<![CDATA[BLOG]]>

<![CDATA[BLOG]]> https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/ EN Thu, 02 May 2024 20:17:00 -0700 Incomedia WebSite X5 Pro <![CDATA[Professional Headshot for Your Career]]> imblog

Ever since LinkedIn became a revolutionary career networking platform for professionals, the need for a professional headshot along with the user profile became essential. Let's face it, a picture is worth a thousand words. One of the first things hiring managers notice is the profile picture. Having a professional headshot that represents you can play a crucial role in determining whether you get an interview. Hence, it is advised to get your headshot taken by a professional photographer who specializes in headshots.

Some might wonder if they could use a DIY selfie instead. While selfies may work if done correctly, it may not be worth the risk of rolling the dice. A professionally taken headshot involves several key factors: lighting, backdrop, composition, and expression. Let the professional photographer do it right for you.

We at Kurty Photography have been helping thousands of business professionals, actors, models, talents, and real estate agents with captivating professional headshots since 1988. We are one of the longest-established photo studios in San Francisco. We've seen it all and snapped it all. Plus, we're all about making life easy for you. Book, shoot, edit, retouch - bam, done. We offer easy booking and quick turnaround. Make an appointment for your headshot today and receive your retouched image on the same day. Let's make that headshot magic happen. Your LinkedIn profile will thank you. We make you smile, and your satisfaction will make us smile.

]]> Fri, 03 May 2024 03:17:00 GMT https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/?professional-headshot-for-your-career https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/rss/000000054 <![CDATA[Capturing Your Best Side: The Fun and Frolic of Professional Headshots ]]> imblog

It was a rare treat to work with Haley, an aspiring actress, model, and performer seeking a variety of captivating images for her portfolio. With an array of poses and dramatic backgrounds, we were able to create some beautifully moody images that she can use to promote her aesthetic and emotive range."

Are you ready to embark on a photoshoot adventure that's as fun as it is fabulous? Well, look no further than Kurty Photography! From dazzling smiles to fierce confidence, Kurty and Kerim at Kurty Photography knows how to make your professional headshot session a blast. So, grab your camera-ready outfit, strike a pose, and get ready to dive into a world of picture-perfect fun.

The Kurty Experience

From the moment you step into the world of Kurty Photography, you'll feel like a star. With a warm welcome,

Kurty's team skilled photographers knows how to make even the camera-shy feel like a supermodel. They'll put you at ease with their friendly banter, ensuring that the nervous jitters are replaced with giggles and laughter. Trust us; those smiles will make your photos shine like no other. Feel like a chameleon as you transform from your everyday self into a polished and camera-ready version. Your confidence will soar, and you'll strut your stuff in front of the camera like a seasoned pro.

Strike a Pose

Now, let's talk about posing. If the thought of striking a pose has you feeling a bit awkward, worry not! Kurty Photography's experienced photographers will guide you every step of the way. They know how to capture your best angles and expressions, all while making the experience enjoyable.

Expect lots of playful directions, funny moments, and candid conversations that result in genuine, captivating headshots. And don't be surprised if you find yourself laughing, twirling, or even doing a little dance during the shoot. After all, the best shots often happen when you're having a blast.

The Big Reveal

After your exciting headshot photoshoot, it's time to see the magic unfold. Kurty Photography offers a special "reveal session" where you get to relive the joy of your session. Your heart will race as you see the stunning images that showcase your personality and style.

From chic and classy to edgy and adventurous, your headshots will be as unique as you are. It's a moment of pure excitement as you select your favorite shots, knowing that each one is a gem.

Final Thoughts

Having professional headshots taken by Kurty Photography is not just about capturing your image; it's about creating an unforgettable experience. It's about having fun, boosting your confidence, and celebrating your uniqueness. So, why wait? Book your session today and let the laughter, smiles, and shutter clicks create headshots that truly reflect the fantastic you!

]]> Sun, 29 Oct 2023 04:51:00 GMT https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/?capturing-your-best-side--the-fun-and-frolic-of-professional-headshots- https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/rss/000000053 <![CDATA[ZF North America Grand Opening]]> imblog

It was a great honor for us to serve as the official event photographers for the opening of ZF North America's West Coast Mobility Hub in Pleasanton, California. The event showcased their state-of-the-art autonomous driving systems, which are powered by advanced sensor technology, smart control systems, and intelligent actuators. ZF North America is a subsidiary of ZF Friedrichshafen AG, a global technology company that provides systems for a wide range of vehicles and industries. With its headquarters in Northville, Michigan, ZF North America has 42 facilities and 10 research and development sites across the US and Canada.

As event photographers, we understand the importance of capturing each key evemt. To ensure that we captured the best moments of the grand opening event, we arrived early to scout the location and identify the best photo shoot spots and lighting. We positioned ourselves strategically to get the best angle for photographing the ribbon-cutting ceremony, which was attended by top technology companies such as Lucid Motors and AT&T. In addition to covering the expert panel discussions and demonstrations of the autonomous driving system, having two photographers allowed us to capture dynamic angles and details that gave the client more options to choose from. We also provided live photos of the event highlights, which the client used for social media posts. With a quick turnaround time, we edited the many shots we took and delivered them to the client promptly. Overall, it was a fantastic event, and we were thrilled to have the opportunity to document it.

]]> Sun, 17 Sep 2023 02:02:00 GMT https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/?zf-north-america-grand-opening https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/rss/000000052 <![CDATA[How to Create Your First Modeling Portfolio?]]> imblog

Brianna needed a modeling portfolio for a modeling audition in Los Angeles the following week. We were glad to help her build a strong modeling portfolio at the last minute.

So, what are the model photo portfolio requirements?

As a starter, you will need:

An appealing and clean headshot.

A 3/4 body length shot.

A Full body shot from head to toes.

A strong model portfolio should have a variety of shots that features the model in different outfits, expressions and poses. The photos should contain both studio shots on a plain backdrop, and outdoor enviroments.

Before you begin a modeling career, first ask yourself what type of model are you? Do you have the height as a runway model, or are you intersted in print ads modeling? A fashion or Editoral model? A swimsuit and Lingerie or Fitness model? When you come to us for a photo shoot, you will need to bring the right outfits for your portfolio. It is also a good idea to gather a few photos that inspired you, and show us the looks you like to acheive.

Creating a modeling portfolio can get expensive. But you don't need to invest in a thousand dollar for starting out. We offer several reasonably priced packages for your budget. Once you sign a contract with a modeling agency, we recommend you work with different photographer as your build your modeling portfolio, so that you have a good mix of styles and looks. Keep in mind that you are not required to work with a modeling agency's photographer. This gives you the freedom to choose a photographer that fits your budget.

After you have done a modeling photo shoot with us, you will have a good collection of photos to choose from. You will need to narrow down to around 10 best photos for your modeling portfolio. Besides choosing the photos that convey your best expressions, pick a variety of expressions and body language that show your personality. As your modedling career advances, your modeling poftfolio photos should expend to showcase more variety of looks.

requirements

What do modeling agencies look for in a model portfolio?

]]> Mon, 17 Jan 2022 23:42:00 GMT https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/?how-to-create-your-first-modeling-portfolio- https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/rss/000000051 <![CDATA[Kevin Kern's Imagination's Light]]> imblog

The moment when Kevin Kern - the well-acclaimed, top of billboard chart in New Age genre music artist walked into my studio, my eyes brightened up. I've been a fan of his music and have bought his CDs. It was such an honor to photograph his headshots for publicity photos.

Kevin was wearing a $5,000 custom-tailored Armani suit and holding a white cane. It wasn't until that time I noticed Kevin was born visually impaired. He had difficulty seeing where my camera was. So I simply directed him to point his eyes in the right direction. I incorporated his white cane in the shot, and it helped create a powerful and dramatic portrait that portrayed his character.

A year later, Kevin was recording his seventh album and asked me to do a photoshoot of him by the piano at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley, CA. I vividly remembered how challenging it was to set up the lighting. The music studio's background was pitch black, the Steinway piano was gloss black, and Kevin's suit was matte black. Separating the all-black elements with my Speedotron studio flashes and highlighting Kevin in the image took me nearly an hour to accomplish. Kevin didn't seem to mind as he played his music on the piano as he patiently waited. For me, it eased my pressure while I had the privilege to listen to a personal concert.

When I returned to my photo studio to edit the images, I felt the images still lack a bit of contrast. So I photoshopped a stage light pouring down on Kevin. The result was quite fascinating, I thought.

Initially, Real Music, the record company had no intention of featuring their music artists on the album cover. Coincidently, the album was titled "Imagination's Light" and the image with an added stage light was a perfect fit for the theme. Real Music ended up using the image as the album cover. And I was surprised as I didn't even know the title of the album while I was shooting.

One year I was traveling to Asia. While browsing through the music CDs in record stores in Taiwan and China, I was happy to find Imagination's Light CD on the shelf. Kevin is well known in Asia and has performed tours worldwide.

Years have passed, as I became friends with both Kevin and his wife Pamela Gibbs. I was moved to read Kevin's post on Facbook describing how the photo I took of him holding a white cane invoked a powerful expression. Here's what Kevin wrote:

This was the first professional photo that featured me holding my white cane taken in the early aughts. Before this, I never thought of my cane as something that could help me project strength and confidence. In fact, I often used to try and hide my blindness whenever I thought I could just as a way of trying to fit in. This photograph, taken by a dear friend and talented photographer Kurty Wong ( Kurty Photography )gave me a new sense of pride in my image as a blind person who uses a white cane. It is a vital part of me, who I am, and I’m immensely proud of that. It does not limit me, it simply explains a part of me to others.

]]> Sat, 15 Jan 2022 00:53:00 GMT https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/?kevin-kern-s-imagination-s-light https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/rss/000000050 <![CDATA[Where to Take Senior Portraits]]> imblog

Now is time to take your senior portraits! While many school photographers are not available to take senior portraits in school, we can help by providing one-to-one personal services under Covid-19 safety guidelines.

