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Transgender Wedding Photos

Elopements, Gay Wedding / ,

Transgender Wedding Photos Court and Ash came from Australia to the US for this destination elopement, choosing Hastings House Garden Weddings for its secluded location to say their vows to each other. If you go through all of these transgender wedding photos, you will see how much fun and emotion the two had with their two guests as they sculpted a wedding day that gave them a “just us” experience. Ash never saw Court until she walked down the aisle, and his huge grin gave way that he was just as excited as she was to finally make it official! With Court’s best friend, a wedding planner at Stratford and Pearl, creating the perfect wedding timeline, it was only fitting she also participated in the intimate ceremony with a thoughtfully chosen poem to offer advice to the Couple.  After the ceremony we spent half an hour wandering the garden, taking advantage of the luscious space and savoring the moment. They were so playful and down for whatever ideas I tossed out, even “picking his nose” to get some awesome natural reactions. I have tried this idea with other Couples and have either been greeted with a confused face or enthusiastic compliance, to which they obviously went for the latter. It was so carefree and natural the entire time photographing them, and their energy and love for each other made it obvious they were made for each other. One of the main reasons I love elopements more than larger weddings is that I am able to connect with the Couple more intimately and that they are always so much calmer on their wedding day. There aren’t hundreds of guests for them to spend a few minutes with before they have to leave and focus on the next thing on the timeline…it is all about them and what they want to do. If this sounds like something you might be interested in, check out these Reasons to Elope and the Best Places to Elope in San Francisco. And if you would like to read up on their story more, check out these publications : Gay Weddings and Marriage Magazine Venue : Hastings House Garden WeddingsPlanner : Stratford and PearlOfficiant : Officially Hitched   Interested In More Information? Please Fill Out the Form Below! 415 756 9335  ianchinphotography@gmail.com 762 10th Ave San Francisco, CA 94118

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lovers lane marriage proposal

Lovers Lane Marriage Proposal

Marriage Proposals

Josh proposed to Rachel with this Lovers Lane marriage proposal with the intention of showing her an art installation there. Having met in college and moving to the west coast from Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, Josh knew Rachel had never been to this specific area of the Presidio and knew he could take her by surprise, despite her claim that she would 100% know when he would propose 🙂 Lovers Lane is a top marriage proposal location because it is hidden from obvious road and foot traffic, and the picturesque row of trees with sunlight beaming through is like something from a movie. Being a short walk from any real street parking, it is mostly known to locals or people intentionally going there to walk along its snake lined tree trunks that make it so popular to shoot around. Fortunately, only a small group of people were present in the distance and the couple seemingly had the entire place to themselves. Josh asked Rachel to close her eyes for 10 seconds, got down on his knee, and popped the question. Rachel definitely had one of the best reactions I’ve photographed for a marriage proposal, even dropping down on her own in shock – further in disbelief when she caught sight of my camera pointed right at her priceless reaction. If you want to read the full story of this awesome couple and their Lovers Lane marriage proposal, you can see the published article on howheasked.com Don’t forget to check out this summer marriage proposal at Lovers Lane also! Interested In More Information? Please Fill Out the Form Below! 415 756 9335  ianchinphotography@gmail.com 762 10th Ave San Francisco, CA 94118

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The Fairmont San Francisco Wedding

