Cheryl, Vijay and Baby-to-be in Alamo Square

Cheryl and Vijay are something like eight and half months pregnant and I have to say they are doing extremely well – happy, relaxed (for the most part), and clearly working together.  I really enjoy seeing a couple that is so connected as they are.  Not only does it make a make a maternity portrait session a joy but you just know that the little child will be well cared for and loved.   Serious congrats to them for not only their new baby (almost) but also for their new house.  They definitely have it going on and I can’t wait see them they are officially a family.

We met at Alamo Square.  If you are familiar with San Francisco or have read any of my previous Alamo Square posts (I have a lot of family photo shoots there), then you know this is the home of famous Painted Ladies.  It’s also windy and on this day gray and cold.  Cheryl and Vijay didn’t let that slow them down and we got some really nice photographs.  Best part was seeing how playful they are together.  Vijay channeled his inner diva and came up with all sorts of posing ideas.  Apparently he had been thinking about this day for sometime.  Cheryl showed a level of grace and elegance that was a pleasure to work with – and that is saying something given how pregnant she is.

Cheryl and Vijay – thank you for letting me be apart of the this time in your lives.  Best wishes with the delivery and in the weeks until I see you again.

A few samples below and the complete gallery here (password required).

Click here if you do see a slide show above.

Blog Link: http://jchandlerphotography.com/1170

Heather and Patty in the Park

Normally my mom and daughter portrait shoots involve babies, dollies, and bellies.  This was different.  There were still lots of laughs and a few of those “how do we stand” awkward moments but this was two grown women with a clear love and respect for each other.  That was very cool to see.  Now Patty is still the mom and Heather is still the daughter, but they clearly have reached a point in their relationship where they can enjoy each others company as adults.  Family photographers don’t always get to see that that so it was a refreshing change.  We met at Alamo Square park, the home of the painted ladies and some great views of San Francisco.  It’s also home to a fairly strong afternoon wind which made for some challenges.   But Heather and Patty were troopers and we had a great time.

Heather and Patty – thanks for letting me be apart of mother/daughter day.  Hope you enjoy the those.

A few samples below and the complete gallery here (password required).

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blog link:  http://jchandlerphotography.com/1145

Practice Sesson #1 – Reflections in the Panhandle

I wanted to keep track of what I learned in my practice sessions so I figured I would just blog about.

Yesterday, as has been common place this year in San Francisco, there was crazy rain up until 4pm.  Rain was so heavy in fact that I had tentatively canceled the practice session.  But the sun popped out so I ran down to meet Annika, Loden and baby brother Shael in the Golden Gate Panhandle.  I was there to practice reflection shots but Loden was there to fish.   Cutest thing – he kept handing me a stick and asking “do you want to fish with me?”

I was inspired to try reflections after seeing the work of FC Wong (http://www.fcwongweddings.com/).  His work is awesome and so original that I wanted to give them a go.

What I learned:

*  colors look great after a rain storm

*  Reflections for reflections sake don’t work – entire image still needs to have artistic quality

*  With a reflection, I need to clarify what is the main focus – the reflection or the real item/person.  If it isn’t identified, then the observer has the unsettling experience of going back and forth between the two.

*  Make sure that that the reflection contains everything – I have one shot below would have been the money shot of the shoot if I hadn’t cut his head off in the reflection.

*  in a flat reflection like a puddle, you can turn the image upside down for an interesting effect.

Great first practice session – that you Ehrlich family.

Gallery is here.

Blog Link:  http://jchandlerphotography.com/1135

Miles in the Mission – Classic San Francisco Portrait Session

This portrait session goes down as one of the great lessons learned – always be ready and never give up.

Saturday started off as crazy rainy day in San Francisco.  Dark, blustery and definitely not a day for a family portrait session.  The Laffan Family lives right in the middle of the Mission – one the hippest neighborhoods in San Francisco.  Angela wanted a few photographs of little Miles as a child with the murals that decorate numerous buildings and alley ways in that part of town.

We talked at 2 that afternoon when it was raining cats and dogs and decided to postpone the shoot.  By 3pm, the sun was breaking through the clouds and city was looking incredibly beautiful.   I wasn’t entirely comfortable calling back Angela but the light was so amazing that I thought it was worth another call.  Turns out Angela was thinking the same thing so we agreed to meet at 4.  I threw my camera bag in the car and headed to her house.

