Calvin Yao Photography Blog

Merry Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T08:26:00.000-08:00

Another year come and gone! We have lots to be merry about this year as our family is healthy and we have super happy kids. Well, this will have to be a quick post as the two girls below are asking to go downstairs to see what Santa brought them! Merry Christmas and off I go...

Showing a little attitude and seriousness just like they do to in 'America's Next Top Model'!

Brandon & Paris

2011-12-25T08:21:00.000-08:00

It was quite the fun photo shoot with Brandon, Paris mom and dad. Paris is quite the natural when it comes to being in front the camera. Brandon has a library of jokes and we had quite a few good laughs. My favorite was about the ketchup and rubber buns... you'll have to google it as it's not really appropriate for this website! ;-) Onto the photos!

We had a good time playing red light - green light.

Jump! Brandon is quite the vertical for a good basketball player.

Paris was pretending the gardens was her own fashion runway!

Meet Baby Emmaline

2011-11-27T15:42:00.000-08:00

Emmaline is 2 weeks young and super alert. She reminds me a lot of her baby sister Caroline, who is now 2 years old! They both have really sweet eyes and were extremely cooperative! It was fun trying to get creative with Kevin (Dad) figuring out how to use common items around the house to include in the pics. Here is a preview of some of the results...

Emi & Dylan

2011-11-27T15:34:00.001-08:00

What parents these days are so cool that they would have a tree house built in their backyard over the summer! Meet Emi & Dylan - the kids of the cool parents! We were able to capture some unique photos and here's a preview...

Wanna go climb the tree house?

Yeah, let's climb it. Maybe this guy will take a few photos of us...

alana & nathan

2011-11-27T15:25:00.000-08:00

Alana just turned a big 1 year old and we were able to still get outdoors before it got too wet and cold on Thanksgiving weekend. I love this time of year for photos with leaves of different color everywhere! Here are a few photos from the session...

Big brother Nathan playing drums on Dad's head!

I think Alana is saying, "Nathan's the guilty one!"

Dylan @ 6 Months

2011-11-27T15:08:00.000-08:00

Baby Dylan is 6 months and enjoying her first holiday season of shopping at Stanford mall. They always go all out by making sure the plants are in bloom year round , so we decided it would be a nice spot to get a combination of urban and nature shots. Here are a few teaser photos...

I wonder what happened to the stem with no flower... ;-) Shhhh....

A sweet moment with Dylan and big sis Nikki.

Fall Foliage Out West!

2011-11-27T15:01:00.000-08:00

Fall is definitely upon us and who says there is no fall foliage out on the west coast? Although it might not be as widespread as the northeast, there are certainly a few locations to enjoy the amazing red, orange, and yellow leaves. Here's Ryan, Allison, Chloe and Lana in action!

Super Fast Kiana!

2011-11-14T22:21:00.000-08:00

Kiana is 14 months and she definitely has the genes of her Dad - the superstar soccer player and coach! I must admit that I got my exercise chasing her around, and I'm sure she will only get faster and more energetic from here (good luck to anyone needing to chase her)! I had captured mom and dad's wedding last year, and it's always nice to see the new additions!

I think she's saying, "GOOOOOOOAAAAAAAALLLL!!!"

Matthias @ 9 months

2011-11-03T20:46:00.000-07:00

This past weekend might have been the last dry and warm weekend of 2011, so I'm glad we were able to squeeze in the shoot while enjoying the awesome weather as winter approaches! Baby Matthias is 9 months with an enormous grin from cheek to cheek! Don't you just want to pinch them?!

We're able to catch some great fall foliage with all the red leaves!

I can fly! (shot at 85mm f/1.6)

Giggling with mommy...

Daddy's turn! I got so excited the bubbles came out. :-)

I'm a fast crawler!

And very soon, I'll be able to walk!

Tyler & Leah

2011-10-29T23:27:00.000-07:00

It's always good to save your parent's furniture as it will come in handy one day for a photoshoot! This cool retro mustard chair was about to be thrown out, but I'm glad Tyler and Leah's mommy saved it. We pulled it out to the front yard as it was very complementary to the fall colors!

What cute kids! Based on facial features, can you believe they are siblings? :-)

Leah was full of goofiness and expressions!

And Tyler joined in on the smiles and laughter!

Perhaps my favorite pic of the session... so natural and happy with great bokeh and lighting!

Sophie - 11 months

2011-10-29T23:20:00.000-07:00

Here's baby Sophie at almost one! Doesn't she have beautiful eyes??

Do you remember her from almost a year ago?

My teeth are growing and I'm proud of them!

And I'm an early walker... hooray!

This is the only chance I get playing in dirty water. :-)

Jenny & Ray's Wedding - Marriott Union Square and Chinatown

2011-09-22T23:44:00.000-07:00

What an absolutely amazing day! First, the weather was warm and sunny in both Daly City and San Francisco! Second, we had great chemistry with Jenny & Ray and the entire wedding party... many of them were in a previous wedding we shot, so it was like old times to us! And third, we had some fabulous photo opportunities, which satisfies our desire for creativity!

