Cammy & Bobby's Wedding

I was very honored to shoot with Jay on Sunday in Corona and City of Industry. Jay is not only extremely talented and possesses a unique style but he has an awesome rapport with his clients. You can see his professionalism and humble mannerism right away. I feel like that's what contributes to the increased quality of half his work! He was able to calm the nerves and make Cammy feel natural in front of the camera. This just comes to show the importance of really knowing the couple, as a couple rather than just subjects, and being able to use that to capture their best emotions, hence bringing the x-factor into the photos! Although time and pacing didn't allow me to get technical with Jay, I picked up a few things here and there in terms of angle and lighting just from observing. I gotta say I'm happier with this set of photos than I was with the ones from the last wedding.

Here are some of the photos below. You'll notice that I didn't cover group pics or the primary shots because I was the third shooter and was only able to capture the shots from a secondary angle. I shot most of these photos with my kit lens and inside of the cathedral shots with a 50mm. My L lens coming soon!! *fingers-crossed* So look out for more & better photos! :) **happiness**

I was going for the black + white, vintage, film-esque feel in the photos below. Let me know what you think!

And introducing the extremely talented young folks I worked with:

Check out their work at (from left to right): Jay-Hsiang Studio, White Rose Productions, and Photo Kronology

Would I leave teaching to do this...

When I first started shooting, I remember my dear friend Jenn said to me over the phone, "You know, I've never heard you light up the way you do when you talk about photography!" And from that moment on, I knew my passion was for reals. Despite the lack of credit people give to photographers and others in the creative arts, Jenn has always been so supportive! She is one of the few who encourages me to pursue this field. She says I have natural talent :) Now, you know how much that means when the rest of the world seems to disagree with what you're doing. Even I, sometimes, have doubts in whether photography is a realistic and worthwhile career to pursue. Of course, social expectations play a role in this... "You went to UCLA, got your B.A. and M.A. and you have a great career in teaching... you want to leave all that to become a wedding photographer??!" Sounds crazy and a little insane? Sure, if you don't have a love for it! But... I love teaching, too. Yet, I didn't fall in love with teaching the way I did with photography. My love for teaching was a very gradual process. I came to love teaching after two years with TFA. Photography, on the other hand, I knew. How I actually picked up photography was random but after my first shooting expedition, I knew this was something I wanted to take to the next level.

Not long after, I discovered how cool wedding cinematography is! StillMotion would be the professionals I'd aspire to become! Of course, the discoveries and enlightenment never stops. On that note, researching and buying photo gear is endless as well... and a bank-breaker. sigh.

Now, you know you love something when you DREAM about it...

Work started last week. Two days before I went back into the classroom, I had a nightmare about the first day of school. I was scrambling to get materials ready for class and fighting to find a vacant copying machine. It was like the first day of teaching of my first year all over again. I woke up with tensions in my shoulders and neck. Anxiety? Yes. I guess teachers get first day of school anxiety, too! So, anyway... that's teaching. I'm not a dream-er. Usually, I don't dream or I just don't remember them. Last night, I had another dream. I dreamt that I was shooting a wedding ALL BY MYSELF... going a bit too far with this hobby? I think not. It's awesome! One day this dream will come true :)