k a t e   |   p h o t o s h o o t
makeup artist:  Abigail Kira
fashion artist: Abigail Kira

Hi everyone.  So heres a little change in pace with some things I’ve been doing.  This is a long over due post from a shoot I did a few months ago for a friend.  She is a fashion artist at UC Davis.  All outfits were handmade by Abigail.  She also did all the hair and makeup.  She’s quite versed as a artist might I add.  =)  Anyways, the concepts here are different as you can see.   Obviously a different look and feel from each piece she designed.  Abigail took a lot of pride in her first actual design which would be the multi-colored outfit.  I wanted to portray something that would bring empowerment not only to the photo and subject but also the piece she created.  If you are a aspiring fashion designer perhaps we can work together in the future.  Just give me a buzz or shoot me a email.  Thanks Kate for being the model for this shoot.  She will be joining me in Spain for a day or so at our the Scott Robert Next Level Workshop.  So you’ll most likely be seeing tons of photos of her soon   Anyways,  hope you enjoy these.  Thanks for stopping by again. =)  Don’t forget you don’t have to be a xanga member to leave a comment.  So by all means express your opinion in any fashion haha. 

On other news, if you keep up to date with world or current affairs you’ll know the talk of the hour is the $700 Billion Rescue Plan.  This could be a post that could go on forever and frankly I dont have the time and energy to go into all the details and such.  I’ll spare you information that you can read about from the web or other media sources.  I guess we can get to questions.  Besides the obvious, seriously…who do you think should be held responsible?  There has been major uproar across media, talk radio and of course tax payers like ourselves.  Now, before we bite the bullet on this issue which I think we should or we could suffer more than just a recession.  $700B is obviously outrageous but what I want to know is is this really the best plan that can pull us out of the this major crisi?  This isn’t exaclty easy to answer.  Heck, Obama and McCain don’t seem to have much of an opinion on the matter either.  Even financial officers in our govt are taking this through extensive review.  Honestly, it almost seems impossible but then again I am a optomist.  I will say however I would be for a plan that will move us out of this economic crisis if and only if it is our best option.  There will no doubt be casualties of a decision but its who will pay it?  Right now its looking like the tax payer.  Now is that fair?  I am for moving into a tough time if this will get us out of this mess but have we exhausted all options?  As far as I am concerned we don’t seem to hear too much about WHO IS REALLY RESPONSIBLE for all this?  I am well aware this discussion can go on forever on this matter and understand going after the ones held responsible isnt going to fix the prolem RIGHT NOW.  We obvioulsy need to act fast but also think critically about what we need to do.  If $700B is implemented, well fine I guess were going to have to deal with this.  Are we going to be happy?  Probably not.  Once things are in effect to rebalance the economy and global markets we really need to know the truth.  We need to get to the matter of who is specificlly responsible and those people need to suffer a consciquence.  It’s justice and I believe the American people should stand firm on this matter about repremanding those held responsible.  CEOs of many of these firms make so much it will make most people sick.  As an American I demand that these firms and people linked to them be fully investigated, audited.  There isn’t a doubt in my mind there is some trail of fraud in the absence of integrity.  And to raise another issue.  Why is it that the American people don’t seem to have rights to hear the truth from any polititian or person from any political stand point.  Yah, sure politics is messy, dirty and call it what you want.  As far as I’ve been following things, no one seems to be up front about any of the major matters going on in our nation. 

Voice your opinions on this.  I want this to be a open discussion hahah.  Anyways, do you care enough about this nation?  I do and for what its worth.  LIVE FREE OR DIE.  This post is not intended to side with a particular party even though I do side with one =)  It’s simply rummaging through the situation at hand.  Ok, I’ll leave it at that.  Thanks for even reading this far.

Cheers,
Steve

J  A  Y    +    L  I  A 
e n g a g e m e n t s

One of my favorites =)

Thought you’d might like this one Lia =)

This tree was amazing.

I love their expressions here.

I love solar flares

A couple weeks ago after my awesome wedding I had with David & Maxine I had the chance to do a engagement session for Jay & Lia a couple days after D & M’s wedding.  Man, was this an awesome shoot.  We had so much fun and found so many great places to photograph, I was in heaven =).  Well…not exactly but I sure had a wonderful time getting to hang with them for the afternoon.  The awesome part is Jay & Lia are from Portland, OR and I’ll be shooting there wedding there this coming November.  So if you’re from Portland or Seattle let me know and maybe I can visit you or visversa haha.  Anyways, I am so excited to post these and I hope everyone enjoys this set.  I think they look smokin in these photos =)  Anyways, I hope you are all having a blessed week so far.  The weather here in California has been awesome lately and I am so glad fall is around the corner.  The skies are amazing in the fall and so are the colors. 

