PPGBA's July Four Nights

I am honored to be speaking for the Professional Photographers of the Greater Bay Area (PPGBA) in July about my contemporary children photography business. If you have not had a chance to visit my latest AUGIECHANG kids web site, take a moment to visit www.augiechang.com/kids

There will be 20 photographers from all over the bay area coming to my studio for my talk. I am excited to meet all of them!

If you have not signed up already, go sign up now! Space is limited.

REGISTRATION INFO:

Lucie Silveira - 997 Asbury Street, San Jose, CA 95126 - (408) 454-4006 LucieXYZ@gmail.com

Click here to the PPGBA page

Behind the scene at a wedding

I find it very interesting to see what goes on "behind the scene" of a wedding shoot. This was a beautiful wedding put together by the fabulous Michelle at MB Wedding Designs. Thanks to Mauricio (Maria Chang's assistant) for snapping these photos for me to share.

Here I am trying to capture the bride and her bridesmaids toasting to her wedding day. It took about 2 seconds for the toast, so I had to be quick on my feet so I don't miss it.



I try my best to stay off to the side when the bride is getting ready. This is when I get the most creative. I work with only available light so no one is aware of what I am doing. That's how you get those awesome laughs and tears!

Here in this scene, the bridesmaids were trying to zip the bride's dress.



This is a great photo that shows how much production it went into a day of shoot. This photo also showed how a great team works closely together. Although this photo captured the back of us, it showed a lot interesting elements.

From the left, Andrew from Studio MSV was trying to capture a scene for his video. Andrew and I tag-team-ed during the shoot to ensure we both had what we wanted. Next to Andrew was my associate photographer Jason, shot candids while Andrew was working with the couple. I stood next to Jason, scoping out my next location down the alley and surveying the perfect light. To the right of me, I had Maria Chang from PMA there to make sure the bride and groom look good throughout the entire photo shoot. She fixes the bride's hair and touches up her makeup to make sure she looks her best. Then last but not least, to the right of Maria, it was my lovely assistant Veronica. She made sure I have everything that I need for a perfect photo session (lenses, camera, reflector, gear, water...etc).

There you have it! A great team makes a great day for the couple!

Mai-Anh & David's Wedding Teaser

spec: f4 @ 50mm | ISO 200 | 1/500th

Dinner with Casa Real and Palm Event Center Gang

Not often do I get to party with the great people who work at Casa Real and Palm Event Center in Pleasanton. They are among the nicest and funnest people I've met. Tues night, we decided to go out as a group to celebrate the wedding season. We all met at 1515 in Walnut Creek for a night of drinks, food and laughter.

When we were there at 1515, a beautiful girl walked up to us and asked if some of the girls are from Casa Real. As it turns out that the beautiful girl is a soon-to-be bride at Casa Real. She recognizes a few of the people at the table. She sat down for a while and chatted away. How cool is that?!

Here is my lovely friend Alyssia with a cosmo in her hand



My new friend Shannon from Casa Real



The always cute and happy Kara



Here we have Monique (from Palm Event Center), Shannon, Me, Alyssia and Michelle (marketing at Casa Real and Palm Event Center)

Twitter

Twittering is taking over this world. Twittering can be effective in many ways. I opened my account a while back but was never active on Twitter. As of today, this will change. For those of you that follows my blog, I would also encourage you to sign up for Twitter and follow. I will be making announcements and updates via Twitter. For example, I will announce my next workshop or update on the status of my workshop waiting list via Twitter.

My Twitter profile name is @augiechang or just click here!

Promises and Pearls - July 8, 2009

I am honored to be a part of the Promises and Pearls event in San Francisco's Payne Mansion on July 8th, 2009. To register, click here.

11/14 PART 2 workshop - FULL

9/27 PART 1 workshop - 2 seats available - if you are interested in signing up, go here.
11/14 PART 2 workshop - FULL - started waiting list

6/21 Intro PART 1 Workshop

It was always fun to see who shows up at my house for the workshop. Most of my participants are jolly, fun and full of energy. Participants somehow all arrive at the same time, like they had planned this all along. This time, the 12 participants arrived in 3 groups. No, they didn't plan this, just so happened that way.

