francisco)

2011-06-28T16:59:00.000-07:00

San Francisco never disappoints me no matter how many times I go there. It started off quite windy and chilly on the day Donna and Peter had their e-Session, when I joined them at the Legion of Honor around sunset. And we went to the nearby Lincoln Park which was almost empty, and we enjoyed the park all to ourselves, just like it was being reserved for Donna and Peter.

After that, Donna and Peter brought me to their favorite Cafe in the area. It is a decent and cozy place which the couple has spent much wonderful time together. The Cafe is quite unique, with shelves of books of different varieties. I kept finding interesting spots to shoot inside the cafe. And one of the best part to end the session, of course, was having a nice cup of coffee in this romantic city.

Donna and Peter, I had so much fun shooting your e-Session and I am very much looking forward to your wedding day!

Veronica + Kevin Engaged! (San Francisco, CA)

2011-06-14T21:45:00.000-07:00

It was a beautiful and sunny day, after some unexpected cold weather and rain for the beginning of summer. The couple decided to spend some time to explore San Francisco Golden Gate Park and North Beach.

We started off at one of my favorite architecture in SF, the De Young Museum. After some shots, the couple was eager to show me their newly adopted sport - hula hoop! And they are definitely experts to me! So we went to the Conservatory of Flowers until sunset. We were so focused and worked so hard at the park, and when it got dark, we were totally starved to have our dinner.

After we had our filling dinner, we decided to walk through the streets at North Beach, enjoying the friendly neighborhood, and had lots of fun window shopping. Thanks so much, Veronica and Kevin! I am very much looking forward to seeing you again on your wedding day!

Mona + John Engaged! (San Francisco, CA)

2011-06-03T19:35:00.000-07:00

That afternoon in San Francisco was beautiful and lovely. I first started off the e-Session with Mona and John at San Francisco City Hall and then spent some time at Crissy Field. Mona and John made a lot of fantastic e-moments, especially they were very at ease no matter where they were - whether in a busy hallway or at the crowded beach - and I had a great time clicking my shutter away.

Thanks so much Mona and John for a fun afternoon. I am very much looking forward to meeting you guys again in the near future!

ISPWP Contest Spring 2011

2011-05-27T21:56:00.000-07:00

I am thrilled that 3 of my pictures were awarded in the latest ISPWP contest. Congratulations to Reiko and Eric, and to Sharon and Chi! Congratulations to all the other winners!

Elisa + Chi Wedding (San Francisco, CA)

2011-05-23T18:39:00.000-07:00

I came to know Elisa about last year at Sharon and Chi's Wedding, whose ceremony took place at the San Francisco City Hall. Elisa and Chi also decided to tie their knot inside this beautiful architecture. The SF City Hall is one of my most favorite wedding venues in the city. It's graceful architecture and unique atmosphere can always help me capture some beautiful shots.

After Elisa and Chi's ceremony, we walked through the San Francisco down town together, enjoying the nice sunshine, and had a very nice lunch together. Then we went to the beautiful Legion of Honor. Our last stop was Ocean Beach. I have to salute to the brave couple as the wind that day was very strong and they were able to withstand the wild wind with the sand blowing at them. But I think that's all worth it since we captured some really unique shots. Thanks so much, Elisa and Chi, for allowing me to document this special and wonderful day of yours!

Palm Springs Trip 2011 (Palm Springs + Desert Hot Springs)

2011-05-20T16:36:00.000-07:00

I was in Palm Springs/Desert Hot Springs area for a shooting project for a resort hotel. I got the chance to experience the extreme weather at the desert. For the first couple days, the wind was blowing crazily and non-stop. Luckily, on the third and my last day there it stopped dramatically and gave me some peaceful time to walk around the beautiful town of Palm Springs.

Chris Photography Workshop - 2011 May

2011-05-18T00:24:00.000-07:00

Thanks all for coming to my workshop last weekend! Although the weather forecast said there would be a storm, it ended up with just some sprinkles in between our lecture and hands-on sessions, and some nice fluffy clouds for pictures! It is always my pleasure to share the photography experiences I have gained through these years and promote this great passion of mine with others.

