I love my job. And I have to admit, sometimes when on a shoot…I forget that I am working. Especially when I am offered something as delectable as a cupcake from Kara’s Cupcakes. In my defense though, how could I possibly hit the shutter button while my fingers are still in my mouth, licking off the chocolatty frosting from my fingers?

We met Pham and Albert in the shopping and dining district near Crissy Fields in San Francisco. After enjoying some of the best cup cakes I have ever had in my life, we head over to Golden Gate park so I can start actually do my job. Crissy Fields is such an eclectic oasis on the metropolitian pennisula that is San Francisco. There are stadiums and baseball fields to lakes and museums. With flower gardens and Japanese tea garden to mini forest and passes. And that’s only describing a quarter of the park’s offering. On any given weekend, you can find artist and musical talents in the music concourse where we officially began our session.

Heaven in a cup.

Albert seems to agree with me.

Love tree covered paths like these. Without even closing your eyes, you can imagine you are not in the city anymore.

Pham, you look fabulous! The picture speaks for itself.

Striking a “Hero” pose in front of the portapotty? Why not? Actually a funny story…as we walked back to the car, we saw this series of portapotty. Pham said it would befitting for Albert to get a shot in front of them as he is constantly making trips to the restroom. Looking back at this photo, Albert almost looks like he has his Clark Kent disguise on. I wonder what type of super hero power Albert is gifted with?

An outfit change, clear skies and golden sunlight makes for a great photo with the famous Golden Gate Bridge as a backdrop.

Add the ocean breeze for a dynamic photo.

A curious stranger drops by for a visit.

While I was capturing these great moments…

Ham was able to capture this awesome vantage and moment from his view.

I love it when my couples have fun during their session. This is always our goal and the photos really make themselves.

A photo op in front of the car. Love the light rays filtering through the structure.

One more outfit change and taking a chance. You guys look fantastic!

Pham’s sweet talks paid off and we were grant access for some quick photos in the Apple Store. I would dare to say Apple products may be Albert’s first love…well, second now that Pham’s in the picture. Let’s just say, you bring those two loves together and there were a whole lotta kissing going around.

Pham and Albert – We love talking and hanging out with you guys simply from the moment we first met you guys over coffee. Your personalities complements each other like butterscotch frosting on top of a deliciously moist cupcake. Thanks so much for introducing me to my new obsession and angst. No Kara’s cupcakes in San Diego. We can’t wait to kick off the new year with your wedding. Until then, enjoy the slideshow and we’ll talk soon.

We continue to be bless in working with wonderful clients during one of the happiest times in their life. But once in a while, a couple comes along who are after our own heart. Those who knows me know that I was gifted with a high metabolism and insatiable tastebuds that desire to sample all the good eats in the world. A perfect duo of traits that complements each other really well.

When Pam first outlined her idea for an engagement day theme centered around old “haunts.” I didn’t know what to make of it. I knew there were a few places around San Francisco that was said to be haunted. Ok, I suppose being out of our comfort zone is a good thing. We like to capture our couple’s fun, interaction and love in and around greenery, urban-scape and golden light so yummy, one can almost taste it. Throw a couple of ghost in there, we can handle that. However, when we met at Pam and Bill’s west coast residence in San Francisco and learn that their definition of old hunts are all their favorite places to dine and hang out at, I knew these are my kind of clients.

We emerged out of the typical bay marine layer to glorious sunshine in the Mission District. I would take that as a good foreshadow of what’s to come as we arrive at Tartine before the usual rush and then later head over to the waterfront to enjoy some of Hog Island Co’s amazing oyster. Between the eating and the chatting, we got to watched two people who grew up on different coast enjoy the best thing of all, being together.

Pam and Bill – You say the best things happen in two and your story of how your relationship buds with the help of two mutual friends, two day dates and across two different coast is just amazing to hear. To keep the good time rolling, we can’t wait till these two photographers are able to meet up with you guys for your wedding and our second visit to Cornerstone later this month.

Sample of the colors of the Mission District.

We saw this bamboo grove earlier and glad we were able to find it again. Made for a fun session and nice contrast with the reds of their clothing.

San Francisco city is different than NYC…but I wanted to get a little of the vibe of east coast meets west coast in this series of shot in the alley way we found.

Chasing the setting sun, we head over to the sand dunes of Ocean Beach. Coincidently, we have a Ocean Beach here in San Diego too, but they look nothing alike.

Some of my favorites series of shots of the day. This is what I mean by yummy light so gorgeous you can taste it. Colors just pop and photos looks great out of the camera. How lucky they are to live only blocks away from this.