Senior portraits is one of the most important photo sessions in life. It's a celebration of a milestone for graduation. No one wants mediocre photographs. You deserve appealing senior portraits to be remembered by. Choose from four packages that fit your needs base on the number of outfits and poses. Each session comes with your choice of studio or outdoor shots. Come for your yearbook photo and take this opportunity to take trendy lifestyle portraits in your favorite outfits.

We are here to make you shine and look your best. Book your photoshoot now and get your images on the same day!

]]> Mon, 11 Jan 2021 00:38:00 GMT https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/?where-to-take-senior-portraits https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/rss/00000004F <![CDATA[Why You Need a Professional Acting Headshot]]> imblog

Acting headshots are all about facial expressions and upper body movements. In order to get a role in the film or theater, it is essential to have an acting headshot ready for casting and auditions. A professionally taken headshot is the best marketing tool for actors. First impression lasts, when a casting director flips through hundreds of headshots, what makes them choose your and give you the role? Below are some important factors to consider in acting headshots.

Why You Need a Professional Acting Headshot?

Get your headshot done by a professional photographer. Casting directors can tell the difference between a headshot taken on a smartphone and a professional headshot. that gives them an impression on how much you care about your acting career. You need a headshot that grabs their attention. A mediocre selfie or one taken by a friend will not work.
Lighting is important in defining your shape. Everyone's face shape is different. Some are oval and some are round. Professional headshot photographers use studio lighting modified to bring out the best feature of your face. This can't simply be accomplished by natural light.
Facial expression counts. When a casting director looks through so many headshots, they look for actors or actresses who would be the ideal fit for the roles. A plain, emotion-less headshot would have less chance in getting the role than an intriguing, capacitive headshot that shows both character and personality. Your headshot should look natural and represents you.
Size, color, orientation matter. Use a standard size acting headshot for casting and marketing. In the U.S. the standard size is 8x10 (8" by 10"). While most acting headshots are printed in the vertical orientation, horizontal is acceptable but not encouraged. While black and white headshots can look timelessly classic. They are obsolete these days. It is recommended to use a color headshot by default. Professional headshot photographers understand these guidelines and meet the specifications.
Print your name on the acting headshot and staple your headshot to the back of your résumé. Your name can appear on the bottom of your headshot in a clear, easy to read font. A professional photographer should provide this service for you.
Getting a professional headshot for your acting career should not be expensive. Photographers' rates can vary greatly. Hiring a photographer who charger more doesn't guarantee your headshot would stand out more. Choose a photographer carefully by looking through their headshot portfolio on the website, and check their rating for customer satisfaction. Remember, portrait or wedding photographers and headshot photographers are not the same. See if the photographer has a gallery dedicated to headshots.

]]> Tue, 22 Sep 2020 22:46:00 GMT https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/?why-you-need-a-professional-acting-headshot https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/rss/00000004E <![CDATA[Headshot for Infinity Financial Services]]> imblog

Professional headshots for Infinity Financial Services team. Background and lighting consistency is important to show unity for company branding.

]]> Tue, 18 Aug 2020 20:26:00 GMT https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/?headshot-for-infinity-financial-services https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/rss/00000004D <![CDATA[Victoria's Model Portfolio]]> imblog

Victoria recently signed up with a modeling agency in S.F. and needed a modeling portfolio. She was searching online for a photographer and found me on Yelp. She said she needed a headshot, some 3/4 body shots and full body shots which are the standard for modeling. For outfits, she brought a casual, a semi-casual and a business outfit to the shoot, Victoria also needed a hair and makeup artist, so the talented Ethol Reddy was ready for her arrival. She was super happy with the outcome of the photos.

]]> Mon, 24 Feb 2020 23:46:00 GMT https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/?victoria-s-model-portfolio https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/rss/00000004C <![CDATA[Bennet's First Miracle]]> imblog

Bennet came to the studio for a photo shoot for his upcoming play "My First Miracle". He wanted me to create a striking image that portrays the play, and he already had an idea. "There must be a split open ocean, and I shall be there to divide the sea." He said. So we searched for some images and came up with a red sea. Then we began our photo shoot against a green screen so I can easily knock off the background in post-production. During the photo shoot, I asked Bennet to yell "Open!" out loud as he forcefully swung his arms outward.

So we selected one out of several usable shots and started to superimpose the image onto the background. To make it look more realistic, I added the shadow by Bennet's feet, changed the color of the background to better match the color of Bennet's image. Finally, I added the lighting effect to make the statement more dramatic.

Bennet was happy with the result. Posters will be made for the play, and I look forward to watching the play in person.

]]> Fri, 10 Jan 2020 21:50:00 GMT https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/?bennet-s-first-miracle https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/rss/00000004B <![CDATA[We Take Appealing Passpot Photos You Will Love]]> imblog

Have you ever wished that you have a decent looking passport photo? You're in luck. Kurty Photography offers U.S. passport, Schengen Visa, Canadian passport, China visa and international passport services for other countries. We guarantee that you will love the way you look, and the passport photos can be ready in 15 minutes. We also take passport for babies and children.

Unlike driver license photos taken at DMV where you only have one chance for a quick snap, you have no idea how your photo turns out until you receive your driver license. You can choose a professional photographer to take your passport and visa photo. We take several photos of you and follow the passport photo specifications. You can instantly view and select your best photo and feel good about it.

Below are the photo guides for various passports and visas, as well as tips on how to look good for your passport photo.

U.S. Passport Photo Requirements:

US Passport photo requirement and specifications

2 x 2 inches in size (two identical photos)

In color on a white backdrop.

Taken within the past 6 months, showing current appearance.

Full face, front view

Between 1 inch and 1 3/8 inches from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head.

No eye glasses allowed in passport photos.

Do not wear a hat or headgear

Taken in normal street attire: Uniforms should not be worn except religious attire that is worn daily.

If you normally wear a hearing device, wig or similar articles, they should be worn for your picture.

You can smile, but it must be a natural, unexaggerated smile.

Schengen Visa Photo Requirements:

Schengen Visa photo requirement and specifications

The 26 Schengen countries are: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

35x45mm in size (two identical photos).

Taken within the past 6 months, showing current appearance.

In color on light grey or white background.

Head should take 70-80% of the photo.

The applicant should be looking straight at the camera.

Neutral face expression. No smile and mouth closed

Eyeglasses can be worn. Must be fully visible and not covered by glasses’ frame. Avoid glare or dark tint.

Avoid uniforms or colors matching the background.

Avoid hat, headwear that covers your face, except for religious headwear, and even then, the face must be clearly visible from the lower tip of the chin to the forehead.

Canadian Passport Photo Requirements:

Canadian passport has more requirements. The photo must be taken and signed by a commercial photographer.

50 mm X 70 mm in size (2 inches wide X 23/4 inches long). Two identical photos.

Either black and white or color photos are acceptable.

The name of the photographer or studio, the complete address

— street name, city, zip code, and the date the photo was taken must

be provided directly on the back of one photo. This information should be stamped or handwritten by the photographer. Sufficient

space must be allowed for the name of the applicant, the

signature of the guarantor and the guarantor’s declaration.

The photos must be taken in person by a commercial photographer.

Photos must be taken within the last six months.

In color on a white or off-white background.

Look straight to the camera. Both ears should be visible.

The photo must be with neutral facial expression.

No smiling. The mouth must be closed.

Do not wear a hat or headset. Full face must be visible without hair.

If possible, do not wear glasses, especially glasses with dark frames. If you must wear glasses, ensure that there is no reflection on the glasses. Both eyes must be clearly visible.

Sunglasses and tinted eyeglasses are unacceptable.

Forehead and eyebrows should be visible. Do not cover eyebrows with hair.

The length of the face on the photos from chin to crown of head (natural top of head) must be between 31 mm (1 1/4 inches) and 36 mm (1 7/16 inches).

Tips On How To Look Good For Your Passport Photo

1. Go to a professional photo studio.

While you can a passport photo done at a drugstore or a passport photo agency, professional photographers use studio lighting to eliminate harsh flash shadow and make your skin look softer and smoother. Professional photographers also spend more time with you by taking several shots, so you can choose the one with the most natural and flattering expression.

2, Do your hair and wear light makeup

It is important to get your hair done the way you like. Check the mirror again before the photoshoot. For ladies, light, natural makeup is recommended. Your passport photo should match you in person, so you will have a smooth experience passing through the security check at the airport.

3. Relax and enjoy the photoshoot

Professional photographers can make you look good and the photoshoot would be enjoyable. You know you will be able to find the best shot for your passport that will last till the next time for renewal.

]]> Thu, 05 Sep 2019 22:37:00 GMT https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/?we-offer-passpot-photos-with-satisfaction https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/rss/00000004A <![CDATA[FREE Family Portrait Session Benefiting Alzheimer’s Association]]> imblog

I am supporting Alzheimer’s Association by participating in "The Longest Day" in memory in of my beloved father who suffered from Dementia by offering free family portrait sessions beginning on Mother's Day to July 15, 2019, with a suggested donation of $100. 100% of the proceeds will benefit Alzheimer’s Association.

The Longest Day is the day with the most light — the summer solstice. And it’s the day the Alzheimer’s Association calls on everyone to fight Alzheimer’s disease by raising funds and awareness for care, support, and research.

Today, an estimated 50 million people worldwide are living with Alzheimer's or other dementias, including more than 5 million Americans. In the United States alone, By supporting The Longest Day, we can stand up to the darkness of Alzheimer’s.

Photo Shoot Details:

Cost: Free (suggested donation $100 or any amount through Alzheimer’s Association fundraising website).
Dates: Mother's Day to July 15, 2019 by appointment.
Location: Your choice of studio portraits at Kurty Photography or Esprit Park in San Francisco only.
Session Length: Please allow 15-30 minutes.
Good for any family size of 3 to 10 people.
Receive 5 edited high-resolution digital images.

