YStudio Photography - San Francisco Wedding & Portrait Photographers

We have MOVED!

2011-03-12T11:06:00.000-08:00

Please visit us at our NEW SITE by clicking HERE

And thanks for stopping by!! Here's a little of what we LOVE and do at YStudio!

We are under construction!

2010-10-13T10:46:00.000-07:00

After a long wait of almost 4 months of no help from BluDomain, my previous host, we are finally underway to get things done and build my new site! I normally do not like to blast negatively on my blog and forgive me if I am coming across that way. But in all honesty, BluDomain has made my life impossible for the past few months!

I simply requested to transfer domain as I found a new host and a new site for YStudio. While, I will not mention any names but she knows who she is at BluDomain, made this near impossible for me, for months! I finally got tired of it and decided to get busy and I did everything in my power, including threatening to contact my attorney.

Finally after almost 4 months, she released my illegally harbored domain, but now we need to wait until she approves the final phase. If there is anything I learned from this entire experience is, when purchasing a domain, make sure you are purchasing it through a company that will list YOU as the registrar and domain owner, otherwise YOU will have no access or authorization to do anything! Your hands like mine, will be tied.

Yes BluDomain offers quick, easy and beautful flash solutions for your site, but they also offer the WORSE customer service on the face of this planet. I will NEVER recommend them, as a matter of fact I will discourage anyone and everyone who asks me NOT to go with them. I am sorry for BluDomain and their loss in business due to their inability to offer sites that are SEO friendly, but that is why they need to develop a medium to benefit their clients, if you sit and wait, nothing happens. I refused to sit and wait and I am going forward. No more Ms. Nice gal for me, not when it comes to offering the best to my business and my clients like YOU!.

In the meantime, I am celebrating the crossover to a SEO friendly site, with yummier eye candy and quick solutions for my business. I want to take this time to thank Kim Townsend of Kimtown who has been NOTHING but elegant, professional, inspirational and encouraging. I look forward with great anticipation to the NEW & much improved YStudio Photography site!

I would also like to thank an amazing friend, and now business associate, Mimi Renfro-Rodrgiuez of Creative Designs by Mimi who has supported encouraged me and created a beautiful enhancement to our logo. Mimi is a creative and super talented Wedding Invitation and event stationery artist! She's truly amazing and I am so happy that she's also an integral part of YStudio! Wait til you she what she's cooking for us!

Another special thank you goes to Robert Valdes of Robert Valdes Photography who has also supported and educated me on this entire process....initially I had contacted Robert to work with me on my site, however, timing was not good for either of us.

Once again, thank you all for your patience while the development of the site moves along, please come back and see us again SOON!!!

Destination Wedding Photography Tips you can survive with!

2010-09-21T13:30:00.000-07:00

Update: See our wedding featured on Asian Inspired Weddings

Click here for the feature!

I am NOT one that likes to brag, but it would be insane if I did not "share" our experience and just one of the many happy outcomes from a recent Destination Wedding shot in Hawaii.

Being in business since 2007 I still consider ourselves "babies" in the industry. However, Wayne has been shooting for many years as I have. After our own wedding we decided to add Photography Services to our already existing business venture of Wedding Consultation & Planning. I still remember the very first wedding Ceremony I officiated, in 1997 and my love for weddings has never ceased...in fact I think it's an even larger love now and just one of the many obsessions I have!

So, what can I share with you to help you on your next destination wedding? Well hang on to your seats as there are so many things that if one plans ahead, things can go relatively smoother. These are just some of the things that I can suggest...so get your notepads!

Here's just a few ways to make the entire process just a tad bit smoother.....

If your clients live out of town or out of state, it is very difficult to meet up, so make sure you are on the ball with emails and phone calls. There is nothing more exciting for me than to call a client who is right in the middle of planning her exciting BIG DAY! If you are paralyzed with fear, get over it ...QUICK!
Don't be shy, your client wants to hear your excitement, this will put her at ease, don't worry that she will not like you, she already LOVES your work, she wants to know who you are, so LET GO, so she can!
Keep in touch with your clients on a regular basis, have them help you complete your info sheets
Join them on Facebook! I cannot stress the importance of social media, but in destination weddings it is CRUCIAL! THIS is how I got to know the family, friends, and wedding party months before the wedding. The excitement was contagious and FB and Twitter was just what we needed to find out about all of the little details etc.
Contact the vendors. In this case, Hawaii, I know everyone is really on HAWAIIAN time, so I made sure to contact the venue and vendors prior, and with ample time. I introduced myself about a month prior to the wedding day and got even more details and info from the Wedding Coordinators from the venue. (This not only helps you as the photographer, but it also helps to start a great business relationship with vendors for possible future interactions). Offer to give the vendors photographs on a CD after the event, and make sure you watermark each image. Include all vendors, designers, etc., on your blogs and do not forget to link to them as well as label them. SEO baby!
Talk or email at least ONCE with the brides mother or father, trust me on this one, it really helps to have interaction and a connection.....
I know we all LOVE LOVE LOVE getting those creative and imaginative shots but remember, the traditional shots are really what sells, and are the ones that usually end up on the mantle or on the office desks. Think parents, grandparents and business associates. Trust me, many times, the amazing creative shots you got down on the ground to capture, are not purchased by the elders, but they are great for the bride and groom and it will not hurt your portfolio either :O) But, parents and grandparents = sales
When traveling for a Destination Wedding call the airlines and find out about carry on luggage as well as check in luggage, remember, camera equipment is heavy, and we overlooked the fact that they weigh carry on as well at Hawaiian Airlines....argh! Thank God we managed and did not have to pay extra!
Travel as light as possible, and try to make a connection with a local photographer if you can, trust me there are still some good people out there who can help you with finding spots, or even lend you their studio or equipment. We were blessed to have met an amazing man and photographer, Eddy Fong of Renai Photography. We ran into him at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel on the night of the Wedding Rehearsal, and he was more than helpful, plus, we LOVE LOVE LOVE his work, see for yourself!
Make sure you have all dates and details of ALL events of the wedding (i.e., rehearsals, dinners, outings, etc.), make yourself available to make arrangements to come along, the more interaction you have with the families and your clients, the better! Forget about whether you charged for it or not, you are there, in a different place, make it beautiful!
PLAN and make arrangements to take the couple out for an hour or two to capture shots of them in this distant land, yes I know they are busy, but we stressed the importance to our clients, and in turn they needed the little getaway anyways, and POW we got an amazing Sunset Session in Makua Beach the eve of the wedding! See the video slide herein.
And finally take some time for YOU and your team, we took our assistants out to an island beach tour where we traveled the entire island and swam, boogie boarded and dived at almost all of the beaches, they LOVED it ! Oh and of course we had some ONO KAU KAU (means delicious food). And on the day of the wedding they worked hard! Thanks Nunus and my son Angelo for being such GREAT assistants!

Ok so I can go on and on but you get the idea right!? Think about capturing the essence of where this wedding is, take shots everywhere that the couple can incorporate into their wedding memories, imagine, believe and create!

Happy Travels & Happy Shooting!!!!!!!!

Images here taken during the actual wedding rehearsal, mahalo to Mr.and Mrs. Aaron Yen, you guys are simply A M A Z I N G !!!!!!!!!!!!

The Sunny 16 Rule - A VALUABLE Wedding Day Photography Tip

2010-09-16T10:36:00.000-07:00

If many of you "cringe" at the thought of having to shoot the formals at a wedding, trust me honey, you are NOT alone! I remember when I first started shooting weddings how paralyzing this was, and although it's still a pain in the neck, time and practice as well as constant practicing has helped me a lot. Although being a photographer, one has to realize, we will NEVER know it all, but having that "can do" attitude sure makes it look like we do, and THIS is essential for putting your clients and the wedding party at ease! I cannot express the importance of the following some very important steps to ensure that this process goes as smoothly and as briefly as possible.

LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION! Scout out your location prior to the wedding day, Preferably, do this near the time of your actual shoot. For example if the ceremony ends at 3:00 p.m., you will most likely be shooting formals and portraits from 3:15 - 4:00 or so. Visit and scout out the location near the same "shooting time."
LOOK for shadows, shade, dabbled light, etc.
When meeting with your clients one of the crucial questions on your info sheet should be: SIZE of the entire wedding party including Bride & Groom
PLAN on at lease ONE assistant, trust me, you can NOT do this alone unless you are seasoned
Prepare of LIGHT LIGHT LIGHT! The SUNNY 16 RULE: Even in harsh sunny light, you will need to play a lighting war game with the sun. For example, look at this photo...See how many people? The posing, they are in the OPEN sunlight at or around 12:00 p.m. Now I could have easily placed them under the shade (as they begged), but I politely refused and tried to explain the shadows would be a nightmare. Specs on this shot 200 ss, 200 iso, and f14, with on camera Canon Speedlite 580 EXII. Keep in mind, Sunny 16 rule is usually 250 ss, 250 iso and f16, but on my Canon I feel that is a bit dark for my taste, adjust according to your taste but make sure you have the light as even as possible over each subject. My assistant is holding an off camera strobe Canon 430 XII just to the right of the camera angled diagonally at the group. I asked the group to close their eyes to avoid blinks and squints due to direct sun, and on the count of 1-2-3, they opened their eyes, I took the shot! We repeated this 3 times, and nailed this right out of the camera in LESS than 5 minutes! It did not help that they had the open bar going so they all wanted to go get a beer, and so we have to think quick folks!
With this taken care of..let the party go have their fun and snatch the bride and groom for their mantle and portrait shots. It's so much easier...you can go with your clients and your assistant can stay close to the wedding party and capture other essentials such as reception room prior to having anyone enter, etc.

