Johnny Vy Photography Blog

Chiang Family Portraits in San Marino, CA

2012-02-14T10:02:00.000-08:00

I am a believer in word-of-mouth advertising, and a lot of our referrals have been from happy clients who value quality photography. We're glad that they have friends who think alike! Shelly had seen our portrait shoot with David and Daniel and reached out to us to photograph her own family portraits. Chanda and I met Shelly and her husband David, along with their cute little 3 month old son Liam and grandparents, in San Marino to begin our shoot. I think we've been fortunate to have photographed babies who have been easy to work with (knock on wood), and Liam was no exception. I think we just have a way with babies and the young'uns. The photos were meant to be a part of Liam's official 100th day celebration, and we were glad to have played a part in it. Congratulations to baby Liam! Enjoy the photos!

-Johnny

Addison's First Year: 6 Month Portrait Shoot

2012-01-23T11:06:00.000-08:00

We got to spend another day with Baby Addison, who turned 6 months earlier this week! She's already got strong legs that can keep her upright, and is growing quickly! Not only that, but she has been quite the talker recently, despite getting her first immunizations. She's got the brightest eyes, cheeks that I just love to pinch, and her first teeth are already starting to come in. You can tell from looking back at her previous shoots at 3 weeks, and at 3 months, just how much she has grown! We're looking forward to capturing her as she continues to grow over the next several months! Enjoy the photos!

-Johnny

I spy two teeth!

Two cubs having a ball.

Standing tall!

Marriage Proposals? There’s an app for that. . .sort of. . .

2012-01-17T14:49:00.000-08:00

After over 6 years of dating, I finally asked Chanda to marry me! Before I get into the details, I want to take you back 10 years where we met on the campus of UC San Diego in 2001. San Diego has been a special city to both of us, and I can speak for both of us when I say that the best years of our lives were spent in that city. Since graduating college in 2005, we’ve only been back a handful of times but I knew that whenever this moment would happen, it had to be in San Diego.

Since I’m a photographer, knew I wanted to have a picture of the proposal, and I wanted it to be unique and memorable. I’ve always thought that a light painting proposal would be imaginative and special, especially since it involves photography. If you’re not familiar with the concept of light painting, I explain the concept here. In fact, it’s really difficult to understand the way the photo was made unless you understand the concept of light painting, so read up before continuing on!

January 2011: I started conceptualizing the proposal, and knew that I wanted to surprise her with a written proposal when she saw the picture. I began to practice writing with lights on my bedroom wall. It wasn’t very neat because I couldn’t really see what I was writing, and the spacing was hard to master. I also had to begin thinking of special locations in San Diego that would not only make for a great picture, but would also be meaningful. Over the next several months, I kept experimenting with various lighting tools, with very few pleasing results. I spent countless nights in the cold trying to work out the logistics of making a clean picture.

The writing's on the wall: Writing with a laser on a wall is harder than it looks.

April 2011: I had thought up with the perfect excuse for us to drive down to San Diego. Believe it or not, during our 4 years in San Diego, neither of us had ever gone to a baseball game, so I suggested that we go watch the Padres at Petco Park. She liked the idea, so I started looking at the remaining home games. Unfortunately there were only a handful of games left in the season, and I hadn’t even purchased the ring yet! That wouldn’t work, so I had to think of another excuse. First thing’s first though – I had to get the ring!

June 2011: My sister Virginia had been married last year, and at some point during her ring re-sizing process (she had it resized it like 3 or 4 times I think), Chanda’s ring size casually came up in conversation, and I secretly committed it to memory knowing that I had just obtained the elusive piece of information that would have totally tipped her off if I had to ask. In the end, I found a ring that I knew she would love. I learned a lot while shopping for the engagement ring, and shared my insight in my engagement ring guide for guys.

July 2011: Originally I wanted to propose around her birthday in July, because I wanted to
get her a gift that would take her mind off the expensive thing she had been asking me for all year - during the months leading up to her birthday, she kept saying how much better her favorite game, “Words With Friends” would be on a larger screen (hint hint: “get me an iPad!”), but I kept telling her that it was just too expensive, and that she shouldn’t expect it. Instead I wanted to surprise he with
an engagement ring, which I’m sure she would have loved that more than an iPad. I already had the ring, and I knew she wouldn’t be disappointed, however I didn’t even have a plan in place yet. I would hold on to the ring for another 5 months,and ended up taking her to Disneyland, where we also had dinner at Blue Bayou restaurant with seats right by the water. I also bought her a Keurig coffee machine for her birthday, which she also loved – just enough to make her forget about the iPad.

Now that I had the ring, I began to experiment with more light painting. My focus this time was finding the right tool to write with because I just wasn’t happy with my handwriting. If I was going to make a picture worthy of framing, it had to be nice. I spent more cold nights in the backyard with various lighting tools - a small LED flashlight, a video light, a laser, an illuminating fan, you name it. If it emitted light, I tried it, but I was never quite pleased with the final results.

I had remembered seeing a video on YouTube a long time ago (shortly after iPad 1 was introduced) featuring an iPad being used to create 3-D words in mid air. At the time, I thought that it was a cool use for the iPad, and that it would be a unique way to propose, whenever that would be. I just didn’t want to have to buy an iPad just for this one purpose, but after many messy attempts, I realized that this would provide me with the most legible way to write with light. I had my solution. Now I had to find out whether the technology was available to the masses. I did an iTunes/App Store search for light writing / light painting and found something called Holo-Paint (At the time of this writing, I discovered a new app called Holographium that does the same thing). It was a little different than the video I had seen, but it was exactly what I needed.

September 2011: Since the Padres baseball season was over, football season was starting, and luckily for me, neither of us had ever been to a Chargers game either! I brought up the idea that we finally go see a game, and she agreed. After some consideration, I purchased tickets to the December 11 game against the Buffalo Bills. The proposal weekend had been set.

Tickets to our very first football game.

Light painting needs to be done in the dark, and I have always wanted to take photos of the San Diego skyline at night, so I told her that it would be a great addition to our series of photos that we put up on our walls. She also thought it was a good idea that we wouldn’t have to wake up early to drive down to San Diego for a game and have to drive back the same night. So we decided it was best to get there Saturday night and make a weekend out of it. I’d be able to take my night photos of the city, and we’d enjoy the game on Sunday and then head home after that.

November 2011: I had been holding off on getting an iPad for so long, but finally convinced myself that it was going to be my best option for writing out my proposal message. On top of that, there are a ton of apps that I found helpful for my business, so I finally shelled out the money and came home with an iPad2. The first thing I did was download the “Words With Friends” game for her (she is a puzzle master), and more importantly, I purchased the Holo-Paint app. She was happy because she finally had a big screen to play “Words With Friends” on, and I was happy because she was happy! Not to mention that I now had a legible way to write out the proposal!

Practice makes perfect: This is a double exposure with two different iPad passes in different colors.

Backtrack to September 2011: The same day I purchased the Chargers tickets, I booked a hotel in Coronado across the bay with great views of the San Diego skyline. I picked the hotel closest to the water because I knew we would end up having to walk down to the bay in the cold as soon as we checked into the hotel on Saturday night, and I knew it was going to be really cold. My only chance was to convince her that it was a good idea to walk a block and a half to the water to take photos of some buildings in the middle of the night. It was also in Coronado in 2005 where we spent a memorable day at Sunday brunch, and I showed her all my favorite spots – one of them being the great view of the San Diego skyline. It was one of the most memorable days of my life.

Chanda & I pose for a photograph in June 2005.

December 10, 2011: On Saturday morning, I packed my camera, tripod, tickets, iPad, and engagement ring into my bag and went to work. She kept asking me all day what time the game was on Sunday, and I had no idea! She thought it was odd that I had been looking forward to this game for so long, and yet didn't even know what time it was. Anyway, I got home around 7, picked up Chanda, and we were off to our beloved city. Once we got there, we checked into the hotel, got settled, and braved the cold weather to walk down to the water for some light painting!

