Last week I received an email from Jocey at WeddingChicks.com that I have been Hand Picked to be a featured New York vendor for WeddingChicks. This honor is awarded to only 3 vendors per category per region. To see my work  featured along-side two other talented & established photographers, Trent Bailey & Bryce Covey, just makes this honor that much more humbling. My heart is singing and dancing right now. There truly has been some amazing things happening behind the scenes with my boutique business that I can’t wait to share as they unfold this year.

I  recently shot a beautiful wedding that had me so inspired I made it a featured image in this post {above}. I am loving the bride’s polka dot shoes!! This moment truly just unfolded naturally without me having to direct the scene to get this look. If you’re familiar with my work, this is definitely one of my “Signature Style” shot during a prep session.
In other exciting news behind the scene, my wonderful Branding Team, Lara Casey, Emily Ley and the ladies at SouthernWeddings have been working hard to pull together a new look for my business that ultimately will express the true heart and soul of me & my work. I am like a child at Christmas right now who can’t wait to unwrap and reveal my shiny new look. From what the ladies have shown me so far, I have been dancing and spinning in my chair. They really nailed the true essence of me straight out of the box. My branding team has also been amazing at stripping all the gunk away and getting to the core of operating a beautiful business that will not only better serve my clients but fill my own heart with inspiration along the way. The launch date for the new site is inching close and I’m not sure if I can contain myself much longer. It has taken so much restraint for me not to post a sneak peek of my new logo and inspiration board….

Another inspiration on my heart is my husband, who is also my business partner, Chief-Financial-Officer, equipment manager and body-guard of international travels. He has been a huge support system & personal cheerleader on this business journey of mine. Below is a picture he took of me while in Poland recently. He travels internationally for his corporate job and whenever he gets the chance, he shares my work with those he meet. In doing so, I had the opportunity to fly to Poland recently to do a shoot for a new client who quickly turned into a very good friend (all in 1 short visit!). I will definitely share more about my Poland trip when I get a chance. This month, my heart is overflowing with so much goodness I am overwhelmed to share it all.

I will never grow tired of shooting at the beach, especially one accompanied by amazing light and a beautiful couple. When Arie & Ben agreed to do a beach engagement session, it got my heart dancing. We went to my secret little location in Long Island {NY} that’s my go to spot for beach shoots. No matter how many times I photograph here, it never gets old and I see it with fresh eyes every time.

When I first spoke to Arie on the phone, we immediately connected and discovered our mutual love over snowboarding. Because we got along so easily, I’m the type that would invite her out on a ladies snowboarding trip without having ever met.  After meeting Arie & Ben in person, I knew right away, from their ultra cool personality and sweet relationship, that we were a match made for something wonderful. This proved true during our beach shoot. There was so much magic happening in this session.  Arie & Ben have this easy way about them so we just kept things simple which usually result in the most authentic images.  They arrived with their adorable pup, Dakota, who added that perfect personal touch. We didn’t anticipate weather being so cold, that by the time the shoot wrapped, our toes were numb and we lost function of our fingers… but it was worth it for the images that we got! Arie and Ben were such troopers.
To see more from this beautiful session, click an image below: ]]> http://www.styleartlife.com/arie-ben-seaside-engagement-session/feed/ 1 http://www.styleartlife.com/arie-ben-seaside-engagement-session/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StyleArtLife/~3/LlC3Ghf2Cb4/ http://www.styleartlife.com/happy-film-photography-day/#comments Fri, 12 Apr 2013 15:31:18 +0000 Twah ~ Style Art Life http://www.styleartlife.com/?p=6440 NOTE: the images in this feed have been downsized or removed for copyright reasons. To see them in their unmodified state, please view the original post by clicking here.

In honor of the first Film Photography Day declared by Lomography as being April 12, spurred me to share the origin of my heart for film photography.

I love the creative freedom that digital photography allows me to have…. but there is something that gets my heart aflutter when it comes to the old school days of film photography. I love the anticipation as I wait for that package in the mail from the print lab to see the result of my work.  My photography days started back before I could even pick up a camera.  Both my parents (being Asian… and as my husband likes to jokingly stereotype us as “being born with a camera around our neck”… a stereotype I can’t deny.) were obsessed with pictures and documenting everything in our lives since I could remember.  So naturally around the age of  7 I asked for my own 35mm camera.  It spawned an obsession which took me from dressing up my sisters for “fashion shoots” and using the images for my “homemade” fashion magazines (including made up Advertisements for shampoos and such which my sisters were also models).  I remember handing my step-dad a bag full of film that I needed him to take to the photo lab. He looked at me in complete bafflement wondering how could I possibly use up that many rolls of film.  In middle school, I was one of the few art students chosen for an exclusive photography trip down to Old Town Alexandria (VA) to photograph to our hearts’ content. In high school, I found joy working in the dark room of my photography class and having classmates pose for portraits.  And after an adventurous career run as a Fashion Designer… my heart and original obsession took me full circle back to film. Whether on vacation or in my personal every day life, I barely pull out my digital camera any more. With photography being a full-time career and business, the last thing I want to do on my day off is take more pictures and edit more images. But when I decided to purchase a Medium Format Film camera… something in my heart began to dance again. I also forgot how expensive a habit this film photography craft is.  Oy vey!