Definitely a different coast huh Bill. West coast’s soft golden light and the sun sets into the water for great view and perfect way to relax and cozy up with one another.

One of the first things Bill mention to me is during their research of photographers and coming across our work, a song I had used in one of my slideshow seem to have followed them around. I say it subliminal marketing and intentional. So I figure it befitting to use an alternate version in their engagement slideshow. Click below and enjoy!

For myself, one of the personal reward for a shoot well done is the resulting slideshow. What our couples purchase for reprints and enlargement or the photos that ultimately makes it into their wedding album are wholly up to them. But the slideshow is all me. The photos are all culled and edited. The hurdle of picking out the accompanying music is over. The work is over…and the fun begins.

I just love going over the photos and timing the fades, transitions just perfectly. It’s a labor of love but the story of the event start to unfurl with each picture to melody. It’s always the best feeling…(or cheese?)…when the moment and action in the photo matches up to the song’s lyric. I just love it.

Anyways, I hope you all enjoy watching Josephine and Robert’s slideshow as much as I did making it. We also sell iPod formatted version of the slideshow for carrying around in your iPhone or iPod Touch. It’s another perfect way to share your photos with friends and coworkers.

While Josephine and Robert are planning their wedding in SF Bay area, the two decided a drive to San Diego and a visit to their old college romping ground are in order. What a better place have take your engagement photos than the place where you spend such a pivotal part of your life. It so happens that UCSD is where we all went to school. It seems like eons ago. Returning to campus, it was fun to see how much the topography has change and to discover old ones that remain the same.

We started off at the new parking garage addition and made our way towards the central Geisel library.

Strolling through one of the Eucalyptus forest at UCSD. Josephine and Robert are so cute together.

Then it’s a clothes change and off to the Cliffs nearby. I used to come out here just to gaze upon the horizon and the shores below. From this vantage point, the sunset is always magical…that is if the marine layer isn’t hiding that magic like it did during the engagement session.

I always love catching these moments. Josephine lovingly gazes into Robert’s eyes. The texture and the gesture gives this image a soft feel.

After getting the following shot, we were approach by a cute little girl asking if we are part of some TV production and whether the couple will be featured on TV. Love the innocence of youth. I guess the umbrella and remote flashes can seem like overkill.

I just love it when my couple bust out laughing. Whether at me or with me, it makes for a great photo.

When the wind picked up, I told Josephine not to worry. It makes for great, dynamic images.

Towards the end of the session, Josephine is starting to work it like a natural. Love it!

I won’t even say how much I love the feel of the following image. That’s the UCSD Scripps Pier in the background.

Josephine and Robert – thanks so much for coming all the way down to San Diego and making the engagement session uniquely your own. It was so much fun to walk through UCSD and discover all the new nooks and crannies. We hope you enjoy this preview of your engagement photos. We got many more awesome images that you’ll have to wait till tomorrow to see as a part of your slideshow.

I have always had a romanticism for adventure and travel. The notion of visiting a foreign country, but avoiding the tourist traps, to simply navigate through it’s diverse landscape and differing cultures and traditions, is very appealing. As much as the notion of world travel is a fantasy for me, it is very much a part of who James is. Soon, James will have a traveling companion. After the wedding and as soon as the house is sold, Millie and James plans on boarding his sailboat and sailing down to Mexico to live for a few years. The plan is to eventually sail around the world, visiting each country along the way. Hearing Millie’s tale of driving across the country by herself, she will no doubt be a perfect traveling companion for James.

Millie and James, thank you for dinner and kindling my own desire to travel and explore the world. It’s awesome to hear about your travel plans and your desire to allow a job and work be a means to that end, and not become an end in itself. Ham and I look forward to seeing you two again at your wedding and sharing in the beginning of your journey as man and wife. -David

Their romance may have started when Herman was invited to attend an art exhibition where he met Melissa. It makes perfect sense as both are creative artist in their own right. And it also makes perfect sense to start their engagement session at the De Young fine art museum in the heart of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. Melissa and Herman are so cute together. It would be the first time I get to meet Melissa and Herman but I didn’t have a hard time figuring out which of the park’s many visiting couple simply by the way they walked hand in hand.

We packed our gear light and went inside the museum for some shots before heading outside to explore the park’s grounds. Somehow we managed not to get kicked out while shooting inside the museum. But as we were shooting on the grounds outside the museum entrance, a lady kindly let us know that we are not allow to have professional photography in that area as it was an art exhibit in itself. Ooops and thank you for noticing we were professionals. :)

Loving this wall and sequence inside the museum.