A general view of the walkway leading up to the water in Corondao, directly across from the city lights.

I set up the tripod, and shot a few frames. It was really cold, and I got her involved by creating a few light streaks, and posing for a few images in front of the buildings. After about five minutes, she got really cold and started running laps around the camera to stay warm. I thought that was pretty funny because she really had no idea what was about to happen. I set the camera for a double exposure and ran in there with the iPad to create the proposal message. I told her that I wanted to take a photo of the two of us in front of the city lights, so I had her stand in while I made the settings for the second exposure and pulled the ring out of my pocket. I hopped in there, got on one knee, and asked her to marry me.

She said yes!!

Johnny Vy Photography Awarded Bride's Choice 2012 Honor

2012-01-09T14:09:00.000-08:00

We're excited to start 2012 off right with our first Bride's Choice Award! Thanks to all the couples and clients who made our first year in business a memorable one. This year we're looking forward to pushing the boundaries of creative wedding imagery, and forging new relationships with new clients. Let's get it started!

Light Painting Tutorial

2012-01-04T15:52:00.000-08:00

If you’ve ever taken a photo at night with a point-and-shoot camera and noticed some blur, you may have wondered why it happens. This often frustrating phenomenon has mostly been fixed by modern cameras touting little to no “shutter lag.” Nevertheless, the first time I encountered motion blur, I thought it looked kind of cool, and created many desktop backgrounds for my computer just with “happy accidents” of blurry lights from motion shake. To understand why motion blur happens, you first must understand how cameras, and to some extent, how our eyes work. We all learned in elementary school, how our eyes work right? Light bounces off of objects, is gathered, controlled, and focused by our eyes. The image is projected to the back of our eyes where a bunch of nerve endings send a signal to our brains that tell us what we are seeing.

A camera is simply a box with a hole in it. You can also think of a camera like our heads, with the lens being kind of like our eyes. Think of the opening/closing of a shutter like blinking an eye. In addition, our pupils expand and contract to control the amount of light that enters our eyes the same way the camera aperture does for the very same reason. Our corneas bend and refract light the same way the glass in lenses focus an image to the sensor or film at the back of the camera. The nerve endings at the back of our eye are like the sensor in the back of the camera, which processes the image and you get a picture. By the way, one of my favorite experiments as a kid was shining a flashlight close to my eyeball, and watching my pupils expand and contract in relation to the intensity of light. Probably not good for the eyes in the long run, but I gained a complete understanding of how pupils work (they expand when there is less light, so that they can gather more light for us to see, and they contract when there is sufficient light).

Ok class, our science lesson is over. Let’s move on to art!

Cameras with the M (manual) mode will allow you to control the shutter (blinking) and aperture (pupil) during an exposure, and will allow you to do some pretty cool things. Ever see a calendar full of waterfalls that look dreamy and fake? Well guess what? It certainly is dreamy, but it ain’t fake! The smooth water that you see is simply motion blur of water. The longer you leave the shutter open, the more blur you’re going to get.

A fast shutter speed freezes motion.

A slow shutter speed shows the movement of the water.

Let’s go back to the very beginning of this post, where I talked about blurry photos in a dark environment. The camera is smart enough to know that you’re taking a photo at night, and as a result, it is purposefully leaving the shutter open long enough to gather enough light to make a picture that’s not completely dark – so if anything that is moving in front of the camera will be a blur. In this case, waterfalls are constantly flowing, so they’ll show up as blurry if you leave the shutter open long enough.

An exposure that requires that the shutter remain open for a long period of time is called a long exposure. We’re all used to the sound of a shutter going off in a split second, but not too many of us are familiar with the concept of leaving a shutter open for 10 seconds, several minutes, or even hours. Ever see a photo of a starry night that looks like the stars are swirling in a circle? That’s the result of a long exposure over several hours, capturing the light of the stars as the earth spins on its own axis. Go ahead, google it!

A long exposure requires that the camera be completely still, or else you'll get motion blur. A tripod, or any type of grip gear that will hold the camera steady is necessary. A remote trigger is also suggested, but isn't necessary if your camera has a self timer.

Tripods, clamps, ball heads, and variable friction arms are all tools that help position and stabilize the camera.

Every time there is light registering through to the sensor, that illumination will show up in the picture. If that light is moving, then you’ll see a streak of light. That is the concept behind a genre of photography called light painting. The term is derived from the concept of painting an image with light, with the canvas being a completely dark scene. Anything that is illuminated becomes part of the picture.

These light streaks are the result of dragging my iPad across the scene over a span of 10 seconds.

Notice the strobe in his hands, aimed back at him.

In the above photo, found a dark area at night and told my friend Sam to move from one seat of the car to another. I set the camera shutter to stay open for about a minute. Every time he moved seats, I would have him fire the strobe in his hand, pointed at himself, thus registering his image on the film because he was lit up. The end result is 4 Sams in 4 seats, all taken with a single push of the button in one exposure.

There are plenty of creative concepts that can be achieved with light painting. One of the most creative videos I’ve seen is “light warfare” done by the awesomely talented FreddieW. I simply don’t have the patience to piece together thousands of photos to create a single movie, and I’m sure lots of time was put into creating that. Another cool light painting portrait I've seen is one done by Aurora Crowley of Austin Rivers for ESPN Rise magazine. The final shot looks pretty awesome.

These streaks of light are the headlights of a car zig-zagging through a parking lot.

We stopped the car so you could see it. If the car keeps moving, you wouldn't see it in the picture.

This was created by driving a car around the cooper. Notice the whites of the headlights and the reds of the tail lights.

I painted this scene with a small LED flashlight, held close to the wall and ground. The shutter was open for 132 seconds.

The bottom line is that anything emitting light can be used as your “brush.” Lasers, flashlights, ipods, phones, you name it. By the way, if any of you has one of those Star Wars light sabers that were selling 5 years ago, I'd love to get in touch with you. That would be an awesome tool for a light painting session. Go ahead and give it a try, and feel free to share your creations!

-Johnny

St. John the Baptist 2011 Christmas Social in Baldwin Park

2011-12-23T11:35:00.000-08:00

Last week we were invited again to photograph portraits of families during St. John the Baptist's 2011 Christmas social. This is one of my favorite events to photograph because it is so much fun. There are raffle prizes, good food, good music, dancing, and everybody gets involved in the planning, and also knows how to have a good time - especially Father Mike, whom I think I remembered "air-guitar'ing" to a few songs. The Christmas social is a way for the church to say "thank you," to all of its patrons, and we are there to provide complimentary photographs to the families and groups. As we did last year, we provided on-site prints through our "Same-Day Thank You Card service" (somebody help me think of a shorter, catchier name), and they looked great with the custom cards. The turnout this year, however, was even more massive than it was last year! I believe I was told that over 300 people attended, and the photo line snaked around the auditorium from the time we started shooting, to the time we ended. The best part was seeing how much bigger the kids had gotten since last year, and watching families grow. In the end, it was a successful event, and everybody had a great time. I'm already looking forward to next year's social!

-Johnny

Check us out in the L.A / SoCal Wedding Workbook

2011-12-22T11:36:00.000-08:00

We're proud to announce that we are a preferred photographer in the So Cal / L.A Wedding Workbook. The workbook can be found at most major bookstores including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Half.com. This is a great resource that will help in planning your wedding. 2012 is already shaping up to be a pretty busy year, so schedule an appointment and let us show you what we can do for you!