Students were excited and enthused about the day ahead of them. Everyone enjoyed their breakfast and coffee while we tried to get to know each other.

I was so blessed to have Lisa here to help me. She greeted everyone, checked everyone in, helped all of us with ordering our lunch ahead of time and many more!! She was so helpful that she made the day flow so smoothly. Thank you Lisa!!

Ruby & Erwin's Wedding Teaser at Napa, CA

Settings: f3.5 | 1/800 | ISO 125

Alyssa & Shawn's Wedding Teaser at Solage Calistoga

Thrilled to be nominated for Blu's Photographer of the Year!!

UPDATE: the voting process is not going to start until July. I will let you know when this happens. I appreciate all of your support!



A few days ago, I received an email from Bludomain and asked if I can send them a fun profile picture of myself. I didn't think much of it at that time, so I sent over my latest photo from Nestldown that my assistant shot. Then last night, my friend Christine, wrote me and said "Congrats on your nomination!" ... and I was totally confused.

I finally found out what this is all about. This is a complete surprise. I am honored to be nominated as the Blu's 2009-2010 Photographer of the Year. I can't believe, and proud, to be standing next to my good friend Jen on this nomination.

Click here to the Bludomain blog post!

Jenn & Brian's Wedding Teaser at Casa Real, Pleasanton

Sarah & Andy E-Session at The Cliff House, SF

What a giggly couple they are... This shoot took place in April, so I was a bit surprised how wonderful the weather was. The white Cliff House against the wonderful blue sky was to die for. Contrast baby contrast!!

Sarah and Andy are having their ceremony and reception at South Tahoe this summer. I can't wait to see how silly they are going to get on their special day.

Emily & Greg's E-Session in Healdsburg

Emily works for a retirement home in the bay area. When I received her email regarding to shooting their engagement session at a retirement home, I must admit, I was puzzled. As always, I am game for anything, so shooting at a retirement home was going to be the first for me.

Emily, Greg and I met up in Emeryville and carpooled to Healdsburg, one of Emily's company's retirement community (note I used the word community). As we pulled up to the retirement community, I thought we accidentally pulled into a country club! It is THAT nice. We were greeted by one of the head employees there at the community, then escorted throughout the property to "check out" sites. This place is UN-REAL. Not only is it nice, it has pretty much anything a teenager would want! and this place was supposed to be for seniors! They have a pool table, a theater, ping pong, Nintendo WII ... you name it, this place got it.

Emily and Greg have forever changed my thoughts about retirement communities. It was an eye opening experience for me.

Emily has always told me that Greg is not very affectionate in public. OK, if you look at these photos, can you tell that he is not?! I can't tell! He was TOTALLY into it!

INTRODUCING the new AUGIECHANG kids website!

It is finally here!!! Introducing the new AUGIECHANG kids web site. It has been months of hard work and we are ready to unveil the cover and share this great news with all of you. AUGIECHANG kids is now official! Enjoy!

Shirley & Bobby's Wedding Teaser at Nestldown

Pitch dark, around 9pm at night with no lights around. Video light pointed inside the window by assistant.

Spec: ISO 5000 | F1.6 | 1/125th

Ruby & Erwin's E-Session in Santana Row

Ruby and Erwin are both from New Jersey. They were introduced to me by my sister in law Monelle. Ruby and Erwin moved to the bay area a few years back and now tying the knot out here. Most of the guests for their wedding in Napa will be flying in from New Jersey.

Ruby and Erwin live in the south bay so it made sense to shoot around their local hangouts. Santana Row is one of those places. The colors in Santana Row is amazing.

Unfortunately Santana Row has taken a more strict approach. No photographers can shoot here unless one goes through a 5-day/$100 permit process. They mentioned that this is not even a guaranteed process. They may reject your application for a permit!!

Sigh ... another location down the drain :-(

Aidan 2009 Teaser

I had to blog about this teaser today. Aidan is so adorably cute! He is a natural when it comes to posing ... and no kids at his age (2.5) poses for me, so this is something new! :-)

DIY Floral Workshop

...by Huckleberry Karen Designs