FAQ

What types of photography/videography do you do?

I love meeting new people and working with new people (which is one of the main reasons I love being a photographer), and I have experience in doing different types of shoots, including engagements, weddings, elopements, maternity, professional headshots, events, and just-for-fun portraits, among others. If you don't see it mentioned here on my site, just inquire.

Where are you located?

I share a studio with my wife, Ming, of makeupbyming.com, in Burlingame, CA, but am available to shoot all over the San Francisco, Bay Area.

Are you available for travel or destination weddings?

Absolutely. What's more fun than traveling, taking photos, and shooting video? Traveling, taking photos, and shooting video with fun and awesome people like you! In all seriousness, though, I love to travel and would be honored if you asked me to travel with you to capture your special moment.

What is your typical process for working with a new client?

I take pride in taking the time to understand my clients and their expectations, so a consultation is a must. Gaining a full understanding of my clients' needs is just as important, if not more important, than the actual act of clicking a shutter button, pushing record, or adjusting saturation levels. Gaining that understanding is the only way I will be able successfully tell the story of the moments I capture in a way that my clients will love. My philosophy is to shoot with you, not of you.

Additionally, I am a highly organized person and will work in conjunction with your wedding planner/coordinator to ensure that things go smoothly on your big day.

What advice would you give a customer looking to hire a photographer/videographer?

Meet the photographer/videographer and make sure your personalities mesh; if you can't meet, try to have a conversation at the very least. You'll be freezing time in the photos and videos that you take, and you'll want to be the most comfortable in those moments so that your natural emotions show through the lens. Whether you'll only be doing one shoot (headshots) or a sequence of multiple shoots together (engagement, wedding, day-after), you'll want to be as comfortable as possible when you're staring down the barrel of a lens, and that starts with the person on the other side.

What questions should customers think through before talking to professionals about their project?

What type of style would you like your photos/videos in? Artistic, classic, documentary, lifestyle, vintage?

What specific moments are you hoping to capture?

How many hours of coverage will you need for your event?

Will you need a second photographer for your event? How many people are in your wedding party? How many physical locations/addresses will be visited on the day of your event? How much do you care about capturing different moments that happen simultaneously? Are you the type of person that notices the imperfections in everything?

How did you get started doing this type of work?

I've successfully spent most of my professional life in commercial real estate and property management, but I always had a passion and love for photography, videography, and just documenting moments in general. I also love working with all sorts of different people, and I consider myself a people person, so that part of it came easily. However, I never thought about doing photography/videography professionally until I met my wife. She gave me a little nudge and encouragement, opened my eyes, and helped me see that I could actually do what I love on a daily basis.

What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?

I'm a self-taught and self-trained photographer and videographer with one year of formal gigs under my belt. I've had a passion for capturing moments for as long as I remember. I'm on Instagram and other social media now, mainly because I have to be, but I understand that some of us want to preserve moments in time for our own (and family's) sake - not just to share with the internet. As I've been told many times by my friends, I'm a very nostalgic person - I find meaning in anything having to do with the past, and I cherish memories, big or small. Being a photographer has allowed me to express this and to help my clients capture the big and small moments, composed with honest feelings and thought for the end product, knowing that someone down the line will look at the image or watch the video.

Will I get all the images that are taken?

Depending on the type of shoot or the package you choose, there will be different guaranteed numbers of post-processed photos provided to you. Each of these photos will be the "best" of the different variants we captured on the day of the shoot - they will be handpicked and edited based on feeling, composition, lighting, and technical aspects of the photo. Please reach out to me via the Contact page with specific questions or booking inquiries.