-Johnny

Caliyane & Chris’s Wedding at Stauffer Chapel in Malibu, CA

2011-12-19T15:43:00.000-08:00

Caliyane and Chris had a lovely traditional wedding at Stauffer Chapel on the campus of Pepperdine University in Malibu. I photographed this wedding with my friend Brian Labrada, and our day started off with a beautiful scenic drive up the Pacific Coast Highway. As the wedding party arrived, Chris soon realized that he had forgotten one very important part of his wardrobe: his shoes. He asked me, “Johnny, what size shoes do you wear?” The last time somebody asked me this, I received a free pair of shoes! I still had no idea why he was asking, but when I answered 10 1/2, he said, “thank goodness! I need to swap shoes with you! I can’t get married in Air Jordans!” So we made the switch, and I photographed the ceremony in Air Jordans. I have to say that this ranks up there with the time Chanda and I helped push some random guy’s broken down car along the Santa Barbara coast before another wedding we photographed. Wedding days often yield the most interesting stories, don’t they? Anyway, their wedding took place inside a gorgeous chapel, with scenic views of the Pacific right on the other side of the stained glass windows. After the ceremony, we took some portraits, and even the guys couldn’t resist the temptation of “Tebowing.” From that point on, we all relocated to Long Beach where the reception would be held at Hak Heang restaurant. I have to say that these cultural weddings are just so awesome to photograph because the colors are so numerous, bright, and vibrant! The ladies donned traditional Cambodian garb for the reception, and all looked lovely. The dancing at Cambodian weddings is one of my favorite things because everybody gets involved! A large circle is formed, and everyone does the traditional dance, which doesn’t require any dance experience! I have to admit that one of the reasons I enjoy photographing weddings, and not having to take part in them, is because I am a terrible dancer - I just get to hang out and photograph people. If I ever have to attend a wedding as a guest, I will eventually be exposed! Anyway, congratulations to Caliyane and Chris! Enjoy the photos!

-Johnny

Christopher Columbus points the way. . .and also makes a great dress hanger.

Tebowing has hit the wedding circuit!

Another girl has been bitten by the wedding bug. From this point on, she starts planning her own wedding.

Traditional Cambodian greeting.

One lucky fella.

The Essential Engagement Ring Guide for Guys

2011-12-13T02:44:00.000-08:00

Over the last few weeks, I've provided you with some helpful tips for popping the question, and some common mistakes when buying diamonds. I wanted to follow up with a more comprehensive guide to shed some light on the entire engagement ring buying process. My ultimate goal is to simplify the already daunting task of making one of the biggest investments you may ever make, by creating a simple, easy to understand guide for guys out there, who have absolutely zero knowledge of this process. There is a ton of information out there that basically tell you the same thing, but most of those sites won't give you the practical knowledge that you really need to know.

With the help of my good friend Brandy from Tiffany, Beverly Hills, I’ve compiled a comprehensive list of practical advice that will familiarize the average person with some common terminology, and hopefully provide some confidence when looking for the perfect engagement ring for your significant other. Make note of the terms in bold – vocabulary you should familiarize yourself with before going out there and dropping some serious dough on your new investment. Which brings me to my next point: Many people consider jewelry exactly that - an investment. More often than not, people will trade in jewelry in the future, and having a ring with desirable qualities will certainly help with the long term value of your investment.

The Basics:

You’ll have to buy her not one, but TWO rings. Yes that’s right. There is a ring for the engagement, and there is another ring for the wedding. The engagement ring is naturally called the engagement ring, and the other one is called a wedding band. Sometimes you’ll see these two sold together as a set. If not, be sure to ask which wedding band goes well with the engagement ring to complete the set. It’s also a good chance for you to see if the set looks good together. In my opinion, sometimes the band throws off the aesthetic balance of some engagement rings, but what are you gonna do? Some bands are shaped to compliment the engagement ring too, which is nice.

Remember This: An engagement ring and a wedding band complete a set.

Let’s break this down even further…

There are two parts to an engagement ring: the setting, and the center stone. The setting is typically what many people know as the actual ring that you slip over your finger. It can come in a variety of designs, each consisting of different elements. The center stone is what you usually see as the centerpiece of the ring as a whole, and is typically the most expensive part of the ring. Think of the center stone as the main event, and the setting as the thing that is there to showcase the main event. Or if you want to really simplify it even further, if the entire ring were a beehive, the setting/shank would be the honeycomb, the accentuating diamonds are the worker bees, and the center stone is the queen bee.

Let’s talk about the center stone:

If you’ve done some research, you would have come across the 4 C’s of diamonds. Every girl likes to talk about the 4 C’s, but to most guys, this can sound like a bunch of gibberish. To make it simple, here is a quick breakdown of the 4 C’s.

1. Cut - Various shapes (princess, oval, marquise, cushion, round, pear, heart, emerald, radiant, etc.)

2. Color - Is it colorless, or does it have a hint of yellow? More color can drastically reduce value.
3. Clarity - Is it clear, or does it have a milky quality?

4. Carat Weight - Overall size.

Remember This: Center stones are graded on a scale based on these 4 main factors, and that determines how valuable they are.

In the end, if you’ve got all the money in the world, you can pay for the world’s most perfect, colorless, clear, ginormous diamond, but if you’re a normal person, you’ll most likely have to find a balance between these 4 C’s that will make you comfortable with your allotted budget.

To Put Things Into Perspective:

In 1968, Actress Elizabeth Taylor received a 33 carat “asscher cut” diamond ring worth

$305,000 at the time. It is currently worth over $10 million.

In 2001, Vanessa Bryant received a 7 carat “asscher cut” engagement ring from Kobe Bryant, worth $100,000. He later (in)famously gave her an 8 carat purple diamond ring worth $4 million.

In 2008 Mariah carey received an 18 carat pink “emerald cut” engagement ring from Nick Cannon, worth $2.5 million.

In 2010, Beyonce received a 28 carat “emerald cut” engagement ring from Jay-Z, worth $5 million.

In 2010, Khloe Kardashian received a 9 carat “radiant cut” engagement ring from Lamar Odom, worth $850,000.

In 2011, Kim Kardashian received a 20.5 carat “emerald cut” engagement ring from Kris Humphries, worth $2 million.

The bottom line is that a large majority of us normal folks won’t be spending nearly as much as the above-mentioned people. More commonly, most people will likely be looking for a center stone in the neighborhood of 1 carat. Some more, some less. But you get the idea.

Why the Difference in Price?

Let’s compare Mariah Carey’s diamond (18k, 2.5 million) to Kim Kardashian’s ring (20.5k, 2 million). Remember, the figures listed above are values describing just the center stone. Mariah’s diamond is smaller by 2 carats, yet costs $500,000 more. Why? First of all, it has a pink center stone, which is more rare. Perhaps it also has fewer inclusions (internal flaws), or it may be more clear. It also may have a higher total carat weight (t.w) with accentuating stones, making it more valuable. It’s all part of the tradeoffs when comparing diamonds.

Back to You:

With your budget in mind, you will find yourself playing a game of give and take with the 4 C’s. Let’s say for example that you’re looking at “Diamond A” at $10,000. For the sake of this example, it is a 1 carat stone, colorless, clear, and has no visible inclusions.

“Diamond B” is slightly smaller at 0.8 carats, is almost colorless, not quite as clear, and has a few inclusions, though none are visible without magnification, this one may cost

thousands less….say $6000. Yet when placed side by side, they may look exactly the same. What’s the tradeoff? Lower quality and size all the way around, and you’re spending way less money. Change a couple of the C’s around and you may be looking at a whole new price for a whole different diamond. For example, if you’ve got a bigger stone, “Diamond C,” at 1.5 carats, but it’s visibly yellow and cloudy, with visible flaws, it could theoretically be even less valuable than “Diamond B.” On the other hand, “Diamond D” at only 0.5 carats, but flawless, clear, colorless, and perfectly cut, it could potentially cost even more than the $10,000 “Diamond A.” See where I’m going with this? Unless you have unlimited cash, you’ll have to determine which of the 4 C’s is most important to you and her, and play that game of give-and-take to determine which diamond you want to make your investment in. Bigger is not necessarily better if it’s lacking in the other 3 C’s.

Remember this: Center stones should come with a certificate of appraisal.