The day started with the preparation and tea ceremony in Daly City. Then we headed to Golden Gate Park while eating my pork buns in route. Portraits were taken at the Dutch Windmill and the stunning waterfall at Stow Lake. Then off to the Mariott Union Square for the wedding, and we finished up in Chinatown with the banquet at Far East Cafe. Whew, long day but very enjoyable and so much fun.

Onto the photos, and you can see the music slideshow here or on the bottom of the post.

A simply gorgeous couple! The photo is quite calming...I think I can almost hear the waterfall!

My assistants got creative with the ring shots!

Chinese Tea Ceremony Time!

I think Jenny's wrists got sore from all the bling bling!

This was "the first look"! Captured with the wide angle to get Ray peeking!

Beautiful people, beautiful lighting, beatiful bokeh! Just love it!!

Gotta have the cypress trees to feel like your truly in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco!

Jenny and Ray with their sweet smiles. Love the ivy growing on the windmill...

Feels kinda romantic, huh? I don't think Ray wanted to get out of the veil!

Jenny's favorite color is purple and what a great choice!

Awesome waterfall, wedding party and stepping stones.

See, I can take some classic photos too... felt I was back in Hawaii or Guam for a brief moment.

Such a sweet couple. For you techies that always ask me, shot with the 85mm prime lens at f/1.6 aperture.

Perhaps my favorite candid of the day. Very simple, yet so sweet.

We had planned to take some shots at the cable car, but didn't get to it. Glad we squeezed this in at the parking garage.

Wow... can you have a better view than this while getting ready???

Hitched!

Reception Time!

The view from their seats!

I admire Ray's intensity and focus! And his smooth dance moves!

Flashback... see this guy in back from a previous wedding?

He's going at it again!! Eeeeeeek!!!! Calm down boys... Sherman does have a girlfriend. ;-)

This was a really sweet, private and intimate moment...

Until Ray the best man came clinking the glasses for a kiss! That's what best friends are for!

Love this shot outside the restaurant. More outdoor shots in the slideshow...

Click HERE to launch a new window with the wedding slideshow, or click the play button below.

Krissy and Henry's Wedding - Garden Court Hotel, Palo Alto

2011-06-08T22:16:00.000-07:00

The Garden Court Hotel is a special place to me because it's actually where I met my wife about a dozen years ago now. So when Krissy and Henry asked me to shoot their wedding there, I was super duper excited!

Krissy and Henry are definitely two of the most chilled wedding couples I've shot in a while. They were so calm throughout the day and just have a relaxed style about them. That is, until the music and dancing started! I was totally impressed how the entire crowd rocked it out - the wedding party was on fire and even Krissy's parents were gettin' down. Henry and Krissy were so smooth and in such good rhythm that I found myself trying to dance and shake along while trying to capture photos of them groovin!

Well, onto the photos and their awesome wedding...

It was so cool that they got the only room where I could take this shot in the front of the hotel.

And now the elegant dress from the inside.

Doesn't it feel like we're in Italy?

We went to the nearby historical post office for some unique shots.

Someone walked by and referred to Krissy as a mail order bride, which was totally shocking! (she had a good laugh)

She's probably thinking of strangling the guy that made the comment above...

Yay, officially hitched!

The details were awesome and I was digging the pink and yellow glow adding a nice accent to the reception photos.

Let's get the party started. This wedding party kicked off the night full of good times!

Their first dance...

I just love the natural moments...

Krissy's sister Lauren had the most touching speech ever.

Using the fisheye lens to capture the cupcakes!

Henry's boyz keeping the party rollin'...

I think this sums up their feelings of the day...

Just a happy moment. Thanks Henry and Krissy for letting us capture your amazing day!

Click HERE to launch a new window with the wedding slideshow, or click the play button below.

jenny & ray - engagement session

2011-05-18T23:26:00.000-07:00

I'll be shooting Jenny and Ray's wedding this summer and so we went out for a little engagement shoot a couple weeks back. We were kicked out of Japanese Friendship Garden, so it was a good thing we had Plan B of shooting at Shoreline Park in Mountain View! It was such a nice day - no rain and just warm enough. Jenny started to get a few goose bumps near the end as it quickly cooled off, but was such a great sport! I'm glad we were able to shoot on that day as the lighting was really glowing at sunset. Here are a few of our favorites...

introducing little kyla!

2011-01-18T21:59:00.000-08:00

Kyla was a rock star and definitely falls in the 'cooperative' baby category! She was awake when we wanted her to be, and also asleep right on queue! In every session, I always look around for existing household items that we can use as a natural prop. This time, I spotted a fruit platter in the kitchen, and Kyla looked just tiny enough to fit on it. After she fell asleep, we carefully positioned her on and here is the result...

Can I take my nap yet?

And she squeeze out a little smile!

lovely little laney!

2011-01-18T21:22:00.000-08:00

Introducing the baby with the most beautiful blue eyes in California! She will no doubt be a beautiful blond bombshell in a few years, and papa will have to be chasing the boys away with a sharp stick! Laney was very cooperative during the photo shoot and had a full array of expressions on display.

