Wedding Engagement Photographs with a TWIST!

When you think about  engagement photography sessions, most people think of a couple sitting in a park, kissing, gazing at each other and holding hands.  Don't get me wrong there is NOTHING wrong with these things, IF that is what identifies you as a couple.

Take for instance, if you are  a couple whom are avid book readers, met in school, and were engaged right after graduation!  Well....then perhaps you would like to consider the college campus where you met, and where the story actually began.  Now, take it another step further....what is it that you and your fiance really like.  Maybe you are both rock n' roll fans, or musicians, perhaps you are race car drivers or even photographers yourselves.  THAT is when you start to plan a setting for your shoot.  After all, capturing who you both are during these particular years is important and will be cherished for many generations to come.

So if you don't care much about keeping a journal, keep in mind, photographs are a journal they are a journal of your past, present, and yes future.  Why not record these moments and allow this heirloom into your families?  Wedding and engagement photography alike, does not need to be a "mold" for all of you, break that cookie cutter and be YOU, after all that is who you are and it is who your fiance fell in love with.

If you have no idea "where" to begin, speak to your wedding photographer and ask about styling, hair and make up artists, they can help style the shoot for you and although you may think it does not feel natural, trust me, it will be.  Just be you, live it up and watch what happens!

Congrats on your engagement and CHEERS!!!

All Photos for this shoot c. 2010 YStudio Photography (shot for Palo Dobrick of Chicago)
Hair/Makeup by:  ANGELA - AMS BooMBoX
Wardrobe/Stylist:  Nima Shiraz 
Model:  Natasha  
Model:  Kurtis Dam-Mikkelsen

BBW Brides....from one big gal to another.........

I had a great phone conversation today with  friend and colleague, Robert Valdes, HD Wedding Videographer, and I shared about my passion and strengths in working with the more abundant bride.  I am not here to knock down photographers or videographers about how they approach the larger more lovelier bride, I just want to share on how I approach this situation.

Being a larger woman myself, I have always panicked at the thought of seeing myself in  photographs, not to mention video, after all the camera does add a few pounds and inches.  And to make things worse, depending on the angle of the camera, the posing and the  lighting, the larger bride can be devastated the day she's presented with her wedding photos.  A day that should be filled with beauty, ravishing smiles, laughter, tears of joy, can end in a flash, the moment she sees herself in an unexpected and unflattering manner.  Remember...it is up to us as your photographers to see the beauty and capture it!

Think of it this way, a little girl starts planning her wedding early on, playing with her Barbies is where it all begins, she becomes ONE with that barbie doll, she dresses her and then introduces her to Ken and VOILA! It's time for a wedding!  So, you see, not only do I approach photographing her as if I were photographing myself, I approach her wedding day with the tender loving care and memories of her childhood.  The day is finally here, and you better believe it, I am going to bust my butt to get her the images to match that lifelong childhood wishes and dreams!

If one cannot see the beauty in each of their clients, how well will those images tell the story of their lifelong dream?  If you want to make an impact when photographing   BBW's or your larger male clients, meet with them talk to them about their camera concerns if they have any.  If they do not mention it, don't just walk away with a signed contract and do nothing! DO MORE! Work harder to position your subjects in flattering light, angles and positions.  After all, they are hiring you because they LOVE your work, show them some LOVE and don't just point and shoot.  Pay attention to the dress, the arms, the shoulders, the tummy, and make sure if your client has a double chin to do everything you can to camouflage or decorate.  If when meeting with a larger bride, she reveals she is going sleeveless, keep that in mind and plan accordingly, alert your assistants and give them advice of the best angles to capture her or the groom.

I have had many opportunities to work with plus size brides, and I LOVE it!  It's keeps me on my toes, and honestly, it really makes me think that I should have this attitude with ALL of my brides, but in reality, from one big gal to another, she's going to get just a little more from me!

I would like to thank Natalie Jamaca, a fabulous bride and client I had the pleasure of working with.  She left us a fabulous review on Yelp and mentioned her concerns in the review...please read why she gave YStudio Photography a 5 star review!

Some love also goes out to Raquel Ganda-Rothenbeuscher, and Kate Boyer.

Please feel free to show some love here in our comments section.  And if you are interested in learning more about approaching the plus sized beauties with your camera, I am available for one on one mentor sessions or I can answer any of your questions here on the blog.

Top Photos:  Kate & Brian (San Francisco Trash the Dress Session), and Raquel with  a couple of her bridesmaids getting her into the dress, San Mateo Marriott, San Mateo, Ca

Bottom Photos:  Kenneth & Natalie Jamaca wedding, a formal and a not so formal pre-ceremony.  What a    FUN wedding this was! Purple Orchid Resort & Spa, Livermore, CA

Song:  Big Girls Don't Cry by Fergie 

Wedding Photography....where to start?

Every bride while planning her big day has quite a few decisions to make.  I am finding that many brides and grooms today, seem to be paying for all or most of their own weddings.  There is a variety of reasons for this, and probably why the decision is so difficult. There are so many things and people that must be hired in order to complete the day.

I found a GREAT article on Your Bridal Planner that helps guide you into choosing the RIGHT photographer for your wedding day.  Read here how some of the things you did not know, and what you should know.  Give your memories the LOVE they deserve, wedding photography should be right up there with your gown!  Enjoy the article!

Tips for your BEST Wedding Photos!

