Since the dabbling stages of my photo trek, I have come across a countless numbers of photographers. Most bad, some good, few great. Below is a compilation of people who inspire me to continue challenging myself as a young photographer. It’s a diverse group of talent and style that simultaneously discourage and uplift me. Discouraging because how in the world can I ever get that good?? I should just throw in the towel and succumb to mindless, unprofitable shutter clicking for the rest of my life. Uplifting because I end up getting over my lame pity parties and realize that at 20 years young, I have come a long way, have a lot to learn and better not quit now! Anyways, I hope that the following photographs and its brilliant capturer stirs up a certain euphoria through its beautiful and intentional aesthetic. Don’t stop after scrolling, take the time to click through the links and experience for yourself the entirety of each photographer’s gift & glory.
Afton Almaraz
Trevor Hoehne
Esther Havens
Sean Flanigan
Christian Rios
Richard Avedon
Annie Leibovitz
Mario Testino
NOTE: the images were cropped in order to fit this post and thus some images are poorer in quality and content as originally produced by the photographer
Part 1: Kayti & Nick were friends from youth. Just friends. Not friends with benefits.
Part 2: Kayti developed a hushed crush on Nick but thought nothing of it because he ended up leaving town for ROTC and school. Nick realized that he fancied Kayti. He comes back home during a holiday break, asks her out to coffee and the rest is history.
Part 3: Despite their simple and beautiful love story, the engagement was anything but mundane. After much planning, decorating and making contacts Nick gathered his closest friends to help in propose to Kayti at one of their most special locations–Disneyland! They spent the day together in the happiest place on earth and come evening time, they enter a lobby where Nick nervously asks the fatigued Kayti to dance. Nick had asked the pianist to play a Michael Buble tune and as Kayti spins around and releases her hand’s grip with her beau’s, Nick bends down on one knee, ring in hand and his friends from up above drop down a long poster asking the bride-to-be to marry him.
Such a sweet, loving couple.
My dear and beautiful friend from back home. She was my very first model “way back when” I just started photography. I am going to need to go through my archive and find some of those pictures to compare how she’s matured into the stunning women that she is and how I’ve (hopefully) improved as a photographer!
Last quarter, the UCI Fashion Interest Group and I came together for our first editorial shoot. Winter quarter has arrived and the Diana Kang, the president of FIG, collaborated once again for an edgier, “color” take. Here is the initial vision Diana pitched via email:
“I am thinking dark clothes or bright & colorful. big dresses…BIG BIG everything!”
Visual inspiration:
I had in mind a twist between the new Juicy Couture ads and the latest Badgley Mischka line which is a bit more on the demure side. Diana does not mess around when it comes to fashion so when she pitches a vision, I take it seriously and know that if I do my part the rest of the FIG team would do theirs to make it happen on an uber-budget. We shot in a UCI student’s girly vintage home which was just fantastic. Mirrors, frill, pillows, pastel hues everywhere! Love.
Clothes were provided for from Miss Kang’s closet and the accessories were from Anna Belen, a fabulous jewelry store located in the East Coast.
Natalya worked her magic and busted out the brows for our female models.
I hope you enjoy what you what pretty things you see…
Anyone care for a cup o’ edge?
In preparation for a fashion shoot tomorrow, I gathered up a few friends to partake in a mock photo shoot in my very humble, college-student-esque abode. Here are some shots from tonight that simply ooze pure silliness and fun. I love a good guffaw. What I love even more is capturing it…
Thanks to my lovely room mates, Jenny & Katrina, for not only dealing with me as I turned our living room into a large makeshift studio but also stepping in for a bit of modeling fun. Thanks to Jeremy & Viet for being such masterful and geometrically savvy lighting assistants. Thanks to Olivia for always being my go-to girl/model. And finally, thank you Steven for coming in at the tail end of the shoot to rock a hot pink wig…you truly pulled it off.
The time had finally come for the young couple to tie the knot. The getting ready process was much calmer and peaceful than any pre-wedding experience I have ever shot. I guess that’s what happens when you’re friends with the bride! It was somewhat of a mini-reunion since I ended up seeing old friends from high school. From the moment Kristen ran into my arms at Bare Escentuals from the last time I saw her (at the engagement session we did a few months prior) to the sparkler send-off finale, I felt completely at ease; feelings like these are often hard to come by during high-stress and demand events so I was extremely thankful to have had the privilege of documenting Kristen & Jordan’s special day.
Here we have the (then) bride to be …
Bree (aka Tease Master) at work
Just a little surprise for the bridesmaids right before slipping into her dress
Such a classic beauty she is, right?
Yup, they worked it.
This was the first shot of this look…these ladies had natural sass & class, that’s all.
Yeah, they worked it too…
Because that’s what guys do…risk their lives just hours before making one of the most important decision of their lives!
Handsome bunch indeed.
Twas a Tim Burton-esque wedding…
& now for the bridal party!
They are just so presh…yes, I said presh.
A few detail shots.
Candy bar? WHAT? I was totally all over that!
Toast time
Single ladies stick t-o-g-e-t-h-e-r during the couple dances.
These people know how to PAWTTTTY!
Sparkler send-off!
Congratulations to Kristen & Jordan. I hope you are both having a wonderfully nomadic honeymoon!
Just some random shots around Orange County courtesy of an old film camera.
Have yourself a restful day and don’t forget to pay a bit of tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. today.
by Seung Michelle
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