On another exciting note…I’ll be on assignment in Sevilla, Spain in a couple weeks and I can’t wait to show everyone what I’ll be doing there.  I can’t wait to practice my Spanish too.  I’ve been reading my Spanish dictionary haha.  I’ll keep you posted on details as the date comes closer.  Hasta Luego =)

Cheers,
Steve

V I S I O N

So I’ve been trying to be good this week about posting pretty
regularly.  You should be so proud of me =).  Anyways, I fully enjoy
blogging.  I find it really relaxing actually.  I’m working on a bunch
of different things right now and will be posting a engagement session
very soon and load of weddings I’m back logged on.  =)  Anyways, here
is a little something that comes from my visions and passions of art and
light I see.  The last two photos are just fun stuff but I enjoy doing
some abstract art in motion shots where ever I go.  I love being able
to do stuff like this for fun.  I’ve had these for sometime but just
haven’t posted them until now.  I hope light evokes your senses or an
emotion.  As a photographer if I can’t evoke the eye I truly feel I’ve
failed at what I do or attempted to do.  A photograph is not simply
just a photograph.  I had a conversation with a friend this evening
about photography and told them if a complete stranger isn’t moved in
some way or an emotion isn’t revisited then I’ve missed the concept of
my vision.  There are often times I can’t describe what I see, feel or
experience and often times it goes beyond my own understanding or
instincts.  To put it simply, I would risk my life to chase a storm then simply watch it happen on tv.  The rush of the bulls in Spain…I’d probably be running out there with my camera trying to capture a perspective I want to see with hopes to live to tell the story of how I got that shot haha.  Well, don’t know if anyone would like the first two photos but I do =)  In fact, Id probably print it to just hang on my wall since I don’t have too much of my own work on my wall at home.  I don’t know what I like about the yellow one either.  I just like it and I don’t know why.  I think most people would call it a crap photo haha.  I think these would make good canvases with no negative space or frame.  Anyways, hope everyone is having a great weekend.  As summer comes to a close enjoy whats left of it.  =)  BBQ it up if you can.  Thanks for tuning in and stay tuned for Jay and Lia. 

Cheers,
Steve

D A V I D  +  M A X I N E    |   W E D D I N G
. . .   a   l o v e   t h a t   g r o w s…
f o l s o m ,  c a

evening gown – wedding gown – mother’s wedding gown

the ladies have a little fun

i love the light here

i love this shot

dreamy pink… =)

Maxine was so beautiful on her big day

Maxine’s dress was specially designed by her friend.

I admire women who understand there is much power in prayer

yah…large wedding party =) but they are all super hot =)

Max kickin it with her ladies =)

Does this have a old photo feel?  I tried doing my best =)

I love the colors they picked for the tuxedo vests.

This church was beautiful inside.

Getting ready to do their thing for Maxine =)

David was ready for this day!  =)

Maxine is a shining light and she sure glowed on her day =)

Yah, thanks for straightening the dress for me Tiffany (Maxine’s sister).  You made the photo all the better =)

MARRIED!!!!!!!!!

so cute

these little guys are studs

This is by far the most beautiful cake I’ve seen.  Look at that…6 tier cake.

I love this photo.  I can see where David get’s his personality from =)

His mom is pretty funny too =)

Maxine’s mom putting a necklace around Maxine.

O and yah, Maxine is wearing her MOM’s wedding dress. =)

=)

hahahaha 2/3 the way through…these savages are in dire need of food, drinks and maybe some dancing

Clyde…you should feel special here  =)

I like their table top ideas.  So much attention to detail.   You can tell they really wanted to acknowledge everyone who came to their wedding. 

Another wedding party shot =)

Maxine and David have to mimic this =)

David…shes not a rocket launcher =) haha jk

And now for the first dance…

I think David realizes this isn’t Maxine’s leg

Thats more like it…

David is the first guy I’ve seen at a wedding do this for the guarder toss haha. 

AND NOW FOR SOME GAMES…

HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW YOUR SPOUSE?

Yay or Nay?

I love this one

Booootaaay…hahah look at David’s brother at the end hahahahah

hahaha

double wammy hahahaha

Hmmm…David?