Thoroughly enjoying the kiss from big sister Cecily!

Special thanks to Cecily who was able to stop by for a photo in-between TV and nap time. ;-)

sweet little sophie

2011-01-18T21:01:00.001-08:00

It's about time for some blog posts in 2011. You'll probably see a few postings in the next week or so as I catch up, and they will all be about babies! First up is little Sophie. I had photographed Gary and Marn-Yee's wedding just a little over 2 years ago in Capitola, and it's great to see the little addition to the family! Sophie is about three weeks young and just so darn cute! To the photos and beyond...

Typical Silicon Valley Parents! ;-) Do you think they prefer the 15", 17", or 20" model?

Yes, they prefer the 20" model. Batteries and diaper changes not included!

live, laugh & love - 2010

2010-12-25T06:48:00.000-08:00

Yeah, the festive season is upon us! Here's a quick post to share some beautiful photos of our family. Merry Christmas and go for at least three plates of food today! :-)

adorable little abby @ 10 weeks

2010-12-03T08:18:00.000-08:00

This past weekend, we went to visit our friends Jimmy and Sabrina and finally met their new addition, Abby. Abby was a rock star and is a very well behaved baby! I don't know how Sabrina did it, but she also baked us a huge bag of cookies and I'm afraid to admit that we ate them all that same day! Thanks Sabrina! ;-) Here are a few of the photos!

I love the little hands and feet. Jimmy has ginormous hands!

ryan & ethan - 10 months

2010-11-27T14:58:00.000-08:00

So instead of shopping, we spent our Black Friday with my favorite twin boys - Ryan and Ethan. By bringing my wife along, I was able to save hundreds of dollars that otherwise would have gone toward those large retail stores! :-) Ryan and Ethan have grown a lot over 10 months as I still remember how tiny there were during our newborn photo shoot! They were very well behaved, but I think that will all change when they soon start walking!

This time, I'll start with my favorite photo of the day. It's sheer joy with the perfect glare from the sun!

little lulu

2010-10-09T15:19:00.000-07:00

I had photographed Ming and Jon's wedding back in 2007 and I was honored when they contacted me to take photos of their baby! Well, little Lulu (nickname for Lucienne) is now 1 year-old! We had the session at the Elizabeth Gamble Garden in Palo Alto and then went to a nearby park. Lulu is very advanced in her walking ability and wanted to walk around and explore everything! It was a fun session and great to see Ming and Jon go from getting married to celebrating their daughter's first birthday!

Here's Lulu getting ready to take off and walk on her own...

And she's off wandering the park independently! :-)

This was one of our 'tricks' to keep her from walking... by putting her on the swing!

Lulu says, "Mommy and Daddy - that's gross!" ;-)

And a few shots of Lulu in action!

baby sofia at 7 months

2010-08-16T20:50:00.000-07:00

Baby Sofia is just so adorable! She has these big brown adorable eyes and a smile that just draws you in. We started off by capturing some photos at Sofia's home, then quickly headed over to a nearby park while she still had a few smiles left!

Here's my absolute favorite shot of the day!

Some playful shots with Mom and Dad...

Hate bathing the kids? Here's an idea... ;-)

She's already starting to stand up!

ryan at 9 months

2010-06-03T22:53:00.000-07:00

Ryan has to be one of the most expressive kids I've photographed. He is just so passionate and full of fun expressions. He was very active, full of energy and will undoubtedly follow in his dad's love for sports.

Definitely a future first round pick of the Lakers!

At this rate, Dad might not have any hair left in a few weeks...

Just a sweet moment...

valerie & mattias' wedding

2010-05-16T13:11:00.000-07:00

If there's ever a couple that just absolutely adore each other, it's gotta be Val and Mattias! I enjoyed observing how the two were just so naturally giddy the entire time! It was a joy to be a part of their wedding day and to capture the many laughter, smiles and tears. The day went flawless as Val's cousin Tiffany did an absolutely phenomenal job as the planner, coordinator, florist, decorator, and was even the photography assistant for a couple shots! :-)

The wedding ceremony took place at Pulgas Water Temple, which is just a hidden gem in Redwood City. The stone structure was built as a monument to the Hetchy Hetch Aqueduct, which supplies the water to much of the Bay Area and San Francisco! The reception took place on the Stanford Campus at the Faculty Club.

This shot was supposed to be 'veil down', but nature provided a gust of wind at a perfect time!

Amy captured the dress details... Nice work!

It's always fun to have to squeeze in creative shots during the prep. This turned out to be one of my favorite rings shots ever!

Mattias getting ready with 2 bottles of beer to help him along...

Groomsmen's wedding day priorities? Poker and beer of course! Nice money clip on the side too!

What an awesome dress!

Some classic individual poses... they sure look spiffy!

Such a happy shot!

The grand entrance during the ceremony the Pulgas Water Temple.

Always my favorite to capture the groom's expression while waiting for the bride.

