Gem + Roger + Ethan::Family Affair

"It's a family affair...it's a family affair..." Love that song by Sly and the Family Stone.

Back to the regularly scheduled program.

I had the great honor of documenting the connection between Gem, Roger and their beautiful little boy Ethan. The shoot took place one beautiful Sunday afternoon at Baker Beach in San Francisco and was actually part of a packaged I donated that was auctioned off to raise money for the Vietnamese American Community Center of the East Bay. Lucky for me Gem was the one who won the package.

As iconic as Baker Beach is for San Francisco I had actually never shot there. In fact, though I had lived in SF for 3+ years when I first moved to the Bay Area I had only gone to Baker Beach one other time. As it turned out it was Ethan's first time at the beach ever. I felt an even greater sense of blessing that I was there to capture his first moments seeing the ocean and being on a beach.

Roger & Gem, please send my love to Ethan.

Cheers!

Elina + Marek::Going the Distance

About 3 days before Christmas I received an email from my friend Elina. The subject of the email read "Big Favor". As I read the email and came across the line "I'm getting married on December 31, 2009" the first thing that came to my mind was, "She wants me to shoot her wedding. But a wedding that is going to take place in a matter of days?" So I go on reading and the entire time I was subconsciously looking for the line "Can you take our photos?" About three quarters of the way down she says "We were wondering if you were available and willing to be our..." get ready for this one "...wedding officiant." I rubbed my eyes to make sure I hadn't misread. Maybe she meant to say "Official photographer" I thought to myself. As I read on sure enough she was asking me to be her officiant.

So for those of you who don't know the County of San Francisco has a 1 time deputation program in which one can carry the title of Deputy Marriage Commissioner. This title allows one to conduct and legally sign off on a marriage certificate. The only requirement is to be 18 years of age and speak English fluently.

Nonetheless I was in complete shock and awe. No words can describe how honored I felt to have been the Deputy Marriage Commissioner for Elina and Marek. Of course, being a wedding photographer I offered to take some portraits afterwards. But as good fortune would have it before the ceremony (which by the way was performed at the Sutro Bath ruins)we came across a couple who were photographers. Alex, the gentleman offered to help take a couple of photos for us during the short ceremony. So yes, that's me down there conducting the ceremony.

Here's to Elina and Marek going the distance (literally as they've been flying across the country to see one another as he lives in South Carolina).







Here I am with Marek right before swearing to uphold all the duties for a Deputy Marriage Commissioner (Photo taken by Elina)






Ryan, Elina's brother from Miami stood in as the witness and during our portrait session was my assistant.


Our view




Here's my perspective of the first kiss


Here I am getting the shot above

Mai + Glen::Bliss

Mai and Glen are two reasons why I love this job. They are both amazing people who are in love and sealed it by getting married! I was honored at the chance to capture their life-changing day last Tuesday as they were married in the amazing San Francisco City Hall building in an intimate civil ceremony. Not too long ago we had a chance to play in the streets of San Francisco in their engagement session. It was then where I bonded w/ Mai and Glen and made shooting their wedding feel as if I was shooting a wedding of very close friends.

Congratulations guys!

























Right outside of Mayor Gavin Newsome's office

Sangeeta + Jeff::Celebrate

A few months after shooting Sangeeta and Jeff's engagement session I received an email from Sangeeta regarding shooting their civil ceremony in SF before they went off to beautiful Cabo San Lucas for their destination wedding. I was thrilled at another opportunity to work with Sangeeta and Jeff as their love for one another radiates. On top of that SF City Hall isn't too shabby of a place for a civil ceremony.

So last Friday they were officially married in the most romantic city on the west coast. Though they will be celebrating and sharing their marriage in Cabo with their loved ones, I'm honored for the chance to have captured their first moments as husband and wife.

Enough w/ the talk, get on w/ the photos!!