I am NOT trying to pretend I know it all, in this business, you simply cannot as there is so much to learn! But what I DO know, is I want to share my experience, so many pros like Scott Kelby, Dave Ziser and Joe McNally, Jerry Ghionis, Bambi Cantrell , and others have taught me so much, I want to be part of a community such as this!

Please feel free to comment and to ask away OR even better.....if YOU have a tip or two you would like to share with your fellow photographers, please send me a note, I would love to feature you and your tutorial!

Ok folks that's it for today! See some other examples here where the sunny 16 rule can help overpower sun and window glare!

The glare here with natural light was drowning out the gorgeous blue sky and palms in the background. This was the brides suite's actual window view of Waikiki Beach in Honolulu, and I did NOT want to jeopardize it in the shot. Sunny 16 rule used here.....Again, my goal here was to make this look like a painting, truly the view from this room was amazing!!! These are the bridesmaids bouquets!

(Here is a sample of the same rule, using an off camera video light), my hubby's favorite shot!)

Cheers everybody!

Omedetō gozai masu (Congratulations), to Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Yen!

2010-09-08T14:35:00.000-07:00

YStudio Photography is extending a great big congratulations to this amazing couple! Aaron and Andrea are an amazing couples whose backgrounds include, Japanese, Mexican, and Chinese! This fabulously handsome, young and spirited couple currently live in Las Vegas, Nevada and they chose YStudio to cover this milestone event. We were humbled, excited, and enthusiastic to be fortunate enough to photograph the nuptials in none other than Oahu, Hawaii!

Family and friends came from as far as Taiwan, Nevada, California, as well as many other states across the mainland. For months friends shared their enthusiasm on Facebook, they were anxious to join the couple and their families on the islands of Hawaii for a destination wedding week that was filled with daily events such as Island tours, luau's, golf, beach days, and special family acquaintance and rehearsal dinners, and of course, the wedding!

The couple wanted the best, therefore choosing The Royal Hawaiian Hotel (2nd hotel built on Waikiki in the 1920's), as their ceremony and celebration site. The celebration began on Friday when all or most of the guests and family members as well as the bride and groom arrived on the island, the wedding day was slated for Monday, August 9, 2010.The couple was adamant about their choice of numerology and 8-9-10 are ALL great numbers part of an Asian tradition of fortune, prosperity, and blessings among what is one of the most important milestones of their lives!

The happy couple shared their first glance on the patio of the hotel as family and the wedding party were anxiously awaiting to see Andrea waltz in with her fabulous figure adorned in a Maggie Sottero gown courtesy of Bowties & Bridal Boutique of Las Vegas. Andrea is a stunning young lady and in all of her bridal beauty she sparkled and shined, her hair floral piece as well as her bouquet were inspired and created by Cindy's Lei Shoppe of Honolulu The bridal jewelry courtesy of Jared Galleria of Jewelery and Aaron Lelah Jewelers. Now let's not forget the groom! Aaron, a Las Vegas accomplished Attorney, styled a tuxedo by none other than Celebrity Tuxedo's also of Honolulu and he was looking pretty dapper, see for yourself!

With the help of the bride's mother, we managed to sort of kidnap the couple on the eve before the wedding and drove to a secret "much needed" getaway.....a gorgeous "Sunset Portrait Session" at Makua Beach (aka Pray 4 Sex Beach). It was a lengthy but gorgeous drive to the far side of the island to Makaha! See here why my husband Wayne , (who is from Waianae, near the Makaha area), had his heart set on this particular beach. We have attached a slide show of this session for all to enjoy...it was yummy indeed! We'll let the images speak for themselves and you too may see WHY this destination wedding, was super special! Everyone at this wedding including YStudio agrees wholeheartedly! Click here to watch this on our YStudio Photography Facebook Page.... http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1434729875&v=app_2392950137#!/video/video.php?v=1582007156813

Me ke aloha pumehana (with never ending love),
YStudio Photography

Vendor Courtesy:

Royal Hawaiian Hotel (venue, catering and cake)
On site Wedding Coordinators: Ke' aloha and Cila Goda
Cindy's Lei Shoppe
Jared Galleria of Jewelery
Aaron Lelah Jewelers
Bowties & Bridal Boutique
Maggie Sottero
Celebrity Tuxedos
XPress Entertainment (DJ) Rick Peralta
Hair Styling: Katie Pryor
Makeup: Andrea Hernandez-Yen (YES! The bride herself!)
Wedding Favors-ExclusivelyWeddings.com
Photography: YStudio Photography

Get ready for the Getting Ready Photos!

2010-08-23T11:48:00.000-07:00

Planning a wedding is NO easy task, in fact after the wedding is over, many brides admit, if they hadn't hired a planner, they wish they had! Unless you have done it yourself, it is hard to fathom exactly what all is involved. There are so many emotions during what is supposed to be an amazing and beautiful memory, it still can be, consider "getting ready" photos for your wedding day!

You may be asking yourself, what on earth do I want with a bunch of photos of me looking not so great, hair in curlers, no makeup, what am I going to do with these photos? Think for one moment, during this time usually mom, dad and the rest of your loved ones are nearby. You would be amazed on how important these moments leading up to the very minute you see your fiance for the first time and walking down the aisle. Plus it is a beautiful capture of you in your space, all giddy, and ready to go, at this point in the wedding planning, there is "nothing" more you can do. The venue is set, as is your photographer, your cake, dress, everything is ready and all you have to do is "show up!"

As a wedding photographer myself, I know all too well the "value" of the getting ready photos, the emotions are priceless, but so is the opportunity to get to know my clients as well as their mothers, fathers, and family. It allows for that extra special time we need to bond, laugh, cry and prepare for one of the most important days of their lives! I could not dream of anything better......an engagement shoot is also highly recommended as many of you know, I always include these sessions for my couple because again, it is about them!

Remember folks, your parents are here once in a lifetime, when they are gone, only the memories remain. Make them count, see the beauty everywhere and consider "Getting Ready" photos on your wedding day!

Seen here: Hair Style and Makeup Artist : Teresa Reynolds and the bride Giselle with her lovely mother "Fortune" of Newark, CA. Congrats to the happy couple!

Wedding Venue: Mountain Terrace, Woodside, CA
Getting Ready Photos here: YStudio Photography
Official Wedding Photographer: I-Motion, Los Gatos, CA (Simon)

What on earth to do with wedding photos!?

2010-08-13T23:48:00.000-07:00

Ok so here you are, your wedding photographer has done their job, and now you are wondering what to do with all of the photos? Well, if you are dealing with a professional photographer, why not ask him or her? I am sure they will have a solution to your problem. Nowadays, there are dozens of options and there are several price variations as well.

A photographer's job is NOT over after the shoot and if a photographer hands over the photo CD not only is their job NOT DONE, but it also creates an overwhelming situation for the you as a client! Nowadays most professional wedding photographers will NOT hand over the full size negatives, and I see it as a blessing because what on earth will you do with over 1,000 photos!? And one has to acknowledge that sales is a keyword in photography studios nowadays, everyone knows it. I have no problem giving my clients the lo-res files (for email and Facebook, etc.), but I would not be doing my job if I leave it up to my clients to print albums, photos etc. Besides, can you really compare Walgreens and Costco to Pictage, GraphiStudio, WHCC, and others? Clients understand that integrity in this business is crucial and that a photographer's work should be represented properly. If a photographer does not care about his or her work, why will you as a client?

It is important for you to have your photos and it is important that no one makes you feel as if your photos are being held for ransom, however, remember you not only hired a photographer, you hired an artist. You hired a specialist in this field and that person will observe and capture your wedding in a artistic, and journalistic way. You have hired them to "create" and that is what they will do. If anyone knows what to do with your collection or the studio favorites, it's them!

So, whether you order ALL proofs, or whether you order an album, trust them to guide you in the right direction, they have many options for you as far as albums, I myself LOVE my publishers because they offer me a simplified work flow and provide me with amazing flush mount albums, regular albums, thank you cards, DVD slide shows, and more! There are many different ways to display, preserve, and enjoy your photographs, remember, they are your lifelong memories, make them count and ask your photographer!

Congratulations to Chelsea & Marc!

2010-08-02T23:23:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday the daughter of former President Bill Clinton, Miss Chelsea Clinton married her long time boyfriend Marc Mezvinsky. The ceremony and celebration was held in Rhinebeck, N.Y., and if there is anything a wedding photographer can see a mile away, is a woman in love! Look at the gaze in Chelsea's eyes as she looks into her grooms face. At 7:23 p.m. came an announcement from the family via e-mail: Ms. Clinton was now married to Marc Mezvinsky.

