Crab cakes and fresh slaw as an appetizer. The main course was a bread crusted halibut with lemon sauce. All homemade by my aunt, the fabulous chef.

I recently finished an engagement session with a couple that had been traveling all over the Northwest and made specific effort to meet up for some portraits.  Thank you!  We had lots of fun just walking around and chatting.  They had a bit more fun with all the huggin’ and kissin’, but that’s what can make these engagement sessions so enjoyable!  Well, here are just a few from our time together.

OSU has special significance for this couple…they met while working together on campus.  AND, while OSU is no UCLA, at least they’re in the PAC-10 conference.  Got to keep it in the family, ya know?!

Thank you, thank you for making the trip out to the 3-Cities!  I had a great time with you guys and I’m excited to see what thrills are in store for your wedding day!

Another really enjoyable engagement session with a really fun couple.  These two are getting married in June and it sounds like they have a killer celebration planned.  I’m really excited to see what they have in store.  For now, check out these pictures.

Warning, lots of X’s and O’s!

This one here is one of my favorites.

In case you couldn’t tell from the other pictures…Dood is TALL.

Nice hat!  *wink*

Great job, you two!  I think these turned out spectacular.

Had a blast at a recent wedding with the sweetest couple.  These two are great people and I’m glad to now be able to call them friends!  I really enjoy how much personality this couple has.  They know what they like and they don’t waste time!  A few details to start out with.

For you photogs out there, I added a bit of off-light pizzazz to the cake shot.  I placed one red-gelled light behind the curtain for some flavor and to complement the pink decorations.  I used a second flash hidden behind the cake and aimed at the topper to make the letters stand out.

The beautiful bride getting ready.

The groom…finished in under 10 minutes.  No fussy hair to deal with.  ; )

[note to groom:  I heard several guests whispering how hot you looked.]

[note to whisperers of the female variety:  Sorry!  This one is now taken.]

First look…so sweet.

The product of some serious people-shuffling.  I think it turned out well.  BTW, to the two Captain Morgans (you know who you are), click here.

One of the couple’s pastimes is gaming.  When I saw the keyboard, I knew what I had to do…

One of the sweetest, most emotional father-daughter dances I’ve seen in a while.

om, nom, nom, nom.

Hey you two, thanks for inviting me in to your wedding celebrations.  When you have kids, you better call me!

Birthdays are cause for great celebration.  They are also a great reminder to go out and get family portraits!  I recently decided to begin limiting the number of family portrait jobs that I take because weddings keep me busy enough and because they are my true passion.  But, when I got the call to photograph this family, I had to take it.  This little guy recently turned two, just like one of my girls.  So, I knew how important it was to get some fun pictures to mark the date.  Here is the handsome birthday boy.

If you are a parent, you definitely can relate with this beautiful mommy’s gaze.  It’s filled with joy and adoration.

Weeeee!

Doting is encouraged at all times during photo sessions with me.

Being a daddy myself, I think the following pictures speak volumes.  It encourages me greatly to see dad’s having fun with their kids and loving up on them.  Don’t let TV shows and today’s media influence you into thinking that Dad’s are dopey and/or self-absorbed…Dad’s ROCK!  Go hug a Dad.

[Allan steps off soap box]

Thanks for inviting me to be a part of the big celebration, part deux.

I love wedding photography!  And, I love my business because it provides me with so many cool experiences.  Earlier this month, I was able to attend one of [b]ecker’s Party of Five workshops.  [b]ecker is a hugely influential photographer, and thankfully, he uses his powers for good…sharing knowledge and generally elevating the industry.  Part of the workshop involved a little engagement shoot - Gavin and Erin were gracious enough to show off their good looks.  Easy to be gracious if you have such good looks. ; )  One more plug…if you are a professional photographer, then sign up for the [b] school!!!

Here’s a few samples from our little engagement session.  I don’t normally shoot with such a wide perspective, but the other photographers were mostly in close, so I thought I’d experiment using a wider lens.

A short while ago, I took this uber-fun couple to some orchards for a quick engagement portrait session.  I know I say this about a lot of clients, but THESE two really are fun, sweet, and good looking.  It was cold and grey in the orchards, but these two managed to warm it up with their charm and their love.  Here’s a few favorites.

When I saw the limbs of this tree, it reminded me of how this groom-to-be wrapped his lady in his arms.  I tried to compose it in such a way as to evoke that same sentiment.

And, one in color.

Thanks for braving the gloom and the rain.  You two were a blast and I can’t wait for our official engagement session.  Blessings to you!

I was fortunate enough to spend the day with a wonderful family last weekend as these two lovebirds got hitched at the Cathedral of JOY in Richland.  This wedding was especially fun for me because there were quite a few kids that I got to hang out with during the few down times.  My wife will attest that I am childish child-like.  Well, I’m happy to share some of my favorites from the day.

Another kind of love…mothers and sons.

I’ve lived pretty much up and down the West Coast.  The Bay Area, Los Angeles, Seattle, and now…the Tri-Cities, WA.  My journey has led to me to progressively less, umm diverse regions.  While I love the place in which I live now, it is definitely not high ranking on the “Most Ethni-City List.”  In fact, the other day I was kinda’ laughing at myself as I imagined what other people thought when they observed me.

I’m Chinese, driving a 2000 Ford F-150 in my blue jeans, listening to Alan Jackson (I’m genre agnostic); work gloves on the floor boards, thinking about when I would be able to go hunting with my friend.  My friends are teasing me, saying that they are going to buy me a cowboy hat.  Imagine that.

I came across this video, which encompasses perfectly my experience in the Tri-Cities.  Again, I love it here, so I’m not complaining.  Just reflecting.  Enjoy!

I was finally able to hook up with this fun couple recently to do their engagement session.  It was a gloomy day, but their jolly personalities kept things vibrant.  It only took the slightest coaxing to unleash their playfullness.  Check it out to see what I mean.  The funnest portraits are a result of this couple’s ideas and awesome goofiness.  Thanks, guys, for braving the cold with me!

I noticed that she did not have to pull very hard on the scarf…

This shot took a few tries.  Cars and security guards kept getting in the way!  By the way, did you know that after 9/11, you are not allowed to take pictures in which a federal building is in the background?  Now you know…and knowing is half the battle.

I’m so glad we were finally able to find a time without ice, mud, or freezing rain!  I can’t wait for your big day.