Saturday I spent some time over in Woodside at Cindy and Dave's wedding shooting their Instant Video. (Do you remember Cindy? She was the fifth and final winner of our Promises and Pearls Sweepstakes drawing from March of this year.)
Venues
August 04, 2008
June 22, 2008
Working Vacation II
Well, today was the "working" part of my "working vacation".
We shot a beautiful wedding at the Neighborhood Church of Palo Verdes. With a gorgeous Pacific Ocean view and a refreshing seabreeze on an otherwise sweltering day, this formerly privately owned residence-turned church was an incomparable backdrop to an emotional wedding.
The bride was walked down the aisle by her older brother because both of their parents died tragically only a few months apart when she was just eight years old. She grew up with her brother at her aunt and uncle's house in California after having been transplanted from their native Ohio. This day was a culmination of the loving generosity that they experienced their whole lives from the peopole around them as well as the turning of old chapters and the starting of new.
Rob, the groom, has been a constant in Vicki's life over the last several years and this wedding was but the exclamation point on his already committed life.
I had a good time shooting with Ricky and Samantha Wong of W Photography and was able to show this video right after dinner.
The video is another example of the Instant Videos that I've specialized in since 2003. I shoot, edit, and show the movie on the same day of the wedding. Here's what Vicki Woo and Rob Wu and their guests saw tonight. Enjoy!
June 18, 2008
June 01, 2008
Lizzy and Danny
Lizzy and Danny were high school sweethearts. High school, for them, was where it all started - so much so, that Danny took Lizzy back to their high school on a date and made a wonderful evening out of it. He culminated the evening by proposing to Lizzy.
Now, years later, Danny took Lizzy back to Westmoor High again - this time, to get married.
Yes, they got married on a field at their high school where countless memories were made. The whole evening was an emotional one. Even groomsmen as they gave their speeches and toasts shed tears because what Lizzy and Danny have together is not only real and genuine, but inspiring.
The reception took place at the wonderfully ornate, Westin St. Francis Hotel in Union Square.
It was such a joy to finally work with Lizzy and Danny. They had booked me nearly a year ago - and besides a meeting brunch we shared last month - we've only now gotten to work together. But it was worth the wait!
Some pictures from my iPhone...
The sun setting from the 32nd floor of the St Francis.
The gorgeous Alexandra's Ballroom
Lizzy, Danny and me!
May 31, 2008
DJ Aaron E
Tonight I went to Santana Row's Straits and across the street to Fuel to get some footage of DJ Aaron E and Jo-Jo in action. I'm doing a promo video for them and I think I got some great footage. I will definitely post the video when I complete it.
One thing I recognized, though - I'm too old to run with this young crowd. Yes, I see this sort of dancing and stuff all the time at wedding receptions, but at least at the receptions there are always grandmas sitting around watching the dancing and I don't feel that old. Somehow, at tonight's venues, I got the feeling that I was among the oldest in the crowd. :-|
April 28, 2008
Una Bella Sera Recap
I wasn't invited to participate, and I went anyway. (But I didn't talk to a single prospective client because that was the sole priviledge of those vendors on the Great List. Hey, I know my business ethics! :-) Anyway, I really just went to say hi to my friends and have a few laughs.
Quickie recaps:
(Awesome photographers from left to right) Rhee Bevere*, Jill Johnson, Mark Stagi, and Tanja Lippert!
Some beautiful designs by Nicole Ha Designs and Amazae Special Events:
Above pictured (left to right) Alyssia Jones (of Casa Real), Nicole Ha, and Crystal Lequang.
*Funny story about Rhee Bevere...
In the last few months I have been hearing Rhee's name more and more frequently. But each time I hear it, I think to myself that surely I must have heard of her before since it just really rings a bell. Well, yesterday, at the Bella Sera event, after I had introduced myself to Rhee once, I came back later to snap that picture you see above and she immediately asked, "what is your last name?"
I told her my last name is "Hsu" and without missing a beat, she exclaimed, "I knew you looked familiar! Chiaty and Andrew!" And suddenly everything clicked! Chiaty is my cousin (her husband's name is also Andrew) and Rhee had shot their wedding a few years ago in Scotts Creek. I did introduce myself to Rhee at that event and make it a point to let her know I was a videographer/guest, but nevertheless, I am very impressed that she remembered me!
April 24, 2008
Chains, Spiders, and Windy Forests
It sounds like a Halloween-themed post, but it's actually just a summary of last Sunday's wedding shoot at Nestldown.
The "spider" part of my title came from an incident that was pretty cool - if you're into spiders. By my request, one of the staff members at Nestldown showed me this trapdoor lookin' storage room thing that he said had a ton of hugely gigantic "daddy long leg" spiders. Check out the picture and you tell me if you don't think that's huge.
The "windy forest" part of the title is self-explanatory. It was super cold and windy that day at Nestldown. It was my first time working that venue so I wasn't prepared for just how chilly it can get. Allegedly, it's not usually like that, but regardless of the many assurances I got from staff and other vendors, I'm still going to bring a parka the next time I'm assigned to work there.
Now, the "chains" part of the title is the funniest part. When you hear "ball and chain", what do you think of? You think of the facetious slang we use for your married spouse, right? A newlywed husband's "ball and chain" is obviously his newlywed wife... er... so the saying goes. But at this wedding, the groom's buddies took that metaphor to the next, literal step. During a decoy hug from a groomsman to distract the groom, a couple of the other groomsmen shackled the groom to a good old-fashioned ball and chain. They were kind enough to eventually remove if from his ankle, but for a good portion of the night, he had to just lug that thing around.
Good times.
Coordinator: www.NicoleDAmbra.com
Photos: www.PortraitByTony.com
Hair: Bliss Hair (blissoula@yahoo.com)
Floral Design: www.IngelaFloral.com
Food: www.villagecaterersinc.com
DJ: www.mike-ewing.com
Cake: www.aPieceofCakeBakery.com
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