YStudio would like to also send a heartfelt congratulations to the Clintons and to now Chelsea Clinton Mezvinsky. Long live love and may you enjoy the rest of your lives together as husband and wife.

Photo courtesy of Genevieve de Manio Photography

To read more on this story visit The Daily Mail

It's a Fabulous Newborn Posing Guide Giveaway!

2010-07-28T05:17:00.000-07:00

I LOVE LOVE LOVE newborn and baby photography! And although I have not ventured into this area of creativity...YET, I do celebrate it because after marriage, comes the carriage! As wedding photographers we know this so we better start thinking weddings, maternity, newborn, birthday parties and overall FAMILY Photographers!

This morning I came across a gorgeous baby web site and saw they have a contest! If there is anything I go nuts for are contests! So....check it out folks, and GOOD LUCK to everybody! Hurry contest ends August 1st! Yes, I too am trying to WIN!!!!!!!!! It's a Fabulous Newborn Posing Guide giveaway on Inspire Me Baby

Not just photographers...we document LIFE!

2010-07-18T11:50:00.000-07:00

What is the FIRST thing you think of when someone calls or inquires about your photography services? Do you immediately think about the budget, the amount of money you can make, or do you stop, and relish about the importance of this call? If you have a photography business, and if you simply stay focused on the business elements, you can easily sway from what is really important, your clients.

I know you have heard this time and time again, and I know you have bills to pay and things to get done as far as your marketing, orders,etc, but if you stop for one second and focus on the "WHY" that client called you, you would redirect all of that energy right back towards the client. Isn't this why you started a photography business?

Last year I received a call from Yolanda, a good friend of mine who bakes cakes from her home, she mainly works with brides on budgets and she called to see if I could help a couple in "need!" She told me about Michele and Duke who had hired her to make their wedding cake. She explained that although the budget was limited, they had a special story, and I immediately knew I wanted to help! You see, Michele & Duke wanted to get married the following year, however they had to push up the date as Michele's dad was diagnosed with a terminal illness.

The wedding took place at San Pablo Ca's Rockefeller Lodge and it was great to meet Michele's dad, he was such a boastful and cheerful guy with a loud and wonderful laugh. He wore a hat that was so cool and he was overjoyed when he saw his daughter in her wedding gown! This was a beautiful ceremony and celebration with many friends and family, they shared the traditions of The Tonganese as well as wonderful heartfelt toast speeches, cheers and dancing! It was an amazing evening and although it rained and we had to switch gears, none of this put a damper on THIS celebration! More than anything, I was touched at being able to contribute and I have no doubt that working with Michele & Duke's budget was not an issue, but documenting this day WAS! Michele and Duke released butterflies after their ceremony and I just happened to be right next to them with a butterfly that would not leave their side. See here....

Michele & Duke you guys were amazing to work with, I am so honored that you entrusted us with this very special day and to allow us to provide these memories for you and your family. I look forward to hearing from you and seeing where life's road takes you and your family. Thank you for touching my life as well!

I would like to share a letter that Michele sent me a few days ago, I was so touched, I just had to share and Michele said she would be honored!

(Letter from Michele)

Hi Barbara,

It's Michele Melton Pahulu, you photographed my wedding last year on May 1st. I don't know if you remember but my dad had cancer at the wedding and unfortunately we lost him last July only a couple months after the wedding. The pictures you took at the wedding were the last family pictures that we have together. I just wanted to thank you so much for putting together such an affordable package for us. I feel very lucky having met you when I did. Because of you we have wonderful family pictures that I will cherish forever. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Michele Melton Pahulu

Day After Bridal Portraits..and why you should consider them

2010-07-07T16:13:00.000-07:00

Nowadays, brides are starting to do the "unconventional" when it comes to their own weddings. Often she will tailor her big day with an array of personal details, places and people that will help mark this day as "hers!" As should be!

Thank goodness for this type of thinking, as a photographer it really helps me and this is why I love to talk to my clients about booking an Engagement Session. The engagement session is in no way shape or form for me, truthfully it is for her! These type of sessions do benefit me however as it allows me to spend more time with the happy couple. I love learning more about how they met, how they became engaged and it is a great way for us all to get to know each other before their wedding day.

Another thing to mention about these sessions, it allows for the bride and her fiance to see themselves from the photographer's perspective. It can be as beautiful and creative as you'd like, but if it's not personal, those images no matter how gorgeous will say nothing to the couple and worse, will say nothing "about" the couple.

Other ideas for brides to consider are "Day After" or Trash the Dress Sessions. This is something many contemporary brides are doing. If you are asking why, why not? It's FUN! And it's hassle-free, just think of it, no guests waiting at a reception, no worries whatsoever! THIS alone allows for relaxed and natural portraits. Remember, among your first heirlooms, these portraits are designed to be framed and displayed in your home as well as becoming part of beautiful photo albums or coffee table books for all to see.

And finally, on the day of your wedding, you should be enjoying your day, your guests and the memories it will provide for future generations. As a photographer, I know that my clients choose me because they love the way our images depict the day. Don't get me wrong, portraits and formals should always be done on the wedding day, however depending on how organized your day is sometimes the schedule simply won't allow for those dreamy portraits, that's why you should consider a Day After Bridal Portrait session OR Trash that Dress with your new hubby.....these shoots are designed with one thing in mind....YOU!

Going Bridal Gone Green!

2010-07-07T11:16:00.000-07:00

On June 26th and 27th, 2010, San Jose's Convention Center hosted a fabulous GREEN event. With vendors ranging from natural candy makers, to natural fiber designers, this event came completely geared to introduce wonderful and eco-friendly products and services to the community!

In the house was no other than Ed Begley Jr. Activist/Actor, Zero- Net Energy Homes Bay Area’s future in green, Green Jobs/Careers, Straw-bale houses, Solar Power your life, Kids Activities & Music, Adult/kid fashion show!

Part of the Fashion show was my friend and talented designer Carole Wang. Carole's line is amazing and made of 100% all natural and bamboo fibers. Her segment was quite a show stopper and the crowds loved the presentation! Here are a few fun photos from the event. The end of Carole Wang designs came to a halt when the entire stage was graced with her entire wedding collection! The collection included a bridal gown, bridesmaids and flower girl dresses....... truly it was quite emotional and beautiful to say the least! See for yourselves! We wish Carole and her team many congratulations!

For more information on the Generation Green organization, please visit www.generationgreen.org

Fashions by: Carole Wang
Hair & Makeup: Teresa Reynolds

Say what you have to say...

2010-06-26T07:13:00.000-07:00

It's strange, I always felt that as a photographer with a blog I always had to blog about photography! The reality is however, that I am so much more than a photographer. I am a daughter, a mother, a wife and a friend. My cameras aren't what makes me who I am, my life and the people in it do! And although when I am behind the camera, the lens is an extension of my eye, more importantly, it is an extension of my heart and soul. With that being said I still feel the need to say what I have to say.

This week I lost a very close friend of mine, Guillermo. He was more than a friend, he was my brother. We always referred to each other as "almost" siblings because we connected on so many levels! I will never forget how I met Guille, I called him "Guille" (pronounced ghee-yay).

I was on my way to my hair appointment at Elisa's Hair Salon, whenever I walked into the salon it would no longer be quiet, yes I am loud and proud and the gals there loved it when this Cubana madness would walk in with all this hair and all this roar! For some reason, this day I was quiet when I walked in, did not say a peep but hello....

Anyways, a man sitting by the window said to me "excuse me madam are you by any chance Cuban!?" If you are a Cuban living in the San Francisco Bay Area, these words could be paralyzing....there aren't many Cubans if any out here! So I immediately turned to him and said "YES..how did you know?" He then pointed to my car and said that he noticed the Cuban flag on my rear view mirror...yes, I have a dangling Cuban flag there, and I LOVE IT! That was all it took, we talked and laughed and yes, we were HEKKA loud! I met his beautiful mother Olga, who was getting her hair done and whom also became a very special part of my life.

Guille and Olga were visiting from Florida as they had done so very often, each time they'd return we would visit, I would cook for them and when my husband and I went to Orlando, they had us stay with them, I am telling you, we were FAMILIA!

This past Father's Day, I received a call from his best friend Manny, I was first wondering why Manny was calling me on Father's Day? I immediately thought something happened to Olga since she had been ill for years, and perhaps Guille was too distraught to call with the news, but Manny's words pierced me in a manner I could not explain....The news to me was horrifying, not only unexpected news but very shocking news. I will not go into how sick I felt or how my head was spinning 100 mph, all I could think of was about everyone he loved, especially his mother. Guille LIVED for his mother and anyone who knows a Cuban family knows this, MOM is everything! I never met his sister Elizabeth from Holland, but have spoken to her on the phone a few times as well as shared many many stories about her with Guille and Olga. I feel at ease that she is here for a few weeks and when I spoke with her a few days ago, I felt closer to Guille again.

If there is anything I learned in the last few days, make time for those you love, and when you think about someone or think to call them, don't wait until tomorrow, call them today. I would like to share the last photo I had taken of Guillermo in San Francisco's Twin Peaks Viewpoint. We had fun on this last trip with him, we had gone to San Francisco, we had also spent another day in Napa and I am honored I cooked a meal for him and Manny which the movie The Godfather would epitomize! Yes this Cubana can cook a mean Italian gravy and stuff!

