I have been working photographing women of SF Chinatown since the pandemic.

Dream Project – 

I’ve started photographing women from San Francisco Chinatown since December of last year, my initial thought was this project is my contribution to my local community which was one of the hardest hit community for small businesses during the pandemic in San Francisco Bay area, and crimes were rising in our chinatown neighborhood. Even with having the danger of being open, during the small window of operating hours of these business would open, especially when women they were so welcoming, and if I’ve asked to photographed inside their stores as a backdrop for my engagement or wedding portrait clients, they were generously agreed and feed us free food as well.  And I’ve noticed there are many hard working women working at these business for long hours behind the scene, and I feel if I can use my talent, resources & skills to put these  women in a more glamours & fashion style light, perhaps will bring them happiness, confidence & photos which they can treasure for the rest of their lives. 

What I’ve Achieved on – 

Having an accent was one of the biggest short coming in high school, college & even professional work. But I am bilingual for a reason to tell the stories of these women, understand them, and give them a voice, to share their product of their hard works and life stories to the world thru the medium of photography & video. 

If you don’t mind me sharing something incredibly personal. 

I was thinking oh yeah, so I’ve donated a huge chunk of time to photograph them, all on my own dime and sacrifices for this project, as a mommy but having to bring my kids on these photoshoot sets at times and taking them to SF Chinatown to meet these women, my kids can finally practice the language we’ve spoken at home, and they felt great about using them outside of our own home.  

What I am grateful for: 

Thank you Sony for sponsoring this project, the BTS video is now on Sony Alpha Universe, the reels on Sony Alpha Instagram account has made huge impact for people both in/outside of the SF Chinatown community to get to know how charming & wonderful of these hard working these woman of SF Chinatown.  

What I’ll need: 

To take this project to the next level, gathering additional funding so that I can complete photograhing the series and publish a book is really what I am working on at the moment.  if I may pick the brains of fellow creators who has published your work, I would love to publish a coffee table style picture book about this project. So that I can have a full page devoting to each heroines to write & showcase their photographs on print and in hopefully publish in other languages as well. Also to work with an excellent PR/Media team to expand this project in an international level. 

Bridal Gown Boutique 

Helen Miller, And Something Blue Bridal Boutique

http://andsomethingblue.com/, @andsomethingblue

Calligrapher

Shaochen Wu, Monstera Gold

www.monsteragold.com, @monstera.gold

Charcuterie (cheese “cake”)

Nicole Tavrovsky, Plated Perfect @platedperfect

Dessert Shop

Raylina (Nina) Joseph Allen, Candy Queen @candyqueen_est2009

Florist

Janelle Jacky, Green Petal Designs

@greenpetaldesigns

Gourmet Lemonade

Vicktor Stevenson, Gourmonde

@gourmonade

Jeweler

Elaine Abesames, Elaine & Co.

@elaineandco

Makeup

Jasmine Chan

http://beautybyjasmine.com/ @beautybyjasminechan

Models

Jacqueline Butler

@jacquelinekaibutler

Charles Flewellen

@charles_flewellen

Photographer – ME! ME ! ME!

Zabrina Deng, Jeza Photography

@zabrinaxyz

Assistant: Jade Zhang

Shoes

Alice Tsou, Jimmy Choo

https://us.jimmychoo.com/ @jimmychoounionsquare

Stationer 

Hailey Johnson, Paper and Dust Co.

www.paperanddust.com, @paper_and_dust_co

Stylist (for fashion outfits)

Rachel Kludjian

@rkludjian

Veil and Silk Robe Designer

Autumn Adamme, Dark Garden

darkgarden.com , @darkgardencorsetry

Venue

University Club of San Francisco

https://www.uclubsf.org @uclubsf.events

Wedding Coordinator

Christine Eng,  WeddEng Boss

www.weddengboss.com,  @weddengboss

Assistants: Sandra Eng, Akira Kaku

Special thanks to my friend Dave Fong for helpping me for such a long day for the lighting assist, Jessie Weng for the hair & makeup. Wedding Planner Christine Eng for arranging part of the shoot at the University Club San Francisco.  I am truly grateful for working with wonderful team to create magical memories for my clients.

