When you think about it, a Mac computer, iPhone, or tablet has many competitors on the market that boast similar products. What draws loyal fans back as soon as the latest product is launched? The answer is, arguably, the marketing. The sleek and simple Apple logo has become much beloved and recognized around the world.

A few years ago, we did a photo shoot for Hyper on their HyperMac line: batteries compatible on Apple devices such as an iPhone or iPad. Hyper definitely knows its stuff when it comes to marketing—they combine eye-catching models and bold colors to turn a product photography session into a fashion shoot.

With the launch of Hyper’s new product line, HyperJuice—a USB-compatible device that sends photos from a professional camera to a portable storage and viewing device such as an iPad—we found ourselves at the Wedding & Portrait Photographers International (WPPI) trade show in Las Vegas. Hyper kicks it off big this year with scantily-clad, hand-painted models, their pronounced muscles and defined curves accentuating all that is beautiful about the human body.

As a nod to the electronics industry, recognizable symbols are painted over the models’ eyes and on their bodies: A Wifi symbol, a battery icon, a music note, the Hyper cross logo.

To add to this already amazing display of art, the models also molded their bodies together, sometimes forming shapes such as the HyperJuice iUSB Port device.

We are used to being behind-the scenes with our cameras and equipment, and our subjects are the stars and focal point. At WPPI, however, we found ourselves at center stage with more than 20,000 photographers and filmmakers passing by to watch us do the professional shoot. Talk about an audience! Many people found it hard to give just a passing glance to such decked-out models.

As they played and posed, entwining their bodies together to become one, it hearkens to the relationship between humans and technology in the current day and age: we admire our devices, we couldn’t keep our hands off them, we count on them to stay connected, we love them.

Thus is art so simply expressed and conveyed, powerfully marketing a product by catching the eyes of thousands of passersby.

Standing 50 miles south of San Francisco is California Historical Landmark #930, the Pigeon Point Lighthouse. What does this have to do with love? Named after the Carrier Pigeon ship that wrecked on its shores in 1853, this operative lighthouse, since built, has lit the way for ships with its reassuring and steadfast beam of light. It boasts the reputation of being one of the tallest lighthouses on the United States’ west coast and is undeniably situated in a picturesque location, sitting atop tide pools and rocky cliffs, backed by an azure sky and swirls of white clouds in the summer, speckled by purple wildflowers in the spring.

Capture the Love is proud to be the first-place recipient of a photography award for a picture taken at Pigeon Point seven years ago. So when Manuel and Amanda asked us to photograph their engagement shots at the same place, we were happy to revisit this memorable place. Symbolic to them since Manuel had proposed to Amanda close to here, we think it’s the perfect backdrop to highlight their love.

Love leads the way in the dark for those who are lost and seeking the light. Standing tall and steady is the lighthouse, a lover beckoning for a ship to come home as it is tossed amidst a silent and unrelenting sea.

The lighthouse lens go round and round with its reliable flash of light. So too does life come full circle as it sometimes does in it serendipitous way.

I have not photographed landscape images in a long, long time. Well, engagement sessions come close but not close enough. Here’s one, photographed just last week at Cinque Terra, Italy. The city of Vernazza. Their seafood is fresh, olive oil, top notched and the temperature in the ocean, perfect for a pristine swim. If you do go, be sure to hike between the five cities. The view is perfect for anyone with a camera. Bellissimo!!!

As we say goodbye to 2011, we also say goodbye to the headache of renovating our photography
studio. We spent 3 months dealing with the fine white dust from the drywall, the teeth-shattering jackhammering, and the noise from dawn till dusk. Renovation is super stressful, especially if, like me, you’re someone who is meticulous about the tiniest details: light, color, the shape of the tiles, design, ambiance, and on and on.

But the good news is that our studio renovation is finally complete! Champagne all around, please! Happy New Year!!!

We decided to go through the remodeling process because we wanted to be able use the studio as an elegant backdrop in photos. Renovation of this proportion usually takes 6 months, but we
completed a majority of it in just under 3 months because we are utilizing the space as a studio and can’t have such a long downtime. We had to be extremely creative in making the renovations in sections.

We did all the interior design ourselves, and we’re so please with how it turned out! The studio used to be really dark, but now light pours in from skylights and windows. Glass doors open onto the yard, creating a flow between indoor/outdoor living space.

We created more light by adding 7 new skylights, and a bunch of new windows. We also installed at least 60+ new light fixtures into the studio, most of which are LED (energy efficient and non-toxic).

The interior has a wedding theme with a glamorous, contemporary, warm and extremely sexy feel. The furniture is modern and cozy, the perfect place for couples who are getting married to get comfortable, have some wine and cheese, and chat with us about their plans.

The fireplace is elongated, see-through and set into beautifully curved tiles, bordered by wood. The other side has a large black granite surround, sitting on a sensual red wall. The see-through fireplace is fun because it’s essentially 2 fireplaces in one.

