Wedding at Embassy Suites Milpitas, CA

David and Leah were married in September at the Embassy Suites in Milpitas.

The open atrium lobby at the hotel is a perfect environment for foliage and trees to grow; which makes for a nice backdrop. The best thing is you don't have to worry what the weather is like on the day of your event it will be nice inside no matter what.

The room where the girls got ready had a thin white curtain that made for a perfect light box and backdrop for pictures.

I had the guys pose for some group shots in the library and lobby and made good use of my new fish eye. Love it!

The reception was jam packed with entertainment. First the Mariachi Jalisco band played followed by a Mexican dancing group.


Alex Mag from Mag One Productions created a slideshow/video to play in the background while David and Leah danced their first dance. The family also had Alex put a mini movie together as a tribute to Leah's grandfathers boxing career.

Just when we all thought the entertainment was over in came two impersonators who sang Johnny Cash, Elvis and Marylin Monroe songs.


Congrats to David and Leah!

Makeup by Erin Slater 510-557-4497
DJ E&B Music www.djbrothareese.com

Ecco Friendly Wedding in Wine Country

This was the “greenest” wedding I had the chance to photograph so far.
Peter and Jackie were married in August at Jackie’s parent’s house in Healdsburg. It is a beautiful location surrounded by vineyards.

Jackie is naturally an environmentally friendly person which was evident in many of their wedding planning decisions. Their center pieces were cute small planted herbs that the guests took home. There are many other ecco friendly alternatives to traditional wedding items that they implemented for their wedding; some are mentioned below.

Jewelry by Mallary Marks available at Barneys at select online stores.


They scheduled most of their picture time for prior to the ceremony; which worked out perfect.

When I first saw Jackie's schedule I wondered why she had several 15 minute breaks scheduled in. I quickly figured out that it was so everyone could rest from the heat. I will be shooting in sandals and crop pants next time I work a summer wedding in Healdsburg! I'm so glad Jackie scheduled the breaks and had ice water ready for everyone to rehydrate!

Peter and Jackie provided umbrellas to block their guest from the hot sun, miniature lights so their guests could find their way to their cars in the dark, a bottle of homemade Mead wine handmade and bottled by Peter and Jackie, and a Trader Joe's reusable grocery bag to carry it all home.

The scrumptious food was catered by Sage Catering. I also overheard several guest compliment the groom’s home brewed beer (which I forgot to sample).
The homemade Hostess style filled cupcakes made by Sibby's Cupcakes were super-duper yummy!

DJ Dave Tutton kept the mood just right all day with a perfect blend of music.

How cool are Jackie's aunts white Hollywood style sunglasses! I so need a pair of these.

Peter and Jackie worked really hard in advance so that their family and friends would be able to enjoy a relaxing and unique day of celebration. Congrats to these two newlyweds!

Japanese Tea Garden and North Beach Engagement Session

Steve and Jody rock! We started their engagement shoot at the Japanese Tea Gardens in Golden Gate Park and then went to North Beach to keep shooting. I like to shoot for a couple hours if the client is willing and Steve and Jody were all for it so I think we were out gallivanting around town for about 3 hours. Yeah!

They own a web-based image management and sales platform service called Spit Fire Photo It gives organizations and photographers a place to archive images and have e-commerce store fronts.

This first image below is probably my favorite of the day! It wasn't posed at all! Or at least I didn't pose her. :^)

We found this really old looking brick wall while walking around North Beach. I so love it. Then we waited around til we could catch a cable car. We successfully caught a few quick images without disturbing the cable car driver or passengers.

How can you not have fun shooting in the middle of traffic on Columbus? Notice the nice officer in the background who asked us to stay on the pavement, but didn't give us a ticket (center image).

Engagement Session at San Jose Rose Garden

Wow! I am so far behind in blogging! Its just been so busy and I have to put shooting and editing first. But I'm in the mood to write so I'll be working on a few new posts for sure.