The portrait session turned out amazing.  We got shots that wouldn’t have happened had it all gone as planned.  Light was reflecting off the water and walls which lit up little Miles’s eyes and great smile.  Plus it gave him numerous puddles to play in.  And when he got hungry, we just rolled with it and got food at a taqueria.  That made for candids that honestly I never would have suggested. Angela was great the entire time and made for a fun and relaxed experience.

Thanks Angela for not letting the weather stop you and Miles.  I really enjoyed meeting you and learned a lot from this session.  I hope you enjoy the photographs.

A few samples below and more on the way.

If no slide show above, click here.

Blog Link:  http://jchandlerphotography.com/1110

Heather and Greg Engagement Session

Today I saw something that I don’t see everyday in San Francisco – a new view of the Golden Gate Bridge.   Do enough engagement sessions on Baker Beach and Family portraits from Crissy Field and you think you have seen the bridge in all ways possible.   But today I saw something new.

I was with Greg and Heather taking photographs for their engagement announcement on the Union Stairs (@Larkin).  We walked around the corner at the top of the stairs and see this perfect alley-like road with an amazing view of the  Golden Gate Bridge right above it.  Couldn’t ask for a better view and light so I sent them down for a moment and snapped a few shots.  Just have to love San Francisco – the beauty always amazes me no matter how long I’m here or him many photos I take.

Thanks Greg and Heather for showing me something new about the City.  I had fun with you and hope you enjoy the photos.

A few samples below and the full gallery is here (password required).

Click here if no slide show above.

Blog Link:  http://jchandlerphotography.com/1105

Doc Oliver’s First Birthday Party

On Saturday, I got to spend the morning with the Tran Family and 20 or so of their friends to celebrate little Oliver’s first birthday.  We met for a Korean brunch at the Seoul Garden in Kabuki Shopping mall.  Oliver was there with his sister Shea and his parent’s Amy and Owen.  Oliver was all styled out in his traditional Korean hanbok.  Amy and Owen were happy when Oliver picked out a stethoscope in his doljabi ceremony.  The stethoscope was laid out in front of him along with a baseball, $20 bill, a crayon.  Tradition says that the stethoscope selection means Oliver will have a long and successful career as a doctor.  We’ll just have to see how that works out but I can say that he has a great community of friends in San Fransisco to help him with all the hours of studying that he seems destined for.

Thanks Tran Family for including me in Oliver’s birthday.  And if you need a photographer for Oliver’s med school graduation party, please give me a call.

A few sample photos below and the complete gallery here.

If you can’t see the slide show above, please click here.

Blog Post Link:  http://jchandlerphotography.com/1086

Galleries

Couples/Engagement

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Couple sessions, no matter if they are to celebrate an engagement or just for fun are a blast.  Rarely do people get to hang out and simply enjoy each other.  Yes there is a camera and yes we may be in any one of numerous locations around San Francisco and the Bay Area, but that time is all about showing you as a couple.  Not the couple you think you should be or the couple that you think others want you to be, but really the couple that you are.  My sessions are full of smiles and laughter as couples let go of their well rehearsed “fake smiles” and have fun just being themselves.

blog link:  http://jchandlerphotography.com/1038

Maternity/New Born

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Few times in life are as exciting, amazing, wonderful and down right terrifying as when a baby is on the way or after he/she is born.  Mom, Dad, Grandparents, friends, family and everyone involved will experience a wide range of emotions.  That’s what makes it so exciting.  My job as the photographer is to convey as many of those emotions as possible.  As always, we are blessed with numerous location possibilities in San Francisco and around the bay, but honestly, I love to work with people in places that they are familiar with, like homes, parks and neighborhoods.

Blog link:  http://jchandlerphotography.com/1022

Families

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There is something about a family- the love, the caring, and the craziness. I try to show all of that in my family photos. I photograph on location and really love to work in a client’s home or favorite park. San Francisco has so many unique homes and communities that I think there is something extremely special in showing how people are living right now.

Blog link:  http://jchandlerphotography.com/1029

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