The best things in life is being able to appreciate the little things like enjoying where you live. The fact that I can live in Los Angeles and drive down to Santa Barbara to do an engagement shoot with two lovely people and then being able to get back home before dark is amazing. I had an amazing time with Mike and Tanya as we walked around the Santa Barbara Courthouse and surrounding areas. Looking forward to their wedding in San Clemente, here are the pictures from the session.
One of the most asked questions I get is “What made you want to become a photographer?”
Everyone has their reason and everyone’s reason is special to them. For me it is and always will be my father. It has been five years since he has passed away and every moment I pick up my camera I think about him. Sometimes it could be what would he do with this camera or would he better than me (sorry, competitive nature)? I think this way because my father was a great photographer with little to no resource. The man was literally ahead of his time for being Asian. I remember when he told me that in a good picture, the subject should not even realize he/she is in it. I know right, it’s common sense to the pro photographer that it was call photojournalism, but for him it was just his theory. My father didn’t use the internet, wasn’t reading on forums how to shoot, hell he didn’t even have a SLR. For him it was his point and shoot or film camera. When we were growing up most of the time it’s always smile at the camera, look at the camera, SMILE SMILE SMILE!
My father had a different approach, he tried to capture our essence. Something that defines the moment and really goes after the sincerity in people. Oh my mother hated it, she wanted smile at the camera. Not only was he a good photographer, but also an advocate of photography. I remember when I wanted a digital camera and he bought me a used Sony 2.1 megapixel. Our family was never well off, but he found a way to get me one and in fact I was the first one in family to own a digital camera. He was never a selfish man which makes me feel guilty to think he would never have the same opportunity as me to have a photography career. He would have rather have bought me the DSLR than buy one for himself.
When people give me compliments I feel great for two reasons. One, that my photography is at least good to that one person. Two, that the compliment is for both my father and I. I feel blessed as my father passed his eye down to me and I think that is one reason that makes me successful. The reason is that I take pictures for the both of us and that makes me really love photography even more. My father is my inspiration.
It’s always fun to shoot your friends. I had my buddy Doris over to test my new home studio and it turned out pretty awesome.
Thanks Doris for putting up with my little doggies and me.
