January, 2010 | LA Wedding Photographer OC Wedding Photographer Destination Wedding Photographer

UCLA And LACMA Engagement Session Photos: Juna + Paul

01/25/2010 | E-Sessions

Juna + Paul’s Engagement Session – These two reek of total awesomeness. After meeting each other in their local church a few years ago, Juna and Paul have been inseparable. They even found out the other went to UCLA. And I’ve heard through the grapevines that Juna loooooves to have her photos taken and Paul haaaaates it ;). Just kidding guys, I can’t stop the teasing we started yesterday on the grounds of your alma mater and later in the evening at LACMA (sweet place to shoot by the way!).

I had met Juna and Paul a few months ago. They invited me to their apt and treated me like I was an old friend/guest coming by. And throughout the entire e-session yesterday, they went out of their way to make sure I was having a good time (isn’t it the other way guys?). But seriously though, Paul is the epitome of what a gentleman is and Juna steals the show with her soft smile and heart; together, they’re taking what true love is by storm on April 24th, 2010. And special thanks to my past bride and now wedding photographer Emma Delf for shadowing and assisting me yesterday. Juna and Paul, you guys are true rockstars in my book! And rain check on BCD Tofu House?

Yummy New Studio Albums From West Coast Albums

01/25/2010 | Products

New year. New resolutions. New studio sample albums! In less than 3 weeks, I went from hearing about a company called West Coast Albums, via Eight20 Photography (thanks Nicky!), to getting a uber-delicious 12×12” album from them.

As a wedding photographer, I want to make sure my clients get products that will withstand the test of time, wear, and tear. And when it comes to albums, I want my brides and grooms to get the very best. I’m simply stoked to be offering the line of digital albums from West Coast Albums from now on.

On Friday, I paid a visit to WCA in Los Angeles and picked up Karen and Steve‘s 12×12” digital album. Here are a few photos I snapped of it once I got back to the studio.

WCA’s sales rep Jack Hudkins (quite frankly one of the nicest person I met in my life) and founder Mike presented the album to me in a gorgeous box with a metallic-like photo cover on it:

Gotta go for the clean, simple, sleek, and timeless design!

Extra thick pages, slightly rounded edges to prevent accidental bending, super durable binding…sha-weet!

For the cover, your choice of leather or cloth, where you want a photo, and even what kind of a flnish.

To my current awesome couples and perspective ones, I’d love to share with you my 2010 line of albums at my new studio. More so, I’m really looking forward to creating one from your wedding day! And to other wedding photographers, please contact Jack Hudkins of West Coast Albums to inquire about their amazing albums. More photos in the coming weeks!

Recap Of The Wedding Clique 2010 Winter Mixer For Vendors

01/22/2010 | Events

Last Friday, NOZZA Studio, Bella Fiore, and Henry Chen Photography (that would be me!) hosted the first annual Wedding Clique mixer for industry vendors. We’d like to extend a huge thank you to everyone that showed up. It was great to finally put faces to names and also see old friends again. Special thanks to Raul and Johnny of R&R Entertainment for DJ/MC-ing the event.

I grabbed a few detail shots of Trini’s and my studio while setting up. We had appetizers, drinks, ambient lighting, and some good music to go along with some great minglngs/discussions. We plan on doing a mixer every quarter of the year and hope to see you (again) at the next one!

Here we are setting up for the event; wished my place could look like this 24/7!

Trini, Deanne, and yours truly of The Wedding Clique getting a quick photo before the guests arrived.

Here’s what Trini’s studio looked like, which is a few doors down from mine. Check out the yummy desserts!

We had a local wedding venues, florists, photographers, designers, planners, and entertainment vendors show up, can’t wait to work with you all. We’re currently working on a new website and will be introducing new features/events throughout the year that will help your business, so stay tuned!

ATTENTION: If you’re a bride and groom that was planning to come to tomorrow’s mixer also at NOZZA and Henry Chen Photography’s studio, due to the heavy rain, we’ll be postponing the mixer to next Friday, January 29th. We sent out an e-mail last night stating the following:

After discussing with my colleagues this afternoon and seeing how it’s been raining very hard these past few days, we’ll be postponing this Friday’s grand opening mixer to NEXT FRIDAY, January 29th, 2010.

We hope this isn’t too much of an inconvenience and still gives you some time to make other plans this Friday evening. Looking at the weather forecast, we’re expecting heavy rain through Friday and some of the local roads/freeways to be closed around Long Beach.

We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and delay but hope you’ll still be able to join us NEXT FRIDAY for the mixer. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to give me a call at 626-664-6735 or e-mail me back. I hope this e-mail gets to you all in time, I’ll send out another one out tomorrow as a friendly reminder.

Once again, this Friday’s mixer has been postponed to NEXT FRIDAY, January 29th. Thank you and please stay safe and dry!

Stellenbosch, South Africa Wedding Photos: Cari + Lawrence (For Christine Meintjes Photography)

01/20/2010 | Weddings

Cari + Lawrence’s Wedding: 12/19/2009 – Could I just second shoot for Christine Meintjes at every one of her weddings? Not only does she totally rock, but all her couples and weddings are off the charts! No wonder she has a blast doing what she does :). After shooting Getha and Llewellyn’s wedding on the coast of Jacobsbaai, we drove back to Stellenbosch for Cari and Lawrence’s the following day. And boy was Stellenbosch beautiful! It’s also Christine’s home. If I were her, I wouldn’t do anything else but photograph awesome couples everyday in that city. Seriously!

While Christine and her sister, who came along to assist us, were shooting Cari and the girls, I hung out at the Hidden Valley Estate venue to capture the guests arriving and details of the day. I met Lawrence literally an hour before the start of the ceremony, and let me tell you, I haven’t seen a smile on a groom as big as his. He greeted me with open arms and treated me like I was an old friend. Thank you Lawrence and to your beautiful wife Cari for inviting me to your special day.

Be sure to also check out Christine’s post on Cari and Lawrence’s wedding. She got some KILLER portrait and detail shots. KILLER I say, KILLER! :) Stay tuned for photos from the grand finale, third wedding I second shot with Christine in the next week or so. If you live anywhere close to South Africa, run, don’t walk to Christine’s house and do whatever you can to second shoot with her. She’s just that awesome!

Carrie + Lawrence’s Wedding Part 1 – 12/19/09 from Henry Chen Photography on Vimeo.

Carrie + Lawrence’s Wedding Part 2 – 12/19/09 from Henry Chen Photography on Vimeo.