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shelldance orchid gardens wedding venue with flowers and plants showing with a groom and groom standing in the distance wearing black tuxes

How to Plan a Shelldance Orchid Gardens Wedding

Venues

How to Plan A Shelldance Orchid Gardens Wedding The Ultimate Guide to Planning a Shelldance Orchid Gardens Wedding (complete with pricing and photos) With a setting seemingly taken from a movie, having a Shelldance Orchid Gardens wedding is perfect for those having an elopement or small intimate wedding! Exciting for both botanists and lovers alike, one can’t help but look around in awe at this nursery and how unique this setting is for a wedding day. For those who want a unique setting for their celebration, choosing a Shelldance Orchid Gardens Wedding is perfect! TLDR – A wedding at Shelldance Orchid Gardens is fit for intimate weddings and small elopements.– The Shelldance Orchid northwing is the ceremonial and reception space with room to seat 50 people.– The Shelldance Orchid foyer greets your guests and poses as an appetizing initial room.– The Big Orchid Room at Shelldance Orchid Gardens bears the highlight of the venue; showcases plants of all variations.– May be rented at an affordable rate, flexible owner Shelldance Orchid Gardens Wedding Cost Rental Fee : $950 for up to 4 hours (1 – 8 hour rentals are possible also). Weekdays onlyCapacity: up to 50 guests. Best for elopements under 10 guests How to Book Email: nancyvictoriadavis@outlook.comPhone: (650) 355-4845 (Saturday and Sundays only 11AM – 4PM)Website: https://www.shelldance.com/events.html Shelldance Orchid Gardens Wedding Locations The North Wing Arguably the most important, the North Wing is the ceremonial (and reception) space for your wedding. The North Wing is a beautiful, bright, and protected space that glows with natural sunlight. With a path leading from the Foyer to the stage, it seems like this room was designed with weddings in mind! With enough seating for 50 of your closest friends and family, this room provides the perfect backdrop for an intimate wedding ceremony. If the reception is also being done indoors, it can be easily turned around while your guests enjoy cocktail hour outside since the decor is mostly taken cared of! The Foyer The Foyer includes an array of plant species that greet your guests immediately for an unforgettable first impression. On a day as important as your wedding, the initial moments at the venue are often times the most impactful and set the tone for the rest of the day. As you enter, you can’t help but look around in awe and appreciate the venue. With the hanging moss and refreshing scent of nature welcoming you, the Foyer acts as an appetizing initial room to show what this venue is all about.  The Big Orchid Room The Big Orchid Room is where guests can walk amongsth the hundreds of orchids on sale, as well as serve as a momentary escape for some unique portraits amongst the plants. This area is one of my favorite rooms at the venue because only after seeing rows of orchids of all shapes and colors did I really appreciate the beauty and variety of orchids. I can appreciate why they are my mom’s favorite type of plant and one of the highlights of having a Shelldance Orchid Gardens Wedding. Best Times for a Shelldance Orchid Gardens Wedding The temperature in Pacifica stays fairly consistent throughout the year, with a bit more fog compared to San Francisco and a few degrees colder as well. The hot period (high 70s low 80s) doesn’t last too long, but September and October are the warmest months and are very comfortable. See the graph below for a more accurate outline of the yearly temperatures.  Conclusion Whether you have an elopement at Shelldance Orchid Gardens or not, the natural beauty of this unique wedding venue will leave an impression regardless. And while you are there, you might as well take a plant home and let it serve as a reminder of your wedding day to act as a natural wedding favor! Despite the beauty and uniqueness of this wedding venue, it can be rented for a vary affordable rate since the owner is all about giving back to the community and is passionate about sharing this lovely nursery with others. Shelldance Orchid Gardens is one of my favorite places to elope in San Francisco, but check out this more extensive list for other San Francisco Elopement Locations if you would like more options. 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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university-club-palo-alto-wedding