Guille was remembered in a beautiful memorial service yesterday and although I was not there in person, my heart was. I feel sad that I did not get to say so long buddy, but Guille, I love you and I will NEVER forget all the laughs, fun and great travels we have shared. Que Dios te cuide (may God keep you in His care), and we will see each other again one day I am sure of it!

Wedding & Fashion Photography..how do they relate!?

2010-06-19T13:11:00.000-07:00

I had a colleague of mine once say that he wanted to focus on JUST Weddings & Portraits and he could not understand WHY we had gone towards other things like High School Seniors, Fashion, as well as Sports Photography. In all reality when he mentioned this, I too had to stop and think about WHY!

Funny how things happen this was around the time, I had crossed paths with Skip Cohen, a fabulous person to know and follow in this industry. Skip with many years under his belt, and as the former President/CEO of Hasselblad, the past President/Chief Operating Officer of Rangefinder Publishing Inc. , and now President/Founder of Marketing Essentials International, is the ONE person who helped put it all into perspective for me. Not only did he confirm for me that "diversity" in this business is good, but it is essential! He was so right! I looked at today's economy and also figured that YStudio needed to be ready and diversity was a way to stay afloat in this business. After all, we are photographers, as well as artists, and although we would like to specialize in one area, photography and art form is everywhere!

Another valuable lesson I learned in my dealings while being asked to be a Guest Blogger with Skip, was that being creative meant that I could not pick and choose, being creative is just that...being creative! I love when I am able to create something from nothing, and at the end of the day, THIS is why clients hire us....they trust us, and how could I let them down, plus it is so much fun!

Take Fashion Photography for instance.....a lot of which I am learning in the Fashion Photography industry is that I can easily apply this to my weddings. Think of it this way.....when a bride is planning her wedding what is among the first thing she invests in? MAGAZINES! Yes! Do you think her breath is taken away by everyday "real" wedding photography? The chances are slim, what will take her breath away are the Bridal Couture images of gowns, and other fashion editorial spreads. SHE WANTS TO LOOK AND FEEL LIKE THIS! So I simply take images from my favorite fashion shots, and think hey I can have a bride do that pose at her wedding! And of course I always ask tell my brides let's be adventurous, you would be surprised just what they will do if you simply ask!

So, I feel that being diverse, creative and doing the NON traditional is going to help me get those images for my client. Don't turn down a shoot simply because you only do weddings, or only do portraits, think of it this way, you WILL learn something which you can apply to whatever it is that you specialize in...you will keep shooting which is always important and you will HAVE FUN!

Photos by : B. Yasuhara

Wedding Engagement Photographs with a TWIST!

2010-06-16T00:03:00.000-07:00

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.........

2010-06-07T18:24:00.000-07:00

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?

2010-06-05T04:34:00.000-07:00

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!

2010-05-24T23:51:00.000-07:00

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

2010-05-19T09:13:00.000-07:00

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!

2010-05-03T15:26:00.000-07:00

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

2010-04-24T12:41:00.000-07:00

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

Removing a background on Photoshop CS4

2010-04-17T04:55:00.000-07:00

Good morning folks! I can't believe I am blogging at 4:30 a.m., but, I cannot sleep and I am a day late on my blogging....I hope you enjoy this tutorial, in my opinion, and although it may take a bit getting use to, it's the easiest way to remove a background on CS4. Yes, I know CS5 is now available, but til I get it CS4 is wonderful too.

A few weeks ago we were called by a wonderful local fashion designer to shoot her line. I had no idea what I was getting into and want to send a much heartfelt thanks to Teresa Reynolds for her help and guidance, we had so much fun and it was much easier than I thought.

There was a challenge in the space we were using (the fashion designers apartment), but I focused on the lighting and that the TRUE colors of the garments were showcased. We photographed everything with a less than white background and two strobes. Again, if you can get the proper white exposure background this is ideal, but if you are in a hurry and cannot control the space you are working in, here is how you can save yourself through PS ... again!

Here is the original image. As you can see there was fabric instead of a paper background available.

Here's how I removed the background.

1. Open image in PS
2. Create a new layer from background
3. Create a new layer via copy
4. Select the Magic Eraser tool and begin to erase the large parts of the background you wish to remove
(Make sure you are on the correct layer so you can see as you go and remember that as you get to the edges, you will most likely need to decrease the size of your brush)

5. Choose the Eraser Tool to clean up along the edges on what you wish to keep
6. Once done, you will need to duplicate the layer and make sure you open the layer underneath the layer you are working on

7. Select brush and make it large, choose your background color and paint the entire layer (with extracted image on it), I chose white [see photo].

Once you have the image on the white background, zoom in and see if there is any cleaning up you have to do with the Eraser Tool. When you are done zoom out and look at the image, make sure you clean around the hair, shoes, etc.

Here is the finished image and another cool thing is that you do not have to use only color for a replaced background, you can add an image if you like. See here the image I borrowed from Jungle Photos ...Have fun, the possibilities are endless in PS!

I LOVE to share and help and if you have any questions, please feel free to ask away OR post a comment, we love those!

"BOY OH BOY!" Finally a BOY shoot!

2010-04-14T19:14:00.000-07:00

Many of you are probably thinking, do they EVER photograph men!? Well, yes actually we do and here is proof! Meet Nhigel Anderson. I met Nhigel through a buddy of mine who mentioned that his nephew was interested in modeling. I took a look at some of the photos he had on his Facebook, and concluded that YES....Nhigel needed a shoot!

I came up with three looks for Nhigel, a Tommy Bahama look, an Urban look, and a CK look. From the very beginning I visualized a more edgy type of approach with lighting and I will show you here what was done differently to achieve it. Trust me it is ALOT easier than you think!

For instance looky here at the difference between each shot. mind you, we were shooting in the middle of the HOT bright sun and usually this creates flare ups and over blasted skies, which I don't always hate, but on this shoot as mentioned, I was going for EDGY.....so here we go.

Notice photo 1 (natural light) shot in manual on my Canon 5D Mark II at 1/400 f7.1 ISO 100 on my Canon 24-70 f 2.8L lens

Now....notice another photo taken at 1/200 f 11 at ISO 100...you are probably saying what's different? Well, lighting is what is different.

Here's how I did it.....and mind you this is only because I only had one lighting assistant and one light stick. Val, my lovely lighting assistant (and if you believe this you are even funnier than me!) Val stands for Voice Activated Lightstand...LOL! Anyhow, my assistant is standing to the right of the camera, the light is roughly about 4 feet away from Nhigel, and after 1-2 tries I nailed the shot I wanted.

See the blue sky peeking through the palm trees? THIS is what I wanted instead of that white sky as you see in photo 1. Doesn't lighting just change the entire feel? It gives it that edge and keeping this in mind, you can shoot all day long in that nasty hot blasting sunlight, challenge yourself. It's ideal to shoot during photographer's twilight time, but why not use the ole brain cells, and make it happen no matter at what time of day you are shooting.

Here are a few of my favorite photos using more or less the same concepts. ENJOY! And do ask questions if you have them!

THUNDER VOLLEYBALL CLUB's FREE Bonus Gift!

2010-04-07T20:53:00.000-07:00

Ok girls the HEAT is ON!!!!!!!!!!

And here is the BONUS GIFT! I know I said I would keep it a surprise, but I just couldn't hold it any longer! It's a cool photo key chain like the one seen here! Now remember, you have to complete ALL THREE STEPS in order to receive your gift. This key chain is valued at 9.99 so come on!!

Here's HOW to get your gift:

Become a member of our Facebook YStudio Photography Fan Club (see the link on the right)
Visit our blog and "Leave a Comment"
Place your order your Thunder Volleyball Photos ($29.99 minimum order)

Don't forget you will need your password once you enter the Client section at www.ystudiophotography.com in order to view and purchase your photo packages. If you forgot the password, send us an email or ask Vickey.......

Alrighty girls, have fun, and I hope you ALL get a key chain, they are pretty neat!

THUNDER VOLLEYBALL CLUB ... "oh you girls are much too much!"

2010-03-31T04:39:00.000-07:00

Recently we were fortunate enough to have received a call from a good friend Vickey Williams, whom I use to work with at the San Francisco 9-1-1 Center. I was ecstatic not only to have her contact us for photography services but I was excited to see how Facebook, a fabulous Social Networking tool has come through for us and our business!

Vickey heads many sporting teams as the Director, and I know first hand her love for this work, especially because this allowed her to spend quality time with both of her beautiful daughters and her fantastic husband Thomas. She had seen many of our shoots which I share on Facebook, and she contacted me about shooting her Thunder Volleyball Team. We chatted a little and I was happy to hear that she loved our STYLE. She wanted to give it a go with YStudio and we were there to oblige!

My husband and I showed up at the 9th Street Park in Benicia, Ca., we were not sure exactly what to expect, but thanks to Vick she helped figure out a sort of numbering system, because this was my first and I knew soon we would be in the presence of over 50 girls, I was grateful!