I shot David and Leah's engagement session at the San Jose Rose Gardens prior to their wedding in September. Leah is able to go from a happy in love look to super sexy in a split second so they were really easy to work with.
The makeup artist had run a little late so we only had about 50 minutes, but we were still able to get some amazing photos.

My favorite images has to be the bottom middle shot. It just rocks!

I'll be blogging their wedding images soon!

Publishing Party with Jay Kelly Photography

We just needed a reason to have a party! Ever since Bryon and I moved in to the new place with the huge backyard I had been dying to give a party. So when I was published in the Fall issue of The Knot Northern CA that gave me all the reason I needed. I just had to wait a little while to find an available weekend.

My co-host for the party was my buddy Jay Kelly (fellow photographer) who had also recently been published in a book called Style Your Dream Wedding.

I had my mom fly in from Arizona so she and our friend Lisa could cater the event. They are both foodies so they had a lot of fun making the mouth watering menu! Chocolate dipped figs filled with marzipan, 4 different gourmet cupcakes, Thai chicken and beef skewers, and baby red potatoes with caviar; to name a few.

We set up a bar (manned by our favorite bartender Wyatt), some cocktail tables for mingling and a dance floor so we could get our boogie on. The below images are of me hiding behind my mohito, Chad showing off the cupcakes he frosted (Chad was such a huge help), and Melanie owner of Dutchess Boutique in Campbell, sipping her glass of cab.

Below are the 2 chefs and their assistant (Donna, Mom and Lisa). They joined the party after we were done with all the food prep. I was also happy that my long time friend Sherree and her daughter Jasmine were able to make the party (see them in image on right with me).

My favorite picture of the night is of Melanie and her hubby Jeremy at the bar. Picture on left is of Jay and me hamming it up for the camera.
Thanks to Jennifer Low for taking most of the pictures!

Free Wedding Photography Contest!

We all love to hear a good love story! So I am having a contest to find the best love stories out there. Do you know anyone getting married in 2009 or 2010 that is deserving of free wedding photography? If so, have them submit their love story, a picture, their wedding date and wedding venue to me via email. Or you can submit it for them! chyna@cfoto.com
DEADLINE is January 1, 2009!

I will post my three favorite stories (which will be the three finalists) on my blog in mid January 2009. The blog readers will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite couple. The blog reader's votes will count as one of our panelist votes. The judging team panelists will consist of me, 3 other wedding vendors and the blog readers as a whole. The couple with the most panelist votes will receive FREE photography coverage for their wedding! This will include a free engagement session, 8 hours of wedding day coverage (including an assistant), online viewing gallery and a 20 page coffee table book.

You don't have to be getting married in the SF Bay Area! If you are getting married in another part of the country or world that's okay too. If the winner is located outside 100 miles from San Jose they will be asked to cover basic travel expenses (lodging and airfare if applicable).

Don't let them miss out! Forward this to all your friends and spread the word!

Rules: The story has to be true. Anyone submitting a false story will be disqualified! Your entire wedding budget has to be under $30k. I will investigate both the stories and budgets of the finalists. The couple must be willing to appear on my blog with their story. To qualify I must be available on their wedding date in 2009 or 2010. Contest will be closed January 1, 2009 at midnight pacific standard time.

A Real Wedding in The Northern CA Knot Magazine

I was super excited this past winter when one of the photo editors at The Knot Magazine (Northern CA version) emailed saying they were interested in publishing a wedding I photographed last summer.

I kept it sort of quiet just in case it was cut before printing. Now that the magazine is on store shelves I’m telling the world! Some might think it’s silly to get so amped up over some images being printed in a magazine, but to me it’s that little ego boost that lets me know my work is appreciated by more people than just the clients.

The images are from Keith and Stacie's wedding in Guerneville last year and are printed with a story about them and their wedding particulars. Thanks to Stacie and Keith for putting so much thought and effort into every detail!

If you want to see the spread you can find the magazine at Barnes & Noble or come by my office. I have at least 6 copies! :^)