How to Plan a University Club of Palo Alto Wedding

Venues

How to Plan a University Club of Palo Alto Wedding Ultimate Guide to Planning a University Club of Palo Alto Wedding (with pricing and photos) The Perfect Wedding Venue to Elope – University Club of Palo Alto With picture perfect views, food, and service, the University Club of Palo Alto is a great wedding venue for couples who want to elope or have a small, private wedding. The 6 acres of land are surrounded by trees that provide excellent privacy for the outdoor ceremonial patio, which is only a few steps away from the indoor reception room. Just 20 minutes East of San Jose and 40 minutes South of San Francisco, this venue is an easy trip for your close family and loved ones! Overall, the University Club of Palo Alto is an excellent venue to say I do for small and personal weddings or elopements. Outdoor Ceremonial Patio Surrounded by beautiful, native oak trees and hidden by the Matadero Creek, the outdoor ceremonial area at the University Club of Palo Alto is described as Palo Alto’s “best kept secret.” Above the patio rests a beautiful wooden canopy, under which the wedding ceremony takes place. The open rafters on the canopy allow for the perfect amount of natural lighting – great for amazing wedding photos 😀  Additionally, a beautiful stone terrace provides a second option for couples who are interested in having an oak tree as the background for their ceremony. With white sheer drapes decorating the tree and beautiful golden sunlight beaming down onto the terrace, this outdoor area is the perfect option for great natural lighting.  Indoor Reception Room The indoor reception room has a truly welcoming feel, designed to make you and your guests feel at home. The 5,200 square foot clubhouse is home to the main dining room, which is where your reception will take place.  Well maintained with large bay windows, the reception room looks out onto the outdoor ceremonial patio and terrace. The expansive wooden rafters and warm lighting of the room provide a unique, gazebo-like feel to the reception area, perfect for your special day.  The cozy indoor clubhouse is small enough to make custom design, style-choices, and color coordination easy when it comes to decorating. With the perfect amount of ceiling, wall, and table space, the finishing touches to your decorating efforts are sure to come out beautifully.  Closing Thoughts For couples who would like to elope or enjoy a small venue for their wedding, the University Club of Palo Alto is the perfect choice. With a reputation for excellence, beautifully maintained outdoor area, and picture-perfect reception room, the club offers an intimate experience that caters to your privacy.  Both areas – from the terrace/ patio to the reception room – are directly next to each other, encouraging more interaction and special moments with the people you love most. I understand that your wedding venue selection takes time, vision, and careful planning to achieve the perfect outcome, and hope that you have gained valuable information about the University Club of Palo Alto to help with your search. Overall, this venue is not only special, but is the ideal choice for a private wedding and elopement.Thank you for reading, and be sure to reach out for any photography requests or additional information! Also, be sure to visit my blog for an insider look at a wide range of California wedding venue options 🙂 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 mountain terrace wedding couple backlit under trees

How to Plan The Mountain Terrace Wedding

Venues

The Mountain Terrace Wedding The Ultimate Planning Guide to The Mountain Terrace Wedding (with pricing, photos, and video)​ If you are planning The Mountain Terrace wedding, read below for an extensive guide to help in your wedding planning! It is one of my favorite wedding venues in San Francisco and is perfect for any wedding small or large. Check out the photos and videos below to help in your decision to get a little feel for how pretty this wedding venue is! Why The Mountain Terrace Weddings​ The Mountain Terrace, located in Woodside, CA, is one of best outdoor wedding venues in the San Francisco Bay Area, known for its scenic bay views and stunning redwood grove. With decades old trees acting as a wedding ceremony backdrop, it is the ideal setting for anyone wanting natural beauty and fresh air. A fire pit, swing, and the giant open lawn all help add to the casual feel at this scenic venue.  The Mountain Terrace is one of the few wedding venues in the San Francisco Bay Area that allows for just a morning wedding ceremony. Popular if you are doing a restaurant reception, for example, the morning ceremony allows you to have the best of both worlds. Many Couples choose a more intimate outdoor ceremony with close friends and family before going to a much larger function at a restaurant, for example.  The Mountain Terrace Wedding Cost​​ Rental Fee + F&B Min: $23,000+Deposit : $500Capacity: up to 300 seated guestsHours: 8 hour rental period To get a more detailed outline, please check out their pricing page How to Book A Mountain Terrace Wedding​ Phone: 650-851-1606Website: https://www.themountainterrace.com/weddings/Contact Form: https://www.themountainterrace.com/contact The Mountain Terrace Wedding Locations​ The Great Lawn The Mountain Terrace is known for its grand lawn outfront, that can accomodate up to 300 seated guests. In addition, the backdrop of the redwood grove serves as the perfect ceremony location to say your vows. The Great Lawn is where the ceremonies are all held. Reception Hall For those wishing to keep things indoors, their rustic lodge provides a cozy atmosphere for the reception. Warm candle lighting and a string lit patio help compliment this wedding venue along the Peninsula, as well as heaters outdoors for those wanting to have a safe balance between an indoor and outdoor reception. The Evening Sky One of the best things about the Mountain Terrace, in my opinion, is the ability to see the stars at night. Couple this with the fire pit, giant sequoias and redwoods to block the wind, and you have the perfect setting for an evening stroll when you want to catch your breath from all the dancing inside! Situated around the Santa Cruz Mountains, there is little light pollution around this area and allows you to fully appreciate the nature of this location. We often forget to look up sometimes (I know I do!) and this wedding venue out in nature allows us to appreciate the world and the people we surround ourselves with. https://youtu.be/ibmrGG9xbac Conclusion Hopefully this post gave you an idea of how a wedding at Mountain Terrace can look like. With its location in Woodside, it offers a nature surrounding for you and your guests to explore and celebrate. If you are interested in other redwood wedding venues, check out my post for the best Bay Area redwood forest wedding venues. The Mountain Terrace Wedding Photos​ Weddings at The Mountain Terrace on the Blog​ Scarlett and Stephen Wedding Interested In More Information? Please Fill Out the Form Below! 415 756 9335  ianchinphotography@gmail.com