The sweetest moment of the day! (captured by Perry)

Presenting Val and Mattias (shot from the other side of the pond)!

I thought of this shot after scouting the place and wanted to capture it! I'm on the ground with a wide angle lens and off-camera flash.

They definitely look like they came out of a wedding magazine!

We took advantage of the wisteria still in bloom!

Their grand entrance during the reception at Stanford Faculty Club.

Mattias' mom and Val's brother seriously put on two of the greatest slideshows ever!

Mattias' soccer roots started young, and he's a great soccer coach today!

Mattias applauding his mom's touching toast and slideshow.

A Swedish wedding tradition where everyone raises their glasses while the couple kisses!

The beautiful cupcake and cake table setup.

We closed the evening with a outdoor shot on the Stanford campus with a 'college feel'.

Click HERE to launch a new window with the wedding slideshow, or click the play button below.

sandra and erik's wedding celebration

2010-05-06T17:21:00.000-07:00

We had a fabulous time at the Hotel Sofitel in Redwood City last weekend! After their intimate wedding at Viansa Winery in Sonoma few weeks back, Sandra and Erik were absolutely ready to let loose! They went all out and threw a huge party in celebration of their marriage, family and friends, and 80's music... yeah! Oh, and there was some cool lion dancing too! It was a fantastic evening, and both Perry and I feel fortunate to have met and worked with two genuinely nice and humble people. Congratulations guys!

We were able to sneak in a few classic shots before the guests came (and they actually came early!).

A glimpse of the cake and ballroom with the fisheye lens.

Now this was a large projector screen! Eric's mingling with family while Sandra's changing into her Chinese dress.

Doesn't the lion look a little intimidating?!?!

Feeding the lion with "goodies"...

Just an absolutely stunning cake.

DJ Saint Patrick doing his thing. This guy was a pro and played some great tunes.

Sandy and Erik letting loose!

And a sweeter moment...

Love the flare and happy smiles!

We were able to sneak off during the dancing for a few shots around the hotel...

One of my favorites with the French lamp posts and back-lighting.

We nearly went to jail for taking this shot! A cop stopped us and because we were wearing all black and carry a stick (tripod), he thought we were breaking into the building! Whew!

Click on the play button to watch their full wedding celebration slideshow.

Ryan and Ethan - 3 months

2010-04-25T23:38:00.000-07:00

Wow, these boys grow up fast! I had photographed Ryan and Ethan at birth where they were scrawny little babies, but we sure can't say that about them now. They definitely have been good eaters and will be big boys soon!

Ethan holds his head up very well!

Ryan will win any staring content - any time, any place, any day!

Is that smell coming from the diaper bin over there?

I wish to hit my growth spurt so the folds go away! ;-)

Do you need help pulling out that wedgie?

The reflection almost seemed like shooting quadruplets! See Mom - two's not so bad! :-)

sweet caroline at 9 months

2010-04-21T23:27:00.000-07:00

I was really looking forward to seeing Caroline again since her photoshoot at 2 months. The first thing that I immediately noticed was a feature that stood out the first time - her adorable eyes and beautiful big pupils! They are better than ever! As the California weather is warming up (sort of), we decided to meet at Rengstorff park where Caroline demonstrated her expert sitting skills and very strong standing skills! Onto the photos!

Oh those eyes!

A nice classic family photo.

So happy and innocent!

My favorite of the day... probably because of those great eyes!

preston turns one!

2010-04-17T22:38:00.000-07:00

It's always an honor for me to continue to capture children after their newborn photos! I photographed Preston almost a year ago, and the little guy who was 5 pounds just turned one year old. He's grown like a weed and is babbling and standing tall! This session was great because it was the first time Preston experienced touching grass, and boy was he scared! It was quite funny! He also ate a rock... well almost!

All I want to do is crawl everywhere! And soon, I'll be running everywhere!

And standing tall after a year!

Riding on the see-saw with Grandma, who takes care of me during the days.

Yay, I've conquered my initial fear of grass! My four teeth must make me brave!

I'm about to put that rock in my mouth just to see how Mommy and Daddy freak out!

Hmmm... I wonder what Mommy and Daddy like to do in their free time? Maybe they're trying to work on my sibling?

isabella & ava

2010-04-06T19:36:00.000-07:00

This is definitely one absolutely beautiful family! Isabella is 4 years old and Ava is just over a year. We met on Easter weekend in Central Park in San Mateo. It was a bit chilly that morning, but the girls were troopers and had great attitudes. Mom also did a wonderful job in coordinating the wardrobe! We had a great session and even saw the Easter bunny come by. Dad - hopefully this beats those photos you've been taking at Sears! ;-)

Definitely Daddy's little girl...

Soooo cute!

It was a perfect weekend for the cherry blossoms! Ava's going to like flowers! :-)

I think this photo has such a happy feeling to it...

cecily - almost two!

2010-04-06T19:34:00.001-07:00

Cecily's nickname is Lil' Miss Sunshine and it's really easy to see why... she's always flashing her cute smile and lighting up her surroundings! We pranced around Burton Park and she just owned the swings, play structure and sandbox! She'll be two this summer and is starting to become a little chatterbox. It's definitely a joy to see her as an active little toddler compared to her newborn baby photos.

