Chen Photography

It is not hard to tell that I was not very active on this blog in 2010. The fact is that I was not very active as a wedding photographer in 2010. This was not by choice, however. And, in response, I urge couples looking for photographers to keep value and quality in mind as they look at costs during our country’s economic recovery.

I made a conscious decision to price myself in an “in-between” spot. I am right in that price range where I hope to work with couples that want to invest in quality photography, but cannot go after bigger names at higher prices. I try to provide the professionalism and personal attention that every couple deserves, regardless of price. But I don’t offer the portfolio of services that others do. You will absolutely get professional photos, professional service, and personal attention. But albums, online ordering – I just don’t offer those when this is a second job (about which I am very passionate, but a second job nonetheless).

The results were that I got great couples with whom to work, just the right number of bookings to keep me busy yet enable me to provide excellent customer service, and about the right amount to start expanding my advertising.

Unfortunately, with the recession and the slow recovery, I priced myself out of most jobs this past year. Those that were considering spending a bit more on a professional decided not to do so, and those that were committed to having a photographer generally had a higher budget. Also, I could not afford to advertise where I wanted, further limiting my exposure.

Therefore, my point: if you’re planning you’re wedding, spend some time thinking about the importance of having a professional photographer. We know lighting, we know timing, we know when to be where and what lens to have at that time. That’s what we do.

What we offer is value that you won’t get if you pursue other options. You not only get photographic memories that you’ll cherish, but also a quality that you just can’t get without an experienced photographer.

You don’t have to hire me. But I hope that the drop-off in my business isn’t a sign of couples thinking photography is not as important as it really is.

I was fortunate enough to be an assistant photographer for a traditional Chinese wedding on August 9, 2008.  While I missed the tea ceremony and some of the formal photographs on what was apparently a 10 or 12 hour shoot, I was at the reception for Josephine and James.

One of the great things about being an assistant is that I am tasked with taking photos that I would normally have time to do if I were there alone.  My job is to get a different perspective for the couple to look at.  While I stuck with the same “capture the feel of the event” approach that I always use, I also used a bit more black and white and some different angles. 

Personally, I feel that this added to the work of the primary photographer, and I hope that Josephine and James feel that way, too.  The two were wonderously happy that day, full of smiles and laughter.  It seemed everyone there was a close friend or family member.  I think that there are few times when one can say that having one’s friends and loved ones nearby is not the best of times, and for that time to be one’s wedding is that much sweeter.

Emily & Kirk’s wedding was on July 12, 2008, in Gilroy, CA, at the Eagle Ridge Golf Course.  The course offers a stunning backdrop for ceremonies and other photos, and the reception/banquet halls inside were beautiful as well, with great panoramic views through windows seemingly everywhere.

I think that Emily and Kirk’s wedding is a big part of why I enjoy wedding photography so much.  The two actually had a civil ceremony months earlier.  So one would think that the even would be something of a formality in many ways, a chance more for friends and family to gather than for the two of them to have a moment as special as any other wedding (this is just conjecture on my part). 

But, despite that, this ceremony and reception was just as emotional and meaningful to the couple as any I’ve had the pleasure to photograph.  The joy and love was obvious.  I am fortunate to have had a chance to be at the ceremony and reception, much less be the one to photograph and memorialize the event.

Even more importantly, Emily and Kirk were a real pleasure with whom to work.  This is the kind of even that a photographer hopes for – a great couple that had fun, a family and group of friends that were there to help make the day memorable, and a beautiful setting.

I hope that the two of them have a long and wonderful marriage that lasts for decades.

One thing that struck me in particular was that Kirk, who had been something of a world traveler, moving from one location to the next, found Emily and was ready to settle down.  How many couples can say that about their relationship?  Finding love, yes.  Changing an entire lifestyle because that love is so strong?  Even I have to tip my hat at that.  And raise my camera in congratulations.

Okay, so now I’ve changed a few colors, tried to make the design a bit more friendly. I’ve also added some photos to each of my pages, and that prompted me to add a bit more info to each page. I’m trying to make the site a bit richer.

Next up is photos from my last two weddings, and then a post that collects multiple weddings together.

I hope all are liking the site so far.

Well, the next step is done, kind of.  I have the link to my new portfolio working, though I was unable to embed it into the actual layout here.  I would have liked everyone to not have to go to another section of the site to see the portfolio.  Next, I have some editing of the appearance.

Some photos from this year’s weddings coming up, too.

The first step in all this site rebuild is to get the basic site elements redesigned.  I pride myself on being a “professional” and I want all of you visitors to know that.  So I’ve gotten the top image replaced (though that might change still) and will be working on the little “star” bullets next (I’m presuming that a different-looking bullet might be better).

As I mentioned, I hope to change up the front page so that it opens up with a slide show of my latest work.  You’ll see that pretty obviously when I get it done, but I am working on it.

Well, last night I discovered that basically our entire site had been hacked by an unscrupulous person.  So I had no choice but to to take the entire site apart and start from scratch.  Obviously, the banner is all wrong and I’m still working on basic stuff like recreating my pages about who I am, what I do, etc.  Hopefully we’ll be up and running again at full speed by Monday, and then have some enhancements I’ve been meaning to do soon thereafter.  But, in the meantime, we’re still in operation and ready with cameras!