 Many brides can become "overwhelmed" when planning for that BIG day, there is so much to do and in what seems to be so little time.  One of the most important things of this day, I feel is photography.  Keep in mind that besides your wedding bands, your photos are the very first heirlooms of your union and new families and these are to be cherished for many generations to come.

It's very easy to give priority to your "guests" and what I mean by this is that sometimes we focus on making sure we choose the right venue, the most beautiful gown, the greatest looking and tasting cake, the most expensive flowers, etc.  Before you know it, you can easily be well over your budget.  These things are important, don't get me wrong, however, when the guests leave the venue, the remnants of the cake are stored away, your gown goes in for preservation, the gifts either get returned or exchanged, what's left?  Your memories! Exactly!

Many of you will hire photographers and videographers, and you may simply choose your photographer for the "price" of their packages, and whether or not they hand over a photo CD, etc.  Don't get caught up in this, first of all, NEVER choose your photographer for "the package!"  Choose your photographer because you LOVE their work, and because you LOVE how they make you feel about your wedding.  Listen to them, shop around, see who has your best interest at heart and NOT who is willing to offer you a package that will get you hooked.  Get hooked with them, get to know them, ask questions, and by all means make sure that they offer Engagement Sessions.  Don't skimp on your everlasting memories, you do not want your wedding photos sitting in a box under your bed because you are embarrassed how poorly your big day was captured.  After all, what's left are your memories, give them the TLC and priority you so deserve!

More tips on how to hire a wedding photographer  and Here are some GREAT photography tips for brides......Cheers and may you all live happily ever after!

A shift in thinking.... Help Portrait & Voices of Haiti

Recently we had the honor of  hearing Jeremy Cowart speak, not only a fine and talented photographer, not only a man with a vision, not only a man with an amazing soul, but a man willing to do and reach hundreds if not thousands of people with a brilliant and heartfelt and RAW idea!  You don't have to be a photographer, see here how YOU can get involved and make a difference.

Help Portrait, will change how you see what can be done in the photography field that above being art, it is human, beautiful, and should make us all shift our thinking.  Please visit the site, and get ready to make a move......this is easily something YOU can get involved in and make a difference in the lives of so many!

Voices of Haiti is ANOTHER beautiful thing that Jeremy has done, definitely a deep, beautiful part of his legacy.  And even if you are not a photographer, get involved if you can, this is such a blessing!
 Amen amen to people like Jeremy, you truly are an inspiration and a messenger from above!

Thank you !!

Photo Courtesy:  Escalate LIVE

Delta Kappa Sigma on The Empress Yacht in Sausalito!

We had the pleasure some time ago to have met some wonderful gals from the SFSU Delta Kappa Sigma Sorority...these girls not only study hard, they play hard, and they volunteer hard!

They celebrated a Founder's Celebration aboard the San Francisco Empress Yacht and here are some of the images from that shoot.

Okay ladies...here is how to get your FREE Photo Key chain valued at $9.99....ready, set...GO!!!!!!!!

1.  Join us on the YStudio Photography Facebook Fan Club....see the link to the right of this post.

2.  Post a comment on the shoot here.....and finally

3.  Follow us on Twitter

Now isn't this easy!?  AND if you rather have a 5x7 print instead of the key chain, no problem, we can do that too!  Have fun, and HURRY as this offer ends May 31, 2010!

Treasure Island Photo Shoot with Phuong My & LaNisa

Well once again, we have come across and met with a FABULOUS Designer, she is young, talented and quite wicked with her designs!  I am saying that in the BEST sense!

I ran into Phuong My, saw her work, and knew instantly, I MUST work with her, she's young and has quite a story, I am sure you will all be hearing about her soon, and I have got to say she definitely has a NEW Fashion attitude for San Francisco!  Fashion weeks are among us and she's keeping busy......so stay tuned!

As a photographer my goal is to work with our clients to make sure their vision is captured, yes through our lens, but one of the very important things within fashion is to stay focused on what you are shooting and why.  Yes we had fun on this shoot and we always like to go outside of the box per se, however, we NEVER lose sight of why we are there...we are there for our clients.

When it comes to fashion editorial shooting one can be a little more risque, however, ALWAYS get the shot of the garment in every possible angle, in the right lighting and with little or NO distracting backdrops or textures.  One has to constantly think of color and lighting schemes or it can all go downhill.  In this case we were shooting again around noon time, possibly the WORSE time to shoot, but lately it has been my favorite because it pushes me to THINK THINK FOCUS AND SHOOT!  We are creating the look with controlling the lighting, and keeping a tight grip of our technical management as well as time management.

This shoot for instance was super sunny but freezing cold as we were shooting in San Francisco's Treasure Island, being close to the SF Bay has it downfalls, wind and cold!  I feel sorry for the models, they are usually thin and well even a large gal like me can get cold, so can you imagine?  When wind is involved one has to think of loose hairs, garments movements, equipment falling over, very expensive equipment!  When cold is involved one has to work fast as the models can easily lose it during the shoot, and we can't have that.  Also controlling, re-directing, and bouncing light in a manner that does not change your color temperatures, etc.

Overall the challenge is quite a thrill and the results are.....well see for yourself!  Please feel free to ask questions or leave comments, WE LOVE and welcome you all!  Have a great weekend!



Fashion Designer:  Phuong My Tran
Hair/Make up  YalunXi
Model:  LaNisa Buena Vista
Photographers:  Me and hubby