Probably my favorite of the day... good coordination on the spring colors Mom and Dad!

I can fly!

I can swing!

I can flip!

What do you think? Does she look like Mom or Dad?!

A little tickling is the secret!

I love the eyes. I think Cecily's sending kisses to all the little boys!

collin + mika

2010-03-14T18:07:00.000-07:00

We met at the Hakone Japanese Gardens in Saratoga for the photoshoot. Big brother Collin is four and Mika is two. Both kids were very well-behaved, great listeners and constantly smiling and laughing! It made the session fun and definitely very enjoyable.

Collin and Mika started the session by just wandering in the Japanese bamboos...

This was a fun shot. They were back-lit by the sun which created long shadows. We placed an off-camera flash to light their faces.

I like how the soft lighting from the sun complements the tender hug from mom...

Definitely a very nice-looking family! :-)

meet ryan and ethan

2010-02-09T22:49:00.000-08:00

I was looking forward to photographing the newborn twins for quite some time, and it turned out to be quite an enjoyable experience! Ryan and Ethan were 17 days old and about 7 pounds each. They were extremely active and alert, probably because mom had the heater turned to about 110 degrees! It was nice in a way because I felt like I was on vacation in Hawaii, although I was missing my fruity cocktail with an umbrella. Just kidding mommy! They boys are very adorable, but I'm glad I don't have to take care of them around the clock. :-)

matching cribs, matching bedding, and matching pants too?! yikes!!!

do they have synchronized sleeping as an olympic event?

i finally get out after 9 months and they still put me next to you.

how do you like my guns?

wppi 2010

2010-02-04T00:14:00.000-08:00

Ok, so what do photographers get excited about? Photography conventions! Yes, it sounds a bit lame (ok, very lame), but I really am somewhat geeky and look forward to attending the wedding/portrait photographer convention in March in Vegas. Shoot me an email if you'll be there and we can meet up! I'll get to witness industry trends and hopefully pick up some cool new gadgets. What are my wishes this year? I have two: 1) Nikon to announce a D700 replacement and I hope they will incorporate the D3X CMOS sensor and 2) Nikon to announce my dream 85mm f/1.2 lens which is probably quite a stretch (we've had the 85mm f/1.4 since 1995, so it's about time for a replacement Nikon!).

And what's a blog post without photos, so here's some personal family shots taken over the winter. Thanks to my shooting buddy Perry for taking some of these shots.

life is good when there's lollipops and sunflowers.

the future undisputed world champion in the international staring contest. ;-)

introducing liam!

2010-01-31T22:13:00.001-08:00

We introduce to you Liam! The cute little munchkin is almost 2 weeks old and just over 7 pounds. He was extremely cooperative and actually slept through the entire session! On the other hand, big sis Maya was chalk full of energy and I got my exercise chasing her around the house to sneak in a few shots! It was an enjoyable chase as she's very adorable! Oh, Mommy and Daddy should remember these good times when they only have to chase one kid around!

Of all things, this reminds me of eating tangerines and there's a baby tangerine attached to the bigger piece of tangerine!

Liam is dreaming about having bigger hands.

He was full of expressions in his sleep, and here's a little smile.

Daddy looking at his retirement plan!

Liam looks so peaceful when he sleeps.

Here's a few shots of 2 year old Maya. She is a cutie!

And has big adorable eyes!

And here's the happy family. I wonder if they are thinking about #3 yet!? :-)

maile - 3 months

2010-01-06T23:05:00.000-08:00

Wow, has baby Maile grown since her newborn photo session this past summer! First, she's bright-eyed and bushy-tailed! She's extremely alert and full of emotions! She's also no longer skinny-bone Jones, and has taken on milk consumption like there's no tomorrow. Here are a few photos at her 3-month milestone. Of course, her always happy big sister Kayla wanted to be included in a few shots as well.

We'll start with 3 expressions...

Huh? Are my feet the big ones or small ones?

Definitely a bundle of joy!

The girls with a blanket made by Grandma Janet!

Kayla and her favorite bunny... don't ever try to put her to bed without this!

I should be the center of attention and not my baby sister! :-)

emi + dylan

2010-01-05T23:28:00.000-08:00

Despite the wet December weather, the Emi and Dylan snuck outdoors to the backyard for a few fun shots in the rain! Here's the one that made this year's Christmas card, and you can actually see some of the falling raindrops above their shoulders! I looove their expression - so happy and innocent! Makes me want to be a kid again!

And a couple shots of the happy family...

khristine and ray's wedding

2009-12-18T00:07:00.000-08:00

Rain rain go away, come again another day... Hey, it worked! The weather was great for this December wedding at the Crowne Plaza in Foster City as there wasn't a drop of rain, plus it was relatively warm! It was a fun day hanging out with Khristine and Ray, and it sure didn't seem like a 14-hour shoot as their wedding party kept it lively! Ray is very cool and composed and I was impressed with his strong planning and decision making skills. It was easy to see how Khristine brought the energy, passion and joy into Ray's life, which makes them extremely compatible. I really enjoyed the fact that their buddies and family were extremely friendly, plus the groomsmen had a great sense of humor, making a fun job even funner! This was a great way to to end the 2009 wedding season! Onto the photos...