Below are images shot on my Contax 645 (85mm Zeiss lens) from a very cold &  grey day wandering around Williamsburg, Brooklyn with my husband (with a stop at the Wythe Hotel Rooftop bar for an afternoon cocktail. Current drink of choice: The Dark & Stormy).  I have a few professional sessions shot on film I will post in the coming weeks as well.

And this post wouldn’t be complete without an image of my adorable little nieces/God-Daughter (below) who makes my heart happy! The expression on Brooke’s face (in the center) is the perfect depiction of this little girl’s personality. I see a little adventurous & independent spirit in this girl that is very reminiscent of myself. With only 16 exposures to a 120-roll film, I was pretty proud of the result below from my last remaining exposure available.  It was the perfect image to end my personal film adventure.

So Ecstatic to share that Erin & Brett’s beautiful Buttermilk Falls wedding was featured on Brides.com today! Erin is a talented jewelry designer who got so inspired from the process of crafting her own wedding that she has branched out into the wedding business herself. Erin will be offering services such as custom belts and jewelry along with wedding styling and event coordination. Her website is currently in the works. Also wanted to say how amazing Erin’s Flowers were, done by the talented team of  Steven & Melissa Bruce of StevenBruce’s Design. They are so passionate about what they do and it really shows in their beautiful & well-balanced arrangements. If you are getting married in the Hudson Valley or even NYC, I would highly recommend this dynamic duo. They really strive to get your vision. Erin’s invitations also blew me away as well done by the talented ladies at Gourmet Invitations. They really did a beautiful job executing Erin’s vision.

Venue: Buttermilk Fall |  Caterer: Oliver Kita | Coordinator: Carrie Wykoff | Event Styling & Design: Erin Braun (Bride) | Floral Design: Steven Bruce | Rentals: Party Rentals | Lighting: Stortz Lighting | Bride’s Hair: Garrett Bryant | Makeup: Amanda Hudzkiak | Band: Live Wire Entertainment | Dress: Vera Wang | Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Custom Veil: Brides Head Revisited | Groom’s Attire: Ticknors | Bridesmaids Dresses: J.Crew, Amsale, BCBG | Custom Rings: Linhardt Designs | Invitations: Gourmet Invitations

I am so excited that Betty & Nelson are on Style Me Pretty today! This was such a memorable destination wedding for me and my team (the same one mentioned on facebook where the groomsmen had me on their shoulders for that perfect angle and the one where we ended up in the pool with our clothes on at the end of the night alongside Betty & Nelson and the rest of the guests). I am so behind on updating my site with new weddings from this past season… so here’s another new preview of my work via StyleMePretty!

Recently I had the opportunity of shooting a wedding in Puerto Vallarta.  I was fortunate to have a day free to get off the resort to explore the surrounding areas of Puerto Vallarta with my Equipment Manager / Body Guard of International Travels {aka the husband} and one of my destination shooters, Jonathan who is a Chinese American fluent in Spanish and enamored with the Latin American cultures.

Being a photographer, you never have any pictures of yourself…. so I always end up doing these selfies in reflections {below}.My personal travel style is not the kind that entails laying around at a resort pool side all day. I prefer what I call “mini-adventures”. When I travel, I love discovering “hidden treasures” not immediately known to tourists. I prefer to explore what life is like as a local, to meet locals, to eat what they eat and to understand life in another shoe. With the benefit of having Jonathan speak fluent spanish, we really had the opportunity to communicate with others. We discovered a sweet little old lady who sold these fresh press juices out of her home along a cobble stone street off the beaten path. While passing by a row of stucco houses, a door was left open which caused us to peak in. Jonathan saw a wipe board towards the back written in spanish listing different fruits with pesos next to them. Jonathan reasoned that she must be selling fruit so he proceeded to walk inside her home to ask. Unless you lived in the neighborhood, who would have known this lady sold the best press juices {always ask for no ice!} for just a few pesos. This was the first time I ever had fresh guanabana fruit and I am now obsessed with finding fresh ones here in the States.We didn’t get the chance to eat brunch at the Mi Cafe {pictured above}, a cute little cafe that is supposed to serve amazing brunches, as recommended by a local (Canadian expat) who owns a pottery & cooking business in Puerto Vallarta. We did grab coffee there which was served with shaved cinnamon sticks and sat to talk with others for a while. Below is this huge beautiful tree we happened upon off one of the side streets on our journey to finding all the good local taco trucks. My husband was on a taco mission and we probably hitted up 3-4 taco stands that day. Mexico always seem to give me some of the most beautiful sunsets I’ve ever seen. I was so tempted to post all the images I shot of them but had to practice restraint as I curated the images for this post. When I see beauty like the images below, I can’t help but think how majestic is the creator of them. ]]> http://www.styleartlife.com/travels-exploring-puerto-vallarta/feed/ 2 http://www.styleartlife.com/travels-exploring-puerto-vallarta/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StyleArtLife/~3/n-nEvQwLd38/ http://www.styleartlife.com/sneak-peak-puerto-vallarta/#comments Wed, 20 Feb 2013 21:51:17 +0000 Twah ~ Style Art Life http://www.styleartlife.com/?p=6157 NOTE: the images in this feed have been downsized or removed for copyright reasons. To see them in their unmodified state, please view the original post by clicking here.