Click here to schedule a photo shoot:

If you simply like to support Alzheimer’s Association, click here.

]]> Sat, 11 May 2019 04:44:00 GMT https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/?free-family-portrait-session-benefiting-alzheimer-s-association https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/rss/000000049 <![CDATA[SF Headshot Pro Website Launched]]> imblog

We are happy to announce our new brand "SF Headshot Pro". The new division primary focus on professional headshot. SF Headshot Pro is developed for ease of online access and booking headshot photography for business, actors, models, performers and online dating. Check out our new website: https://sfheadshotpro.com

Headshots have become more and more important nowadays in the digital age. Having a professionally taken headshot improves the chance for a job interview versus an unappealing or no profile picture. For actors, models and performers, headshots are as essential as business cards. An eye-catchy photo is the first impression for casting and auditions.

Everyone wants to look good on their profile photo. Selfies are hard to snap and people can tell the difference between an amateur photo and professionally taken headshot. It is important to hire a professional photographer that specializes in headshots using professional studio lighting or natural light for outdoor photos. A headshot is usually good for five years or until you look significantly different. So it's worth the investment.

With years of experience in professional headshots and thousands of clients photographed, SF Headshot Pro is the leading photo studio to trust for your professional headshots.

]]> Wed, 10 Apr 2019 01:48:00 GMT https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/?sf-headshot-pro-website-launch https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/rss/000000047 <![CDATA[Photo Shoot of a Ballet Dancer]]> imblog Ballet photo

Photographing dancer's movements have always fascinated me, especially ballet. It's like freezing a moving art that requires the perfect timing. These series of photos were taken at the studio with Speedotron strobes for Julia's performances. She was simply beautiful and elegant.

When it comes to dancers photography, my biggest inspiration comes from the renowned San Francisco photographer RJ Muna. I remember visiting his photo studio when I was studying photographing at school. His strong images depicted the balance of light and shadow left a remarkable imprint in my heart. He has been the most requested photographer for Alonzo King Lines Ballet and ODC dance studio. Check out the photographer that inspired me: http://rjmuna.com/galleries/images/Dance/

I'd rather be shooting on stage than in studio. The stage lighting is usually set to best define the shapes of the dancers and the space is much bigger for them to roam around. Just needed to keep the eyes on the performers and click on the camera's shutter at the right moments.

]]> Tue, 09 Apr 2019 03:31:00 GMT https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/?photo-shoot-of-a-ballet-dancer https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/rss/000000046 <![CDATA[Celebrity TV Host Dr. Michael Hunter]]> imblog

Reelz Channel hired me to do a studio photo shoot for Dr. Michael Hunter, the host of "Autopsy: The Last Hours of…", for the upcoming new TV series. It is a documentary-style show that investigates the tragic, controversial and sudden deaths of celebrities.

It was raining in the morning of the photo shoot. I greeted Dr. Hunter by the studio door and shook his hand. His hand was warm and soft despite that it had dissected many cold bodies to determine the reason for the death. Dr. Michael Hunter quickly changed into the green medical gown for the photo shoot. The production director from Reelz Channel specified to photograph him against a bright white background, so the art team can easily separate and replace the background.

We ended up shooting around 150 images in various poses and expressions. Dr. Hunter was calm and smooth in posing and has the celebrity good look. Although the photos were shot on a white backdrop, I photoshopped in a medical room (as pictured) to visualize how the outcome might look. I am excited to see the final image they would use for promotion and on TV.

]]> Tue, 05 Mar 2019 00:38:00 GMT https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/?celebrity-tv-host-dr--michael-hunter https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/rss/000000045 <![CDATA[Working with Lisa for Paris' Silver Model Agency]]> imblog

It was so much fun photographing Lisa for her modeling portfolio for Silver Agency based in Paris. Lisa was a model when she was 18 and hasn't done modeling since then. She was very natural in front of the camera, and she's got the basic moves down. We ended up with some killer shots for her modeling portfolio.

]]> Sat, 23 Feb 2019 20:59:00 GMT https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/?working-with-lisa-for-paris--silver-model-agency https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/rss/000000044 <![CDATA[Modeling Portfolio for Surya]]> imblog

Surya wanted to be a model. He knew he needs a model portfolio before he contact a modeling agency. So he contact me for a photo shoot. We had a good time shooting!]]> Tue, 19 Feb 2019 01:57:00 GMT https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/?modeling-portfolio-for-surya https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/rss/000000043 <![CDATA[Miss Teen California Beauty Pageant Competition photo]]> imblog

Kristiana came in for a headshot for Miss Teen California competition. Her mom found me on Google and booked a photo shoot immediately. Kristiana said that she had never done a professional photo shoot before, and she was a bit shy. I ensured her that the photo shoot is going to be fun, and she will have lots of appealing headshots to choose from. When I showed her the outcome of the photo shoot, she loved them all! The pageant is part of the Miss Universe Organization. I hope Kristiana wins!

]]> Sat, 19 Jan 2019 23:21:00 GMT https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/?miss-teen-california-beauty-pageant-contest-photo https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/rss/000000042 <![CDATA[The Manufacturing Foundry Grand Opening Celebration]]> imblog

We were hired to photograph one of the biggest events in San Francisco this year. San Francisco's first new manufacturing building for affordable manufacturing space and products that are made in S.F.

Located at 150 Hooper in San Francisco, the Manufacturing Foundry is a newly constructed industrial building that for local firms that hire low-income residents.

It was an exciting event where hundreds of people gathered to browse through S.F. products from various vendors. Several politicians including San Francisco's Mayor London Breed, District Supervisor Malia Cohen, Assessor Carmen Chu were present for the grand opening ceremony.

]]> Mon, 07 Jan 2019 22:37:00 GMT https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/?sf-made-grand-opening-celebration https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/rss/000000041 <![CDATA[Mini Pet Portrait Session]]> imblog

For the holidays season, we teamed up with our neighbor Paw Patch Pastries for a day of mini pet portraits photo shoot. How fun it was seeing the dogs all dressed up in Chrstimas outfit. They were all so cute and adorable!

]]> Mon, 24 Dec 2018 23:19:00 GMT https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/?mini-pet-portrait-session https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/rss/000000040 <![CDATA[Four Reasons Why a Professional Headshot is Essential]]> imblog

In this new social media era, a professional headshot is more essential than ever before for a career success. Since the popularity of Linkedin, an appealing profile picture is no longer a necessity just for actors and realtors, virtually anyone needs a headshot for the career. Having a professional looking headshot on Linkedin will help in career advancement or finding the ideal job. It is no secret that the hiring managers or recruiters prefer to interview those with a headshot in the profile than none.

However, no one wants to show an unattractive profile picture. Everybody wants to look their best. It is difficult in getting a professional result by taking a selfie. People can often tell a photo from selfie or professionally taken. That being said, hire a professional photographer that specializes in headshots or business portraits. Expect to spend $150 to $350 for services that include high-resolution digital images and photo retouching. It's a wise investment that pays in return. And besides, you will have some great photos to look back upon.

1. Not everyone is naturally photogenic.

While models are trained to look good for cameras, people need help from professional photographers to make them look their best. An amateur headshot can be dull and unpleasing to look at. A good headshot should bring out the energy and inner beauty within the person.

2. The importance of photo retouching.

Ever wondered why celebrities look so good in the magazines? The trick is photo retouching. A good photographer is also a talented photo retoucher who can remove blemishes and smoothen the skin. The result is a natural yet refreshed look. As a matter of fact, a skillful photo retoucher is more effective in making your headshot look more appealing than a makeup artist.

3. Backdrop, lighting and facial expression.

I can't express enough the importance of these three factors in creating an eye-catching headshot. Usually, a professional headshot is taken in a portrait studio against a seamless backdrop. The style began back in the early Hollywood days. The current trend for headshots extends to outdoors with a more natural, lifestyle feel. However, the outdoor background can be distracting and takes away the viewer's focus from the subject. It is important that the photographer uses a shallow depth-of-field to blur out the background so that the subject's face remains as the point of focus.

Photo lighting is what defines the shape of the face and body. A studio photographer would use a soft flash to light the subjects differently according to the subject's shape for a more flattering photograph.

A pleasant expression plays a key role in a photograph. A good photographer can coach and direct the subject to make them relaxed and capture their best expression.

4. The image tells who you are.

The old saying "A picture is worth a thousand words" is still valid today. A headshot is usually the first impression before actually meeting the person. A great headshot should tell who you are and look like you. Never use an old, outdated headshot or heavily retouched headshot that would not associate you with the picture. A successful headshot should show confidence and personality, and that you would want to share it with your friends and families.

Kurty Photography has helped thousands of satisfied clients for professional headshots. Whether you're a business executive, actor, musician, comedian, realtor, doctor or a professional, let us help you with a top quality headshot that you will be truly happy with.

]]> Wed, 07 Nov 2018 05:02:00 GMT https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/?four-reasons-why-a-professional-headshot-is-essential https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/rss/00000003F <![CDATA[Miss Asian America Portarits]]> imblog

The winner of Miss Asian America 2018 Sophia Ng called me to take her portraits with the crown she has just won three days ago. While she had photos taken by many photographers during the beauty pageant, she felt those photos didn't quite capture the essence of her beauty. Sophia remembered how she loved the headshots I took for her three years ago for social media profiles, she knew that I could take the portraits right for the major achievement in her life.

Beauty is only skin deep. It's those with a kind heart that's truly beautiful - and Sophia possesses both qualities. She devotes herself with a passion to help children with depression. I asked what motivated her to run for Miss Asia Global beauty pageant, she said that she never thought of running a pageant, and it was a last minute decision. She's also not going to pursue other beauty pageants such as Miss Chinatown or Miss America, as it is so much work in the preparation. She's totally content with her title as Miss Asian America.