Bingo!!!!!!!!!!!!

She’s not sure…but she actually guess’ right later =)  David did too =) 

Wow, lean back.  I don’t think Fat Joe can do this.  hahah

A love that grows…

I love people who want to live a life that tells a story.  That’s exactly who David and Maxine are.  Everything about their day was so well thought out from the invitations to the programs, to the table center pieces, to the favors.  I really admire Maxine and David really pulling a lot of this together.  I know they couldn’t of done it without the help of their family and friends but I thought it was so cool that they designed their own invitations, favors and programs.  Almost everything on their wedding day was hand made by the people they love and care so much about.  Well if you don’t know David, David is a amazing graphics art director for www.26am.com.  He and his team do some amazing web and graphic design.  Some of the top notch I’ve seen in the industry.  Thankfully, he will be redesigning my old website and making it all new, fresh and awesome.  =)  Maxine is one of the most sweetest, transparent and real girls I have the priviledge of knowing.  She has a heart for people.  In fact, both of them do as they lead the junior high youth group at their church River Ridge Community Church.  It is a blessing to be a part of their special day but more over being a part of their lives.  =)  I hope you and everyone else enjoy all these images.  =)  I had so many I liked I couldn’t pick so I just posted them all haha.  Congrats to you both and may the Lord shower abundant blessing on your lives all the days of your life. 

Cheers,
Steve

D A V I D  +  M A X I N E   W E D D I N G
t e a s e r

J A Y  +   L I A    E – S E S S I O N
t e a s e r

One of the most beautiful things about my job are the amazing people I befriend.  I have been truly blessed by these two couples.  I have a ton of photos to show you all from David & Maxine’s wedding plus Jay & Lia’s engagement session.  Jay & Lia’s wedding will be coming up this November in Portland, OR.  Super super excited about their wedding day.  I love traveling the pacific northwest.  Anyways, I’m making this post quick as I need to get back to laboring away for all my awesome clients.  I hope you enjoy the teasers.  =)  Stay tuned for more.

Cheers,
Steve

M I   F A M I L I A

One of the best things about my life… MY FAMILY.  I recently had family visit from Korea and even though my Korean isn’t very good I was still able to communicate well.  Your eyes, facial expression gives it all away.  This was the first time I met one of my blood relatives from my mother’s birth place.  It was an overwhelming things for us and very emotionally overwhelming for my cousin and his wife.  This was their first time to America and they didn’t realize how much family they had here.  It was just a super blessing spending time with them.  My only regret is not being able to spend enough time with them.  The moment I met my cousin there was this instant connection.  It was like meeting my older long lost brother or something.  His wife is such a cute girl.  She is 5 months pregnant and they are expecting a boy. =)  She reminds me of a girl in a Korean drama haha and in fact they both look like they come from a Korean drama or something.  The most emotional things for my cousin had to be on the last day when the entire family gatherd for this photo and this isn’t even all of them.  This is LIFE. 

Here are some perceptions they had of America and random blurps…

1. Everywhere looks like NYC hahaha

2. They thought LA, SF and LV were all in 2hr driving distances haha

3. They asked if we could drive to Hawaii hahah (aw I love it hahah)

4.  McDonald’s here is awesome lol

5.  They like pringles and snickers =)

6.  They like the phrase “no problem”  haha and so do I

I hope everyone has had a good weekend.  Today I had the day off but was still working but it was nice not to be on the job for one weekend.  =)  Stay tuned for more photos from weddings and engagements.  Thanks for tuning in.

Blessed,
Steve

W I N D  |   E N E R G Y

Good day everyone.  Wow, did I just do two post in one week?  No way?  Could it be?  Yah…pretty much.  =)  Anyways, just wanted to post up something I’ve had done for some time.  I’m currently working on a bunch of wedding stuff for all my clients.  Until my next wedding post I wanted to leave you with this to head into your weekend.  I posted four different shots of these huge wind-mill like structures that provide California natural energy by the power of wind.  All shots were taking in different locations off the 580.  I’ve always driven by these on my way in and out of the bay area often and always wondered how do I get to these.  Well, not knowing exactly where I was going I decided to take a detour on the way to the bay on the evening before a wedding and what was so beautiful was the timing.  The sun was just setting and I ended up pretty close to these enormous wind-mills.  I wasn’t expecting to actually find these but rather just photograph them from a distance…say from the side of the freeway or road.  I actually got relatively close to see how some of these things actually look like.  One, they are pretty huge and more complicated looking than they seem from the freeway.  However the drive between the hills was a little interesting.  There is a road that runs parrallel to the 580 but its pretty fun to drive on if you like S-curve roads for spirited driving.  =)  