Just had to post a few quick snapshots from last week’s beautiful Valentine’s Mexico Wedding… I’m still gushing over the blush dress the bride wore which made its debut on Say Yes To the Dress {Season 8 Episode 14}.

And here’s an email I just received from the bride & groom from their experience with us! This makes my heart soar. Totally love that my clients (who usually become friends) appreciate the hard work and effort my team and I love to deliver.

Ok, for those who know me or had conversations with me, knows that I am a lover and not a hater (ha!). No, seriously. One of my pet PEEVES is when I hear a woman tearing another female down. I lack the eloquence of words to truly express my thoughts on this … and then one day I stumbled upon these 2 AMAZING articles (see below) that expressed perfectly what was in my heart. That was the beginning of my love affair with Darling Magazine whose slogan truly encapsulates how I live:  ”The Art of Being a Woman”.

I always get asked “What is a boudoir shoot?” Well, I wouldn’t be doing it justice by saying it makes a great gift for him. Because it can be so much more. “Boudoir” is literally defined in the dictionary as a women’s private sitting room, or as defined back in the 1700′s as “a room where a lady may retire to be alone, a pouting room”. I laugh at that old definition and how women have come a long way in society from having a place to “pout”. But some believe in order for women to be empowered, they must dress like a man, act like a man and be void of emotional vulnerability. I could not disagree any more. The female creature is wonderfully and beautifully made. We have a softer side and sensual side that defines our gender. Isn’t it more empowering to embrace ourselves, our curves or lack thereof, our scars, our build, our faces that are not symmetrical, our weaknesses… and make those our beauty and our strengths?

Having a boudoir session, can be like a place to retreat… but not to pout, rather to embrace… to celebrate who we are, how we’re made and being ok with our femininity and desirability. Having shot so many, I see how even the look in my client’s eyes are transformed after a shoot. They stand taller and float as they walk because we have just pulled out of them that inner vixen that they weren’t aware existed.

But I do want to clarify, that embracing your sensuality is not the same as using it to demean yourself… thinking that’s the only way a man would desire you. That is temporary desire and that is not what I am talking about. It’s digging deeper into your soul and pulling what you believe is true and love about yourself… because that is what shines and that is what becomes the deep rooted kind of desire that not only you will have for yourself, but will draw others to have for you as well. We are human and we long to be desired and accepted. And that is ok.

I am actually inspired from doing these shoots to want one for myself. Why not appreciate where I am now, before I get along in age and before the children come along….

When Thai-Anh & I sat down in the East Village over Macha green tea, our conversations did not start with wedding talk. What should’ve been a client meeting to discuss wedding details turned into something more along the lines of “life aspirational” conversations.

Thai-Anh and I share a common bond & goal which is to always find ways to empower women. We both love mentoring young women in giving them the tools & guidance to create a successful path for their future. Thai-Anh inspires me as she is a “make it happen” kind of women. Not only does she volunteer in a mentorship program for girls but she has also founded a non-profit organization called Orphan’s Future Alliance (ORFA) which provides education for orphans in developing countries. There are tons of organizations out there that provide daily needs and necessities for orphans. What ORFA does is provide these children with an education to give them a better chance at an independent life after leaving the orphanages. In speaking with Thai-Anh, there was such sincerity of heart to want to improve life for these children and a passion for philanthropy that makes me re-evaluate what more can I do to make a difference in this world. I even love that Thai-Anh gave me great advice for my own my business because she “wants to see a woman business-owner succeed”.

I thought this is an appropriate post to end the year with as the Holiday Season wraps up and the spirit of giving tends to fade away with the ornaments and the lights… As 2012 comes to a close and we look ahead to the endless possibilities of 2013, I hope that you resolve to find ways to give and make a difference (big or small) in someone’s life in the new year…

Below are images from the recent engagement shoot I did for Thai-Anh and her wonderful fiance Elvir.
I really enjoyed hanging with Thai-Anh and Elvir as they goofed around in the New York City’s early morning… and they didn’t stop even when it started to rain. Thai-Anh has a twin sister, Chau who is also on ORFA’s Board of Directors. Chau came along to serve and help her sister carry stuff. Watching the interactions between the two sisters made me miss having my own sisters around. In the Image below, Chau was scrolling through images of wedding dresses to show me the finalist that Thai-Anh is contemplating on.

Make-Up done by Nam-Vo. Dress by Monique Lhuillier.