Mothers.

About a month ago, I got together with my photographer friend Eric to meet up with one of our past brides, Wen-Yin. Eric and I have been trying to get a new project off the ground, but were having trouble defining this new service we wanted to offer. This particular bride is very special to me as I have seen her a few times over the last couple of years: engagement photos, her wedding, trash the dress, and most recently a session with her mom. All of the big moments, and this one in particular, a really special one.

While this session was intended to glam up Wen-Yin for a fun shoot, she thought it would also be good opportunity to spend time with her mom. Her mom is really the sweetest lady, always trying to stuff me full of snacks, and poking fun at her daughter - and smiling the whole time. When you see them interact, you can really tell how deep their relationship goes and what great friends they are. 

I prepped them both with makeup and Eric just started shooting away. It was a really sweet moment between the two of them and I'm so glad I was a part of it.  From Wen-Yin:

Last September, my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. While the journey has been tough, and there were some scary moments while she was on chemo, there is finally a light at the end of the tunnel. 

When she got her diagnosis and we discussed her treatment with the surgical oncologist, the only moment she teared was when she realized she was going to lose her hair. It was more disturbing to her than the thought of a mastectomy. I know that even now as it is growing back, she is very self conscious about how it looks, and chooses to cover her head with scarves and hats. But to me, she looks beautiful, strong, and chic. It took some coaxing to convince her to have photos taken of her without a head covering, but I felt like it was important to document this moment of her life: the turning point of when she started gaining strength and becoming more like herself again, rather than the frail shell that she was.

Those of you who know my mother know that she is a gentle, humble woman: quick to encourage, laugh and smile. Thank you Wm Eric Fung for capturing this moment for us.

The above words really describe the importance of feeling like yourself, and how to regain that feeling after you've been through something really difficult. Wen-Yin thought it would be nice for her mom to be pampered that morning and Eric and I were happy to oblige.  

Wen-Yin, thank you for helping us to define the direction Eric and I are headed in. We hope you enjoy your portraits! 

Graduation Portraits

My sister was home a couple of weekends ago and we got together to shoot some casual pictures for her graduation announcements. Graduating from college is such a big accomplishment and we decided to throw together some colorful looks to celebrate.  All of these photos were taken in my backyard... we had plans to go somewhere else but you can get really creative when it's a rainy day! The backdrop below is actually my picnic table, turned up on its side. 

It might not look like it, but she actually has on a practically neon coral lipstick! When shooting photos outdoors, go brighter and bolder than usual as the sunlight will likely wash out a great deal of color. Adding a good amount of powder also helps to tone down shine. The most important thing when wearing shirts with open necklines is to make sure the skin on the face, neck and décolletage all match. To create an even complexion, you can blend bronzer from the jawline, through the throat and chest. If you are wearing your hair up, be sure to dust some bronzer on and below the ears too. 

When shooting multiple looks, keep the makeup neutral so that it doesn't contend with any colors you may be wearing. As a busy student, my sister is a lip balm kind of girl and likes to keep things simple. Since we didn't want her to look overdone, I kept the eyes very clean and minimal, and groomed the brows. A light wash of bronzer on the cheeks and a bright lip were all she needed to feel polished and professional.

My sister and I are seven years apart and as her big sister, I'm so proud of all of her accomplishments. She is driven, creative, and talented so I know she will be successful in her field. She's studying food science and dairy production with hopes of one day owning her own ice cream company.  I cannot wait to be her taste tester! 

Heading out to watch her walk the stage this weekend. Congratulations to my baby sister and the class of 2013!

Color Bomb

Lately, Jenn and I have been OBSESSED with the puzzle game Candy Crush Saga. If you haven't played it yet GET ON IT and start sending Jenn and I more lives! You will be up late with the rest of us, trying to beat level after level. 

Here's a recent wedding we worked on... like Candy Crush come to life!

​Jeneille was kind enough to share her wedding photos taken by the talented Nate Fong. If you're looking for some wedding DIY inspiration, look no further than this colorful affair. Just. WOW. Take everything you know about white weddings. Now throw it out the window and experience what it's like to embrace your color fears. 

​Jeneille went deep down the DIY rabbit hole - her how to's are posted in her blog Sit, Stand or Neil (her tagline, "because creativity never sparks when you're lying around." True dat!). Bouquets made from the couple's favorite books, Lego boutonnières, backdrops, paint chip circles, GIANT Jenga, and graphic signage were just some of the projects she and her craft mafia took on. And with her experience as a fashion buyer, she knew exactly where to score comfy, re-wearable bridesmaids' dresses... at an average of $20 a pop! 

