Wedding, Music, and some just for fun

I seem to be slacking when it comes to writing about my recent endeavors. Since my last entry, I've been keeping rather busy... unfortunately, not so much in the photography department. But I've managed to photograph a variety of subjects...

Starting with some wedding photography. My friend and fellow photographer Eva Huynh invited me to tag along and help out with this shoot; and snap a few photos of my own. Good times, and congrats to Chinh and Vu :)

Next on the list is some music photography. My friend's band, Pin Pon Dash, was playing. A band from Japan, The John's Guerrilla, also performed; so I snapped a few photos of them too. If there's one thing I like better than photography, it's doing photography for friends just for fun. It has all the joys of photography, no stress, and the chance to make someone other than myself happy with my photography.


And finally, I met up with my wonderful friend Helen and snapped a few photos... in the forest. The forest location wasn't quite what I had in envisioned (I need to search more), and the original concept wasn't ready; but as always, it was a good time and I managed to get a few photos that we both liked. (Big props to Helen for laying down on the bacteria/bug infested bed of foresty stuff :). One thing I've realized lately though, is the photos that I like the most usually aren't the same ones my beautiful models like the most :o

And it won't end there... I have a few shoots planned for the near future, and a handful of people interested in doing a photoshoot... just need to schedule that. And summer is nearly here, which hopefully puts me out and about wandering around aimlessly getting my fix for nature and landscape photographs.

Will photograph for food

My friend was in need of some portraits; so naturally she went to the best photographer to do the job... or maybe the only one she knew? Anyways, I've never been much of a fan of taking money from friends; so when the topic of payment comes up, I always suggest treating me out to dinner.

Seeing as how I've so far only done photos for friends, my wallet hasn't gotten fatter; but perhaps my belly has :o Anyways, my most recent 'payment' was at one of my favorite sushi restaurants, Chiso.

Which got me thinking about this post that I wrote almost a year ago to this day. One year later, have I been able to visit the 6 restaurants I listed in that blog entry? Nope! Not even half! I blame this on Chiso. Once I discovered them, I haven't had any reason to go anywhere else for my sushi cravings. I know what I'll get at Chiso time and time again; delicious and fresh food, great service, and a friendly sushi chef to chat with.

But, I still want to try the other places... sometime. Anyone want to join me?

Sold a book!

I was headed over blurb.com to order one of my books (gift for a friend), and figured I'd check out some of the stats on my book. What I saw shocked me... someone besides me actually bought one of my books!! Now if only more people would buy it :)

Speaking of books, I haven't had a chance to work on my second photo book for the longest time. One of these days, Colour Japan will be complete. But when, I have no idea... ever since completing Infrared Japan, I've been very busy with my photography. I couldn't be happier in that regard :)

And some more photography

ひさしぶりね？　It's been a while since I've found time to update this blog. I'm sure all 3 of my readers have been anxiously awaiting an update for the past month... or maybe not.

Ever since doing photography for the Miss Vietnam Washington 2009-2010 pageant; I've found myself rather busy in the world of people photography. Which has been great!! Just a few years ago I couldn't for the life of me find willing subjects to photograph. Then I happened upon the Seattle Flickrites Meetup group, and found a few opportunities through a few events with them. But now, thanks to the pageant photography work, I now know a bunch of beautiful ladies who enjoy having their photo taken; and they now know someone who enjoys taking photos. Win-win!

As I mentioned in a previous entry, I was asked to do some photography for the University of Washington Hoa Khoi pageant. There's been a few lessons learned out of the whole deal...

1. Cover requirements and art direction... before taking photos! The original photos I took on a black background weren't well received (for who knows what reason), so I redid some on a white background.
2. Determine deadlines! Especially if you also didn't cover #1 and have to reshoot... causing you to bust your butt not once but twice, to deliver the finished product in a timely manner so they can be used... more than a month after delivering them >.<
3. Cover usage and credit... and if you don't do that, watermark your images. So now that the images are actually out there for the public to see... my name is no where to be seen. Not on the page where the photos are displayed, or on the sponsors page. Where's the love?
   

Since doing those portrait sessions; I haven't really been in contact with them, or them with me... so who knows what, if anything I'll be doing for this. Perhaps a little bit of a rant, but overall it's been an enjoyable time taking the photos, and I got 3 free lessons out of it!

Anyways, on to the fun stuff!

As I mentioned, I have been keeping busy with my photography. Since my last entry, I've done a few more photoshoots with some of my new found friends (Tryst, Helen (x2), and Ming), I volunteered and did some event photography for a Vietnamese Friendship Association benefit dinner, and photographed my friend's band's final performance. And I have another shoot planned with DieuTrinh. Good times!

And saving the best for last, I bought a new camera, the Canon 5D mk II... donations welcome to help cover the cost, lol :)

More more more Photography

Doing the (volunteer) photographer gig for the Miss Vietnam Washington pageant has kept me pretty busy as of late. You got to give a little to get a little. Well, I'm still in the giving a little phase... one day, perhaps I'll get a little. More importantly though, I'm having fun... which is really what photography is to me at this point in my life, a hobby. With the way things are at my day job, a little fun is just what the doctor ordered while things fall into place there.

So, what is or has been on my plate lately. A handful of the ladies from the pageant were in a fashion show (which I photographed) to benefit the Wellness Global Foundation. Sounds like a worthy cause. I haven't really gotten involved with charity much, with the exception of giving $10 a paycheck to the Employee Community Fund through work; not much, but just enough so I can give myself a pat on the back every now and then.

Anyways, I got off on a tangent. Besides the quick fashion show, I also enjoyed a day of running around the University of Washington campus doing a photoshoot with my friend DieuTrinh. Tons of fun, learned a thing or two that will make me a better photographer, and ended up with some great photos! And those photos have piqued the interest of others; so I may have a few more shoots in the near future.

Fun times! Now if it would only quit snowing and become summer already...