It was windy and super cold, and I just have to rave about these gals! Now I see why they call them the Thunder Gals! They truly are the sweetest, most energetic bunch we have worked with in a long time, just a bunch of mindful, thoughtful, creative and cooperative girls who wanted exactly what we wanted, GREAT photos!

Hats off to Vickey Williams, the coaches and the parents of the Thunder Volleyball Team of Vallejo, California, I cannot wait to share the photos with them all! Here is a SNEAK PREVIEW!!

Guest Blog with Skip Cohen

2010-03-24T19:02:00.000-07:00

Never in a million years would I have dreamed that early on in our efforts with YStudio Photography we would have the fortune of bumping so closely into Skip Cohen.

I have been following Skip and Bambi Cantrell and have been excited about all of their publications, blogs, and of course contribution to the photography industry. Skip posted something on his Twitter and I simply made a comment, Skip replied and he also took a peek at our site. He loved the work, and just like that he asked me to be a guest! So without further....here is the blog, he wrote a great intro and I did have a blast writing for the blog.

I also want to thank my FABULOUS husband who helped me with my grammar, Lord knows I could not have done it without him!

And here is the blog everyone, enjoy! And do leave comments!

Copy and paste into your browser...

http://skipsphotonetwork.com/2010/03/guest-post-chaos-vs-creativity-by-barbara-yasuhara/

We Choose YOU!

2010-03-13T12:45:00.000-08:00

Each time I prepare for a blog, I get overwhelmed. I always struggle with what to share. Because there is so much I want to share! But, I stay focused and remember, "I blog for YOU", yes that's right...YOU are reading this and you are my main goal.

Blogging is such a wonderful tool for photographers. Whether you are a student, or on a strict or non-existent budget, you CAN get an education for reading what professionals share about their own experiences. I have always viewed our industry as a melting pot of resources, passion, caring, and sharing. I am thrilled about the blog world. I am ecstatic to be a blogger myself, and I am thrilled that you are here.

I became interested in blogging, or should I say, stepped out of the comfort zone a few years ago being inspired by photographers and authors, Scott Kelby and Dave Ziser. I was amazed at how much these men were teaching me, and the rest of the photographers following them. It was beyond me the amount and the extent of their teachings. The blood, sweat and the tears they shared...and it was FREE! Scott Kelby could not have said it any better.."it's like we are literally stuffing money into your pockets!" I also thought at times, "are these people crazy?" I can't afford a $3,000.00 camera! The more I read and the more I opened my mind, the more I learned and the more I gained.

My benefactors were my clients, but they were also my pin cushion as I tried new strategies and ideas with marketing and booking, etc. Once booked, the technique and actions then came into play. And let me tell you folks, doing what was uncomfortable was not easy for me. Even though we crashed and burned many times and will contiue to do so, it eventually worked for us....experiment and play!

I specifically remember a couple we met last year for a consultation. I knew my husband and I were there for a reason...our work. I was among two other photographers they were checking out and this made me anxious to show them what we offer our couples......we offer our dedication and artistry. The meeting was NOT about our packages as much as it was about the couple themselves, I asked questions about how they met, things they like to do together, special places that were important to them. During the meeting I also learned family dynamics and other wonderful and valuable information that is crucial for wedding photographers and for photo journalism reasons.

I could personally identify with the bride-to-be since I myself had planned my entire wedding in 2007, and like this bride, I too was a plus-size bride. I felt like she could relate to me and my vise versa. I spoke about my biggest photographic nightmare concerns after she shared hers with us, and it just "felt right ." How many times do BBW's (big beautiful women), get knocked down going from boutique to boutique to find that they did not fit the mold. My attitude was BREAK THAT MOLD and let's create beautiful photography! The client was eating it up as was her fiance, also a plus size man.

Ok so after chit chatting with potential clients, and showing them what we are all about, Natalie closed the photo album sample she was looking through. She placed her hand on her fiance's hand, she smiled at him, he smiled back and she said "well, we have no need to meet with anybody else, we choose YOU!"

Natalie and Kenneth were married May 2, 2009 at the lovely Purple Orchid Resort & Spa in Livermore, California. Their wedding was beautiful. Natalie and Kenneth were stunning, they were surrounded by bountiful amounts of love, and because we established a relationship with our couple and I stayed in touch, their images....breath taking! They were so pleased with their entire experience with YStudio that they gave us a killer 5 star review on Yelp (www.yelp.com), and they initiated a Facebook Fan Page, as well as creating what we call now the YStudio motto.....as Natalie put it herself "you guys are more than a photo shoot, you guys were an EXPERIENCE!" We met some wonderful people and future clients at this wedding, some of whom still keep in touch with us today.

As anxious and nervous as I was at applying the new techniques I had learned from workshops, reading blogs, books, and watching educational DVD's the rewards were endless and worth it all. Natalie, also said the three words that meant something we were doing was right...."we choose YOU!"

"We choose you", were he words that reaffirmed my decisions to step out of the box and jsut do it! Reading blogs helped me make the decision to move forward, but it all boils down to one thing...... fear and I either you lose it or you get lost in it.

I hope that this blog helps someone else. So, step out of the box and please feel free to come back and share your experience with us all!

I've got the WPPI blues..............

2010-03-03T21:38:00.000-08:00

Boy oh boy......do I have the blues....this year was supposed to be our year to step up in the education department and downplay on the gear department. Last year I could not get vacation time around WPPI time, and this year, it was the same ole politics, this week was also NOT available for vacation at work! ARGH!!!!!

I am off on Fridays and Saturdays, but damn it, I wanted to be in Vegas all week, I NEEDED TO BE THERE! I feel awful and almost sick to my stomach thinking about tonight's WPPI Kickoff Party and ALL of my favorite Photographers and mentors like Skip Cohen, Bambi Cantrell, Jerry Ghionis, Yervant Z., Joe Buissinck and more.....I could just see it now the skits, the inspiration, the education, Jerry Ghionis singing karaoke....and here we are at home as our Friday rolls around tomorrow.

Well, maybe THIS IS IT! This WILL be the last WPPI Convention I miss, and I mean it! I have already talked to hubby, we are not getting any younger, if we are going to build YStudio NOW is the time....so as I stay home or go to work during WPPI, I promised myself to not only learn ONE thing everyday, but learn MANY things everyday, read, study, practice, shoot, shoot and shoot some more.

I look at missing WPPI two years in a row, as a MAJOR inspiration and a loud and clear message, that the time is coming soon! I'm grateful to have such a great job, but in order to be great at what we do, we must LOVE what we do......it's time for YStudio Photography and Weddings 9-1-1 to be my full-time......and next year, I AM GOING TO WPPI! Watch! Happy almost Friday everybody!

......Dale Carnegie said it better.....

Take a chance! All life is a chance. The man who goes furthest is generally the one who is willing to do and dare.: Dale Carnegie

YStudio is proud to announce that we are embracing and welcoming HDR!

2010-02-24T05:11:00.000-08:00

Ok ok , it takes us older folks a bit longer to get on board with the technology I know, but seriously, we have been busy! Between juggling our 40 hour work weeks, and shooting weddings and portraits in between, it's no wonder it took us THIS long! AND finally, as many photographers are saying goodbye to the stone age and HELLO to HDR, is a GREAT move for us all...but mostly for our clients!

Aside from not be able to contain myself with all of this creativity and opportunity to provide this service to our clients, I am equally excited about "launching" our campaigns. We haven't had too much luck with it lately with mail outs so we decided to post it here on our blog! We are constantly looking to upgrade and we are striving to work hard this Spring to re-vamp our photo studio. In the meantime, we keep shooting, shooting and shooting with our clients in mind. And photographers.....yes, we know what we love, but do we really know what our clients love and NEED from us? We hope that this will encourage all photographers to think out of the box and get that new gear or gadget that will take your business to the next level, it's like going to the gym, a pain to get there, but once you are there, you do not want to leave!

Like my husband says "this life is all about improvements", and we hope you will join us for the ride, there is so much to do and see out there, and as far as photography goes, don't let the years pass you by without preserving them for your loved ones, whether you are a photographer or not, make the memories count, and make the memories with YStudio Photography.

We are also proud to announce we are offering 20% off of prints with your Trash the Dress (we don't really trash them), High School Seniors and Portrait sittings. Call for your consultation TODAY! This is going to be FUN! (Thanks to LaNisa, Lynn and Angelo for letting us share these images with you) And a special heartfelt thanks to our team for this session.....Makeup Artist: Nechelle Turner and Hair Stylist and niece, Ariana Lara...On location in Pt. Richmond, California.

Never say NEVER!

2010-02-16T20:30:00.000-08:00

How many times have we as photographers set up so many parameters for a shoot, we have a vision, we have a plan, we have A MODEL and then it all goes south because of the weather? This is exactly what happened to us last week.

I had gone through some lengths to get the right model, the right idea, and then as we were getting ready to do a kool outdoor urban fashion shoot, it began to rain, no wait, I am lying, it began to pour! It broke my heart because here it was Friday, I had planned for weeks, our gear was packed and ready to go, my model had three outfits ready. I called our model Myrna and I could hear nothing but silence as I told her the shoot would have to be postponed. And of course, without a functioning photo studio, I felt it was my responsibility to make this happen! I immediately told Myrna that I had an idea and that I would call her right back!