I always like to see what's around to try new and creative ring shots. Not too shabby, huh?

The wedding dress! And what a great bed, huh?

I like how this shot accents Khristine's great facial features.

Here are some shots from the traditional Chinese Tea Ceremony...

Here's how to fit 300+ people in the a room for a wedding ceremony.

It was very sweet how joyful Khristine was during the ceremony. :-)

We headed to the Japanese Garden in San Mateo for the couple and wedding party shoot. I want this to be my front entrance!

I definitely felt like I was in Japan with the beautiful interior wood designs.

A very creative shot from Perry!

Here's using a super wide angle lens and catching the sun peeking out.

This was definitely a fun wedding party! The sun creates an intimate and glowing back-lit scene.

I like this different angle with the spotlight to shoot their beautiful cake.

The party was kicked off with a Lion Dance!

Their first dance. Awwww...

This shot is too funny. I was flanked by paparazzi from the Tsing Tao News and the World Journal for most of the day!

Here's the fisheye lens capturing Khristine/Ray enjoying their slideshow. Nice hair dude!

I'm a fan of low-light photography and trying to portray an intimate setting using available light.

Uhhh... I really don't know what's going on here and am NOT commenting! ;-)

Khristine as the life of the party!

Click on the play button to watch their full wedding slideshow.

ryan, allison, lana + chloe

2009-12-08T18:51:00.000-08:00

We decided to have the shoot at Shoup Park as there are little creeks there for the dogs to run around and play, plus it would serve as a nice backdrop for the holiday card session with 2 dogs. Well, when we got there, the creeks were all dried up!! It turned out just as well as we leveraged the dried creek itself to capture this family photo. We had trouble getting the dogs to look toward the camera until I started to purr! I thought the purring scared Allison and Ryan, although Ryan later told me it excited him. Whoa! And I'll end the post there...

caden and colton

2009-10-26T00:57:00.000-07:00

Caden and Colton, Colton and Caden. Who is who and which is which?! How can you tell the identical twins apart? Well, that will be the million dollar question for years! One time during the session, I even heard one parent correct the other after hearing the wrong name called...he he! Well, I can easily tell, and I'll even divulge my secret! Colton is in blue and has a little scratch, and Caden is in gray! Just don't ask me next time! :-) These growing boys will definitely be double the trouble and twice the fun!

Both sides must be created equal, and no favoritism shall ever be shown!

I don't have a beer belly yet, do I?

I should be the center of the universe!

A classic portrait in their backyard.

Boy, this mushy stuff behind me is keeping me up!

Definitely dreaming of twin girls!!

hailey's portfolio refresh

2009-10-23T21:41:00.000-07:00

Here are some updated shots of my Pottery Barn kid's model for her ever-expanding portfolio! This time, her agency requested half-body and full-body shots against a plain background. As always, she is just super photogenic!!

sweet caroline...

2009-10-07T22:17:00.000-07:00

Talk about a really cute baby! Caroline is just over 2 months old and has beautiful eyes and adorable pupils! The boys will definitely be chasing after her in a few short years!

We waited for Caroline to fall asleep for this shot, but she never did. We still kept her 110% safe from rolling. :-)

FEET - small, medium and large!

Those amazing eyes!!! Kudos to mom for getting a great blanket for the session!

Hmmmm... does it look like they are ready for number two?!?! ;-)

Yes! The lashes are starting to kick in!

Just chilling on the couch...one of my favs of the day!

shannon and duane's wedding

2009-09-29T23:40:00.000-07:00

Wow, there were a lot of reasons that we were excited to shoot this wedding! First, Shannon and Duane are just good people. We clicked at our first early morning meeting at Starbucks and at our engagement session last fall at Thomas Fogarty Winery. Second, the weather was in the mid-80s, which felt like air-conditioning compared to the typical scorching 100 degree Sacramento weather! Third, the Blessed Cathedral of the Sacrament is just absolutely stunning with its architecture, interior details and beautiful stained glass. Lastly, all of the details that day were just amazing, especially the cake, which I swear was something straight out of The Food Channel! On to the photos...

Duane looking way spiffy!

I love this shot of Duane taking a swig of his Sam Adams enroute to the limo!

The beautiful dress and vibrant bouquet...

And of course, the beautiful bride! Shannon was quite calm right before the ceremony.

It's amazing how the light pours it to really accent Shannon and her dress.

The gorgeous cathedral on the inside.

This was the first time Duane saw Shannon that day... what an amazing moment!!

I love Duane's nervous anticipation and the groomsmens' expressions.

An intimate shot where the soft light glows around the altar.

And some things are just more important than the wedding, like taking my self-portrait!!