also click to view recent posts from the recent past –

As seen on Cosmopolitan Bride China – Fashion Shoot at Le Colonial SF

Microwedding / Minimony of Anthony & Jennifer Wedding in San Francisco

Now Booking for 2022 International Destination Wedding & Prewedding Photos. Send email to : contact (at) jezaphoto (dot)com for inquiry.

recent prewedding shoot  – paris, seville spain.
recent prewedding  shoot– chefchaouen morocco.
recent prewedding shoot  – sahara desert morocco.

about me
zabrina is based in california who travelled the world to do wedding,  engagement & portrait photography.  she is an sony artisans of imagery and a holder of wppi master photographer.   a processor for over 60 international award winning photos.  zabrina is one of the  world’s top 50 world’s best destination wedding photographer from junebug weddings and has been featured on rangefinder magazine’s 30 rising stars of wedding photography.     she has accumulated 6 times 1st place winner and two international image of the year awards from wppi since 2011.   her work has been published on international master photographer vol 1, vanity fair (usa), grace ormonde wedding style (usa), town & country (thailand), cosmopolitan bride (china), elle (hong kong), stuff magazine (uk), vogue italia’s photovogue.  zabrina has also photographed the grammy award winner r&b band all-4-one for their 20th anniversary album cd cover.  zabrina is also a popular speaker for major photographic conferences across america & asia to train professional photographers taking their craft to the next level.

||story || awards || international || weddings || facebook || instagram ||sony artisan of imagery||

How’s everyone holding up in 2020? Finally we see some light in the midst of this covid tunnel, the entire wedding and event industry in America is still yet to be awaken. Many of us, those full-time wedding photographers are still waiting for clients to resume their booking as wedding venues are still closed or slowly figuring out how to be reopened. So if you are interested in hiring for a session, please do reach out and contact me via instagram (@zabrinaxyz), because by doing that, you are keeping our profession alive and the photo industry thrive. – xoxo from Zabrina

also click below links to view recent posts –

A Bridal Fashion Shoot from Le Colonial San Francisco Published on Cosmobride China Magazine Fall 2020 Issue

Engagement Photo of Jennifer & Anthony in San Francisco

Microwedding / Minimony of J & A in San Francisco

International prewedding shoot  – paris, seville spain.
International prewedding/Engagement Photos– chefchaouen morocco.
International prewedding Photos  – sahara desert morocco.

about me
zabrina is based in california who travelled the world to do wedding,  engagement & portrait photography.  she is an sony artisans of imagery and a holder of wppi master photographer.   a processor for over 60 international award winning photos.  zabrina is one of the  world’s top 50 world’s best destination wedding photographer from junebug weddings and has been featured on rangefinder magazine’s 30 rising stars of wedding photography.     she has accumulated 6 times 1st place winner and two international image of the year awards from wppi since 2011.   her work has been published on international master photographer vol 1, vanity fair (usa), grace ormonde wedding style (usa), town & country (thailand), cosmopolitan bride (china), elle (hong kong), stuff magazine (uk), vogue italia’s photovogue.  zabrina has also photographed the grammy award winner r&b band all-4-one for their 20th anniversary album cd cover.  zabrina is also a popular speaker for major photographic conferences across america & asia to train professional photographers taking their craft to the next level.

||story || awards || international || weddings || facebook || instagram ||sony artisan of imagery||

Space has Memory “In the darkest hour, that’s where the light shines.”We are in a Vietnamese restaurant with a long history. The courtyard is filled with tropical green plants and the cool tiles on the ground. This space, through the baptism of decades, brings fond memories of San Francisco residents (birthdays, weddings, wedding anniversary, first date). After experiencing the ups and downs of city development and expansion, this building is still – Thriving strong, strength is made.