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Why I Became a Photographer

Informational, Personal

Why I Became a Photographer Pre digital age, when film was the only photography format available, my dad was always that one person who had a camera around his neck and took photos. With 2 other siblings in the house, it perhaps became his responsibility rather than his passion, but nevertheless I attribute my joy in photography to my Papa. And a majority of what I do is to continue his memory and to make him proud.  He was the quiet type, which allowed him to use the camera as a shield at family gatherings, but also use it as a way to break the ice when needed. Around high school age, my brother initially took it up when my dad gave him a camera to play with. Since he had several cameras laying around, he introduced it to me as well and I said, “Sure, why not give it a shot?” I really believe that if my brother didn’t first take an interest in it I would not have cared for it. 2 years his junior, I was just as an impressionable teenager as any, but also a very competitive sibling as well 🙂 Our family summer trips eventually became my yearly responsibility, taking over for my dad as the family photographer, since my brother quickly lost interest in it.But as most starting photographers begin, I did not really enjoy taking photos of people, so my early days of photography started in a very different field. Growing up by Golden Gate Park, I had an endless array of subjects and would take photos as often as I could.Couple that with me being a quiet teenager, photographing nature became my main interest and way for me to practice photography.  My interest in nature photography led me to photography almost daily at the Park, shooting whatever caught my eye. Flowers, sunsets, and wildlife all became the subjects of my overexposed photos. Eventually, I grew to appreciate and study birds, which became my main subject of choice for a while, because I started noticing them a little more after all my walks in the park. Befriending other birders / bird photographers at the park, I was introduced to long lenses that I never knew existed, and made the whole world of photography even more addicting! The world of zoomed in photos even opened up an entirely new (and temporary) fascination in my life – birding. And because of this, I am probably one of the few wedding photographers in the world that can name two dozen birds as well 🙂 After a few years of taking a lot of bad photos and a few decent ones, I thought I would try my hand at sports photography, since it seemed the most related subject to wildlife photography than anything else.  Whether it was my lack of business skills, my lack of photo skills, or all of the above… Sports photography did not pan out back in my early days. Of course, as a enthusiastic hobbyist photographer, I happily tried to shoot any and everything, including Night club event photography – my first real consistent gig.  As a mid 20s single guy, night club photography was awesome! I got to go to all the clubs, get free entrance for myself and friends, and flirt with girls! I mean…network! 🙂 In an era without smart phones, virtually all of the most popular clubs wanted a club photographer to show how awesome their venue is and how much fun people had the night before! The pay was garbage, but it allowed me to practice my flash photography, and allowed me to get out of my comfort zone of shooting in only natural light and having to talk to my subjects.  Though this specific genre for me was short lived (how many 26 year olds nowadays do you know go to the clubs three nights a week?), night club photography taught me one of the most important lessons that I use today – how to talk to strangers And become a pseudo-Richard Simmons type behind a camera When shooting, I like to think I’m one of the more approachable and talkative photographers because I genuinely enjoy what I do. The camera in my hands allows me to be what Sasha fierce is to Beyoncé. Other people who have seen me work have told me I smile and dance a lot, but of course , I never notice myself doing them. I suppose I am so happy when taking photos and I just move my body uncontrollably 🙂 Eventually that exposure with taking photos of people lead me to focusing on people. One day I sort of said that I have taken enough photos, learned enough technique, and I should just toss myself out there. Within my first week of posting a random ad on craigslist, I booked my first gig to photograph a school teachers session where the kids were creating artwork for a book she was going to publish. Fast forward a year later, and my first published photos were created! 🙂I still have those children’s books and they are arguably one of my more valued possessions because it relates to my very first gig and how far I have come. I have since developed as a photographer from those early days, (taking several workshops from photographers I deeply admire for starters), but I definitely plan on continuing my education as the years carry on. And through it all, I still hope I carry the same enthusiasm for taking photos as I did my very first gig, because I have no reservations in saying that photography is my true calling. I am so blessed to have found the one thing I absolutely adore. If my Clients see the result of my passion in their photographs, I’d like to think I made the right decision and can make Papa proud. I may not be able to physically hug him, but at least I can utilize photography