This is like a report card for diamonds, complete with grades for various categories such as inclusions, clarity, color, etc. I’m not going into details of the grading scale, but every legitimate center stone should be certified by some kind of organization like the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), International Diamond Council (IDC), or the European Gemological Laboratory (EGL). On top of that, these diamonds have some kind of identifying number embedded somewhere within, like a serial number plate, associating it with the respective certificate/report. Ask for them to point it out under a microscope. That’s how you know that your dealer isn’t claiming to sell you a specific stone on paper, and swapping it out with a less valuable one.

Remember This: Most of your money will be spent on the center stone, instead of the setting.

The setting can come in a variety of forms. You’ll hear terms like “solitaire, 3 stone, side stone, and halo” among others. These describe the actual design of the ring, commonly known as a shank. As you can image, a solitaire is a single center stone mounted on the shank by itself. Other settings have accentuating diamonds surrounding the center stone. For example, a 3 stone design is a center stone mounted between 2 smaller stones on either side. A halo design is a center stone surrounded by a bunch of smaller stones in a circle or square, which typically enhances the center stone, and can make the overall ring look bigger. In the end, some rings will have just 1 diamond, and others may feature multiple diamonds depending on the setting. The total cumulative carat weight of the setting AND the center stone is known as total carat weight, abbreviated as (t.w).

Remember This: Settings have the accentuating diamonds, as mentioned above, are called semi-mounts, and do not come with a center stone.

Semi-mounts are likely to feature a cubic zirconia as the center stone by default. If you want a diamond as your center stone, you’ll have to purchase it separately and have it mounted. Some retailers will specify “diamond not included,” when listing their settings as semi-mounts – while others will not. When you see the term “semi-mount,” know that you still have not purchased the “Main Event.”

About Cubic Zirconias:

I first heard the term cubic zirconia as a kid, watching the old Warner Brothers cartoons, and early on, I knew that a cubic zirconia (qz) is a fancy term for a fake diamond. Without getting into the science of it, it is essentially a synthesized material that resembles a diamond, but is far less valuable. Most store displays feature settings with cubic zirconias, which makes sense for many reasons, including theft prevention.

Diamond Cuts (Shapes):

There are a variety of diamond shapes, and I’m not going to get into describing each one because I think it is a matter of preference. I personally like symmetrical shapes like the square nature of a “princess cut” diamond. Another person may like the round shape of a “round cut” diamond, which may feature more facets than other cuts. More facets usually mean more surface area to reflect light, and thus more sparkle. One may also prefer an “emerald cut” diamond because it sometimes appear bigger. So how do you know what she likes? A good tip is to check out her current jewelry, which will tell you a lot about her style. Does she like vintage looking stuff, or more modern jewelry? Does her stuff look flashy? (good luck!) Maybe you can start by asking her how she feels about the look of certain famous celebrity rings as mentioned above.

In conclusion, I’ve given you a basic foundation. I’m no expert, but I hope that after reading this, you are a lot more comfortable with engagement ring terminology, and can walk into a store with some confidence about what you are doing. Being knowledgeable about this stuff is already half of the battle, and I hope that it will provide some comfort in dealing with such a big and important investment.

-Johnny

Cristina & Luis's Wedding

2011-12-05T19:40:00.000-08:00

Ceremony: Delhaven Church

Reception: Imperial Palace

Entertainment: Klean Productions

The story of Cristina and Luis is one of the more inspiring love stories I have ever had the pleasure of experiencing. Marriage is the union of two families, but the families of these two have been together since their grandmothers grew up together generations ago. Luis said it best when he told me that this wedding was going to be a big family get-together, because everybody on both sides of the family have already known each other for years. I could definitely feel the love between everyone, as it made for some great genuine photos. The other thing I love about these two is that they are HUGE Los Angeles Dodgers fans - so much so that Luis's cufflinks and socks were Dodger themed, and even Cristina sought long and hard to find the perfect pair of Dodger Blue shoes. With the assistance of the talented Brian Labrada to help capture Cristina and Luis's big day, our morning started out in La Puente with a lovely ceremony at Delhaven Church, followed by portraits at Pasadena City Hall, and a reception at the Imperial Palace in Pasadena. Here are some of my favorite images from their wedding. Enjoy!

-Johnny

Dodger Blue, through and through.

Sarah & Dave’s Wedding at Electra Cruises in Newport Beach, CA

2011-11-29T20:49:00.000-08:00

Venue: Electra Cruises
Flowers: The Floral Event by LC

Lion Dance: The Immortals

Chanda and I embarked on the nautical-themed wedding of Sarah and Dave aboard the Eternity Yacht in Newport Beach on November 12, 2011. This time we brought along fellow photographer Brian Labrada to help us capture their special event. I always encourage having multiple photographers at weddings, not only because it allows for multiple angles (imagine capturing the walk down the aisle from just one perspective), but with a compacted schedule, it is often difficult to be in two different places at once. Rain was expected that weekend (what nautical-themed wedding would be complete without rain?) – and it certainly did rain, but luckily it didn’t start pouring until after the yacht docked. It didn’t, however, put a damper on the festivities as everyone still had a great time. After a tea ceremony onboard the yacht, the joyous affair ended with a pair of Chinese lions greeting guests on their way out with a thundering performance to close out their big day. Enjoy the photos!

-Johnny

Top 5 Mistakes When Buying a Diamond

2011-11-28T13:21:00.000-08:00

As we inch closer to December, "engagement season" continues to roll on! As promised, this week we're offering more helpful information to those of you interested in popping the question. If you missed our previous "Proposal Guide" blog post, you can brush up on that before reading on about some common mistakes people often make when choosing a diamond. Once again, we've teamed up with the experts at the Diamond Center and asked them to give us a list of common mistakes when buying diamonds. Just to preface this list, here's a brief word about how diamonds are graded (and priced). If you're not familiar with the "Four C's" of diamonds, here is a quick breakdown:

Diamonds are graded on a scale based on 4 main factors:

1. Cut - Various shapes (princess, oval, marquise, cushion, round, pear, heart, emerald, radiant, etc)

2. Color - Is it colorless, or does it have a hint of yellow? More color can drastically reduce value.

3. Clarity - Is it clear, or does it have a milky quality?

4. Carat Weight - Overall size.

MISTAKE #5: BUYING BASED ON PRICE POINT OR DISCOUNT
This seems like a good idea, but you could be asking for trouble. This is why…the lowest price diamonds are normally the ones with the worst cut and CUT can affect the value of a diamond up to 60%. Disreputable jewelers can manipulate pricing by giving “percentage off” in order to give the false perception of a “deal”.

MISTAKE #4: BUYING A DIAMOND ON THE INTERNET
Diamonds should ONLY be purchased after viewing a selection of comparative diamonds. Use your best tools – your very own eyes. Certifications can only establish rarity, the human eye can determine beauty.

MISTAKE #3: ASSUMING A BEAUTIFUL STORE CHARGES MORE THAN A MALL OR STRIP CENTER STORE
The most expensive rents are experienced in the malls where percentage rents are paid. Independently owned jewelry stores own their buildings, reducing their expenses dramatically. These expense savings result in advantages to you.

MISTAKE #2 – “SELF EDUCATION “IS SUFFICIENT TO PROPERLY JUDGE VALUE
True diamond expertise is acquired over many years and involves viewing thousands upon thousands of diamonds for comparison. Consulting a professional with a trained eye can help rule out lower quality diamonds.

MISTAKE # 1– ASSUMING A “LAB” REPORT EQUALS A “GOOD DIAMOND”
Even though the diamond has a report or “certification” remember that you still need a trained consultant to evaluate all of the characteristics. Diamonds are certified after they have been rejected by several buyers for the purpose of creating value that is difficult to see.

Marriage Proposal Tips from the Diamond Center

2011-11-14T16:02:00.000-08:00

Well we're close to the end of the year, which means one thing: It's engagement season! If you've been thinking about popping the question, we've got a few tips for you to better prepare for the big moment. I've asked the helpful people at the Diamond Center to offer some tips and suggestions, and over the next several weeks, we'll be offering a different set of tips to take you through the entire engagement process, including how to select the right engagement ring. So without further ado, here are some of the Diamond Center's tips on how to pop the question.