]]> Thu, 30 Aug 2018 01:15:00 GMT https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/?miss-asian-america-portarits https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/rss/00000003E <![CDATA[Jennifer and Felix's Wedding at Palo Alto Hills Golf and Country Club]]> imblog

Jennifer and Felix tied the knot at Palo Alto Hills Golf and Country Club. They began with a traditional Chinese tea ceremony. When the groom and groomsmen arrived, they were intercepted by the bridesmaids by the door. The bridesmaids asked them to pass all sorts of tests for the permission to enter the door to marry the bride. The guys had no choice but to do a hundred push-ups, passing seaweeds mouth-to-mouth from one groomsman to another, smashing creamy pies on the face, popping ballons between each other, and the worst of all - they were forced to wear a bra while singing a love song to the bride. The so-called "Door game" is common among Southern Chinese tradition. It tests the groom's will to marry the bride. Often times, the grooms were asked to bribe the door keepers with money associated with the lucky number 8 (luck and prosperity) or 9 (longevity). They would have to bargain their way down from $9,999 and hoping to get by with $0.99 cents. The games vary from wedding to wedding and are often painful and hilarious.

]]> Mon, 30 Jul 2018 23:03:00 GMT https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/?jennifer-and-felix-s-wedding-at-palo-alto-hills-golf-and-country-club https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/rss/00000003C <![CDATA[Jamila & Nathaniel Wedding at the Cliff House]]> imblog

Nataniel admitted that he wasn't too good for going to the church on Sundays when he was a boy. The guests laughed as Nate continued speaking at the reception. Nate has fallen in love with the beautiful bride Jamila since he was a boy. The purpose of him going to the church was being able to see her. After chasing Jamila for more than 20 years, she finally said "Yes". That sounded like a novel but was true.

The weather couldn't be better on the wedding day at the Cliff House. After taking getting ready photos with the bride as she changed into her fancy wedding gown, I got in a mobile cable car and took some fun shots of the wedding guest to the Cliff House. Jamila rode in a Rolls Royce and got there just a second before us, and we took a few shots of her lady friends by the Rolls Royce before the ceremony begins.

The Cliff House has a cozy balcony for wedding ceremonies with a breath-taking view of the Pacific Ocean, and the reception is just a few steps away. The wedding coordinator and staffs were professional and courteous. The Cliff House is no doubt one of the best wedding venues to get married by the ocean in the San Francisco Bay Area.

]]> Wed, 25 Jul 2018 23:04:00 GMT https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/?jamila---nathaniel-wedding-at-the-cliff-house https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/rss/000000039 <![CDATA[Follow Your Muse And Feel The Vibe - Male Model Portfolio]]> imblog

I see a potential supermodel when Thomas walked into the studio to take photos for a model portfolio. At age 17, he is at the perfect age for the modeling career.

Without any experience in a photo shoot, Thomas was a bit nervous at first but quickly warmed up. I showed him some basic body postures and techniques in looking good for photos, he was able to get into the mood and became more relaxed and natural. For new models, the key points to a successful photo shoot are 1) Be confident and believe in yourself. 2) Trust the photographer. 3) Be open to ideas and express yourself freely.

While photographers can give models general directions, the best photos come from the models. Follow your inner muse and feel the vibe. Photographers love working with models who can express themselves.

]]> Wed, 04 Jul 2018 22:53:00 GMT https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/?follow-your-inner-muse-and-feel-the-vibe https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/rss/000000038 <![CDATA[How To Be a Model]]> imblog

Do you have what it takes to be a model?

Many have dreamed of becoming a model, but only

a handful of the fortunate ones would get a chance to be signed by a modeling agency. The quickest way to fame is to get noticed by a scout. A scout from a legit model agency knows the looks that sell in the industry and can open the door for the game. If you're told by your friends that you have the look of a model, then perhaps you do have the potential to take a chance.

How to be a model?

The first thing is to be realistic. Do you have an attractive look? Do you have the height and the right shape? Are you able to portray different characters? If you meet the qualities above, the first step to becoming a model starts with eye-grabbing photos. You need a model portfolio with 6-12 strong photos to be noticed by a model agency. The photos are your first and most important impression in the business. Hence, don't hire just any photographer. Hire a pro who knows the fashion industry and knows what model agencies look for.

Do you need a comp (or zed) card?

Many of my clients ask me this question. The short answer is "no". If you have just started and haven't signed a contract with an agency, save yourself the money on the comp cards. Comp cards are like business cards for clients to keep so they will remember your look and hire you. It is usually distributed by the model agencies to the clients.

Contacting modeling agencies.

So you now have 6-12 striking photos with various looks from headshot to 3/4 length to the full body. Now it's time to contact model agencies. Just as searching for a job, don't just contact one agency, contact as many as you can! Well-known model agencies are located in big cities - New York, Los Angeles, and of course San Francisco. Some of the reputable model agencies in San Francisco are Star, Look, Boom and Affinity. If you can meet the agent in person, be sure to have your photos printed (standard size is 9x12) and place them in a portfolio which can be purchased at an art supply store or on Amazon. If you are contacting the model agencies on the website, you can simply submit the photos digitally.

Is attending a modeling school necessary?

While it may be worthwhile to have some basic training in posing, expression, and walking, it is not necessary to spend the money on modeling school. Remember, a model agency will give you the contract based on your look, not training.

Are you ready to take your first step in a modeling career? Kurty has photographed models in San Francisco for more than 20 years. Book Kurty Photography now for stunning images that will leave a lasting impression.

]]> Fri, 29 Jun 2018 00:34:00 GMT https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/?how-to-be-a-model https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/rss/000000037 <![CDATA[Jane Chen - the Woman Who Saves Infants Life]]> imblog

Smore magazine hired me to do a photo shoot of Jane Chen for the magazine cover. It turned out that Jane is an admirable woman who saved hundred thousand of lives and counting.

Jane Chen always had entrepreneur's mind. Even when she was just seven years old, she started making money with her lemonade stand. Jane is now the CEO of Embrace Innovations. Her invention of low-cost infant warmers has saved the lives of 300,000 premature babies worldwide.

Jane's parents have always wanted her to be a doctor. But instead, she chose to save lives in an alternative way. When Jane heard about the Hiv/Aids outbreak in rural China, she joined a non-profit organization to support children orphaned by the outbreak.

After pursuing a Master degree at Harvard and Stanford, Jane learned that one out of 10 babies in the world are born prematurely and keeping them warm is often a problem in many developing countries. Jane thought "No baby should die from being cold", and she came up with the idea of the infant warmers. With the low-cost lifesaver, many babies were saved in the developing countries. Jane is not only a visioner, she is a heroine.

]]> Thu, 28 Jun 2018 22:16:00 GMT https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/?jane-chen---the-woman-who-is-saving-infant-lives https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/rss/000000036 <![CDATA[People Love Us on Yelp]]> imblog

What does it take to earn the special recognition from Yelp? Well, it comes from a lot of happy customers who love our works and services.

It's such an honor to receive the "People Love Kurty Photography" postcard from Yelp's CEO Jeremy Stoppleman, as the title is only awarded to the most highly rated and reviewed businesses on Yelp. In the social media era, Yelp is an important tool to search for business reputation and recommendation. The reviews on Yelp are real experiences and feedback from customers, and they reflect the level of customer satisfaction.

Yelp is among one of the top tech companies started in San Francisco. I am also a frequent user of Yelp when I searched for a reliable car repair shop, doctors with good recommendations, and the food photos posted by avid foodies.

Good businesses love Yelp, and businesses with poor products and services hate Yelp. What's so cool is that people get to be the judge.

]]> Tue, 19 Jun 2018 18:19:00 GMT https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/?recognization-from-yelp https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/rss/000000034 <![CDATA[Miss Hong Kong Erin Tjoe]]> imblog

So wonderful to hear that my former client Erin Tjoe (朱愛倫) has won Miss Hong Kong beauty pageants! She came into my studio for professional headshots then took the first step into the acting world. Coincidently, a friend of mine was making an independent filmed titled "Mystic Mountain" and needed an actress for the main role. Knowing that I photograph many actresses and models, he asked if I can recommend anyone. I introduced Erin to him and she was a perfect fit for the blade assassin role.

When a star shines, everyone notices. With the experience in acting in Mystic Mountain, she was modeling for Neiman Marcus and appeared on TV commercials for Verizon nationally. It wasn't long before she became the host for several TV channels including Green Travel Destination, the LA Fashion, and co-host of talk show Tailor Made.

Hearing how my headshot photography helped people landing a successful career always makes me really happy!

]]> Sun, 20 May 2018 00:27:00 GMT https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/?miss-hong-kong-erin-tjoe https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/rss/000000032 <![CDATA[The Model With Inner Strength and Beauty]]> imblog

While traveling in Paris, Ann signed up with Silver Agency that represents models whose beauty defies time. She had to catch a flight back to the U.S. the next day, so she called me to do a photo shoot for her modeling portfolio.

Ann looked gorgeous for her age. She told me she's well over 50 and the model agency wanted her makeup and photo shoot look natural and depict her age. During the photo shoot, she told me some amazing stories of how she frequently traveled all over the four continents. She recently conquered the peak of the highest mountain of Africa Mount Kilimanjaro, and she's on her way back to Nepal for Mt. Everest!

"I have to keep going, or my body will slow down", she said as we walked across the street from the studio for outdoor shots. Ann has an inspiring and enthusiastic attitude toward life, and she's also a natural born model. She was very excited about her modeling career that would take her to various part of the world.

After the photo shoot, she showed me a picture of her recently painted garage door - a comic strip of Wonder Woman who is her role model.