So...I called my good friend and cake queen, Yolanda (of Yo-Yo's Cakes), and asked her if she had any ideas of cool looking spots in our area. She mentioned this one place that recently opened near El Cerrito, a place called The Boiler House and Craneway Pavillion in Point Richmond, California. Yolanda had raved about this place as she had been there for a company party and so I was curious! I went to my source, Yelp.com, and looked it up and what I saw was a yummy looking industrial space with awesome lighting, it was definitely worth a shot to call and ask the manager if we would be welcomed to come and shoot there.
I called and spoke to Rob Nachtwey who manages the place, and can you believe it? He said "come on down!" I called Myrna and she was excited as we were and she began to make her journey to our side of the San Francisco Bay. The place was too cool, my husband and I were excited and as was my son Angelo (our wonderful gear and lighting assistant), and we were indeed welcomed.

I have to add that our model Myrna ROCKED this shoot, not only did she bring some adorable outfits, she brought a great attitude and she did a great job with her own posing ideas....but she also earned major kudos as there were folks all over the bar, and people having dinner as my hubby, my son and I did our thing and shot all over the place. We were interrupted a couple of times by on lookers who wanted our business cards, or perhaps that was an excuse to get a closer look at Myrna? Whatever the cause it was FUN for everyone, even the on lookers.

Rob asked if we were available to photograph a couple events in the coming days and we said YES! So .... we photographed their San Francisco Chocolate & Beer Festival as well as their XLIV Superbowl Party! The C&B Festival turned out to be a great shoot and we got hired by one of the bands who performed at the event, as they loved the photography we captured of their act. By the way what a small world, the guy who hired us for a July gig they have, Dave Bailey of the Juke Joint Band, just so happens to be the son of our next door neighbor...talk about "meant to be!"

Ok that's enough chit chatting, here are a few photos from this shoot, ENJOY!!

Our Grammy Experience!

2010-02-02T21:13:00.001-08:00

We may not have gotten the WHOLE enchilada, but we sure did get a lot of tacos! The Los Angeles 52nd Annual Grammy Awards, totally exceeded our expectations! As a nominee some words of advice if you get an opportunity to go one day...."leave your wallet at home!" Honestly, the Recording Academy takes care of YOU and of it ALL! Stay tuned for more of our story and more photos. For now, I just could NOT wait to share my Grammy medal with you all! Although taken with my Blackberry, it is one of my favorite parts of this journey! Be back soon with more!

We are OFF to the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards Ceremony!

2010-01-29T15:48:00.000-08:00

I am excited, but I think the grand excitement and out pour of emotion will come when I am finally in the hotel, getting ready for the Nominees Reception Dinner at the LA Convention Center. Thank GOD it is Business Attire, I want to be comfortable, and although they will NOT allow us to bring our real deal cameras, I WILL have my Canon SD1100 in Pink in my bag!

My husband on the other hand, is so excited he can hardly stop! He has spent countless hours online and reading everything there is to know about this grand celebration! He has his suits and shoes ready and I am trying to get my gowns packed as well as my business attire, shoes, makeup, jewelry, etc. Maybe it will finally hit me? I am too busy to stop and think that hard.

I want to send a heartfelt thanks to John Santos, one, for believing in me and my talents, and of course for asking me to be a part of so many wonderful recording and performance projects! I began to work with John in 1999 and had no idea where this would take us. John in his 5th nomination with the Academy, and me in my 2nd alongside John's projects, am simply humbled, overjoyed and grateful in his friendship, talent, dedication and trust in my performances.

We are finishing up the last of everything, and whether we win or not, THIS will be one of the most significant milestone events of our lives!!! And thank you to all of you whom have supported me in my production, performance and recording efforts.

And the winner is...........................

Happy New Year everybody!

2010-01-02T10:56:00.001-08:00

I am so sorry, but we have been so busy. It's not easy juggling a full time job, and trying to run and manage Weddings 9-1-1 AND The YStudio Photography business, but boy are we blessed and grateful! We just finished the last wedding of 2009 this past week, and now we can take a deep breath!!!

We would like to thank all of the happy beautiful couples that made this year a success for us, we look forward to keeping in touch with them all and we look forward to news of new babies arriving...wink wink....

Congratulations to all of our couples of 2009:

Christopher & Jacqueline Bucini, Duke & Michelle Pahulu, Kenneth & Natalie Jamaca, Alfredo & Jacqueline Chavez, Robert & Raquel Rothenbeuscher, Jose & Lucia Vega, Michael & Theresa Burk, Nick & Elisha Cortez, Chris & Amanda Dunne, and John & Amber Schultz! You were ALL a blast to work with!

We would also like to thank all of our clients this year for other celebrations we captured:

Teresa Reynolds, Make-up Artist, Wells Fargo Bank, NA., The Richmond/El Cerrito Fire Department, Merry Jones, Emani Lewis, Safia Umar, Anabel Gomes, The Valley View Bible Church, Michael Esterline, The Jenny Brady Family, Susan Frazier, The Manaleo Organization and Napa Aloha Festival, The Rouse Family, Alyssa Martinez & Carla Mock-Ketcham, Annette Cueto, Maricel Quiroz (Go BIG Network), Kate & Brian, Michelle & Eric, David M'ore, Joy Evangelista Family, Shelly and Danielle Hodges, and the Rosales Family.

We would also like to take this time to thank Gerry, our Photography Associate, for assisting us this year with GREAT imagery AND our new LOGO! We LOVE IT! A special heartfelt thanks also goes to Angelo Cervantes, my son, who is the World's Greatest Lighting Assistant! Juliana Alvarez-Thumas for also being a great assistant! We are so blessed, and you all are very special to us! And to my darling and loving and extremely helpful husband, Wayne, you are "mi piedra", and I love you por vida!

We look forward to a BRIGHT successful 2010! Enjoy the slide show (Scroll down to the bottom), from all of our shoots this year!

"Something about MARY!"

2009-10-08T20:07:00.000-07:00

We are so excited we could hardly stand it! I received a call last week from Theresa Reynolds, one of our friends whose daughter we photographed along with a few other runway models, in our FIRST Trash the Prom Dress photo shoot. We're happy to report that Mary, the beautiful blond you see here, has just signed with The Ford Modeling Agency! Great news for all of us since mom told me YStudio Photography were her favorite photos!

We'll have to keep you posted once we have another shoot, because, as you can see, there is SOMETHING SPECIAL about Mary!

Congratulations Mary and a special hug goes out to Theresa for all of her hard work, dedication and for being one of the Bay Area's Best Makeup, Airbrush, and Hair Artists! Visit Theresa's site here: http://teresa-reynolds.com/

Stay tuned everybody! It IS going to get better......

The 2nd Annual Napa Aloha Festival

2009-09-27T18:29:00.000-07:00

We would like to send the maximum amount of ALOHA possible to the Manaleo Hawaiian Cultural Foundation, Inc., who chose us to be this years official photographers for this fabulous event! Visit the organization here: http://www.manaleohcf.org/aloha%20festval.htm

The 2nd Annual Napa Aloha Festival event took place Saturday, September 19th at the Napa Valley Fairgrounds in Napa, California. We rose and shined early and arrived at the festival early and we were welcomed with loving hugs and ALOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOha! Plenty of vendors, volunteers, and performers! This years Special Guest, direct from Hawaii...Cyril Pahinui, see why so many patrons came to the festival.....we were blessed! Check out Cyril's page here http://www.cyrilpahinui.com/

If you look to the RIGHT of this page you will see our slideshow from some of our favorite shots from the festival. The staff was delighted with our work and have called us again for future events, one right around the corner, in October. We are blessed, see why........Mahalo and aloha!

Barbara & Wayne...... and please visit our NEW site at: http://ystudiophotography.com

Congratulations to Jacqueline & Alfredo!

2009-08-22T08:11:00.000-07:00

We would like to extend a heartfelt congrats and shout out to our latest happy couple Jacqueline & Alfredo. Jacqueline, also of Cuban descent married Alfredo of Nicaraguan and Moroccan descent and had a HELLUVA celebration. Their ceremony was held at the Good Shepherd Catholic Church, where Alfredo attended school as a child, and their reception and celebration was held at the Pacifica Beach Resort. Family flew in from Miami, Florida, Los Angeles, and other parts of the state to join in on this much awaited and fabulous wedding. John Calloway and his Latin Ensemble performed throughout the night and it could not have been more perfect, the bride and groom's first dance was to the song "Como Fue", and old traditional Latin standard chosen by the couple for their first dance.....and the song you hear on this post. The song made famous by great Cuban singer, Benny Moré. Cheers to the happy couple!!!

Congratulations to our son Angelo - Class of 2009!

2009-07-01T22:13:00.000-07:00

I will never forget the visit I had to my doctor's office when she told me "yes in fact, you are pregnant!" The first thing I said was "it's a boy doctor!" She said she could not answer that and I had to remind her that I wasn't asking, I was telling her, "I just know it's a boy!"