Photography/Text: Zabrina Deng (WPPI Award Winning Photographer)

During the week when I went to Vietnam to take wedding photos back in 2015, I originally went there just to capture the beauty of my clients, the mountains and rivers. Although the scenery of Halong Bay is very beautiful, I was even more impressed after seeing many French style buildings, with their interiors use of green, & white color tiles. Also its rich food culture offers creative plates that combine Vietnamese, French, Chinese, and Western. Such as Vietnamese-French Sandwich with Pate & Ham, and the fusion fashion culture, etc., which made me understand France’s long colonial history has a profound influence on Vietnamese culture and food. Human feelings are complicated. Regardless of whether the colonialism is good or bad, we as foreign tourists, perhaps with a little more compassion, a bit more appreciate the strength of the Vietnamese people. Even in unstable political time, we should use creativity to work with our heart & soul.

As the creative way of Survival from desperation.That’s why I agreed to wedding planner Christine Eng in September to shoot this project in San Francisco. We have women vendors from all walks of life to participate in this project. Starting from the month of March, our restrictions on gatherings, shelter-in-place order, the pause of all industry events has made many small businesses suffer for more than six months. Many of them have already closed down because of the domino effect. As one of the members of the creative community, I want to stand up and support this female community through each other. These small businesses, especially female small businesses, are very creative and passionate about their work. There are many others who are full time mothers during the day but had to climb out of the warm bed in the middle of the night in order to take care of work on their own business. So when she asked me to take this editorial project, along with my affection for the Vietnamese colonial culture, I immediately SAY YES! We are in this together. I hope to encourage each other in the wedding industry with creativity.

“Behind every successful woman is a tribe of other successful women who have her back.”

Christine Eng said that when she was designing the idea for this project, she was very careful to select those small businesses to participate in it. She invited women from different backgrounds and skin tones, their talents are incredible. They’ve shown off their creative and unconventional flower designs, delicate details on wedding cake. Various designers use beauty to knit dresses and shoes, veils, hairstyles, precious jewelry, French desserts and venue decorations. They all generously demonstrated their professional enthusiasm and strength. The craftsmanship of calligraphers and photographers can make you cry. We are women who are passionate about work. For herself, and for us, the most important thing is that we together overcome this epidemic.

Vendors

Tiffany Mann, MiGoodies BakeSale

www.migoodiesbakesale.com , @migoodiesbakesale

Bridal Gown Boutique 

Helen Miller, And Something Blue Bridal Boutique

http://andsomethingblue.com/, @andsomethingblue

Calligrapher

Shaochen Wu, Monstera Gold @monstera.gold

Florist

Monica Lomas, Verde SF 

http://www.verdesf.com/, @verdesf

Headpiece Designer

Kalico DeLaFay for Dark Garden

www.darkgarden.com , @darkgardencorsetry @kalicodelafay

Jeweler

Elaine Abesames, Elaine & Co. @elaineandco

Macarons

Chef Alex Trouan, Artisan Macaron @artisanmacaron

Client of Hope Patricia Daly, HPD Public Relations www.hpdpublicrelations.com  

Makeup/Hair Stylist

Jasmine Chan http://beautybyjasmine.com/ , @beautybyjasminechan

Photographer

Zabrina Deng, @zabrinaxyz |contact@jezaphoto.com

Photo Retoucher

Karla Cordova

 www.karlacordova.com , @talitac8

Prop Stylist

Ethel Brennan

@ethelwbrennan

Shoes

Alice Tsou, Jimmy Choo

https://us.jimmychoo.com/en/home , @jimmychoounionsquare

Stationer

Alex Korynne, Korynne + Company

https://korynne.co/, @korynne.co

Venue

Michelle Cheng, Le Colonial

Sales and Private Dining Manager

www.lecolonialsf.com, @lecolonialsf

Wedding Coordinator

Christine Eng

www.weddengboss.com,  @weddengboss

also click to view recent posts from the past –

prewedding shoot  – paris, seville spain.
prewedding  shoot– chefchaouen morocco.
prewedding shoot  – sahara desert morocco.