]]> Fri, 04 May 2018 06:38:00 GMT https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/?the-model-with-inner-beauty https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/rss/00000000E <![CDATA[Photo Featured on Best-Seller Author's Latest Book]]> imblog

You know you have an awesome client when she sends you her book that was just published. The back cover features the headshot I took of Anodea Judith and full photo credit was given.

Anodea Judith is a best-selling author and has published several books on using basic life force to expand the horizon of wellness. Her latest book is "Charge and the Energy Body". I guess I'll read to find out what this is all about.

]]> Wed, 02 May 2018 21:20:00 GMT https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/?photo-featured-on-best-seller-arhor-s-latest-book https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/rss/000000029 <![CDATA[The Joy of Maternity]]> imblog

Ever since the famous photographer Annie Lebovitz took an astonishing pregnancy portrait of celebrity Demi Moore, a new photography genre called maternity portrait was born.

Being pregnant is exciting for most parents-to-be. It is one of the most special and meaningful times in our lives. Taking maternity shows the amazing transformation of your body and what it's going through. Beautiful maternity portraits will bring back many joyous memories.

Find a professional photographer with the style you admire, and decide if you like the maternity portraits taken in-studio or take lifestyle portraits outdoors. You should schedule a photo shoot around 30 weeks pregnant to a month before the baby is due for a more obvious belly shape.

Whether you're camera shy or don't know how to pose, Kurty Photography can direct you and take timeless and artistic maternity portraits in a fun and relaxed photo session. Ask the hubby to join. And if you already have other children, it would be wonderful to have them involved in the photo shoot.

Taking maternity portraits is one of the most magical moments in life and truly worth the investment.

]]> Tue, 01 May 2018 21:21:00 GMT https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/?the-joy-of-maternity https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/rss/000000004 <![CDATA[Wedding in Paradise Cove Hawaii]]> imblog

We are always super excited to photograph destination weddings, So far, we had the wonderful opportunities to photograph weddings on a private island only accessible by boat in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, chic weddings in Manhattan New York, lavish weddings on the flashy Las Vegas Strip, Hollywood style weddings in L.A., and the most popular of all - Hawaii.

Kimberly and Gustavo are both from the Bay Area. They wanted a wedding where the families and guests can relax and have fun. Paradise Cove in Kapolei, HI was just the right place for them. It's a secluded beach overlooking the ocean filled with coconut trees. At night, it is famous for the luau, where guests are greeted by a tropical Mai Tai and traditaional Hawaiian music that set the festive mood of the evening.

For the wedding reception, the couple chose the internationally influenced, Hawaii inspired restaurant Roy's, which was just a short drive away from Paradise Cove.

The intimate yet romantic wedding was filled with laughter and joy, as no one was in the hurry to leave. There was no reason to leave, after all, they were in paradise!

]]> Mon, 30 Apr 2018 21:38:00 GMT https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/?wedding-in-paradise-cove--hawaii https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/rss/00000001B <![CDATA[Wedding Fanatasies]]> imblog

Wedding portraits don't always have to be traditional, I thought. I am always trying new ideas and have some fun. One of the many ways to get creative with wedding photos is first to compose an image in the head, then ask the wedding couples to visualize what I see and pose accordingly. And finally, all the magic is done in post production.

Photoshop gives photographers unlimited possibilities to manipulate images in creative ways. The following steps are the tricks I used in creating fantasy photos:

1. Compose an image in mind.

2. Direct the subjects to act and pose according to your vision.

3. Make sure the lighting on the subjects matches the scenario.

4. Find the ideal background from Google images. For best results, click on "Tools", choose "Size" and select "Large" to find the highest resolution images.

5. In Photoshop, cut out the subjects and paste them into the background image.

]]> Mon, 02 Apr 2018 22:49:00 GMT https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/?wedding-fanatasies https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/rss/000000014 <![CDATA[A Sparkling Wedding for Leanel and Jordan]]> imblog

Leanel and Jordan met online on a Christian dating website. I can't remember how many weddings we photographed were met through online dating, but the number is definitely increasing.

Jordan was a Stanford graduate, so it was an honor for the couple to get married at the magnificent Stanford Memorial Church. After the wedding, we took some standard "must-take" family group portraits on the altar, and spend 30 minutes to take portraits of the bridal party on the Quad before we head off to the wedding reception at Palo Alto Hills Golf and Country Club.

To end the night, boxes of local favorite pizzas in all sort of flavors were placed by the main entrance for snacks after dancing. Then the couple made a grand exit with guests lined up with a spectacular display of sparkler send-off.

]]> Tue, 13 Mar 2018 21:01:00 GMT https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/?a-sparkling-wedding-for-leanel-and-jordan-stanford-memorial-church-palo-alto-hills-country-club-wedding https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/rss/000000024 <![CDATA[Game Developers Conference]]> imblog

So cool to be hired by Amazon to photograph GDC (Game Developers Conference) all week long at Moscone Center. VR/AR games are the hottest trend this year. Amazon is serious about gaming and offers skillful tools from game development to publishing. It's also fascinating to learn what Amazon Echo can do in future gaming.

]]> Fri, 02 Mar 2018 23:14:00 GMT https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/?game-developers-conference https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/rss/000000026 <![CDATA[Dancing with the Cows]]> imblog

Born and raised in Petaluma, Joseph has been visiting his friend at a barn on the mountain since high school. After the wedding proposal to his sweet heart Joanna, Joseph called me to shoot their engagement portraits at the barn.

On the way to Petaluma's country road, I was expecting to use a horse as the prop and was trying hard to compose some ideal shots in my head. But when I arrived the barn, I quickly found out that there were no horses but rather a bunch of cows!

So we crossed over the fence and carefully walked toward the cows to include them in the background. I remembered many years ago when I was driving in a remote area in Yakima, WA, I pulled over to a cow farm to take photos of the peaceful looking cows. As I approached closer to the fence, one of the cows was surprised by my presence and ran quickly toward my left. Suddenly the rest of the cows (hundreds of them) all charged in the same direction, and I was shocked and scared for my safety. So this time when I crossed over the fence to shoot the portrait, I was a bit hesitant. Foruntely, the cows were calm and just gazed us with curiosity from a distant. Thanksfully, we had some great shots.

]]> Tue, 06 Feb 2018 04:58:00 GMT https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/?dancing-with-the-cows https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/rss/000000009 <![CDATA[Wedding at the Westin by Sacramento River]]> imblog

We always get excited to travel to unique venues that have interesting characters and charm for weddings. When Helen and Matt hired us to photograph their wedding at the Westin Sacramento by the riverside, we were really looking forward to shooting there for the first time.

The Sacramento River is a long inland river in Northern California that flows into Suisun Bay. Tucked away from the bustling California capitol, the Westin was in a tranquil location along the river. Witnessed by around 150 guests, the wedding ceremony was held outdoors right by the river. A tent was conveniently set up by the ceremony site which made it really easy for the guests to enjoy the gorgeous river view. Dinner was catered by Scott's Seafood Restaurant located in the hotel.

While the bride was getting ready in the hotel room, the bridesmaids asked us to be ready to capture the sparkles. Sparkles? What sparkles, I thought. When each bridesmaid came out to the living room with a paper sparkler in the hand, I immediately understood what they were about to do. I quickly zoomed out to wide angle, set my Nikon to continuous capture mode, and dropped myself to the ground as the sparkle flakes sprinkled all over the bride. And that was an awesome shot!

]]> Sun, 21 Jan 2018 05:36:00 GMT https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/?wedding-by-the-sacramento-river https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/rss/00000000A <![CDATA[Engagement Portraits Underneath the Golden Gate Bridge]]> imblog

Engagement portraits are usually taken months prior to the wedding. It's a perfect opportunity to wear the favorite clothing and have romantic portraits taken professionally. San Francisco provides so many beautiful backdrops for portraits of all kinds - the beach, downtown skyscrapers, lakes, gardens, etc. Yet the iconic Golden Gate Bridge remains the top popular location for locals and tourists.

The couple loved the architectural elements of Golden Gate Bridge and bricks at Fort Point. It's a distinguished spot that has both modern structures and vintage textures. Built in 1853, the fort was completed just before the American Civil War. Canons were mounted on the rooftop aiming toward possible enemies that might pass through the strait, where Golden Gate Bridge was built many years later. Although no battle occurred at the fort, it remains an interesting site to visit as a historic landmark. The best thing about it is that one can see Golden Gate Bridge up close directly from below. This location is one of the most unique spots for photographers.

]]> Tue, 02 Jan 2018 22:09:00 GMT https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/?engagement-portraits-underneath-the-golden-gate-bridge https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/rss/000000010 <![CDATA[Eileen and Andy Got Married at Freedom Hall and Gardens]]> imblog

Freedom Hall and Gardens is a popular venue for weddings. Nestled right by the Great America theme park and surrounded by office buildings, the garden features a tranquil pond and giant redwood trees. Eileen and Andy got married by the pond and celebrated their wedding reception at Freedom Hall just steps away.

It was heartwarming to receive a review from the newly wed. Here's what they wrote on Yelp:

I had the chance recently to work with Kurty on my wedding in Feb, 2017. Kurty was always quick to reply to my questions over email and made time over the weekend to meet with us to discuss what we want for the wedding photos. On the day of he arrived early and did not waste any time and took photos of anything he thinks we would enjoy of the location and the settings. He was able to capture all the moments in the wedding and even reminded us at the end that we have not taken photos with just the two of us. He worked with whatever request we have. Most importantly the photo turned out great! He even have a lot of shots of me looking pretty good, which is no small feat. Would recommend to anyone looking for a photographer that is easy to communicate, professions, and able to capture the special day perfectly.

]]> Tue, 19 Dec 2017 23:00:00 GMT https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/?eileen-and-andy-wedding-at-freedom-hall-and-gardens https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/rss/000000012 <![CDATA[Amdrea and Jason Tied the Knot]]> imblog

Marine's Memorial Club and Hotel have been one of our favorite wedding and event venues. We lost count of how many weddings we have photographed there, and we are grateful that their wedding coordinators have been placing our services on their vendor's referral list.