I also remember having vivid dreams and seeing my little Angelo. The day he was born, August 10, 1990, and I saw him for the first time, he was exactly as I had imagined! Lots of hair, almost Asian looking and GORGEOUS! Angelo weighed a whopping 10.5 lbs and he was about 21 inches long! Although a c-section baby, thank GOD, he was the BEST thing that could have ever happened to me and my entire family! We are all so blessed that Angelo (which means first angel in Greek and angel in Spanish), was the next best thing to having God right at my side. Never have I forgotten that children do not really belong to us, they are created for us and we are here to nurture, teach and care for them with great love and care.

Another vivid memory is myself talking to a group of girlfriends and telling them how this experience of motherhood has finally revealed that I could be IN LOVE, and that I was FINALLY in LOVE, and yes with motherhood, but more so, with my son, Angelo. We are very proud of his achievements and congratulate him as he embarks to the City College of Berkeley, Ca.....hat's off to the grad and to the BEST kid a mom could ever dream of!

PLEASE SCROLL DOWN TO VIEW THE ENTIRE HIGH SCHOOL YEAR'S SHOOT! ENJOY!

Natalie & Kenneth - A "MATCH" made on Match.com!

2009-06-09T14:39:00.000-07:00

When I first got the email from Kenneth that Weddings 9-1-1 was among their 3 choices for wedding photographers, I was ecstatic. We immediately arranged a meeting I was excited and anxious to meet the bride and groom-to-be as well as introducing Weddings 9-1-1's photography services.

I had no idea that after a nice conversation and presentation that the couple would make their decision on the spot, but, THEY DID!! Wow!! I can still remember Natalie, closing the sample wedding album I demonstrated and said "we've already made our decision, we want YOU to shoot our wedding!" I was humbled, to say the least.

We met with the couple a few months later and shot Natalie & Ken's Engagement Session, and wow, what a photogenic, fun and fabulous couple they were....read more on their E-session (scroll down). After the e-session, we were counting down the days before we would see them again, this time, Natalie would be in her bridal gown and Kenneth in a tux.

Their wedding day finally arrived, and the rest, well, we will leave it to you to see why we think this couple is blessed in so many ways! Congratulations to a couple who is not only generous in love, spirit and excitement, but they are truly a unique pair indeed! Major kudos to match.com, love arrives no matter how it's the "when" that matters.

Safia's Bridal Mendhi Party

2009-06-01T23:00:00.001-07:00

We are so happy to share with you, our FIRST Bridal Mendhi Celebration, as you can see by some of my favorite shots, it is a culturally rich and beautiful part of the traditional Indian Weddings.... The wedding lasted three whole days and evenings and last night was the final reception. The reception took place at the Unity Center in Novato, California, it was a lovely venue with a lavish garden and lovely photo opportunities. Please stay tuned, we will be sharing more of this beautiful celebration. We congratulate the newlyweds and their families and we at Weddings 9-1-1 wish them a multitude of lifelong health, happiness and prosperity! A la sature!

Our FIRST Trash the Dress Session!

2009-05-13T17:16:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to the winners of our Spring's Trash the Wedding Dress Photo shoot, Kate and Brian Bowyer!

We could not have been more lucky, Kate was so excited and ready to go! She then told me that her husband was excited too and that she had TWO dresses! Honoring her mother's request to only trash ONE dress, we decided to be on the "tame" side with the dress which was going to be preserved. We took it easy, pushing the envelope just a wee bit. Now, for the second dress, you be the judge, although I think we could have trashed it even more!

Kate and Brian were great sports, and great photo subjects as you will see here, Kate kept saying how much fun it was and it was an overall GREAT experience. Weddings 9-1-1 is happy to add Trash the Dress to our portfolio and to offer it to all of our clients. As cold as it was Kate and Brian got drenched by the Ocean and it was at some point very romantic! Thanks for reading, and remember, no matter how long that dress has been in the closet, bring it out, LET'S TRASH THAT DRESS!!!!!!!!

The Engagement of Natalie & Kenneth

2009-04-19T21:46:00.001-07:00

We want to extend a "heartfelt" congratulations to Natalie & Kenneth whom will soon be saying their "I DO's." At Weddings 9-1-1 we have the fortune of meeting some amazing people, and this happy, lovely and bubbly couple is deserving of that title. Not only can they not keep their eyes off each other, Kenneth is so excited to be marrying Natalie he finds it difficult to contain himself and it is so wonderful to see and experience a couple with such impacting PDA's (public dispaly of affection). They are definitely meant for each other and we are excited for their up and coming wedding as much as they are! Stay tuned....I have a funny feeling that something VERY interesting will be happening at THIS wedding!

Jacqueline and Christofer Wedding

2009-03-24T09:26:00.001-07:00

Weddings 9-1-1 would like to congratulate Jackie & Chris on their wedding. Jackie and Chris met through their church, got to know each other, fell in love and off they were! The happy couple tied the knot at the Embassy Suites in South San Francisco, CA and celebrated their reception at San Francisco's El Patio Español Restaurant in San Francisco. Their wedding party, and families put on a lovely event, and they all were a great source to the couple. We were pleased to have covered this milestone event, and would like to wish them a lifetime of love, health and happiness.

Salud! (Cheers)

Oh boy oh JOY!

2009-03-17T20:48:00.000-07:00

We want to congratulate Joy who is the winner of our Spring Portraiture Giveaway, she was chosen to share her family and current pregnancy with the world. When I first notified Joy, it seemed her name was absolutely perfect for her, boy was she joyful! In speaking with Joy and getting to know a little bit about her, her husband how they met and their new forming family, I learned that they lived on San Francisco's Treasure Island in 2001 and how special it was to the couple. THIS information was like music to my ears and it was the birth of my canvas...I immediately envisioned Joy on top of the rocks with a fiery sunset, I told her about it and she thought it sounded like fun. Equipment used: Nikon D200 60m f2.8, Nikon SB800 and Canon 5d Mark II 70-200mm f2.8L lens and Canon 580EX II on and off camera strobes, as well as a Z-Ray Spotlight.

"Amazing Phil & Grace"

2009-03-10T14:19:00.000-07:00

Here we are in our ninth month or so of business at Weddings 9-1-1 and today we receive a beautiful note from Grace Valdovinos, a gorgeous bride we photographed at the historic Rialto Theater in Pasadena, Ca in 2008. We always like to think we work hard and we focus on the events that surround weddings, the bride, her family, the groom, his family, and all of their guests. It is so easy to be swept away on such a busy day and it's even easier to forget all the pertinent little details, until....the photographer shows the bride and groom their wedding day all over again, in imagery. Keeping this in mind, we capture what already exists and we focus on YOU! Here's Grace's much appreciated thank you note and review, Wayne and I were humbled once more.

"My wedding seemed like such a whirlwind that I missed so many events throughout the night. It was only after I received our photos from Barbara and Wayne that I was able to experience the details of my wedding through her camera lens. I will never forget the priceless snapshot of my new nine year-old cousin, Sofia, as she hugged me in congratulations. Her angelic face pressed against my pink wedding gown. What I saw in the photo almost made me fall over in my chair. As far as I could remember, sweet Sofia was dressed in an elegant white dress. The photo revealed a few more details, including the pair of black & white Converse she decided to wear to funk up her look for the evening! So many memories that I have now to keep...for this I am eternally grateful. Thank you so much Barbara and Wayne, for your eyes, for your skills, and for your romantic sentimentality, the combination of which has given Phillip and me a lifetime of memories". -- Grace Valdovinos, Los Angeles, CA

Our Mexico Trip

2009-02-23T11:07:00.001-08:00

Hello everyone! We are back from Mexico! We have to say that we had a superb time and although it's always great to be back home, we were dreading getting off the ship! What fun! This was Wayne's FIRST cruise and he was just overwhelmed with the elegance, the finesse and the casual settings all over the ship. Our first stop was Cabo San Lucas, although cute and thank goodness a short port of call, it was not our favorite. We then left in the evening for Mazatlan. We arrived in Mazatlan the next morning and it seemed to have more progress than Cabo. Mazatlan reminded me of Cuba, with a resembling Malecón (Boardwalk), along the water, nice hotels, and restaurants and much better street pavements. The people are nice but the vendors on the street and on the beach can be challenging, so if you go, be ready! We returned to our ship after having a nice seafood dinner along the water at a place called La Puntilla, meanings The Point. Before sunset we were off to Puerto Vallarta. We arrived in Puerto Vallarta the very next morning and I could not believe my eyes! Across from where we docked, a HUGE Walmart, and a huge Shopping Mall!!! This place was gorgeous! After being swindled by the taxi and tour guides, we decided it was cheaper to rent a car, so we did!!!! We drove everywhere and even left Puerto Vallarta....to say the least, THIS was our favorite spot! We swam on the beach, ate good, walked around the Malecón (one there too), the shops and the breath taking Cathedral of Guadalupe. I will let the photos speak for themselves, we are still beat from the trip so and have lots to get caught up with ... enjoy the photos! Oh, and guess what? We met a family on board, whose daughter's beauty made us stare, we mentioned how photogenic she looked and her mother then said "I need a portfolio for my daughter!", and hired us on the spot! Good thing about this, we got to do what we love and more we met some great new friends we will most definitely stay in touch with. VIVA MEJICO!!