Proposing is your first big step in your relationship and many would argue it is the toughest. We put together some pointers to make this go a little more smoothly.

Do This:

Talk to her about the proposal.

This doesn’t mean completely kill the excitement for later, but make sure this is something that you’re both ready for.

Make it a surprise.

Given that you now have the green light, make it memorable.

Propose in a personal spot.

Don’t worry, you don’t have to whisk her away to Paris for the weekend, but you should choose a spot that means a lot to both of you. Perhaps the location you had your first date or first kiss?

Be Creative!

This is your moment to shine and a moment she will remember forever and tell your kids and grandkids about. Really think about the things you love to do together and her favorite things about your relationship. There is no one set way to propose, you should make it unique and creative to your relationship.

Be prepared with the perfect ring.

She has to wear this for a lifetime, so why not receive her input? Remember, this is also where we can jump in to help. Some women may prefer to pick the ring out themselves. If this is the case she will let you know.

Tell your friends & family.

After you hear the words you have been waiting for make sure to have a phone handy. Everyone will surely want to be in on the excitement.

Do Not:

Propose too soon.

Quite obviously, the third date probably wouldn’t be the appropriate time. More realistically, she may not be ready in at the exact moment you are, that being said, make sure to discuss the topic with her.

Wait too long.

We know that fear can play a large part into emotions. If you know this is the woman you want to be with forever step up and propose. Remember she has probably been anticipating this moment for years.

Be afraid to ask her for help on the ring.

Save the element of surprise for her proposal, get her input. If this doesn’t work for you, her mother or friends are just a phone call away.

Propose in public.

There are so many things that can go wrong with a public proposal. Unless your girl has specifically told you she would love a public proposal….leave it to the cheesy romantic comedies.

Hide the ring in her food.

We have talked about this before… but I will say it again....DENTIST!

Make the proposal too elaborate.

Relax, your proposal doesn’t need to have a million different variables. You shouldn’t be too focused on your plan of action, but rather you’re years together to come

AND REMEMBER…The perfect proposal starts with the most perfect diamond. At The Diamond Center, we have been making the trip down to one knee a little easier for 38 years. We do not consider our job done until you have all of the information you need to make the best decision in choosing a diamond (and ring) that will last and sparkle for the life of your romance.

909-399-9133 The Diamond Center www.lantzdiamondcenter.com

Lydia's 70th Birthday Masquerade Party at the Wherelse Ballroom in Covina

2011-10-24T11:59:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend, we were invited to be a part of Lydia's 70th birthday party at the Wherelse Ballroom in Covina. This had been a party a long time in the making, and Lydia's children Melinda and Mike had been planning this party since early in the year. They went with a masquerade theme, and invited us to provide their guests with our signature "Same-Day Thank You" cards. We do unlimited on-site printing of photos for events, which are excellent mementos for guests to go home with, especially when the birthday girl willing to pose with many of her guests at the ripe age of 70! Everyone had a great time, and as usual there were plenty of people coming back to our photo setup for more photos! I want to thank my buddy Edgar for lending his time and effort (and missing the big USC v Notre Dame game on tv) for helping Chanda and I out that day, and to Kim of Kimmee Cakes for providing the beautiful and delicious cake and my new favorite thing - cake pops!

Awesome cake by Kimmeecakes

Kim of Kimmeecakes and Birthday Girl, Lydia

Chanda and Edgar at our print station.

Team pic!

Watch on a Glass Table

2011-10-13T11:29:00.000-07:00

Here’s a trend that I’ve been seeing a lot in wedding photography: shooting stills with a video light. There are some cool advantages to this, and my favorite is the ability to concentrate the light on a single area, instead of the flash just blasting away at the entire scene and illuminating everything. This can lead to some pretty cool dramatic looks. Not that you can’t do that with speedlights – you can snoot it, flag it, and use all kinds of accessories to direct the light, but those suckers still give out a lot of light. My prediction is that video light for still photos is going to be the next big trend, and you’re going to see a lot of third-party accessories for these things, like the way we see accessories for iPods and iPads. Anyway, I did some research and wanted to try one out for myself. I’ve seen the LitePanels Micro lights in action, and they sure do put out a lot of light. Not only that, but they are expensive [$250 (basic) / $400 (pro)]. A little more research, and I came across the CN-126 video light on ebay for a mere $35. Practically the same as the LitePanels, but for way less money - so I bought it. It is a pretty cool little light that runs on 6 AA batteries, has a dimmable switch, and comes with daylight and tungsten colored filters. It is plenty bright, and the dimmer switch allows me to control the light to my liking. One thing that is lacking is that it doesn’t come with any barn doors, so the light spills everywhere, but I cut out some pieces of manila folder and with a little gaffer tape, created my own barn doors that easily fold for storage, and are stiff enough to do what I need it to do when the light is on. The best part about these LED video lights is that they are not hot to the touch – perfect for assistants not burning themselves!

Here is a quick set of photos of a simple setup that I shot of a watch on a glass table. Just one video light sitting on the table at a moderately dim setting, barn doors aimed at the watch at a 45 degree angle. The dim light allows the background to go dark, and all that is illuminated (the watch) is what makes the picture. Had I shot this with a speedlight, you probably would have seen the entire table, and the kitchen in the back. Not quite as cool, as you can imagine. So there you have it! By the way, you can make the same type of image using a simple desk lamp. Or even a cell phone for that matter. Remember this photo? Yep - lit with a cell phone. Go out and try it!

-Johnny

Halloween Portrait Special

2011-10-02T23:21:00.000-07:00

October is here! That means that before we all know it, we'll be trick-or-treating for goodies on Halloween and overloading on sugar - but my favorite part of this time of year is seeing all the awesome costumes that everyone will be wearing. In the spirit of Halloween, we're holding our first annual one-day portrait special at the new studio, and lowering our sitting fee to $50. You'll get a free 8x10 print from the pose of your choice. This special offer is by appointment only, so get your costume early, give us a call, and come join us for a fun time! This is a great opportunity for kids to be captured in their costumes, and for sharing with friends and family. Pets are welcome too!

Check the flyer below for details. See you there!

-Johnny

Addison's First Year: 3 Month Portraits

2011-10-02T23:04:00.000-07:00

Welcome to October! Since the last time we saw baby Addison, she has grown so much, yet she is still such a tiny baby! You may remember her portrait shoot at 3 weeks, and over the weekend she was back in front of our cameras after celebrating the big 3 month mark! Addison also brought along her cute bumblebee Halloween costume, and we were able to take a few snaps of her first ever costume! We're looking forward to watching her grow, and can't wait until the next shoot at 6 months! Enjoy the photos!

-Johnny

Erica & Tieu's Wedding at the Science Museum of Virginia, Part 2

2011-09-18T21:26:00.000-07:00

Erica & Tieu's wedding was so awesome, I couldn't help but add another post. The rest of the photos will be ready soon, so hang tight everybody! Enjoy these pics in the meantime!

Johnny

Vietnamese weddings have so many colors. I love it.

Somebody came prepared!

I just love all the colors in this photograph!

Erica & Tieu's Wedding at the Science Museum in Richmond, Virginia

2011-09-13T21:39:00.000-07:00

How do I begin with this wedding? Erica and Tieu are two of the nicest people you could ever meet, and they definitely go out of their way to make people feel at home (thanks you two for everything)! Despite the large size of the wedding (450 people or so), everything still felt very intimate, and I was honored to be able to sit at the head table with them. We flew out early to Virginia and got a chance to scout the Science Museum in Richmond. It is a really cool spot – a former train station converted into a bunch of kid-friendly exhibits. The day began with a traditional tea ceremony at the bride’s house, followed by lunch at the groom’s. From there, it was portraits at the Science Museum, followed by a fun reception. The old locomotives were my favorite part, and we had a great time photographing portraits on and around the tracks. There are tons of photos that I’d love to share from this wedding, but for now, here are some of my favorites. Enjoy!