Cheers to Andrea and Jason who tied the knot in the grand hotel!

]]> Wed, 13 Dec 2017 23:03:00 GMT https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/?andrea-and-jason-tied-the-knot-marines-memorial-club https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/rss/000000025 <![CDATA[Photo Collage for Kids]]> imblog

I just love photographing kids (as long as they don't come in the studio in an already bad mood). Their innocent express is priceless and would be quickly lost as they grow up fast. Photographing kids require lots of energy but rewarding when capturing shots of them smiling.

Shooting kids is a different world than shooting grown-ups. I feel like a clown when I photograph kids. Kids have short concentration timespan. The photo session needs to be done quickly before they lose interest. I find the use of props is highly effective in getting their attention. I often use a plastic hammer that emits a loud sound as I bang it on my head. That should get their laugh for a least 10 shots before they get bored. Then I reach to my next prop - a soft orange ball made of styrofoam attached to a long string. I would throw the ball at them and it would retract back just before they could grab it. The ball is a highly effective trick, especially for the boys. If I still need to take more shots, I would use a toy snake that makes noise when squeezed and wrap it around my camera lens. It probably won't make kids laugh but they would stare at my lens with curiosity.

A framed photo collage (featured above) showing kids' various expression makes an awesome wall display at home and make the parents proud.

]]> Wed, 06 Dec 2017 22:54:00 GMT https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/?photo-collage-for-kids https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/rss/000000011 <![CDATA[Model Portfolio for Kara R.]]> imblog

Many people have dreamed to become a model, but it's not as easy as one would think. Besides the outer beauty and meeting the height and size requirement, a potential model has inner qualities, appealing character, and must be natural in posing in front of the camera.

Although it was her first time, Kara knew the rhythm of her body movement and was all natural during the photo shoot for her modeling portfolio. She even suggested to pose like Wonder Women, and I could see her super power within as she unleashed the energy. Funny that I had just watched the new Wonder Woman movie starring Gal Gadot, and I could see some resemblances.

Couldn't help by noticing her last name, I asked if she's related to the Regan's family. Indeed she is!

]]> Fri, 01 Dec 2017 00:01:00 GMT https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/?model-portfolio-for-kara-r- https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/rss/000000015 <![CDATA[Oceano Hotel Wedding in Half Moon Bay]]> imblog

Perhaps it was the cool breeze from the coastal weather or the relaxing scenic drive on highway one, or perhaps the legend of unsolved Mysteries ghost, the Blue Lady from the Moss Beach Distillery, I've always loved shooting weddings in the picturesque Half Moon Bay. Oceano is a luxury hotel nearby the Pillar Point Harbor where local fishermen sail out in search of freshly caught fish or Dungeness crabs. Visitors can buy the catch of the day directly from the fisherman on the pier, or dine at the famous restaurants like Barbara's Fly Trap, Meza Luna, or Sam’s Chowder House. Simply a walk around the harbor is worth the drive.

So glad that Lauren and Warren chose to get married in Oceano Hotel. Michael, my second shooter and I arrived early to have fish and chips and delicious veggie burger by the charming harbor. Lauren the bride's makeup was just about done when we began the photo coverage. I documented details shots of the brides' accessories while Michael photographed the groom outside which his vintage sports car. The videographers were flying a drone, which is a popular trend for weddings nowadays.

One thing that made this wedding really special - the wedding couple hired the professionals that I love to work with. I've worked with David Wong the florist, Jessie Weng the makeup artist, and John Jow the DJ for countless weddings over the course of 15 years. We sometimes call ourselves the "Fantastic Four". It's always wonderful working with vendors we know well for events and weddings. It makes our work smoother.

The weather was a little unpredictable, so the wedding coordinator suggested the ceremony indoor. That really worked out well because of the village mall setting with a glass roof for natural light. We managed to take some portraits with the bridal party by the beach just across the street from the hotel. The wind was so strong that the bridesmaids' hair had gone haywire. We quickly snapped some shots and went back to the hotel for more portraits.

Around 200 guests were seated for the reception. Juicy steak and chicken were served along with the wedding cake. DJ John Jow always had the magic in getting guests on the dance floor. And for those who were happy dancing, the night has just begun.

Photography: Kurty and Michael, Kurty Photography

Videography: Bryant Truong, Urbaners

Makeup and Hair: Jessie Weng,

Florist: David Wong, Absolute Elegance

DJ: John Jow

Cake: B Patisserie

Event Manager: Lauren Jackowitz

]]> Wed, 08 Nov 2017 00:11:00 GMT https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/?oceano-hotel-wedding-in-half-moon-bay https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/rss/000000016 <![CDATA[How to Get a Picture Perfect Headshot]]> imblog

How to Get a Picture Perfect Headshot

Life is all about first impressions. Take your best friend or significant other for example; everything about that first meeting is embedded in your mind—like a story that plays over and over again. But the story of “first meetings” has greatly changed. Now we have social media, and everyone is obsessed with taking the perfect “selfie” or, in professional terms, a tell-tale headshot of themselves. You could tell a lot about the person from the picture they put up!

And just like that, a professional website would also require a professional picture! Remember the good old days where you would attach a printed picture on your CV? Well, it’s much like the same way except everything’s all digitalized now!

Getting an effective headshot

You want your headshot to mean something, it’s supposed to have an element of depth to it but how can you achieve that? If you’re new to this then don’t worry, here are a few ways you can get an excellent headshot:

Know why you need it

Here’s a thing about headshots, it can vary greatly according to its purpose. So how can your headshot vary according to the purpose?

If you’re getting one for a job or hiring managers then you’ll have to make sure it’s one that’s easily identifiable through profiles like LinkedIn. This will greatly increase your chance of landing a good job and gaining an interview.

If you’re getting one for your business then make sure it defines you as approachable as possible. After all, you want your clients to be able to contact you without any hesitation.

It you’re opting for online dating then it should both be attractive and approachable. Enough to make the other person proceed with your profile.

Nailing the look

Now that you know why you’re getting a headshot, it’s time to nail the look. Don’t worry if you’re not photogenic, not everyone is! You do, however, need to know the tricks to getting the right picture. For example, smiling is beautiful but a light smile will give you a more confident yet approachable look. This is often best with business profiles! Similarly, you should find your good side and make sure it’s always directed towards the camera. Remember, headshots rarely ever have room for head tilts so keep it subtle!

It’s the selfie generation…or is it?

Selfies are great and so are candids but they can never be used for a professional account. Save your selfies for Instagram because if not, your clients will wonder if you’re even professional enough for the job. Remember your attire, background, facial expression, everything will play a role here.

Does your attire matter?

Headshots are focused on the head and shoulders but your attire does play a role here. Wear a color that brings out your eyes and it’ll greatly affect the way your picture turns out! The more solid colors you wear, the better the picture will turn out. Remember; try to wear something that contrasts your skin tone for better affects!

Retouching is a must

Retouching allows you to look fresh and removes all the blemishes and wrinkles from your face. It allows you to look more approachable to the clients. It’s definitely a must, especially if you’re looking at a professional picture.

To cut it short, the better your headshot is, the better job you’ll be getting. That’s why you should contact Kurty Photography because they’ve excelled in the area since 1992. With the benefit of retouching being included in every shoot, we leave customers satisfied with both professional and personal headshots.

]]> Thu, 02 Nov 2017 22:32:00 GMT https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/?how-to-get-a-picture-perfect-headshot https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/rss/000000013 <![CDATA[When a Blind Date Turned Into an Indian Christian Wedding]]> imblog

Manisha was on a blind date while studying medical program in German. She was expecting a guy named Lukas in the party but somehow her blind date didn't show up. Later that evening, a tall, handsome man walked to her and introduced himself as Lukas. It turned out to be another Lukas. and fate had it worked out the right way.

It is a lot of work for Cynthia - mother of the bride to plan for a multicultural wedding. The Christian ceremony was held at Skyline Community Church in Oakland with a splendid view of the bay through the window wall. Two cable cars charters were arranged to transport the guests from the church to the private residence on the hills for the Indian ceremony. Tasteful horderves were served during the cocktail from raw sushi to Italian antipasti as a live band performed jazz. When it was time for the Hindu ceremony, a group of Punjabi danced along the drum beats to escort the guests to the ceremony site in the backyard.

The Hindu ceremony began with the offering of flowers to the groom's family. The ceremony was colorful and contained lots of detail in rituals. One of the key rituals involved in walking around the fire seven times as a binding promise to each other.

The sun had sunken when the long ceremony was over. Then we took family group portraits overlooking the city lights. The reception was a feast with abundant dishes followed by the cutting of the cake. The bride changed into Indian sari dress and celebrated the evening with everyone with flashy Indian dance moves as seen in Bollywood movies. What a spectacular wedding we will always remember!

]]> Thu, 26 Oct 2017 23:47:00 GMT https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/?when-a-blind-date-turned-into-an-indian-christian-wedding https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/rss/000000017 <![CDATA[Crystal and Dan Tied the Knot at the Fairmont]]> imblog

What a beautiful and lovely wedding couple! We just couldn't stop taking photos of them. Crystal looked like a goddess with her hair curled and down in a heavenly white gown. The wedding was held at the San Francisco Fairmont Hotel. We started with preparation shots with Crystal and the bridesmaids at the suite and followed them down to the lobby by the grand staircase where Dan the prince charming met his bride for the first time. The ceremony was held at the rooftop garden in the hotel, and they had an hour of cocktail at the Cirque room. Followed by a grand reception dinner at the Crown Room.