So in a nut shell:  What is going on in my life?  Well for starters too many things to list.  I’m working quite a bit…in fact I don’t know anyone who has my type of schedule.  There are always busy hard working people I know but I truly think some of my cicumstances are of a different caliaber.  I like to say I live a double life.  One side of my life I use the left side of my brain the other my right side.  I can’t remember which one is the art side…I think its the left.  Anyways, its pretty obvious I enjoy one the left side (if its the artside) of my brain more because I can be the artist I’ve always dreamt to be.  It is there that I a can truly feel free.  Free from the rat race people call LIFE.  I could get so lost in what I do its scary but I love it.  My passion for photography has brought me to people I’ve come to know as amazing people, places I’ve never been and so much more.  I am blessed to be able to walk this path a side from the fact I get 5 hours a sleep a night and work 80+hr weeks.  How I do it, I don’t totally know.  God gives me strength and if I didn’t feel so passionately about photography, people and what I do I would of tossed in the towel long ago.  But I know there is more in this life, so much more it goes beyond photography, passion, careers etc.  It rides deeper and at the heart of what I do is a passion to share life with people.  I am a frim believe that people can aspire to great things they just need people to encourage them to get where they want to go.  How do you think I’ve gotten to where I am now?  Truly not bymyself nor by my own strength.  The Lord sustains and gives to those who trust.  My mentor told me recently there are people in life that depend on you to inspire them.  Now it might sound a little funny when you first hear it but listen to those words again.  Right now there could be someone wanting to be inspired and you could be that very person to inspire them.  If it wasn’t for my mentor who inspired me I wouldn’t be where I am today.  If you really sit on this it makes perfect sense.  There could be people out there that look to you for inspiration whether its through photography, words, things you share about your life etc.  You may not even know it either.  So be encourage to inspire, it contagious if you believe in the One who created all things for a purpose.  

Inspiring note I heard from Pastor Chuck Swindal:

 ”Fathers, your children will never remember how much money you made, nor all your acomplishments in life but they will always remember your laughter, words of encouragement and the time when you threw mom into the pool and lived to tell it.  You’re children will always remember you by the valuable times you spent with them.”  

Profound?  I know, it is.  This is life…dream it, live it.  Still learning this by the way folks… =)

Cheers,
Steve

G r e g  +  W e n d y   |   W e d d i n g
O a k l a n d , C A

You can never have a bad day with RED shoes =)

I think shooting down on a cake has been one of my styles I’ve developed.  I just do it out of instinct now haha.

cupcakes anyone?

This is prob my favorite ring shot so far =)  Greg and Wendy’s favorite candy is gummy bears.  I choose the colors to match her flower colors haha.

Grand entry first dance.  I love her red dress.  The dress has extra special meaning for the both of them.  Wendy wore that red dress when Greg and her went to prom together back in high school. 

Now back in her wedding dress

Hello everyone.  I know I have been extremely MIA lately but its because I have been hard at work.  I’m working on five other weddings and just finished Greg and Wendy’s recently and I am thrilled to have a little preview of photos from their wedding day.  I’ve been pretty stretched lately but never th less I am working away for all my brides =)  Thanks for being patient and especially Greg and Wendy.  I had such a great time on their wedding day.  Thank so much for letting me share your special day with you two.  Not only was the wedding super fun but they both had awesome families to get to know and to top that off I got to see many friends from Intervarsity Christian fellowship.  I was involved at the UCD IV chapter and its was so good to see faces I had not seen in a long while.  You know what I love about my job?  I love that I get to connect with people and its awesome to be able to build a friendship with Greg and Wendy and I look forward to continuing that in the future.  Cheers and endless blessings to the both of you.  Thank you.

On a odd note:  Comcast is poo.  Don’t like their service nor their “high” speed internet.  Its lousy. 

Other thoughts…

I’m sick of hot weather.  I want rain.

Has xanga been slow for people? Or is it just me? 

Anyone having trouble with the new firefox browser?  I’m having issues with it.

Cheers,
Steve

I OFFICIALLY HAVE NO LIFE OUTSIDE OF WORK SINCE I WORK OVER 80HRS A WEEK!

Says to self…Don’t lose yourself!

THATS ALL!