-Johnny

New Office in South Pasadena

2011-09-06T18:57:00.000-07:00

I'm now pleased to invite our clients to meet with us in our new office, located in South Pasadena. Meetings are by appointment only, so make sure you reach out and schedule a time to stop by and check out how we can make your wedding or event picture perfect!

Johnny

Jessica & Erol's Wedding at the Garden Room in La Habra

2011-08-22T12:16:00.000-07:00

Jessica & Erol’s Wedding at the Garden Room in La Habra

When Erol and Jessica first met with us, they brought along the kids – Jonathan and Alyssa. Right from the get-go, I could tell that this was a very close group of people. A few months later, we photographed some portraits with them, and the kids were right at home posing for the camera and chatting it up with us as if we were longtime family friends. That all made for a comfortable wedding day this past weekend, as Chanda and I were welcomed into their small circle of close friends and family to photograph their wedding. The day started at 7:30 am as we headed over to Glendora to photograph Jess and Alyssa getting ready at their friend Cyndee’s salon, “Beauty Within.” The early hours provided a calm, relaxing mood to start the day, and we then headed over to photograph Erol and Jonathan getting ready in West Covina at their friend Dwayne’s home. From there we headed over to the Garden Room in La Habra for the ceremony and reception. It was a nice, intimate ceremony, and a fun reception, complete with a screen booth which the kids thoroughly enjoyed, singing, guitar playing, and even a personal reading of a poem written by one of their close friends. All in all, I’ve seen how much time and effort both Erol and Jess put into this wedding, and it was good to see them let loose, relax, and have a good time when it mattered most! Enjoy the photos!

- Johnny

Baby Addison's portraits at 3 Weeks

2011-08-15T15:09:00.000-07:00

A few months ago, Caliyane and Chris were the winners of our wedding photography contest benefiting charities to help victims of the tsunami in Japan. Their wedding is in November, but they recently had a new addition to their family. Baby Addison was born and we stopped by to take some portraits of her at three weeks. Addison was pretty sleepy for most of the time, but managed to open her eyes for her first big modeling debut. Caliyane, Chris, Addison, and their dog Lenny welcomed us into their home, and even took us out for a nice walk down the block for a nice Sushi dinner after the shoot! I got a chance to push Addison in her stroller, and even walk with Lenny, and I have to say that Addison’s stroller is the Mercedes-Benz of all strollers. Nice comfortable ride for the little one, and easy to handle. We’re looking forward to photographing their wedding in November, but in the meantime, here are some of my favorite photos of Addison!

-Johnny

She's already a Cubs fan, like her daddy.

Modeling is hard work.

Beauty sleep in progress.

I wouldn't want to run into this gangster in the street.

Addison was named after Wrigley Field's address. A Cubs fan is born!

Lantz Family Portraits at Scripps College in Claremont

2011-08-08T14:55:00.000-07:00

With the 40 year anniversary of the Lantz Diamond Center in Claremont coming up, Owners Debbie and Rob Lantz wanted to get the family together to update their family pictures. Debbie had expressed how hard it was to get everyone together since jobs and busy schedules get in the way, so I met them on their own turf. Debbie and I had previously discussed a location at Scripps College that she was interested in, and we set up a time and date. I arrived an hour early to scout the place out only to discover that a wedding was being held there. So my assistant Mindy and I wandered around the campus in search of a nice alternative, and let me tell you there are plenty of beautiful spots. We chose a wide open courtyard to start the session off because of its abundant shade and built-in steps. Even though we brought along enough chairs to create dynamic posing positions, the steps made our job easier to position their family, which spanned 4 generations. Next we moved onto our other favorite locations, finally finishing at a quaint set of steps adjacent to the open courtyard. We had the entire range of age, with the youngest being little Lucy, or “Lulu” as they called her, in her “Hearts on Fire” purple dress and yellow ribbon in her hair. I absolutely loved the way this family interacted with each other, and I think it definitely shows through in the photos. Congratulations, Lantz Family on 40 years in business, and here’s to another 40 and more!

Be sure to check out the Behind-the-Scenes video (above) of this shoot, complete with a nice little synopsis by yours truly at the very end! We're working on some more cool videos to be added up on our YouTube channel in the near future ! Enjoy!

-Johnny

Check us out on YouTube

2011-08-04T18:51:00.000-07:00

Some of you may already know this, but if you weren't aware, we've launched a YouTube channel to showcase some of our work. Here you'll find video samples of albums, books, wedding and engagement photos, and eventually some instructional videos and behind-the-scenes looks into some of our shoots. I'm excited about the new opportunities YouTube will present, and hopefully we'll have lots more stuff for everyone to check out soon!

Johnny

Kenny and Audrey get Engaged at the Diamond Center in Claremont

2011-08-01T12:56:00.000-07:00

Kenny brought Audrey to the Lantz Diamond Center in Claremont where he had planned his marriage proposal months in advance. Since Audrey already knew what kind of ring she wanted, Kenny made sure he got it just right, and with the help of the helpful associate Fonda at the Diamond Center, he had it custom designed. Since a lot of their friends had been getting married, the pressure was on Kenny, and he finally decided to take her in, telling her that they were only there to LOOK. Little did she know, Kenny had been planning this very moment for months with the Diamond Center staff. After Audrey was shown a variety of rings that she so nicely turned down, he unveiled Audrey’s ring as 20+ of their closest friends and family entered the store to watch Kenny get down on one knee and make Audrey his fiancé one day before their four year anniversary. This was a special moment that took a lot of planning and a little bit of deception, but alas, Kenny and Audrey are now engaged! Congratulations!

So how did we get involved in this? Debbie Lantz, owner of the Diamond Center had contacted me to photograph her family portraits, and proposed (pun intended!) the idea to me after mentioning that a marriage proposal was going to happen right in their store the next weekend. She got a bunch of local vendors together, and everyone agreed to donate some gifts to the wedding party, and in this case, our photography was the service. How did Debbie find us? Well, we had previously photographed the wedding of Virginia and Erick, who purchased a Hearts on Fire diamond from the Diamond Center, and when she saw the photos of the rings, she contacted us about featuring some prints in the store, and the rest is history.

So now that you’ve heard their story, why don’t you share yours with us? We’d love to hear your engagement stories in the comment section below!

-Johnny

Audrey realizes what is about to happen. . .

Admiring the ring.

Kenny looks relieved. She said YES!

Audrey, Kenny, and Fonda, who helped execute the proposal

Starbucks donated coffee and treats!

Friends and family who were present for the proposal. Can you imagine hiding all those people before the big moment?

X Games 17 at Staples Center L.A. Live

2011-07-31T18:26:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend, I was helping out photographer Robert Beck with the X Games in Los Angeles, while Chanda was busy photographing the marriage proposal of some friends (more on that in a future blog post). I spent three days walking around and about L.A. Live, helping Robert make some awesome pictures, meanwhile seeing a bunch of cool angles that made me want to come back and try out a few ideas that were spinning in my head. After helping Robert complete his project, I came back on the fourth day of the X Games to shoot some of my own photos. I had some really cool ideas for the skateboarding vert ramp where Shaun White won the event the night before, but arrived the next day only to see it dismantled and vanished into thin air. So went my ideas, but nevertheless I wandered around looking for some "feature" type stuff and just had fun with it. Maybe next year I'll get my chance to make the pictures I really wanted to make, and maybe you'll get to see em! For now, enjoy the pictures!

Top of the Skateboard Big Air Ramp. Yep, it's big.

It's going to take a week to clear the building of all the fumes.

Do you think they had this in mind when they decided to make the Chick Hearn statue "accessible to fans?"