]]> Thu, 19 Oct 2017 05:54:00 GMT https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/?crystal-and-dan-tied-the-knot-at-the-fairmont-hotel https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/rss/000000028 <![CDATA[Coming Soon to an Event Near You]]> imblog

This photo of my back was taken while photographing a wedding at U.C. Berkeley's Lawrence Hall of Science. The back side of the hall is a great scenic spot overlooking the Bay Area, and you can see both Golden Gate Bridge and Bay Bridge from a distant. I was drawn to the spectacular view while Michael my second photographer took the shot. Thought it would be cool to make it into a movie poster just for fun.

]]> Tue, 17 Oct 2017 21:39:00 GMT https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/?coming-soon-to-an-event-near-you https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/rss/00000002A <![CDATA[Genevieve and Noah tied the knot on Mayor's Balcony at City Hall]]> imblog

Genevieve and Noah drove down from Sacramento to get married at the splendid San Francisco City Hall. They reserved the Mayor's Balcony for a private wedding to accommodate a large attendance of families and friends. I loved how Genevive's best friend served double duty as Maid of Honor and the wedding officiant, as she revealed the story of how the bride and groom met back in high school.

After the ceremony, we began taking family group photos with both sides of families followed by shots with friends. While the guests were celebrating on the Mayor's Balcony, the happily married wedding couple took portraits at various spots including the Fourth Floor Gallery, the huge iron window, the vintage elevator, and of course the famous grand staircase as seen in major Hollywood hits such as Dirty Harry and the first Indiana Jones movie.

Genevieve and Noah love Bi-Rite Creamy and would always wait in the line for the ice cream every time they come to San Francisco. They were so smart to use Uber-X SUV services and saved more money than hiring a Limo driver. It's always fun and stimulating for photographers to shoot something different. I loved taking photos of them ordering and eating the organic ice cream in the shop. The groom even bought the Uber driver and I a tasteful scoop!

Luckily there was no waiting line to order the ice cream, so it only took us 10 minutes to order and finish eating the ice cream while I took some candid shots. The Uber driver was happy to wait for us while he enjoyed the ice cream, and we quickly got back on the SUV for portraits at Palace of the Fine Arts.

The iconic Golden Gate Bridge is one of the most popular locations for wedding photos. Uber drove us to Crissy Field for the next location. The weather was perfect and not windy on that day. We didn't spend too much time taking photos there, as Genevieve the bride needed to head back to the Grand Hyatt Hotel to change into an evening dress for the wedding reception. We took some fun photos in Union Square as the last location and discovered a colorful "Love" sign hidden in an alley. What a lovely couple and a memorable day!

]]> Fri, 29 Sep 2017 00:12:00 GMT https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/?genevieve-and-noah-tied-the-knot-on-mayor-s-balcony-at-city-hall https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/rss/000000019 <![CDATA[Tina and Jason Got Married at Dusmuir Estates in Oakland]]> imblog

Tina and Jason fell in love while majoring in Pharmacy at the university. They would chat on the phone for hours through the night, and Jason would fall asleep during class whiling sitting in the front row. The wedding guests were laughing hard when the MCs told the story of the newlywed during the Chinese banquet at the East Ocean restaurant in Alameda.

The MCs continued, "While dating, Jason would always buy Tina meals whenever they eat out. It was a smart gesture to win her heart. Now Tina can have free meals for the rest of her life."

The weather was so pleasant in the fall season of October. Some of the leaves have turned yellow at the Dunsmuir Hellman Historic Estate (also known as Dunsmuir House) where the outdoor wedding ceremony was held in the garden. Built in 1899 by Alexander Dunsmuir, the 50 acres wedding venue is a Neoclassical Revival Mansion. It was built as a wedding for his beloved lady Josephine. After several changes of ownership, the Dunsmuir Estates were purchased by the City of Oakland in 1960s and designated as Historic Landmark.

Every time I photograph at Dunsmuir Estates, I'd remember photographing the daughter of the famous Kung Fu master Wong Jack Man's wedding held there several years ago. At that time, I had no idea that the Northern Shaolin style Kung Fu master was the sifu that battled Bruce Lee in Oakland. It was really awesome to have met the legendary man in person and photographing his daughter's wedding.

Photography: Kurty Wong and Michael Ye, Kurty Photography

Videography: Travis Do, 8 Kinds of Smiles

Makeup Artist: Jessie Weng, Makeup by Jessie Weng

Wedding Planner: Celia Yu, Big Day Service

Cake: Napoleon Bakery

Photo Booth: The Black Tent

]]> Wed, 27 Sep 2017 23:59:00 GMT https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/?tina-and-jason-got-married-at-dusmuir-estates-in-oakland https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/rss/000000018 <![CDATA[Kelly and Jimmy Wedding at St. Ignatius and Olympic Club]]> imblog

What a fun wedding celebration for Kelly and Jimmy who exchanged vows at St. Ignatius Church in San Francisco and danced the night away at the Olympic Club.

I began with Kelly the bride at the prestigious St. Regis in downtown. Most ladies already have their hair and makeup done, and the bride was just about ready. Heidy the second shooter began with Jimmy the groom at his condo with a gorgeous view overlooking the AT&T baseball stadium and Bay Bridge.

Jimmy the groom and I have something in common. He is the football coach for CCSF where I obtained a photography degree. It was such an honor to capture the couple as they tied the knot at the fully packed church witnessed by hundred of guests.

The Olympic Club Lakeside is one of my favorite reception venues for the open space and bright window lights. It is probably one of the largest golf club house in the nation in size.

The super friendly Olympic Club event coordinator Ava Chin took us on a golf cart and drove us to a scenic green by the ocean. We took some romantic portraits of the newly wed during the cocktail reception while the guests were happily mingling and enjoying the delicious hors-d'oeuvres.

Lucky for the guests invited to the wedding, more food was brought in after the bountiful dinner of juicy steak, salmon, and shrimp. Right at 10:00 pm, the staffs pushed a cart full of buttery grill cheese sandwiches and hot dogs to the dance floor. What an exciting evening as the crowd danced along with the live band performed by Pop Fiction.

Photographers: Kurty Wong, Heidy Hernandez

Wedding Coordinator: Julie Briggs Dunn, JBD Events

Olympic Club Catering Director: Ava Chin

Hair and Makeup: Meaganne McCandess

Transportation: BSW Limo, Bauer's

Live Band: Pop Fiction

Photo Booth: Tom Foolery

]]> Sat, 23 Sep 2017 00:28:00 GMT https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/?kelly-and-jimmy-wedding-at-st--ignatius-and-olympic-club https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/rss/00000001A <![CDATA[Frequent Flyer Miles of Love]]> imblog

It was a long distance relationship for Cindy and Roy when they started dating. The magic of love sure has accumulated lots of frequent flyer miles for Roy until this perfect day.

After several raining days in a row just before the wedding, the sky became clear blue, and the temperature was just right for the winter weather. The bride and bridesmaids rose before sunrise for hair and makeup with Jessie Weng. The groom and groomsmen anxiously waited outside of the bride's parents' home for permission to enter the house to marry the bride. As a part of the Chinese tradition, the bridesmaids gave the groom an extremely hard time by making him pass a series of ridicules and hilarious games - passing seaweed mouth to mouth between all groomsmen; tasting bitter, sour, sweet and spicy food as a symbol to tasting all situations of life; singing and performing the Korean pop song Gangnam Style, and giving enough money in a red envelope to make the bride happy.

Over 200 guests celebrated the wedding ceremony at Treasure Island Chapel, and attend the delicious 8-course Chinese banquet at the popular Zen Peninsula Restaurant in Millbrae. Then it was time to torture the newly wedding by playing games. The wedding party placed a balloon on the groom's lap and asked the bride to burst it by sitting on the balloon. Then asked to newly wedding to burst the balloon again on their chest

Miniature airplanes were on the cake top since travel was the theme. Even when we shot their engagement portraits, they brought along suitcases as the prop. Now Roy the groom no longer need to fly hundreds of miles to meet his princess Cindy. They bought a house and live happily ever after.

]]> Fri, 22 Sep 2017 00:41:00 GMT https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/?frequent-flyer-miles-of-love https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/rss/00000001E <![CDATA[Melissa and Christopher Caen Tied the Knot]]> imblog

Known as Sweet Melissa, San Francisco newspaper columnist and TV personality Melissa Griffin tied the knot with writer Christopher Caen, son of San Francisco's legendary columnist Herb Caen at the history Victorian-era Haas-Lilienthal House in San Francisco, CA. The bartenders at the reception served Herb Caen’s favorite cocktail, the Vitamin V, and instead of a guest book, there was a typewriter on which friends and family were invited to type notes.

I first met Melissa when she came in the studio for her professional headshots for the San Francisco Examiner. Just like how people would call her, she was very sweet. Years later, when she told me she was getting married, I was so thrilled!

Melissa is a Georgia native and a graduate of Cornell Law School. After living in New York for several years, she moved to San Francisco, where she follows City Hall closely, and writes in her own column for the San Francisco Examiner. She's also a TV personality in CBS's show "Mornings

with Melissa".

Christopher, a San Francisco native and Herb Caen's only son, attended college at Stanford University. He is also a columnist for the San Francisco Examiner and the San Francisco Independent.

After the wedding, Melissa has written a story for the San Francisco Magazine about how they two met titled, "Herb Caen Like I Never Knew Him". Here's my favorite except, "When I finally told my mother, who now lives in Alabama, about my new boyfriend, I explained that his father was a famous writer: “Herb Caen, do you know who that is?” I asked. “Yeah, but does Christopher know who you are?” she shot back." Click on the link to read the whole enchilada: http://www.modernluxury.com/san-francisco/story/herb-caen-i-never-knew-him

]]> Thu, 10 Aug 2017 03:37:00 GMT https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/?melissa-and-christopher-caen-tied-the-knot https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/rss/000000020 <![CDATA[Hollywood Style Wedding in LA]]> imblog

How fun it was to travel to L.A. to photograph a Hollywood style wedding, along with special guests as George Clooney, Brad Pitts, Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp. The moment the wedding couple Bi and Jimmy walked on red carpet to the grand reception, they were interviewed by chatty Joan Rivers along with paparazzi (so what if they were impersonators).