about me
zabrina is based in california who travelled the world to do wedding,  engagement & portrait photography.  she is an sony artisans of imagery and a holder of wppi master photographer.   a processor for over 60 international award winning photos.  zabrina is one of the  world’s top 50 world’s best destination wedding photographer from junebug weddings and has been featured on rangefinder magazine’s 30 rising stars of wedding photography.     she has accumulated 6 times 1st place winner and two international image of the year awards from wppi since 2011.   her work has been published on international master photographer vol 1, vanity fair (usa), grace ormonde wedding style (usa), town & country (thailand), cosmopolitan bride (china), elle (hong kong), stuff magazine (uk), vogue italia’s photovogue.  zabrina has also photographed the grammy award winner r&b band all-4-one for their 20th anniversary album cd cover.  zabrina is also a popular speaker for major photographic conferences across america & asia to train professional photographers taking their craft to the next level.

||story || awards || international || weddings || facebook || instagram ||sony artisan of imagery||

also click to view recent posts from the past –

prewedding shoot  – paris, seville spain.

prewedding  shoot– chefchaouen morocco.

prewedding shoot  – sahara desert morocco.

about me

zabrina is based in california who travelled the world to do wedding,  engagement & portrait photography.  she is an sony artisans of imagery and a holder of wppi master photographer.   a processor for over 60 international award winning photos.  zabrina is one of the  world’s top 50 world’s best destination wedding photographer from junebug weddings and has been featured on rangefinder magazine’s 30 rising stars of wedding photography.     she has accumulated 6 times 1st place winner and two international image of the year awards from wppi since 2011.   her work has been published on international master photographer vol 1, vanity fair (usa), grace ormonde wedding style (usa), town & country (thailand), cosmopolitan bride (china), elle (hong kong), stuff magazine (uk), vogue italia’s photovogue.  zabrina has also photographed the grammy award winner r&b band all-4-one for their 20th anniversary album cd cover.  zabrina is also a popular speaker for major photographic conferences across america & asia to train professional photographers taking their craft to the next level.

||story || awards || international || weddings || facebook || instagram ||sony artisan of imagery||

While back in May when I was 6 month’s pregnant, I had so much fun photographing Harley from Hong Kong for her fashion style portrait in Paris.  Thank you Harley and the rest of the clients are super patient with me during this time, a turn o a century event happened to me, the birth of my baby #2 last month and I’m catching everything I can while breastfeeding the baby or whenever baby sleeps in my left arm, I use my right arm to work! Haha!!

Special thanks to makeup artist Reesefrom L’Atelier de Reese who makes magic.  now that i’m taking a longer stretch maternity break, my next time going back to europe to shoot would be in the late spring of 2020 in may. so use the contact form above if you are interested in booking to shoot in europe next year. – xoxo za

also click to view posts from the past –

prewedding shoot  – paris, seville spain.

prewedding  shoot– chefchaouen morocco.

prewedding shoot  – sahara desert morocco.

about me

zabrina is based in california who travelled the world to do wedding,  engagement & portrait photography.  she is an sony artisans of imagery and a holder of wppi master photographer.   a processor for over 60 international award winning photos.  zabrina is one of the  world’s top 50 world’s best destination wedding photographer from junebug weddings and has been featured on rangefinder magazine’s 30 rising stars of wedding photography.     she has accumulated 6 times 1st place winner and two international image of the year awards from wppi since 2011.   her work has been published on international master photographer vol 1, vanity fair (usa), grace ormonde wedding style (usa), town & country (thailand), cosmopolitan bride (china), elle (hong kong), stuff magazine (uk), vogue italia’s photovogue.  zabrina has also photographed the grammy award winner r&b band all-4-one for their 20th anniversary album cd cover.  zabrina is also a popular speaker for major photographic conferences across america & asia to train professional photographers taking their craft to the next level.