Jeneille's personal style is best described as effortless. Jenn styled her hair in such a way so the bridesmaids could help take the formal up-do down and Jeneille had sexy, beachy hair for the ceremony and reception. I designed a look that was simple with an accent on the lashes and soft pinks.  We absolutely loved her flower crown, a sweet alternative to the traditional veil and the perfect homage to her hubby's upbringing in Hawaii. 

It was truly amazing for me to see her ideas come together. This is a girl who is NOT afraid of color! It certainly helped to have a plethora of talented friends - artists, graphic designers, crafters, fashionistas and a wedding party who was clearly game for anything! Enjoy the details of this well curated Kohl Mansion wedding and be sure to check out Nate's blog for more images. 

We had so much fun getting to know Jeneille's friends (and her mum!). Getting a snapshot of our bride's world is probably one of our favorite things! If you can't get enough of Jeneille's amazing tastes, be sure to check out her Pinterest to see what else inspires Jenielle. 

Congratulations to Jeneille and Brooks! ​

Senior Prom

Mimi is Jenn's baby sister and we were this sweet girl's beauty team on Saturday as she got ready for Senior Prom. Jenn helped Mimi pick out her dress... ​clearly the love for mint green runs in the family! 

Mimi has loooong hair down to hear waist and she usually wears it down. To change it up a bit, Jenn chose a beautiful braided up-do and used White Truffle Foundation to sculpt the hair. Just warm it up in your palms, smooth throughout the crown, and it helps to tame fly aways and gives a pearly gloss to the hair. Adding a fun, feathery accent clip tied in the whole look. Mimi requested a neutral smokey eye, so I had a little fun with it and added some metallic cream shadow over a sage eyeshadow to tie in with the green of the dress, with a smokey accent in the crease. Soft and flirty individual lashes were added along with a clean winged eyeliner. A neutral peachy lip , a healthy dose of brozer, and defined brows made the whole look polished and formal. 

Mimi accented her look with nude pumps and a delicate necklace to tie in the sparkle at the waist. Her date Yoshi complimented her mint with some pops of green in his own outfit. What a cute pair!

​We love the overall styling and thought she looked age-appropriate, yet sophisticated. Thanks for letting us play with your look Mimi. Hope you had a ton of fun at prom!

Individual Lashes

A lot of brides ask... are lashes really necessary? My answer is always "yes!". And oddly enough, I will always suggest them to ladies who are make-up shy. Why? They are the smallest thing you can do to make the biggest impact and will certainly give you a pop from all angles in photos. Sure, you can have fun with color on the eyelids but none of that really matters if they eye isn't framed well with liner and lashes. ​If time is an issue, I wil always reach for mascara over eyeshadow as it does the most for my eyes. 

^^ If possible, go with a "knot free" option. ^^​

When working with false lashes, I always prefer to use individual pieces in various lengths, which can be used to enhance any eye shape. Strips of lashes are great for going out for a night and MUCH easier to put on yourself, but there is a bit of insurance when using these individual pieces. Here are some reasons I love them so much. 

1) ​If an entire lash strip falls off it can ruin the entire look. If one or two pieces of individuals happen to come off, it's not a serious issue. 

2) You can customize just where you want the accent - I prefer a thicker cluster right about 3/4 of the way out on the eye. It gives just the right amount of lift. ​

3) They are 100 times more comfortable than a heavy lash strip. When used sparingly, you hardly even feel the weight of the individual pieces. ​

4) They photograph beautifully and are more believable than a strip, which usually only comes in one length all the way across. ​

5) For photoshoots, they can also be applied on the lower lash line to create that baby doll look. They're so very versatile! ​

​This past weekend, we held a trial for bride-to-be Brianna. Brianna was in town visiting for Mother's Day and thought it was the perfect opportunity to try out her day-of look. Her style is usually very natural so I didn't want to overwhelm with color. I went really neutral on the eyeshadow and gave her a fresh coral lip and cheek. Check out those cheekbones!  

^^ Serving it!^^

​She was kind enough to send over these adorable snapshots that really showcase how individual lashes can enhance the eye. Brianna has gorgeous, healthy lashes naturally so it didn't take much just to give them that extra pop. I touched up the lash line with a caviar colored liner, then blended the pieces with her natural lashes using mascara to comb through the hairs. Jenn gave her a soft curled half-up look that we think will go nicely with her whimsical, colorful decor, and her gorgeous dress we were lucky enough to get a peek of. 

We're so happy to have worked with Brianna and we're looking forward to her upcoming fall wedding! ​