PS The last photo was a view from our balcony suite on the ship.....whewwwwww!

Jacqueline & Christofer "LOVE is in the air!"

2009-02-11T11:24:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Jackie and Christofer...yes that is how he spells it, they are tying the knot on Sunday, March 1st and we are thrilled that they chose Weddings 9-1-1 to document this very special day. Our clients come first so it is very important to encourage couples to engage in an e-session. I love getting to know my clients, learn how they met, where and how the proposal took place as it helps me to produce and deliver an intimate portraiture, after all it's all about the clients! We see weddings through our clients eyes, and capture what already exists. Jackie and Chris chose to shoot on location of their actual marriage proposal, Rockaway Beach, CA. One of the major benefits from choosing to go forth with an Engagement session, or as we say E-sessions, it allows for us to get to know each other, feel comfortable with each and this is what makes a shoot unique.....We engage in conversation and try to allow the couple interact while my hubby and I snap the photos. It truly is successful as Jackie commented on how much she loved their candids, because they felt real. Another benefit is that the couple can see how they interact through imagery and they can pick their favorite angles, and their not-so-favorite angles and/or poses. In the end this helps out immensely as we also get to see our clients best features and we bring it on....on the wedding day! Enjoy the photos.....and have a great week everybody! Jackie and Chris's weddings photos to follow in a few short weeks!

Happy New Life to the Rosales Family

2009-01-23T18:47:00.000-08:00

We were fortunate enough to meet and photograph Gigi, her daughter Rosey and her son, Jayden, a wonderful family from San Francisco. We decided to shoot at Baker Beach after learning about their lifestyle, hobbies and interests, and they had a new addition to the family, Morena, a beautiful little Black Retriever Labrador. Morena means brown one but also dark one. It was a gorgeous day in San Francisco, and for starters, the beach was PACKED! So besides having to be very aware of composition and aperture, we were also struck by an overwhelming amount of shadows....so, it was all about light, and placement. I also brought some seaside props, left over from our own beach themed wedding, and those worked like a charm as I wanted to engage Jayden. The shoot went well, we had quite a workout on the sand and then it got COLD! A few things that helped us on this shoot, good battery power for fill flash, our 36 in. reflector, and of course our powerful and mighty Z-ray spotlight, and alas a lightsphere wasn' t needed since there weren't any walls to cast those ugly shadows. We also made a list of some ideas for posing, and this ALWAYS saves time. Here's a family starting out the new year on a big cheerful positive note...and boy do they deserve it!

San Francisco Engagement Session

2009-01-16T22:42:00.000-08:00

Weddings 9-1-1 would like to extend a heart felt congratulations to the newly engaged couple, Michelle and Eric. They will be married come this August, and I would like to share a few of our favorite images from their Engagement Shoot in San Francisco, November 15, 2008.

I told Michelle I would hold off posting the images until she sent out her "Save the Date" cards, as we did not want any possibility of "spoiling" any surprises for her family, and guests. So..now that her notices have gone out in the mail...it's time to show off these fun shots.

I went ahead and rented a fisheye lens to have some fun, and the use of our Brinkmann's Z-Ray light really worked nicely on the evening shots, everyone knows how much Wayne and I hate on camera flash, we prefer hauling a tripod and this VERY handy spotlight.

OK folks that's it for tonight, I hope you enjoy these images....we had a blast and Michelle & Eric were too cute and much fun to work with and we wish them a lifetime of LOVE!

Have a great day!

San Francisco City Hall Weddings CAN be beautiful!

2008-12-20T12:18:00.000-08:00

They say "beauty" is in the eye of the beholder....however, most photographers know that portraiture is subjective and although subject matter really does help, it helps even more when whatever you see through your viewfinder BECOMES beautiful when we capture the right moment.

Amy, a sweet and grateful bride-to-be, dialed Weddings 9-1-1 and hired us to cover her City Hall wedding in San Francisco on December 19th. The first thing I thought was, ugh...I use to work there, I do not recall any kool photo op's other than the cool railings and the kinda cool statues that adorn the Rotunda wall on the 2nd floor, and of course all the crowds that run through the hall on a Friday, just was not inspiring at all. But, when we arrived yesterday early morning, we found a HUGE bountiful and gorgeous Christmas tree at the center of the Rotunda, and THAT made our day! And....all of the sudden, we noticed, a SPOTLIGHT...yes...to the left side of the tree and we thought, THERE IS LIGHT!

It got even better, when I got a call from Amy saying she was already there at the Hall, I then immediately noticed a gorgeous statuesque blond in a wedding gown..we both had cell phones in our hands and we immediately said, "hey is that you!?" We met and hugged and she gave me such a warm welcome, her, the tree, the welcome, this is a photographers dream! I then followed her to the ceremony check in and met her lovely 5 year old daughter Zyra, who was just an angel of beauty, and I also met, the groom, we can't forget him! David was a Dapper Dave, and they all just looked amazing! I'm sooooooooooo ready to shoot!

Amy and David had mentioned that Zyra was very much a part of the ceremony. During the Ring Ceremony, David, presented her with a beautiful ring of her own, and Amy presented her with a lovely tri-circle necklace, symbolizing their union as a family....just LOVELY!

We had some challenges and here is a note to help you avoid these simple little BIG details.

1) Make a list of poses, 2) Check your battery power, flash and camera, 3) Get there at least an hour before the shooting begins, we arrived 30 mins. before the ceremony and ran around like crazy! 4) Double check for White balance settings, to make sure you clear your last shoot's settings, and as always RELAX!

But now...meet Amy, David, and little Zyra Marie, we wish them a life full of love and best wishes!

And again and again MERRY CHRISTMAS to you and Happy New Year!

Our First Anniversary!

2008-12-17T12:31:00.000-08:00

Hi everybody! We did it! We survived our FIRST Wedding Annivesary without killing each other. Actually we are so in love that, well, let me spare you the details, it's far too mooshy for all of you KIDS!

We trotted out to Skates on the Bay in the Berkeley Marina, this is where we had our Wedding Luncheon that followed our ceremony. It's a lovely 4-star restaurant overlooking the Berkeley Marina with breath taking bay views. The food, SUPERB, the service, wonderful. We walked in and they immediately escorted us to a lovely table for two on the window, just as I had requested. And, they remembered us from our wedding...perfect, this means we will probably get FREE dessert to celebrate, and we did!

It's so funny however, I took out my almost NEW Canon SD1100 Pink, stuck it in my handbag and off we were.....Boy, I had no idea how soon we forgot how to use a darn point and shoot. It just was NOT as fun anymore, I am so used to my Canon 40D, it was hilarious. Anyway...we had a great dinner hung out in Berkeley on 4th Street for a little while, then we dashed home. We popped open a bottle of bubbly and fearfully sliced our defrosted wedding cake's top tier, yea, from our wedding last year, and to our surprise the darn cake was AWESOME!!!!!!! Here we thought one year, one bite and one toast, but we at a whole slice each! YUM, and marriage so far...HOW SWEET IT IS! We are so blessed to LOVE what we do and do what we LOVE....Cheers!

Here's our point and shoot gallery....enjoy!

Our BLOG....IT'S ALIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2008-12-01T03:23:00.000-08:00

Well good morning everybody...just 11 days to go for our First Wedding Anniversary!!
And.........This is the day that I finally start our blog! Besides the fact, I can't sleep, so, what better time to do this? So much to say and so little time, but we are excited to be officially blogged, and we look forward to your posts and/or comments.

We want to wish you and yours a Happy Holidays and a Happy and prosperous 2009!!!!! Let's go out with a BANG! Hopefully my hubby gets me the Canon 5D Mark II, I am salivating as much as he is for his Nikon D700! LOL! Santa Daddy!!!

And in the spirit of the Everyday Holiday here are some Free goodies FOR YOU from http://www.autofx.com/, download their "Dreamy Photo" PS plug-in, FUN!

Make sure you also check out Matt's Lightroom Killer Tips, he has a multitude ofF R E E, yes I said FREE presets, including the fabulous Matt's "300" Look! Go get it and more at http://www.lightroomkillertips.com/, tell Matt I sent ya.....;o)

Our friend Nancy

2008-12-01T02:50:00.000-08:00

I wanted to share this fabulous photo by a great friend of mine, Nancy, her spirit and energy are just beautiful and it shows in her ways and mostly in her art form! I commend her for her desire to learn, her ability to produce and her excitement about just getting out there to SHOOT! Here's a photo she captured at her son's Football game....GO CONCORD HS MINUTEMEN!!!! Mama.........I am SO PROUD OF YOU! Now get to work on your blog! LOL!

Check out Denise Olson as well, she's another mom THAT ROCKS!!!!!!! http://sportsstylephotography.blogspot.com/

And here's how she did it!

(Photo by Nancy Porfirio; edited by Denise Olson using Lightroom v1.4 and a combination of Matt's 300 Strong and Sin City Dark and whole lot of magical touches - cool, huh?)

A photo of me and Nancy at my Bridal Shower October 2007.....

Photo by: My niece Vyanka Castro, another aspiring lil' photographer....