||story || awards || international || weddings || facebook || instagram ||sony artisan of imagery||

From San Francisco to Paris, it was my great pleasure to photograph Vivien & Matt (from SF) in Paris in late Spring while I was 6 months pregnant.  The weather was perfect so it wasn’t too crazily hard to do that while carrying my little tummy! Paris holds a special place in my heart and it was the city kick-started my destination wedding photography career.   I can never turn down anyone who wanna go there!  Thank you Vivien & Matt for taking me to Paris and your kindness how you’ve treated me on the job, and Makeup Artist Reese and lighting guru Dany Simon, our wonderful time together during this shoot will always be remembered.

Now that I’m taking a long maternity break getting ready to deliver baby #2 anyday now, my next time going back to Europe to shoot would be in the late Spring of 2020 in May. So use the contact form above if you are interested in booking to shoot in Europe next year.

Special thanks to makeup artist Reese from L’Atelier de Reese who makes magic for my clients and Shangri-la Hotel, Paris for your generosity.

Also click to view posts from the past –

Prewedding Shoot  – Seville spain.

Prewedding  Shoot– chefchaouen morocco.

Prewedding Shoot  – sahara desert morocco.

About me

zabrina is based in california who travelled the world to do wedding,  engagement & portrait photography.  she is an sony artisans of imagery and a holder of wppi master photographer.   a processor for over 60 international award winning photos.  zabrina is one of the  world’s top 50 world’s best destination wedding photographer from junebug weddings and has been featured on rangefinder magazine’s 30 rising stars of wedding photography.     she has accumulated 6 times 1st place winner and two international image of the year awards from wppi since 2011.   her work has been published on international master photographer vol 1, vanity fair (usa), grace ormonde wedding style (usa), town & country (thailand), cosmopolitan bride (china), elle (hong kong), stuff magazine (uk), vogue italia’s photovogue.  zabrina has also photographed the grammy award winner r&b band all-4-one for their 20th anniversary album cd cover.  zabrina is also a popular speaker for major photographic conferences across america & asia to train professional photographers taking their craft to the next level.

||story || awards || international || weddings || facebook || instagram ||sony artisan of imagery||

part 1 of 3 – seville spain.

part 2 of 3 – chefchaouen morocco.

part 3 of 3 – sahara desert morocco. – scroll down to enjoy.

ps. i will be in paris & amsterdam from may 21 – 30th. i can maybe take 1 more client for a mini session. please contact me [contact@jezaphoto.com] asap if interested. check out my previous paris prewedding post! my next international travel shoot won’t be avail until summer 2020.

about me

zabrina is the soul of jeza photography and is based in california who travelled the world to do wedding,  engagement & portrait photography.  she is an sony artisans of imagery and a holder of wppi master photographer.   a processor for over 60 international award winning photos.  zabrina is one of the  world’s top 50 world’s best destination wedding photographer from junebug weddings and has been featured on rangefinder magazine’s 30 rising stars of wedding photography.     she has accumulated 6 times 1st place winner and two international image of the year awards from wppi since 2011.   her work has been published on international master photographer vol 1, vanity fair (usa), grace ormonde wedding style (usa), town & country (thailand), cosmopolitan bride (china), elle (hong kong), stuff magazine (uk), vogue italia’s photovogue.  zabrina has also photographed the grammy award winner r&b band all-4-one for their 20th anniversary album cd cover.  zabrina is also a popular speaker for major photographic conferences across america & asia to train professional photographers taking their craft to the next level.

||story || awards || international || weddings || facebook || instagram ||sony artisan of imagery||