My philosophy when it comes to family and child photography is this: if someone has a "bad hair day", does not want to be photographed on that particular day or any other reasons; there is no point pressing the issue. The photographs will never look good. So when I started photographing Nicole's family and one member (let's say it was a dog) had a "bad hair day", naturally, we rescheduled the photo session. And we got much better results second time around.
I have been photographing Renee and Mike for what it seems like forever. Their engagement, their wedding, their first pregnancy, their first newborn, etc... Renee mentioned one time to me that their house is shrine to my artwork. Naturally when Renee had her second child, I was there to photograph him. Knowing that Renee and Mike like, I was able to recreate the same studio look and feel in their home.
Last Saturday I had the privilege of seeing the debut of my long time clients Frank and his 10 year old daughter Ava in their cabaret show "The book of Ava" at Rex Hotel in San Francisco. A modern day family story. A tender look at adoption, equality , marriage and the love that binds us in our changing world.
Dreams do come true!
What a performance. Lady Gaga, watch out! Ava is knocking on your stardom door!
There was a great article in last Sundays Chronicle of my clients Frank, Sonny and their daughter Ava about their costume skills, especially for Halloween. To see the article Click Here
I had the privilege to photograph them and their spectacular outfits for the last several years. Each outfit is hand made! Each photograph was designed to look and feel like original poster or photograph from the movies.
Elizabeth Taylor, Lisa Minnelli, Rita Hayworth, Ava Gabor, Cher, etc... It does not matter. Ava can play the part of all of them.
Here is a compilation of my favorite photographs from our portrait photography sessions:
What can I say: San Francisco provides one of the best backgrounds for an outdoor family portraits. I love it when my clients choose outdoor sessions. Judy's and David's portrait session in San Francisco outdoors was no exception. We got great family photos!
I was hired by Amy Gordon from Mama Lounge to photograph her staff for her website. As usual, I told her to bring anything she and her staff needs to be more relaxed during session. Well, the kids are always helpful when it comes the time to relax! Since the kids were present and I am a child photographer, the kids were part of our executive portrait photo-session.
I have been photographing Gitta for many years: Maternity photography, Newborn photography, Family photography and everything in between. I get very excited when my client who is "Mom" calls me and wants to "Glam Up" a little and do a "Model for a Day" photo session. Well, it's more like a model for a few hours! :) Child is waiting!
Gitta and I went to Marin Headlands National Park for our photo session. Please do not tell park rangers! :)
The weather was perfect and mom looked like a model! We succeeded!
I love photography challenges. In this photo session with Kelly, her family and her pets, we could not overcome cat's reluctance to go to the beach! :) So we had to photograph cat at home and then go to the beach with the dog. Who said that fog ruins photography! We had great time and photos to prove it!
This was the 4th newborn portrait photo session for my client Dessiree and Brandon with their daughter for our baby step club series. Our baby step club series is 4 photo sessions within one year. You save a lot of money when you choose this program. Some clients choose their 4 sessions (maternity, newborn, 6 month and one year). Some choose (newborn, 3 month, 6 month, 9 month and one year). Most of our clients make beautiful "A Year in the life" of their child afterwards. We chose to do this final family portrait session in the studio, concentrating on their daughter. As you can see, she already knows how to make "cheese" smile! :)
How lucky can you get? I am photographing my client Anette for her website. As usual, my question to my clients before every executive photo session was: When someone sees your executive headshot on the web, what or how do you want them to feel about you? Her response was: She wants to look professional businesswoman, confident and approachable. For this portrait we chose downtown San Francisco for her executive portrait. My assistant, my client and I dodging passing cars while photographing when all of a sudden several police cars started blocking California street 20 feet from where we work. At first I thought that I did something wrong: after all we were photographing on the streets of San Francisco during green lights for pedestrians but then realized that they are blocking street to film a car commercial. I was very grateful that we did not have to dodge cars anymore. On top of that, we exceeded all of my clients expectations! :)
What can I say. I love photographing kids. They always give you what's on their mind. If they do not like the way photo session is going, they WILL let you know. Twins will give you double of that. On top of this add a newborn addition to the family. But I love challenges. Sometimes we add a additional level of challenges by getting family pets in the photos. Lucky for me, there were only twins and newborn with their parents to work with. No problem! :)
I love photographing several generations at the same time. Michelle is my long time client. I have been photographing her daughter since she was very very little. Now Michelle hired me to photograph her maternity with her extended family. The tiger you see is an animal who greats every child when they come to my studio. He is very very child friendly! :)
I was thrilled when Paula and Sherman hired me to photograph their engagement photo session in San Francisco as part of their wedding photography package. An officer and a gentleman (West Point graduate) with smart and beautiful bride. Could not wait for the session. This was a destination engagement photography (they live on the East Coast). Each time I start an engagement photography session, there are several goals: number one goal is for couple to be more comfortable with their photographer. They already picked me as their wedding photographer, yet this is my way of showing them that they picked right photographer for their wedding. Goal number two is to make images for their wedding slideshow and or signature book. My question to each couple is this: we will have an image/s or slide show on display when your family and friends arrive at the reception. What would you like your family and friends know about you when they see your artwork? Paula and Sherman's response was that they want everyone to know that they are in love and they are happy. I believe that images are testimony to that. And final goal: some people may have issues with how they look. Some people do not their profile, their nose, weight, height, legs, etc... To me, they all look beautiful, but I need to know if there are any issues. After engagement photo session, we go over my favorite photographs and I let my clients talk. It is much better to find out before wedding if there is something I should be aware of than after, when it is too late. On a wedding day, I can adjust how to photograph couple to minimize whatever... Now back to Paula and Sherman. I love how photographs came out. So did they!
This is the third session for Desiree and Brandon and their daughter for our baby step club. For this photo session we chose their house. 
Gwen, who is a professional organizer hired me to photograph her and her space for her website Place It The goal was to show Gwen as friendly and approachable. We both liked the results:
I am not a gambling man. Having said that, I bet my friend from Detroit $10.00 on a football game between 49rs and Detroit Tigers last fall. The looser had to deliver money in person!! I won the bet but since my friend could not leave his business, he flew me last month to Detroit to collect the money. I have heard from numerous sources about "Armageddon" style images in Detroit since there are lot's of buildings in a state of decay. Many movies were filmed in Detroit because of that reason. So when I go on "vacation" to Detroit, I bring my cameras. :) I can always use this images in my "green screen photography"
In this photo session I photographed Tari and Nicole for Pete Brannigan real estate in Noe Valley. Each one told me at the beginning of photo session that they hate when someone take their photos because they always look bad. They both loved they way our images came out. :)