-Johnny

Ellen & Steve's Wedding at the Lindley-Scott House in Azusa

2011-07-25T11:31:00.000-07:00

Location: Lindley-Scott House

720 East Foothill Blvd. Azusa, CA 91702

Contact: Diane Pieper

(626) 334-5215

www.lindleyscotthouse.com

Flowers: Creative Floral Designs

272 1/2 South San Gabriel Blvd. San Gabriel, CA 91776

Contact: Bernie Hsiao

(626) 233-4428

www.creativefloraldesigns.com

Entertainment: DJ Tempoe

Contact: Ryan Girgis

(714) 478-5657

www.djtempoe.com

Photobooth: Mebo Photo
(626) 334-8629

www.mebophoto.com

Ellen contacted me early in January for her wedding in July, and with so much time to plan a wedding, all the little details were exactly perfect. We had scouted the grounds a few months prior, and picked out a few prime spots for portraits. We got there so early that we found the closest, shadiest parking spot, only to have the sprinklers turn on and give Chanda’s car a nice little shower (there’s always something going on with a car on wedding shoots it seems). The ceremony took place on a lawn outside the house, and was absolutely beautiful. Steve’s son Ben played some music on the cello and Steve later sang a heartfelt song to his new bride in front of all the guests. The reception was wonderful, starting with a very entertaining first dance (a choreographed salsa routine with a little bit of hip hop), and finished with a nostalgic slideshow. Great location, great people, great music, and a whole lot of fun make for a fantastic wedding. Enjoy the photos!

Johnny

Griffith Park Observatory at Night

2011-07-11T11:37:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend I decided to visit Griffith Park Observatory on a whim. At around 7:30 pm, I decided I wanted to take some night photos there, but I should have gone earlier (and on a weekday). I never remembered Griffith Park being so busy, but ever since they reopened, and school is out, it made for a busy night with kids, families, and couples visiting the towers to peer over the ledge at the city lights and look through the telescopes. I have always enjoyed taking pictures at night, and went back to the old tripod and set up some quick exposures on the deck of the observatory. Since we didn't expect that much traffic, we got there a bit later than sunset, and had to park further away and trek up a winding road to finally get to the top. I really would have liked to have shot these an hour earlier, but maybe next time! For now, enjoy these photos!

-Johnny

When I see this, I always think of the opening scene of Terminator.

Portraits with Jessica and Erol

2011-06-27T13:04:00.000-07:00

Erol became a fan of our work after seeing the engagement and wedding photos of Virginia and Erick. We met him and his fiancé Jessica and are excited to be photographing their upcoming wedding in August. Thanks V & E for the good word! Erol and Jessica wanted to do some portraits, and we invited them and the kids out to a local park for a quick session. Erol was telling me about how important it was to have the kids in the photos because he is going to be joining their family, so we took the time to get a few family photos, as well as individuals with the kids. Even though they were new to taking pictures, the kids - Jonathan and Alyssa, seemed like naturals. These two knew exactly what they wanted to do, and were not shy at all. It was great to get the whole family involved, and the kids seemed to enjoy all the attention. You could tell that the kids were really comfortable, and Erol and Jessica had a good time taking fun portraits with them as well. When the wedding comes around in a few months, we’re hoping to keep the fun times rolling, and are thankful to have spent this time with them to continue to develop solid relationships that define our work. Enjoy the photos!

-Johnny

Father's Day Portraits with David and Daniel

2011-06-20T19:56:00.000-07:00

For Father’s day, Lucrecia wanted to do something special for her boyfriend David and his son Daniel. We met them at a park in Redondo Beach and took some photos around sunset. Daniel was excited right from the start, running around with so much energy, and was very good at posing. I’d actually love to do another photo shoot with him simply because he was such a terrific model and takes directions very well. Hope all the dads out there had a great father’s day. Enjoy the photos!

-Johnny

Art in the Streets at the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA in Los Angeles

2011-06-13T16:02:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend, I got a chance to check out the “Art in the Streets” exhibit at the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA in Los Angeles. It was one of the most fascinating exhibits I have ever seen, not only because I am an artist and have always wanted to be THAT good at drawing and painting, but also because it outlines the history of urban culture and graffiti art throughout the world. Upon approaching the exhibit outside, there are several street artists completing works on canvas, and you can see the process at work. If you want to photograph this exhibition, they allow cameras but no flash. I totally should have brought my fisheye lens, because I did not anticipate the magnitude of some of the works on display. Very big and downright awesome. One of my favorites was a giant “LA” wall done by Mister Cartoon. Not only is he a graffiti artist, but he’s a successful tattoo artist who has inked the likes of recording artists such as Eminem, Dr. Dre, Travis Barker, and Cypress Hill. There is a wall of photos of some of his work as well, chronicling the East L.A gang life, which also make up a majority of his clientele. I think I’m going to have to hit up Mister Cartoon for my next tattoo! Also featured is Shepard Fairey, the guy who did the original Obama poster image before it was hijacked and turned into the famous "Hope" poster. He is also the guy behind the ubiquitous "Obey" posters featuring the face of Andre the Giant.

Every artist showcased has his or her own particular style, and I loved walking through this exhibit because it reminded me of how I used to like to draw block letters and color them in as a kid. I never had formal art lessons, and it still amazes to see the final products of spray paint on walls, and markers on paper. I sometimes just want to observe the works being made to see the techniques used. I think art and graffiti is all about the process, and that’s what intrigues me the most about this stuff.

YouTube idea: If you’re an up and coming band or something, go with your bandmates and bring along a video camera. There is an exhibit there with painted instruments – a drum set, a guitar, and a bass. They’re all playable, and I thought it would be cool if some people got together, played a few songs, and looked cool. I’ve seen some pretty unique YouTube videos of bands (most notably of Atomic Tom playing iPod touch instruments on a New York subway), and if I had a band, I would totally want to do it – although it’s possible you could be sued by the artist. There is a possibility that they want the exposure, hence made the instruments playable in the first place. Anyway, go check it out. I would recommend going to the Levi’s Film Workshop while inside. It’s an interactive section where you can create stop motion movies, animated drawings, and much more. I guarantee that you will be inspired and educated, and possibly want to go tag on some walls or get some tattoos.

Johnny

Poetic, no?

Me admiring Jean-Michel Basquiat's giant Blondie painting.

I don't know how those security people stand there all day.

They even replicated the streets where tagging is rampant. Here is Chanda chillin' with a bum and his monkey.

Mister Cartoon's ice cream truck. How gangster is that?

Glow in the dark paint is awesome.

Ever get the feeling someone is eyeballin' you?

Something is definitely eyeballin' me!

Interactive art is awesome.

How to Take Better Photos: Overpowering Sunlight

2011-06-08T13:29:00.000-07:00

I recently posted a photo on my facebook page that prompted several people to ask how I was able to get that “look.” There have been a few inquiries about the “look” based on other photos that I’ve done as well, so I am going to do a quick post about how it was done. One of our brides was pleasantly surprised when she got her engagement photos and got colors more vibrant than what she remembered seeing in real life. There is no magic involved, no photoshopping, or no special filters. Just straight up photography 101. Here’s the scoop:

Here is a photo taken at a “normal” exposure. Notice that the sun is still up, and I’m getting a bright sky, and if I had someone standing in front of me, he or she would be properly illuminated. The problem with this is that they'd be backlit, and their faces would be dark. I like to make my photos more dramatic, and I like blue skies, so I am going to purposely make the photo darker.

In photo lingo, this would be called “underexposure,” and I am setting my aperture to a setting much smaller to darken the overall image. You can already tell there is a big difference in the nature of the "look" of the photo.

From here, all I need to do is illuminate my subject with an external light source.

Here I’ve got the flash firing at my hand, and you can see what it’s going to do to my subject when placed in the frame. That shadow on my arm is because I'm using the built in flash, and the lens that I've got on my camera sticks out so much that its shadow is being produced on my arm. The solution is the mount an external speedlight on top of the camera via the hot shoe.

Here is the trick- if the light source is weaker than the ambient sunlight, you won’t get anything but a dark photo. You need a strong light, or you need to wait for the sunlight to get dimmer. In this case, it was close to sunset, so it was no problem for my one on-camera speedlight to “overpower the sun.” Remember that phrase. Using flash outdoors? Isn’t that unnecessary? The biggest mistake most people commit is not to use flash outdoors. You get a lot of shadows on faces in direct sunlight, and it’s not so pleasing. Remember that great photos are not created by the specific camera but rather it is created by great lighting.