I usually tell my client that Spring is my favorite time to shoot. Everything is buzzing with life anew. The flowering trees are starting to flower and makes for awesome backdrop.

We found this tunnel and set up the remote flash. Because we were trying to keep it on the down low in the museum, I left the Pocket Wizards in the car and toss a couple of the smaller ebay triggers in my pocket instead. We had a difficult time getting the trigger to fire consistently when blocked by Melissa and Herman’s body, but it was worth the hassle as it allow for one of my favorite shot of the day.

The sky was overcast most of the day but the sun did come out for a few minutes to give this scene nice contrast and depth.

Herman did his best to keep Melissa warm when the wind blew, and when Melissa’s feet hurt from walking on heels, Herman carried her instead.

Their outfit match the tones of this house perfectly.

Melissa and Herman – thanks for spending the afternoon with us. We had a blast exploring the museum and location scout in the Mission district. I especially enjoyed the ride to and from the area, including getting lost on the tilted and confusing streets of San Francisco. If I didn’t have to make my flight, it would have been especially cool to just hop out of the car and document that. We can’t wait to experience your wedding day with you two later this year. Until then, enjoy more images in the slideshow below.

Grace and Walter are so wonderful together. I believe that laughter nurtures the bonds of love and witnessing Grace and Walter together, there is obviously an abundance of love between the two of them. Walter always seem to know how to get Grace to bust up laughing. His smile is infectious because I can’t help but smile and laugh along with them, even when sitting at my desk as I edit through their engagement photos. We spent the afternoon at Crissy Fields in San Francisco and took advantage of the late afternoon sun. We are excited for your upcoming December wedding. Until then, enjoy these images…

Emily and Russell’s engagement slideshow is up. It’s always hard to find that perfect song that fit with what I feel and envision for the show. But I work tirelessly until I can find that one song that portray the feeling I have while processing the photos. Either that’s the artist side of me or the perfectionist side of me talking, I am not sure. Just a tip for you photographers out there. Try to do your song searching in the morning because searching through hundreds of songs at night puts me in that relax state where I can not keep my eyes open. :)  So without further ado…enjoy!

Their memory differs slightly about how they first met. She said it was her cab he was trying to steal. Somehow Russell remembered it a little differently. These minor details can get fuzzy after seven years. Many of which were spent long distance, racking up the phone bill. Emily confesses to getting in trouble once racking it up at work. These were the days before unlimited long distance calling plans and one needs to be creative when trying to “reach out and touch someone.”

But that’s all behind them now as they look forward to planning for their future and saving for their first home. First thing’s first…get through the final planning for their wedding coming up at the end of August. The ceremony and reception site they picked out in wine country Sonoma is absolutely beautiful.

We are so excited and can not wait to be there to witness and capture the result of your planning as it comes to fruition. Here is a small selection from the day. We went overboard and got more images than our typical engagement session. But it will at least make up for your average of two picture per year of dating. Father’s day festivities cut into time in front of the computer so check back tomorrow night for the slideshow. In the mean time…enjoy this small sampling to hold you over.

We started off with some urban in trendy downtown Palo Alto. All the pictures was taken a square block near the Apple store.

Can you believe we found a mini forest in the middle of downtown Palo Alto. We had to work this into the session.

The setting sun made for some gorgeous flares and beautiful back lighting as you’ll see below.

We just love these tiny gesture and soft touches like these. These are the things we look for and make sure to capture during the wedding day. It is usually sweet little moments like this that can go unnoticed.

Emily and Russell – thanks for trusting us and spending your Sunday with us. We kept saying “one more shot and it’ll be done,” but the beautiful surrounding just begs for more pictures. It was all worth it as the day just got better and better and you guys were so fun to shoot. And many thanks for taking us out to dinner afterwards. The food was delicious as you can tell by what little was left on my plate. :)

Last weekend, we had the pleasure of meeting Lisa and Derek for the first time. We met up with Lisa and Derek at Lick Mill Park in Santa Clara close to where the two currently resides. The late day sun lit up the canopies of the surrounding trees which made for an awesome backdrop. Lisa and Derek’s easy going and friendly nature completes the recipe for some deliciously fun pictures. We ended the session in downtown San Jose before Derek had to run off for a poker tournament. Check out a few picks from the session below and hit up the slideshow for more from the day.

Lisa and Derek – shooting your engagement session makes us all realize that your wedding day is right around the corner. We can not wait till Aug to celebrate and document all the special memories that your day is sure to be full of.