San Francisco Bridal Couture Fashion Shoot

A beautiful day, 72 degrees Farenheit in San Francisco and we spent the whole day in Sintak photography studio. All is not lost! We have a team of fun and talented individuals to party with indoors! We're shooting bridal gowns today!

Dresses are designed and tailored by none other than Jinza Bridal Couture. There are many bridal shops out there but if you are looking for custom-tailored dresses, using exceptional materials, look no further. Jinza uses only top quality fabrics, pure French silk, organza, crepe, chiffon for a smooth flowing look. Jinza is both down-to-earth and pleasant. Story has it that Kelly (the model and bride-to-be below, YES! She's a real bride to be married in a few months!) tried over 65+ wedding gowns at Jinza's with no pressure from Jinza. Now THAT is what I call "excellent customer service"!

Why let me tell you about it rather than checking out the shots...

(Click on images below to see them LARGE)

As with all weddings, I will only recommend the best makeup artists and hair stylists. Take a closer look (click on the image on the right) at the flawless makeup by Beauty Expert Tiffany and extraordinary hair styling by Mikel Sessions. You'll now have a few phenomenal vendors at your disposal.

Many thanks to Margarita and Kelly for being such amazing models.

- Michael Soo

Fashion, Lifestyle, Beauty, Glamour Photography!

I'm extremely pleased to announce the official launch of the website, Capture the Vogue that specializes in photography for fashion, lifestyle, beauty and glamour! It is a website is on my to-do list for many months now.

Some spots of time this past week has allowed me to put this website and its portfolio movies into action.

Check it out!

- Michael Soo

Strength in Diversity

By now, you probably think I'm a nutty professional photographer, dipping my toes into such a wide variety of subjects, from product photography to food photography to fashion photography to glamour photography to landscape photography and fine art photography to gosh, portrait photography, wedding photography and what else, commercial photography. On top of all that, I'm also well versed with Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Website Design!!. Still think I'm sane?! I think not. While 90% of professional photographers out there strive to specialize in one field of photography, I spread my wings and claim strength in all. Is my brain really that slow? Contrary to what you might think, I have good explanations on what I've done thus far.

1. Mastering different facets of photography has allowed me to apply my knowledge in one to another. For example, if I were to shoot an engagement session at a seemingly boring golf course, I can utilize my knowledge as a landscape photographer for composition; my discipline in fashion and glamour photography to pose my subject beautifully; my in depth experience with studio lighting to use bounce multiple light sources to the subjects to create a wonderful interplay of light and shadow.
2. It keeps me excited as a photographer and continually challenge my ability to improve. It is much more often to hear of, say a specialized wedding photographer to get bored of his craft due to lack of innovation, creativity and exciting work. He/She will tend to do the same style over and over again with overall little improvements. For me, however, I am never bored since I have been peaking my performance by learning everything I know from one area of photography to the next. What I thought about in one area of photography has constantly been applied to another.

However, in spite of the above, most clients tend to think of a photographer is best when he or she is specialized. Just think, a bride probably will be more apt to choose a photographer who is specialized in weddings versus one who does everything. How do you, as a photographer prove otherwise? Show them your portfolio. The images needs to speak and they will, if you are good.

- MS

Eat, Drink, Video and a Studio shoot

What better things to do than to have friends over (who bring beers and wines), edit some videos, have a great meal, have a couple of beers, some Chardonnay and a photoshoot? Good times! Ok, my idea of fun can be different than the average Joe and that's that. ;)

So Jen & Paul came by to edit Jen's video to showcase her experience as a news broadcaster. Jen, being a real sweetheart, brought not one, not two but TWENTY-FOUR bottles of beer and a bottle of chardonnay. I'm not sure where she got the idea that I edit video much more artistically while intoxicated. Brittany came over at 6pm. You don't know who Brittany is? Shame on you, go back into my past blog and read the Angel's Descent. Yes, you. You with the big nose! Go read it NOW and don't come back till you show this young lady some freaking respect.

Breathe! Breathe! Anyways, we finished the video editing. Damn fast job too. I managed to trick Jenny into thinking that it was extremely difficult and will take 20 engineers and 20 hours to edit, but with my spanking NEW Apple iMac, that typical 20 hour task shrunk down to a mere 2 hours using only half a brain (the other half is intoxicated, remember?). Anyways, went to BJ's for dinner, came back, and NOW, the fun begins. Rolled out the seamless gray and setup the lights, ready, set, SHOOT, SHOOT, FLASH, POSE, POSE, SHOOT, DRINK, DRINK, BURP, SHOOT AGAIN.

I have not had so much fun in a long long time. The absolute best shot of the night? Without a doubt, that prize winning photography goes to Paul who captured this winning image. I think I'm going to submit this image to some contest. I bet I'll win lots of money.

- MS