The intimate and zen ceremony was held under the summer's sun at Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden. The wedding couple exchanged their wedding vows on the moon bridge as guests witnessed surrounding a peaceful pond filled with Koi fishes and white cranes.

The Hollywood theme grand reception at Hilton San Gabriel was the highlight of the night. Giant movie posters starring Bi and Jimmy as the casts prominently displayed by the reception entrance. When the newlywed entered, Robin Thicke performed "Blurred Lines" as the newlywed whirled on the dance floor for their first dance, followed by Lady Gaga shaking the entire ballroom with her greatest hits. It sure was one of the most memorable weddings we have photographed, and we could do this every weekend!

]]> Fri, 21 Jul 2017 01:43:00 GMT https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/?hollywood-style-wedding-in-la https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/rss/00000001F <![CDATA[The Big Fat Greek Wedding at Ascension Cathedral]]> imblog

Ascension Cathedral of Oakland is one of the grandest and most stunning churches in the Bay Area. The metal plates that frame the ceiling change color as the interior lighting changes. For wedding photographers, it is a dream church to photograph for all seasons.

It was such an honor to photograph Joanne and Niko's wedding. Just a couple years ago, we photographed Joanne's sister Kathryn's big fat Greek wedding held at the same church. The gym next door was totally transformed into an exquisite ballroom with long drapes and chandeliers. There was always plenty of delicious food and unstoppable dancing as part of Greek's passionate culture. We celebrated and captured their precious wedding moments as they dance the night away.

]]> Thu, 13 Jul 2017 22:35:00 GMT https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/?big-fat-greek-wedding-at-ascension-cathedral https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/rss/00000001D <![CDATA[Photographing Former US Vice President Al Gore]]> imblog

What an awesome opportunity to have a brief conversation and photograph the former U.S. Vice President and Academy Award winner for Best Documentary Feature An Inconvenient Truth. Mr. Al Gore was invited as the guest speaker at Deloitte's World Event at San Jose Fairmont. I thanked Al Gore for elevating American's awareness of global warming and thought he made a difference in the history of mankind.

]]> Fri, 07 Jul 2017 21:56:00 GMT https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/?photographing-former-us-vice-president https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/rss/00000002C <![CDATA[Victoria and Daniel Tied the Knot at Lakeside Presbytarian]]> imblog

]]> Thu, 22 Jun 2017 21:42:00 GMT https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/?victoria-and-daniel-tied-the-knot-at-lakeside-presbytarian https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/rss/00000002D <![CDATA[Mountain Winery Wedding in Saratoga]]> imblog

One of the greatest things about living in San Francisco is diversity. There are tons of opportunities to witness and photograph multi-culture weddings. Persian weddings rituals are symbolic and unique in many ways. Thanks to Nazanin and Mehrdad the lovely couple for hiring us to photograph their wedding in the charming Mountain Winery in Saratoga.

A funny thing happened shortly after I arrived the wedding. I greeted the groom in the room while he was in casual attire, then walked out toward the ceremony site to take shots of the ritual objects. Then there he was all dressed up in wedding suit waving and smiling at me! Good thing I was warned ahead of time that the groom has an identical twin.

Persian weddings involve many symbolic objects: Mirror (of fate) "Aayeneh-ye Bakht" and two Candelabras (representing the bride and groom and brightness in their future); Poppy Seeds “Khash-Khaash” is used to break spells and witchcraft; Salt “Namak” to blind the evil eye; a basket of decorated eggs and a basket of decorated almonds, walnuts and hazelnuts in the shell to symbolize fertility; a cup of honey to sweeten life, and so on.

The Mountain Winery was completely renovated for concerts since I last photographed there. I almost couldn't recognize it at first and had to search around for a good background for portraits. It was good to be back again and to witness the special Persian ceremony rituals.

]]> Fri, 16 Jun 2017 04:52:00 GMT https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/?mountain-winery-wedding-saratoga https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/rss/000000023 <![CDATA[Catherine and Ian Got Married at Vintners Inn]]> imblog

For Catherine the bride, it wasn't easy to plan for a wedding in such a short amount of time - just three months after Ian proposed to her. As faithful Christians, the couple really wanted have a wedding just a day before Easter. Their challenge was finding an outdoor venue that would accommodate 250 guests. When they had found Vintners Inn in Santa Rosa, they were thankful and relieved.

As I was driving across the Golden Gate Bridge on the wedding day, tiny raindrops began to drizzle on my windshield. I was a bit worry for Catherine and Ian, as the outdoor ceremony might not work out as planned. Miraculously, a brief moment before the ceremony, the rain stopped and sunshine shimmered through the heavy cloud! I guess their prayers have been answered. As a photographer, I knew the optimal quality of light is after the rain. The scenery was so clear because the rain has washed away particles in the air. I was so happy for them that they had the picture perfect wedding they dreamed of, and was happy that my photo equipment didn't get wet.

]]> Thu, 08 Jun 2017 05:22:00 GMT https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/?catherine-and-ian-got-married-at-vintners-inn https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/rss/000000027 <![CDATA[Tracie and Sean's Wedding at Brownstone Gardens]]> imblog

Brownstone Gardens is a secret wedding venue tucked away in the serene town of Oakley, CA. After an hour drive from the city, I was surprised to find such a beautiful garden full of shady trees and bountiful flowers. No wonder Tracie and Sean were so excited to have their wedding at the secret gardens.

As S.F. Giants fans, they had the wedding cake made into cupcakes with Giants logo. How cool!

]]> Wed, 07 Jun 2017 04:39:00 GMT https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/?tracie-and-sean-s-wedding-at-brownstone-gardens https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/rss/000000022 <![CDATA[Wedding at St. Peter and Paul and Marines Memorial Club]]> imblog

As the recommended photographer on Marines Memorial Club, we just love coming back to shoot more weddings at the splendid venue.

St. Peter and Paul Church and Marines Memorial Club are both highly popular wedding venues in San Francisco. Built in 1924, the church was featured in the Clint Eastwood movies Dirty Harry. Hollywood bombshell Marilyn Monroe and famed baseball player Joe DiMaggio had their wedding photographs taken on the steps of this church.

Marines' Memorial Club is a splendid venue for wedding receptions. Located in Union Square, it is a private social club for United States Marines and other veterans of the United States Armed Forces. However, wedding couples don't necessarily need to serve in the military to have a wedding reception there.

On the wedding day, we begin capturing the very lovely bride Marissa at MMC's exquisite hotel room. Then got on the cable car with the bridal party to the church. It's always so much fun riding on the cable car for weddings, as we watch bystanders on the street joyfully cheer out loud for the wedding party. I feel so blessed that I have the best job in the world!

]]> Thu, 01 Jun 2017 21:59:00 GMT https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/?marissa-and-phillip-s-wedding-at-st--peter-and-paul-church-and-marines-memorial-club https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/rss/00000001C <![CDATA[Sheila and Brendon Got Married in Petaluma]]> imblog

]]> Tue, 30 May 2017 23:51:00 GMT https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/?sheila-and-brendon-got-married-in-petaluma https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/rss/00000002E <![CDATA[Candace and Joe Tied the Knot at the Calegan's Winery]]> imblog

]]> Sun, 07 May 2017 21:58:00 GMT https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/?candace-and-joe-tied-the-knot-at-the-calegan-winery https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/rss/00000002F <![CDATA[Caroline and David Got Married at Palo Alto Hills Country Club]]> imblog

]]> Sat, 06 May 2017 23:06:00 GMT https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/?caroline-and-david-got-married-at-palo-alto-hills-country-club https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/rss/000000030 <![CDATA[Jessoca amd Mitch Tied the Knot at Rios Lovell Winery]]> imblog

]]> Thu, 04 May 2017 23:52:00 GMT https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/?jessoca-amd-mitch-tied-the-knot-at-rios-lovell-winery https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/rss/000000031 <![CDATA[Photographing Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger]]> imblog

SEPA (Solar Electric Power Association) hired me to cover a four-day convention at the San Jose Hilton, and I had a wonderful opportunity to meet and photograph Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on the last day. The governor is a major supporter of solar energy in California, and he gave a speech that won applauds from thousands of attendees.

Followed by Germany and Japan, the U.S. is currently the third largest country in solar energy usage. During the convention, I learned that solar panels now come in a variety of colors. The technology has improved so much that some panel design was as thin as film, and some were transparent like glass for light to travel through.

Currently, it takes approximately five years for the investment in solar panel to break even. After that, one can start saving money on energy and even sell energy back to the electric company when the electric meter runs backward.

]]> Tue, 07 Mar 2017 22:51:00 GMT https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/?photographing-governor-arnold-schwarzenegger https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/rss/00000002B <![CDATA[Jolynn and Kenny Viansa Winery Wedding in Sonoma]]> imblog

Jolynn and Kenny got married at the beautiful Viansa Vineyard in Sonoma. ]]> Wed, 27 Jul 2016 06:25:00 GMT https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/?jolynn-and-kenny-viansa-winery-wedding-in-sonoma https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/rss/00000003B <![CDATA[Just Married! Amelia and Leon]]> imblog

It's been a while since I last photographed a wedding at the Piedmont Community Hall. So I arrived early to scout out ideal spots for portraits and lighting. I then noticed a big tree not far from the ceremony site, and a vision appeared in my head. Wouldn't it be cool if the wedding couple both sit on the tree for a fun and out of the ordinary pose? Well, as I expected, Amelia the lovely bride didn't want to ruin her beautiful dress, so I had her standing by the tree instead. Thankfully, It still turned out to be a cool shot!

]]> Wed, 08 Jun 2016 03:55:00 GMT https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/?amelia-and-leon-piedmont-community-hall https://kurtyphotography.com/blog/rss/000000021