Claudia + Tim Engaged! (San Francisco, CA)

2011-04-22T22:52:00.000-07:00

This past week I had a couple rare visitors from faraway. Claudia and Tim flew all the way from Berlin to San Francisco to visit this magnificent city - one of the best places on Earth to wander around for an afternoon. I'm so happy that they asked me to shoot their engagement session in this romantic city.

We started off from the Bakers Beach. At the beginning, the fog was so heavy and hid the Golden Gate Bridge, and Claudia and Tim were quite disappointed. But after a while, the vermilion beauty slowly showed its face and we got some fantastic pictures with this important icon in the background. We then went to Alamo Square, with the beautiful San Francisco city skyline as the backdrop to the famous "Six Sisters" Victorian. It was a fun afternoon with Claudia and Tim. I sincerely wish them a great time here in California and will come back often!

Family Fun at Repulse Bay Beach (Hong Kong)

2011-03-30T21:48:00.000-07:00

It was only a year ago when I first met Teresa's little baby sister. I can't believe she has grown so much, and is now jumping and walking around, quite fearless. And of course, the big sister has also grown a lot too, and so sweet and cute. I had a fun afternoon with this adorable family on the popular Repulse Bay in Hong Kong.

So long, Farewell...

2011-03-29T15:16:00.000-07:00

I've known Jinah and her family since my older son's first grade year, when the little brother was not even born. Our boys have been good friends since then, and they have even been learning piano from the same teacher, going to recitals, drama and school band together.

Now the family is taking a different turn and parting us at least for a few years, Jinah set up this farewell party for her son to have a good time with his friends before they leave, and asked me to take pictures for these boys, so they have these fond memories captured for many years to come.

Interview with Moms Who Click

2011-03-29T02:51:00.000-07:00

When Tina mentioned to me the website "Moms who CLICK" which she and her friend started, I thought it was the coolest idea, and the name itself is brilliant! So when Tina asked me to do the interview for them, I instantly agreed to it!

This website is a great place for moms (primarily) and others (including professionals in the field), to share their passion and experience in photography. Family and kids are the everyday subjects for moms to take pictures, to freeze the moments, and it is the best starting point to take better and more quality pictures as these moments are also just as precious and memorable like wedding pictures!

Check out their website, and of course my interview too, and really appreciate to leave some comments behind!

Maria + Ariel Wedding (Daly City, CA)

2011-03-20T02:05:00.000-07:00

It seems it was just yesterday when I had the e-session with Maria and Ariel in San Francisco a few months ago, and I had a great time with this super lovely couple. On their wedding day, the weather was gorgeous with beautiful clouds hanging in the sky. And in the elegantly decorated church in Daly City, it was filled with anticipation and joy in the air. And with the most adorable ring bearer bringing the wedding rings down the aisle, I witnessed this sweet couple being announced as husband and wife. Everything was perfect!

Afterward, we all went to Oyster Point Marina to capture some beautiful moments of the newly wed and their joyful, lively wedding party. The reception at the South San Francisco Conference Center was wonderful, and everyone had such a great time. One of the highlights of the evening, our lovely bride Maria, after her wedding party performed the Hawaiian dance for the couple, presented her own special Hawaiian dance for the groom! It was such a touching moment.

Thanks again, Maria and Ariel, for letting me to be your photographer on your big day!

A fun time at CUHK (Hong Kong)

2011-03-15T14:45:00.000-07:00

I had so much fun shooting at the Chinese University of Hong Kong again. This time with Stephen and his lovely family. They took me to their fav spots inside the campus. I was watching them riding bike, playing badminton and flying frisbies. They are such an active and happy family. Looking forward to meeting this wonderful family again very soon!

Jasmyn + Jon Engaged! (San Francisco, CA)

2011-03-10T22:00:00.000-08:00

This is one of the most unique and fun engagement session I had. When I first met Jasmyn and Jon, I thought Jon had a very classic look with his mustache. During our discussion of their e-Session, they made a very special request to include a simple yet important "ceremony" during the session.

On that day, we first started at the top of Lyon Steps in San Francisco. The perfect sunset gave us just the exact dreamy feel I'd like to capture for the couple. Then Jon carried out his little "ceremony" and shaved off his mustache! What a fun and memorable moment to document! And voila, showing up in front of my camera was a totally different and refreshing Jon!

Afterward, we dropped by the renovated Palace of Fine Arts and walk around the neighborhood for some city shots. What a fun day to shoot and capture a beautiful couple in the fantastic colors of the city.