Wedding

The Fairmont San Francisco Wedding Taylor and Paul held their Fairmont San Francisco wedding in the city they love, providing a luxurious wedding occasion with the best overflow of laughs and smiles for two weddings! Just like their engagement shoot, they were full of joy seemingly the entire time, basking in the amazing day with such carefree personalities that they are so appreciated and known for. As I photographed Taylor in her bridal suite getting ready, you could feel the anticipation and recognition of the big day ahead as Taylor and her bridesmaids were giddy with excitement, discussing all the details of the day, including, but not limited to, her dress, jewelry, and the unique piece sitting atop her head, which was the first thing I noticed upon entering the room! As I later found out, the crown had been hand made her great – grandmother and passed on from generation to generation. One can only imagine the memories and pride felt by her mother the first time seeing her daughter with the crown! And if the photo below of seeing their only daughter in her wedding dress was any indication, I am sure that moment for both parents was a truly meaningful moment for them both. This family heirloom was the perfect item to check the box of “something borrowed,” and was a beautiful centerpiece to her ensemble. As you can tell from the reactions of her bridesmaids and her soon to be husband, she was a glowing Bride from head to toe in her dress and crown! After a very touching wedding ceremony involving all the typical Jewish traditions, some emotional vows, and a solemn moment when the two came together in a special embrace, we continued on to the family formals before heading outside with the entire wedding party to capture a photo opportunity only made possible in San Francisco. Being wed in the City, it was only fitting that we captured the iconic Cable Cars that passed in front of the hotel along their touristy route. With San Francisco’s renowned hills as the backdrop, it took a couple of tries to get a patient Cable Car to stop for an extra moment, but everyone’s smiles, including the enthusiastic driver and some well wishers riding the train, made the effort all worthwhile. This little instance proved to be indicative of the entire day, as they went with the flow and shrugged things off with a smile and enjoyed the day with all their favorite people. At the start of the reception, Taylor informed me that it is typical in Armenian culture for the newlyweds to do a “dance in,” whereas they make their entrance together in dazzling fashion. This little hint forecasted things to come as the whole dancing theme would be an amazing memory for me to take home and to show you here! One of the many impressions about this evening were the traditional dances and individual moves that were busted out (Taylor’s brother is pretty athletic can you tell?!)  All the subtle hand movements, the energetic leg kicks, and the group involvement all contributed to an epic dance party for hours! Having both a traditional Armenian musician and a party cover band (see below) provided music and entertainment for everyone in the room! It was so fun being able to capture the sweat and smiles as people danced long into the night! I was in awe of the energy and mesmerized by the coordination and hope this isn’t the last time I see these group dance moves! And even if it is, having the memory of Taylor and Paul’s wedding isn’t too bad for being the only time, wouldn’t you agree? 🙂 Venue : The Fairmont SFVideographer : The Edde BrothersFlorist : Paul Robertson Floral DesignsBand : Pop FictionMakeup : Lauren ErskineHair : Makeup by Amy S Ceremony Music : Eclecta QuartetArmenian Music : KhatchigPhotobooth : Kande Photobooth Interested In More Information? Please Fill Out the Form Below! 415 756 9335  ianchinphotography@gmail.com 762 10th Ave San Francisco, CA 94118

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Fairview Crystal Springs Wedding

Wedding

Fairview Crystal Springs Wedding This Fairview Crystal Springs wedding was one for the memory books with the last of 8 siblings getting married. Needless to say, there were a lot of happy family photos, laughs, and dzo’s of course!!! (pronounced as “yo” – cheers in Vietnamese).  Tom and Jackie had their wedding at Fairview Crystal Springs in Burlingame, hoping to capture the outdoor beauty of the hills overlooking the Crystal Springs Reservoir. Unfortunately, Mother Nature had a different idea and forced the Ceremony indoors. Despite the last minute change, the smaller quarters complimented the Ceremonial focus of family and faith, creating a more intimate atmosphere for the occasion. Nieces and nephews provided music and sang for the couple, and their local pastor added his personal flair of comedy and religion into his service.  With such a large family, I ended up taking over 100 different formal group photos throughout the evening. Always the “hardest” part for the Bride and Groom with all the smiling, they managed to smile for every single one…even if it took a solid hour throughout the day! 🙂 As I was leaving, Jackie told me that she was initially bummed out about the rain, but that at the end of the night that was the last thing on her mind and that she was simply overcome with so much happiness. She was having a marvelous time, her guests were having a marvelous time, and she was adding a large loving extended family into hers. It was flawless. With all the laughter and joy I saw , you would think everything went perfectly as planned for this Fairview Crystal Springs wedding. As far as I’m concerned…it did! Live. Laugh. Love.  Venue : Fairview Crystal SpringsWedding Coordinator : Cat DuFlowers : Rosedale Floral DesignHair : Liezel StylesMakeup : Marlyn ValenciaDJ : Adam SuguitanVideo : Fusion Films Interested In More Information? Please Fill Out the Form Below! 415 756 9335  ianchinphotography@gmail.com

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sanborn county park wedding bride and groom standing under redwood trees while wedding guests watch