Classic individual photos of the bride and groom put side-by-side.

The great fisheye lens capturing the cake, stained glass and reception details.

Man, this was an awesome cake! I would never have cut it! ;-)

Shannon and Duane's first dance! It was dark, so we triggered an off camera flash to enhance the lighting.

A very sweet and teary moment with Shannon and her dad in their dance.

This was too funny...there was a dance contest between the guys and gals!!

Shannon's jam session...

And the gals brought out their little dancing machine in the finale.

Victory for the Gals!

Outside the Vizcaya, Shannon and Duane in an intimate moment to end the evening.

Click on the play button to watch their full wedding slideshow.

shannon and duane - wedding preview

2009-09-15T21:01:00.000-07:00

Here's a preview of Shannon and Duane's wedding this past weekend at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Sacramento, California. I met Shannon there in June to scout the location and plan wedding day logistics, and I have to admit that after visiting the location, I was really psyched about shooting this wedding. WOW - it was one of the most beautiful cathedrals I've been in, and it was such an honor to photograph their special day there. Here's a sneak preview with more photos to come... :-)

our beautiful maile

2009-08-28T16:59:00.000-07:00

I may be slightly biased, but this is the one of the cutest babies ever! Maile (prounounced My-Lee) was named after a plant native to Hawaii, whose leaves were once reserved for the nobility to wear as a lei in wedding ceremonies. My grandmother gave me a gold-plated maile leaf growing up, which will certainly be passed along to her! Maile and Mom are healthy and doing just great! Mom's had her sushi, sashimi and eggs sunny-side up! Beer is next! :-)

Maile big sister, Kayla, just adores her. She always want to pat her and feed her milk! Hopefully, jealously will never kick in!

She's dreaming about being back in the womb!

Mommy says that her 9 months of hard work has all been forgotten!

Peek-a-boo!

kevin and virginia's engagement

2009-07-18T14:43:00.000-07:00

I think Kevin and Virginia are secretly part time models. Virginia is a rock star and Kevin possesses this gene that allows him to flat-out eat and never gain a pound. Nobody warned him though that the gene reverses itself after marriage! ;-) This was a super-fun shoot as we started along the Embarcadero/Wharf and then headed over to the nude beach - YIKES!

I was getting dizzy while Kevin was spinning us in the carousel!

Kevin has a really disturbed look. I would be too if there was a man peeing behind me!

And now, two nude women splashing in the water! As a newly engaged man, it was smart of Kevin to go against his instincts and run in the the opposite direction!

At first, they weren't going to get wet, but the water war kicked off and it got all sexy from there!

As we headed out, I spotted this pool of water in the sand. I had to take the camera back out for some romantic reflection shots.

marn-yee and gary's wedding - shadowbrook in capitola

2009-06-29T10:12:00.000-07:00

Marn-yee and Gary's wedding was in Shadowbrook in Capitola, California. This is very close to Santa Cruz. They are very both extremely down-to-earth and genuine people, and I totally see why they are a good fit for each other. They actually met each other ballroom dancing, which is way cool!

This photo was taken by the fisheye lens. The amount of birds flying around was unbelievable!

Shadowbrook has a cable car to take you down to the restaurant. This shot reminds me of the steamy scene in Titanic! I think the glass was also getting fogged up!

Since the two met dancing, I'm so glad I was able to position myself quickly for the final dip!

This was taken at the beach. The backdrop of the cliff was amazing and the wedding party colors seemed perfect for the shot.

kim and max's wedding

2009-06-17T22:08:00.000-07:00

Kim and Max exemplified a couple who truly enjoyed their wedding day! It was filled with a ton of smiles and laughter which only got better as the open bar started to take effect! There was so much spontaneity during the reception - an unexpected first dance with three kids singing, a heartfelt re-proposal from Max, the groomsmen's wig being yanked off, 30 guys jumping on stage to sing karaoke, a raffle that ended up with Max wearing candy briefs, and on and on! What a great wedding and reception to capture!

There is something magical about the bride getting ready in a room with a princess theme.

Isn't she stunning?!?

hailey's head shots

2009-05-29T14:13:00.000-07:00

Hailey is a baby model and was featured on the cover of last winter's Pottery Barn Kid's catalog! I was assigned the mission to take some updated portfolio shots for her modeling agency, and here are some of my personal favorites. Look for Hailey on America's Next Top Model in a few years!

amy and chris's wedding - palm event center

2009-04-15T09:34:00.000-07:00

Amy and Chris's wedding was at the Palm Event Center in Pleasanton. They are such a sweet couple and it was very enjoyable spending the day with them. There was a lot of energy at the wedding and I can really tell how close they are to their friends and family.

This was their first dance. The DJ brought some great lighting equipment which I tried to leverage to help capture the mood.

Amy asked me to take some ring shots with the newspaper. Her ring is gorgeous!

Amy was a well-prepared brought and even had sample shots ready for the make-up artist.

I love these moments!

There's a lot of sweetness to this photo.

I think the bridesmaids were a little jealous of Amy! ;-)

precious little cecily...