Family Fun at Stanley Beach (Hong Kong)

2011-03-09T16:41:00.000-08:00

It was so much fun to have a photo shoot with Joyce and Joe again during my last visit in Hong Kong. I had an e-session with them last year and since then, their lovely and witty princess has been asking why she was not in the pictures!

Joe really likes the beach and sunshine, particularly having a photo shoot with his family in this setting. So this time he picked Hong Kong's famous Stanley Beach to have the photo session with me. Even though it is not easy to find clear blue sky in Hong Kong (a city with dense fog all the time), we were able to find some nice warm sunshine on the second day of the Chinese New Year. Indeed it was a perfect day to relax and get out to enjoy some fresh air with the family at this beautiful landmark!

A Lovely Romantic Wedding

2011-03-06T11:17:00.000-08:00

I have been looking forward to the lovely couple's wedding day on Valentine's Day since their e-session - a wedding on the most romantic day of the year! Throughout the day, it was alternating with intermittent rain and sunshine. However, that did not affect the couple, their relatives and friends and they just enjoyed this wonderful day. Congrats again to the lovely newly wed and thanks for letting me capture their precious moments on this romantic day!

And of course, I could not go without mentioning my talented buddies, Aaron Morris and Jared Lee, for their help that day with photography (Aaron) and videography (Jared).

ISPWP 2010 Winter Award and other 2010 awards

2011-03-01T19:04:00.000-08:00

I am so delighted to have Carol and Kevin's getting ready picture awarded 3rd place in the latest ISPWP contest. Congratulations to the lovely couple Carol and Kevin! I'm also very happy to see the beautiful work of many of my fellow photographers and friends. Congratulations to all!

2010 Winter

2010 Spring

2010 Fall

Lina + Andy + Shalyn: Baby Fun! (Hong Kong)

2011-02-27T12:10:00.000-08:00

I was visiting Hong Kong over the Chinese New Year and got in touch with Lina and Andy through my sister-in-law, Josephine. Their baby girl Shalyn is four months old and they wanted a photo session for her.

It was a warm afternoon and I met them at their home. It was very nicely decorated, and there were so many toys for baby Shalyn, even a real size polar bear! Shalyn was sleeping when I arrived, but the moment I started to capture her sleeping moments, she opened her eyes and looked at me, as if she sensed she was in front of the camera!

We tried to capture the daily routines of baby and parents, and I can tell from the little things that baby Shalyn is a very lucky girl, with such loving parents. Lina and Andy worked very hard to entertain Shalyn to make her smile, although at times Shalyn made it a bit challenging for them. But all in all, we had a great afternoon.

Jasmine + Larry's Wedding (Berkeley, CA)

2011-02-01T00:13:00.000-08:00

The weather before Jasmine and Larry's wedding day has been a bit unstable and chilly. Luckily, when the couple's big day arrived, the sun came out to cheer for them and made the day very warm and cozy.

Jasmine and Larry looked so charming and sweet on their wedding day. And the ring bearer and flower girl were even more cute and adorable. The little flower girl did very well during the rehearsal, but at the ceremony, she was intimated by the crowds and Larry had to hold her hand down the aisle. It was such a lovely scene.

The reception was a lot of fun too. With MC Otis Fang leading, the guests played a lot of games and tricks on the newly wed, and the night ended on a high note on the dancing floor.

A beautiful engagement session in Los Gatos

2011-01-22T16:54:00.000-08:00

It was a beautiful sunny day in January. After an entire season of rain, particularly on weekends, there was finally sunshine on the weekend. The couple decided to spend some time to explore Los Gatos downtown.

We walked through the streets together, enjoying the nice weather, and had lots of fun window shopping. The lights after sunset was gorgeous! I am very much looking forward to meet again the couple again on their specially romantic wedding day on Valentine's Day!

Maria + Ariel Engaged! (San Francisco, CA)

2011-01-19T11:23:00.000-08:00

The early afternoon started off pretty foggy in San Francisco. Maria and Ariel made a smart decision and started their e-session late at the City Hall after they got their marriage license. And the sun came out just the right time. We then headed up to the Coit Tower and spent a wonderful time there until sunset.

I had such a great time shooting in the nice weather in San Francisco and am looking forward to shooting for Maria and Ariel again on their wedding day!