Sanborn County Park Wedding

Venues

How to Plan a Sanborn County Park Wedding Ultimate Guide for Planning a Sanborn County Park Wedding (with pricing and photos) TLDR – Sanborn County Park weddings are picturesque with pleasant weather shaded by trees– Weddings at Sanborn County Park are reasonably priced, starting at $495 for reservations.– Peterson Grove in Sanborn County Park can accommodate just over 100 people– Sanborn County Park holds ceremony times anywhere from 8am to sunset, unavailable for nighttime celebrations. Interested in having a Sanborn County Park wedding and looking for inspiration? Sanborn County Park is ideal for those who love the outdoors and want an open space for their ceremony. Located in the South Bay, you can expect predictable sunny weather so you don’t have to worry about weather disrupting your outdoor wedding plans. Read below for all things regarding a Sanborn County Park wedding! Why a Sanborn County Park Wedding For those who want an outdoor wedding venue in nature, this is arguably the best location for it for the beauty, weather, and price. With the grove of redwood trees acting as the perfect ceremony backdrop, this outdoor wedding venue is one of the most picturesque and affordable settings in the Santa Clara county area. It is perfect for a wide variety of tastes, ranging from a large celebration to a small elopement DIY wedding. Sanborn County Park Wedding Cost Wedding Permit Fee: The $120 wedding fee includes a one-day photography permit, a one-day wedding rehearsal available Monday through Thursday, a one-on-one planning meeting with a park ranger, and the ability to reserve your wedding date up to one year in advance. Reservation Site Fee: If you would like to hold your wedding ceremony at a reservable park site, an additional site reservation fee is required on top of the wedding permit fee. Pricing varies depending on the reservable group area, so be sure to review the reservation fee table below for specific site costs. Vehicle Entrance Fees: Vehicle entrance fees are not included in the wedding permit fee or the reservation site fee. Most parks charge a per-vehicle entrance fee for guests attending the wedding. Pre-paid vehicle entrance tickets are available and highly recommended. These may be purchased up to one week before your event. Please note that a $12 processing fee applies to all pre-paid ticket SANBORN CAPACITY PEEK FEE OFF-PEEK FEE Sequoia / Peterson Grove (covered) ​200 ​$433.00 ​N/A ​Costanoan (covered) 100 ​$341.00 ​$257.00 ​Ohlone (covered) ​100 ​$341.00 $257.00 How to Book a Wedding at Sanborn Park Phone: (408) 355-2201Website: https://parks.santaclaracounty.gov/plan-your-visit/fees/wedding-feesEmail: reservations@prk.sccgov.org Address: 16055 Sanborn Rd, Saratoga, CA 95070 Reservations can be made up to one year in advance Sanborn County Park Wedding Locations Ceremony Deck The ceremony location in the Peterson Grove is on a medium sized deck, offering space for a little over 100 seats, or providing a comfortable standing area for elopements and smaller weddings. Amplified music is only allowed in the Sequoia / Peterson Grove, but some music restrictions apply during summer months. photo by Ian Chin Photography Reception Grounds An open picnic style area outlines the reception space for up to 300 guests. photo by Ian Chin Photography An Elopement in Sanborn County Park With ceremony times anywhere from 8AM – sunset, you have flexibility in crafting your wedding timeline to cater to your needs and have the entire place to yourself. There few areas more perfect and convenient than a wedding in Sanborn County Park. An elopement in this South Bay wedding venue means you and your partner can have the perfect outdoor wedding surrounded by centuries old trees.  Eloping here allows you time to focus on intention while allowing for some awesome photography. It’s an ideal location for a wedding that combines a love of the outdoors and an appreciation for nature. If you are thinking of adding adventure to your wedding with a nearby hike, check out the best elopement dresses under $200 if you don’t want to worry about wearing a bulky elopement dress all day and worrying about it getting dirty. Sanborn County Park Wedding Photos Best Months for a Wedding at Sanborn County Park Saratoga can get pretty hot during the summer months, which also coincides with the most daylight hours of the year, so plan accordingly. Though Sanborn County Park does offer a lot of shaded areas for your wedding, the whole of the South Bay area can get weeks long dry heat waves. Restrictions Reservations can be made anywhere from 8Am – sunset, so for those who prefer a nighttime celebration you may have to look elsewhere! Decorations cannot be glued, stapled, or nailed to preserve the natural look of this wedding venue and public park.  If you are interested in other venues, check out my extensive list (50+) of the Best Wedding Venues in San Francisco or the best wedding venues in Saratoga Interested In More Information? Please Fill Out the Form Below! 415 756 9335  ianchinphotography@gmail.com Related Posts on the Blog

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Beach Themed Cake Smash

Family

The Luong Family held Sebastian’s beach themed cake smash / one year old family session at Dunes Beach in Half Moon Bay, thinking a location farther from San Francisco would prove to be more sunny to compliment their surf and beach themed photoshoot! I photographed Sara and Tat’s Maternity Shoot at Land’s End about a year ago, so I was excited to help document another important part of their lives together. Sara previously sent me a bunch of sample dĂ©cor photos showing an interest in a surf and beach themed photo shoot, going all out buying appropriate props and completing the set up with her own surfboard. It was a gorgeous sunset at the beach and the more unknown Half Moon Bay beach allowed us to avoid big crowds and to enjoy the scenery mostly all to ourselves. It is always nice when families coordinate clothing, and the Luong Family dressed up in perfect attire for the shoot depicting California beach weather. Sebastian was his typical happy self, smiling and giggling as the balloons waved in the air and also tracking his mom’s enthusiastic attention-grabbing motions behind the camera. Tat and Sara are one of my closest friends and it is always an honor to document their life events, being able to witness the ups and downs and “riding the waves” of parenthood along with them.  Cake smashes are 50 / 50 as to whether the kid will even touch the cake, but fortunately Sebastian is a very curious child and from his enthusiasm, tearing into the cake proved he enjoys making a mess! This beach themed cake smash was the perfect mixture of their personalities and it was great seeing Sebastian’s joy as his feet touched the sand. Congrats on year one down you guys! If these early days are any indication of whats to come, you guys are going to be just fine! Interested In More Information? Please Fill Out the Form Below! 415 756 9335  ianchinphotography@gmail.com