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baker beach rainbow couple holding hands and walking along Baker Beach with a rainbow over the Golden Gate Bridge in the background in San Francisco

11 Best Places to Take Pics in San Francisco

Informational

11 Best Places to Take Pics in San Francisco Ultimate Guide to the Best Places to Take Pics in San Francisco (with photos and descriptions) Below is my ultimate list of the best places to take pics in San Francisco, all offering many different scenic locations and iconic views to choose from. As a San Francisco native, I love exploring new places to shoot in the City, but these are the most popular for a reason! Whether you have lived in San Francisco for many years, or are traveling here for vacation, the list below will help introduce you to the 11 best places to take pics in San Francisco to help make your photo session a success!  1. Baker Beach Baker Beach is the most common location I photograph for engagement sessions in San Francisco. Free and plentiful parking, unparalleled views of the Golden Gate Bridge, and a diverse setting around the area help make this one of the best places to take pics in San Francisco for many. Beaches aren’t just seen during the day! I especially love photographing at Baker Beach at dusk, where the Bridge lights up and illuminates the blue sky as well!  Baker Beach If you plan it right, the Golden Gate Bridge reflects in the water at low tide and you can take your photographs to a whole new level! On a side note – closer to the Bridge is clothing optional and it is not uncommon to see a nude body on a sunny day 2. Palace of Fine Arts The Palace of Fine Arts is the second most common location I shoot at and offers a more elegant look for those who prefer the more formal setting. Its ornate architecture and photographic dome attracts locals and tourists alike, making it also one of the busiest locations on this list. Opposite the lake facing the dome allows for panoramic views of the entire location, and shooting under the dome allows you to fully appreciate the art deco close up.  Palace of Fine Arts This is one of my favorite places to shoot on a sunny day because the shadows and light that filter through the columns offer so many unique opportunities to play!  3. Lovers Lane With the snake-like trail of logs, Lovers’ Lane provides the perfect outdoor setting for those who love nature and earth tones. It is one of the more hidden best places to take pics in San Francisco since it is a short walk down the road from a busy road. 4. Lands End To narrow down locations for the 3.4 miles of Lands End, I’m going to separate it into two places – Sutro Baths and Point Lobos.  Both of these locations provide a stunning view of the ocean and offer especially magical light at sunset. Sutro Baths Sutro Baths is the area at the bottom of the Lands End Parking Lot, known for the ruins of the old swimming house. Lands End Point Lobos offers a stand of trees in addition to the ocean view, and overlooks Sutro Baths from above.  5. Crissy Field The pier on the western end of Crissy Field is called Torpedo Wharf, offering one of the closet views of the Bridge in SF Crissy Field Crissy Field is a good choice because it has unobscured views of the Golden Gate Bridge as well as a variety of settings to photograph, all within a short walk or drive from each other 6. Pier 7 With its attractive wooden planks and row of street lights, I personally love the symmetry at Pier 7 as one of the best places to take pics in San Francisco. With downtown SF in view, the sky seems to burst in vibrancy at sunset and dusk here for some reason 7. Battery Spencer This place is always crowded (most Instagrammed view of the Bridge?) and takes a little luck to maneuver around other people because of the limited area, but rewards those who are patient.  For those who are early risers, this high vantage point is the best for sunrise, as the morning fog hovering around the span of the Bridge is just so magical. 8. San Francisco City Hall Pro tip – it closes at 8PM every night (unless rented out) so shooting here after 4PM more or less allows you to have the place mostly all to yourself! The grand staircase without a doubt is the prized spot throughout the entire building, but with 5 different levels there are so many photo opportunities even if the staircase is overflowing (which is common during the day) I’ve photographed here over 200x and always love the challenge of photographing it differently.  9. Stow Lake Golden Gate Park offers many locations for an engagement shoot, but the most common ones are Stow Lake and the Japanese Tea Garden.  Stow Lake is known for its mini waterfall and stone bridges that are popular backdrops for photos.  10. Japanese Tea Garden The Japanese Tea Garden is a very picturesque backdrop, offering numerous settings for your engagement shoot. Full of nature, it is hard not to get carried away at this small yet impressive garden. The Japanese Tea Garden requires an entrance fee ($5-$7/person) and has a secret grove of bamboo trees! 11. Legion of Honor Known for its white columns, the Legion of Honor is one of the best places to take pics in San Francisco for those who prefer a more elegant and modern aesthetic. The columns definitely serve as the main backdrop here, but about 70 yards away is an overview of the SF Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge Hope this list of the Best San Francisco Engagement Locations helps you out in your search! If you would like to view my other couples photos check out my engagement photography page. Or if you are interested in a family session, check out my family photography page. Interested In More Information? Please Fill Out the Form Below! 415 756 9335  ianchinphotography@gmail.com

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