2009-03-17T10:17:00.000-07:00

Isn't Cecily just an absolute doll?!?! She slept through most of the session, but we were able to get her to open her eyes for a few good shots. She is so precious and will undoubtedly break a few of the boys' hearts in a few years!

shannon and duane's engagement

2009-02-15T15:03:00.000-08:00

Shannon and Duane are getting married this September in Sacramento. We took some engagement photos last fall. They wanted a location that had both vineyards and water and after a bit of research, we found the perfect location at Thomas Fogarty Winery.

A classic photo of the two lovebirds.

There's something very peaceful about capturing the early morning light.

mindy & marc's wedding - berkeley faculty club

2008-12-02T21:14:00.000-08:00

I just love it when couples get married at their alma mater, especially when it's a great college town like Berkeley! I really enjoyed hanging out with Mindy and Marc on their wedding day for their very down-to-earth and relaxed personalities. They had a quiet peace about them that made shooting that day very enjoyable!

We'll start out with arguably the best wedding sign ever! Who cares that Marc was still painting signs 5 minutes before he was supposed to meet Mindy in his tux!

Isn't her dress stunning!?!

Mindy peeking down at the ceremony site from the bridal room. What a cool baby's breath bouquet!

I love the sun peeking through the big trees.

The fisheye lens really makes this photo very surreal.

Mindy had asked that I capture the famous Campanelli (clock tower) and I think this is a classic.

I love this photo of my assistants hard at work! The cool thing is that Niki (right) is also a Berkeley alum!

karen and mark's wedding

2008-10-18T17:54:00.000-07:00

Karen and Mark were such a relaxed and happy couple that sometimes I wondered if they even knew what a big day it was! They were a very natural couple and very sincere. For them, it was about throwing a big party to celebrate and really enjoying the presence of their friends and family.

Their event was at the grand Byington Winery in Los Gatos, California, and has a really cool and romantic cave on the bottom floor!

"Something old, something new, something borrowed, something BLUE!"

marn-yee and gary's engagement

2008-09-03T22:39:00.000-07:00

It was a lot of fun shooting Gary and Marn-Yee engagement photos! They are a really nice couple and definitely very playful. I can easily see why they get along so well! Gary started to go wild in the middle and busted out all his crazy moves. I knew my fellow CMU Tartan Alumni had it in him! I'm really excited to shoot their wedding next month!

grant at 13 months

2008-06-04T19:05:00.000-07:00

What an amazing and cute little boy! Grant was very well behaved during the photo session and full of smiles. He was almost able to walk on his own, and just needed a couple of mom and dad's fingers for assistance. It'll be any day now. Mom and Dad are looking forward to that day, but I think it might spell some trouble, especially with eight teeth ready to chew the world! ;-)

cristina and amit's wedding

2008-05-07T21:53:00.000-07:00

Who would have guessed that Cristina and her family, who's of Chinese descent, would start to bust out speaking perfect Portuguese! They are from Brazil. After the early 9:30am wedding ceremony at Palmdale Estates in Fremont, we headed over to the Brazilian Churrascaria Steak House in San Francisco, where everyone had an awesome lunch at carnivore heaven! They brought around massive skewers of meat in a non-stop parade. I think everyone there gained 5 pounds at lunch!

Cristina had some awesome wedding invitations and table settings from Cards Deluxe (http://cardsdeluxe.blogspot.com/). They are extremely detailed oriented in their designs, and I'd recommend using Susanne to any future bride looking for very classy and cool invitations.

Hmmmm... I can't look at this anymore since it keeps making me hungry!!

baby maya at one week

2008-02-02T23:03:00.000-08:00

Cute little Maya has an amazingly full set of shiny jet-black hair. Wow! I think she will one day be on those Revlon hair commercials. Maya was on her own schedule during the shoot as she decided to nap in the beginning, then fell asleep in the middle of it, then woke up moments later and decided to leave Daddy a nice present to clean up! That's why you always keep old towels handy! Get used to it, Dad!

calvin and the camera...

2008-01-01T21:02:00.000-08:00

Confucius once said, "Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life." I think only a very small percentage of people are fortunate to experience this, and I am blessed to feel this way whenever I'm behind the camera. I get a huge thrill in my never-ending quest to capture that perfect shot, knowing the moment has passed and will never repeat itself. Photography is a way of expression and capturing feelings and emotions, and it remembers all the details after the moment is long gone and has been forgotten.

My passion started out in high school as the geeky yearbook photographer and has grown since. Today, I love to capture children and weddings: children because I've always enjoyed being around kids and having two myself, the moments are so precious and they grow up way too fast; weddings because the day is absolutely perfect and I get to capture people at their best, location and details at their finest, and moments that people dream about and cherish forever.

I'm based in the San Francisco Bay Area and if you ever want to talk about photography or ask me those dorky questions about different lenses, aperture, low-light photography, etc., feel free to drop me a line at calvin@fisheyephotos.com.

You can also find more details about me by visiting my website www.fisheyephotos.com . Take care and don't forget the camera!!

Calvin