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Fort Mason Engagement Shoot

Engagements

Fort Mason Engagement Shoot Jordan and Jenny wanted to have a personal take on their Fort Mason engagement shoot, as Jordan brought his guitar as a prop to also signify a connection to their relationship. The did end up making quick stops at Potrero Hill and Market Street for the Cable Cars, but they knew they wanted to spend the most time at the Great Meadow Park at Fort Mason since they spent a lot of dating time there as well. When Jordan was courting Jenny, they would spend time jamming together and spending many nights centered around their love for music. Always smiling, the two were equally as comfortable playing the guitar together in front of the camera as they were at their homes like they did many times before. They chose to start off at Fort Mason for its personal connection to them and the City, then proceeded to look for a cable car to hop on around Ghirardelli Square for some cute photos to represent their love for San Francisco.  I love it when Couples incorporate props and personalize their photo shoots, instead of solely choosing a location because of its scenery. Admittedly, Fort Mason is not a popular location for an engagement shoot, (see the most popular locations here) but their personal attachment to it helped make this shoot more special. Regardless of the setting, the personalization of the prop ideas helps brings more focus to the couples and their love for each other. Ultimately, I try to highlight the relationship of my couples, regardless of where they are because at the end of the day, that is all that matters. Congratulations Jordan and Jenny and thank you letting me capture your beautiful and unique relationship at your Fort Mason engagement shoot.  Interested In More Information? Please Fill Out the Form Below! 415 756 9335  ianchinphotography@gmail.com 762 10th Ave San Francisco, CA 94118

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V Sattui Winery Engagement Shoot

Engagements /

V Sattui Winery Engagement Shoot Loren and Chrishantha chose to have a V Sattui Winery engagement shoot in Saint Helena because they love their wine, but also because of its picturesque settings around the venue. V. Sattui is actually one of my favorite wineries to visit not only because it is such a beautiful venue, but also their picnic tables and delicious lunch provide the best outdoor setting to enjoy the Napa Valley weather. In addition to satisfying my stomach, it also offers many different photography settings. The terrace, cobbled stone grounds, and access to the barrel filled cellar are all nice escapes from the traditional grape and leaf expected photos at a winery. I have been lucky enough to photograph at V. Sattui Winery for other occasions but this was the first time we had the place all to ourselves, which is a rare occurrence given how popular it is. Then again, arriving in the morning definitely helps with this! If you are going to have a V Sattui Winery engagement shoot it is best to arrive right as it opens to take full advantage of this beautiful wedding setting. Combined with the typical great Napa Valley weather, it was easy to accent the fall colors of the season with the early morning glow to help highlight the couple and their affection for each other. It was great roaming around the grounds and we took full advantage of the fact that we had the place to ourselves, shooting at most of the scenic spots of the place. They were in such high spirits despite the early morning, and you could tell that they were meant for each other and loved being together. Interested In More Information? Please Fill Out the Form Below! 415 756 9335  ianchinphotography@gmail.com 762 10th Ave San Francisco, CA 94118

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Santana Row Engagement Shoot

Engagements /

This San Jose Santana Row engagement shoot was one of the more intriguing and interesting shoots for me because we were shooting in a shopping area not commonly used for photography! To me, the location isn’t that important since your connection, relationship, and having fun is what I care about! The location certainly helps add some personality to the images, so I was excited to see so many different backdrops and color for these photos! Being a San Francisco native, most of the locations I recommend in the Best Engagement Shoot Locations are around there, so it was great to add a new location in the South Bay with this neighborhood. For anyone who lives around San Jose, you have inevitably walked around Santana Row. The shops, food, and shops(!) all cater to more or less any and everyone. We planned our shoot for a weekday to avoid the massive crowds that can gather in this popular shopping district, which was a great idea to avoid having to wait too long for people to walk by. With any urban engagement shoot, I like to walk around and simply see what I see! There is no real planning, so the hunt for light, composition, and background is a bit of a gamble. Fortunately, havving these two lovebirds with me made it that much more fun and exciting chasing the above. As you will see, there were opportunites for both abstract geometric walls (thanks random loading dock) as well as colorful walls that I’m sure can be found on any Santana Row hashtag. Colorful walls and natural laughs are always a great combination. And every once in a while I will go for the more abstract stoic look, as you will see on the first photo of this Santana Row engagement shoot 🙂 Interested In More Information? Please Fill Out the Form Below! 415 756 9335  ianchinphotography@gmail.com 762 10th Ave San Francisco, CA 94118

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