The salon also received a facelift with new light fixtures, glass French doors and new flooring.

With its beautiful lighting, flowing design, comfortable furnishings and elegant touches throughout the space, visitors tell us the new studio has the feel of a high-end lounge.

What an amazing way to end the Engagement Session in the North Beach, Oahu, Hawaii with Brian & Dee. As I was going to pack up after the session, Brian and Dee are already cleaning up and Tiffany was about to collapse the light stand, two surfers walked right in front of us. My ninja skills snapped into action for this last but sweet photograph in our 10 day Hawaii extravaganza.

Photos from the Engagement session with Brian & Dee will be up shortly! Need to rest as we just returned from Honolulu, Hawaii mere hours ago.

Bram has the largest eyes a baby can have while Cade tore up and down the bunk bed with a jedi saber. Keeping up with them is one thing but photographing bad moments are impossible with these children. They are absolutely adorable. I had my super duper assistant with me, Ethan. My 10 year old whose main job is to hold my reflectors while playing with the kids. haha! He barely makes minimum wage but shhhh….don’t report me. He still needs his dad.

These are the children of one of my buddies, Terel Beppu of Intero Real Estate. Terel is definitely not your typical realtor. He is the type who goes above and beyond for his friends and clients alike. You can’t help but trust this guy. I remember a story of him buying groceries for his sickly neighbor whom he does not even know, and checking in on her for her son, who soon became his good friend.

Another story from his wine-loving clients, was that he took them out to Alexander Steakhouse in Cupertino and presented a surprise gift to them, none other than the wine they always wanted to try, the 2000 Lafite Rothschild. The record price at auction for a Lafite Rothchild was $156,000, for a 1787 Chateau Lafite which was once thought to be owned by Thomas Jefferson. [/end winesnobness]

Photographing children that will end up in a baby album is very different than just shooting say, fashion. It’s previsualizing what can go into the album. One thing to keep in mind is the consistent lighting and color rendition. Interior lights tend to be yellow (2900 Kelvin) while outdoor window lights is a bit more neutral (5500 – 6500 Kelvin). So, you’ll have to make sure that the lights you bath the child in, is much stronger with one than the other.

Kids love to run around and at times, so, be spontaneous. Not all good photographs need to be sharp, as it showcase the fun factor of the photos themselves of the child’s character.

Bram & Cade brought a lot of joy to the few hours I spent in their beautiful home. Thanks to the Beppus for such a great opportunity!

No wedding day is perfect. However, the beauty is that the imperfections make the wedding memorable and unique. See the Nestldown wedding photos in PR Web

“Rain on your wedding day is not the ideal for most couples; however, Michael managed to take the gloomy weather and turn it into some of the most amazing photos,” said Jennifer Hiatt, the bride.
Read more in San Francisco Chronicle

“True artists can create beauty from adversity. Capture the Love found the silver lining on our rainy day,” said Jasper Hiatt, the groom. “When you look at Michael’s photos, you feel the couple’s personality and energy. That’s what capturing the moment is all about.” Read more in Yahoo News

The original post with full photos from the October 30th’s outdoor wedding photos in Nestldown, Los Gatos can be found in our Rain on my wedding day blog posting.

We are very blessed to be one of Yelp’s highest ranked photographer in the bay area. Yup, with approx. 50 FIVE STARS reviews, we feel loved. However, today came an email stating that we now have a negative FAT ONE STAR review in Yelp! A one-star what?!!

We’re breaking the mold ! Making history and causing chaos in the industry. People officially now hate us on Yelp!

- Michael Soo
Sad Photographer of the Year

Who would have thought, that product photography for actuators, servos and motion control products can be an eye opener. We have photographed the cover pages of Animatics for the past few years now. These are what their servos, motor controller amplifiers and SmartMotorâ„¢ look like (actual cover photograph for their main brochure),

However, never in my wildest dreams do I realize that these products that I photographed are one and the same mechanisms that power this crazy amazing kinetic sculpture! Check out this stunning video!!!

The past two months has been nothing but a truly humbling experience for us. We have been blogged, reviewed, voted and published. Here are some of our recent delightful encounters that made us blush to no end…

• As of today, we’ve been voted to TOP THREE of the BEST Wedding Photographer in the entire San Francisco Bay Area by San Francisco Chronicle. Help us Capture The Love become #1 !!!

• Queensberry saw our work and they love what they saw!

• Profoto, a high end international professional lighting company interviewed and blogged about us

• James Robinson, a fellow photographer found us via the Profoto Blog and went ahead to interview us

• Our work was published by both Gizmodo AND Engadget at the same time!

• We got into the front cover and numerous pages of the highly successful Nesting Newbies magazine!

• We’ve taught in several highly successful workshops in Santana Row and were requested by Smugmug to be the South Bay’s Smug Leader, proceed to give talks and organize activities for hundreds of local photographers!

We feel really blessed and we’re definitely counting our blessings and appreciate all the support and love we have gotten over the years from everyone!