Here is an example of what happens when the light is not strong enough to overpower the sun.

You get a silhoutte. In order to fix this, you need to either

1. Find a stronger light source.

2. Wait until the ambient sunlight is weaker, therefore allowing your light source to become stronger than the sunlight

3. Adjust your camera settings to a brighter aperture or ISO setting to balance the light sources for the best possible exposure at the given moment.

And here is the final result!

Hope that was helpful!

-Johnny

Sea World San Diego

2011-05-31T11:17:00.000-07:00

There is a new poll added every week! Be sure to check it out on the right side, and give us some feedback.

If you haven't visited our Facebook page yet, please check it out and "Like" us today!

This Memorial Day weekend, I took a quick trip back down to San Diego. Chanda had a free educator's admission ticket, so we went and took advantage of that (I still had to pay my own way in). We stayed in La Jolla on Sunday night and drove down to Mission Bay the next morning after having some awesome breakfast soy chorizo burritos from Trader Joe's. If real chorizo makes you queasy (it is really greasy), I would recommend the soy one from Trader Joe's. It is actually not bad!

Anyway, the story this weekend was kind of reliving the old college days. All of the familiar places were cool to see again. We watched the Hangover 2 in the ol' movie theater with a bunch of college kids (who by the way are always checking Facebook on their phones), walked over to the ol' Starbucks, and even drove by the old apartment complexes where I used to live.

Ok so back to Sea World. Is it just me, or is it that the older we get, the more tired we end up throughout the day at amusement parks? I remember running around with so much energy as a kid, and now half a day of walking gets my legs tired. Kids may have all the energy, but they're also the ones who fall asleep during the ride home. Anyway, I decided to limit the lenses I took with me for this one, and try to make interesting photos with what I had. I brought with me a 16mm 2.8 fisheye, and a 50mm 1.8. I didn't even touch the 50mm, so everything you see here is shot with a fisheye, with the exception of the glowing jellyfish, which I shot at home in my kitchen with the 50mm. No, I didn't steal a jellyfish from Sea World - it is a novelty item that glows in the dark - a very expensive paperweight, if you will.

The fisheye is a great lens to shoot aquarium stuff with. When we were in New York, I shot a lot of stuff in Coney Island with this lens, and one of my favorite photos was one of a shark swimming up against the glass. I was pressed up with the camera up against the glass, and I was able to get a nice close perspective of the shark as it swam by. The same thing goes for stuff at Sea World, and I was quite pleased with a lot of the turtle photos that came out. I picked out a nice spot where the light came through, and shot through the glass as turtles swam by. There are a lot of cool ones, but I'll just share a few of my favorites here. The rays of light shining down really look cool, and make for some cool drama, don't you think? It's like turtle Heaven!

-Johnny

Ah the joy of making splashes with dolphins.

Cool light through the feathers, don't you think?

Happy Memorial Day!

Actually glows green to the human eye, but blue to my camera.

You must be this tall to peer over the glass.

Cool even if you're claustrophobic.

Turtle Heaven.

Swim away from the light!

Last chance for May promotions

2011-05-27T22:49:00.000-07:00

May is almost over! We've had a very busy month, and it's coming down to the end of May. Don't forget that if you book us for your wedding during the rest of this month, you'll receive a free tux rental, and a $100 Visa gift card courtesy of our partner, Friar Tux. Don't let this opportunity pass you by!

Wurlitzia at the San Gabriel Mission Playhouse

2011-05-24T18:10:00.000-07:00

When I was young, my dad had an organ in our living room, and occasionally I would attempt to make music with it. I wasn't very good, but it was definitely a fun way to explore music, and spend a few minutes trying to come up with my own songs. The Wurlitzer organ is a complete beast, and if you had a chance to see it in person, you'd know what I am talking about. Wurlitzia was a complete throwback to the old school, and that's what made this event so cool. The event featured Ken Double, Chris Gorsuch, Russ Peck, Laney Wilson, and the Temple City High School Gold Jazz Band in a night of classics. Ken Double not only has a golden voice, but he can play a mean Wurlitzer as well. I spoke to him after the show and discovered that he's been in broadcasting for over 30 years. If there is any voice that belongs in broadcasting, it is the voice of Ken Double.

After arriving a few hours early to set up, I watched Laney Wilson rehearse, and I have to say I was very impressed. Wilson is only 19 years old, and has got an old school crooner voice much like his idol Frank Sinatra. He's got a bright future, and I predict great things for him - look out for Laney Wilson in the future.

Chanda was busy attending a baby shower, so I went solo photographing this one. I actually set up a remote camera in the orchestral pit below the stage in anticipation of capturing a cool image of the organists accompanying the silent film "The Fireman," played by Charlie Chaplin. I got quite a few nice frames of that, in addition to some pretty awesome frames of the performances on the stage. Having that remote camera really gave me the freedom to roam around and capture multiple angles. I set the remote to fire every time I shot a frame with my handheld camera - that way I could be in multiple places all at once!

This was really a one of a kind performance, and I highly recommend that you check it out next year. Enjoy the photos!

-Johnny

The organ photo shown here is from my marketing shoot for the playhouse. It looks great all BIG like that!

The guitarist here also happens to be a photographer.

It's not a show unless there's a disco ball.

Ken Double is just classic personified.

Ready for the Charlie Chaplin film! I could not pass up photographing these two!

Old school crooning from a 19 year old. You've got to hear him to believe it.

Russ Peck on drums.

This is actually a frame from the remote camera in the pit. I never physically shot from that position the entire night.

Two different vantage points of the same moment.

Left: remote camera. Right: taken from backstage behind the screen

Gabrielino High School Class of 2001 Reunion Site

2011-05-17T16:26:00.001-07:00

Gabrielino High School's class of 2001 is having our 10 year high school reunion in a month. I took some photos and created a slideshow to showcase our venue: The Pasadena Hilton. This slideshow will be on the official reunion blog. I'm hoping that the photos will get everyone excited about the reunion coming up!

-Johnny

Pasadena Hilton Hotel - Images by Johnny Vy

Helpful Hints for Planning the Perfect Wedding

2011-05-10T12:08:00.000-07:00

I asked a planner of one of our recent weddings to provide me with some tips to planning the perfect wedding, especially if you’re on a limited budget. Here’s what she came up with. Hope that this is insightful and helpful for all you happy couples planning your weddings!

Date: Date and Location go hand in hand. Once you settle on both, everything else is just in the details.

Erick and Virginia chose 12/11/10. Unique, and not easily forgettable for those anniversaries!

Location: This should be the top priority. Once you have settled down on your location, the planning really begins. Where you get married will determine the venue, and the venue may determine how many guests you can realistically fit. Do you want a destination wedding, or do you want to stay local? Both questions are good to ask each other. Destination weddings can be a fun and unique experience, but keep in mind that it may become pricey for guests when dealing with travel arrangements away from home.

Marissa and Juan chose to get married in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico

Theme: Pick a theme for your wedding and go with it. There may be others who may want to give you input, but keep in mind that the wedding is all about you, so agree on the details and don’t lose sight of each other.

This beach wedding kept the theme consistent, all the way down to the details of the cake!

DJ and MC: If you’ve attended a wedding and enjoyed the music or liked the personality of the MC, you may have found your match! It is difficult to judge the character and personality of your DJ if you’ve never met them, and I would suggest seeing him or her in a working atmosphere. They’ll sometimes work events other than weddings, and you’ll be able to see how they interact with their guests, but if you're at a friend's wedding, pay special attention to the DJ and MC interacting with guests.

Here the MC is giving Erick his last chance to have the "upper hand."

Flowers: You don't have to spend a lot of money on floral arrangements if you can get creative. Shopping around and getting quotes from different vendors is a good idea. Always ask to see examples and be upfront about your budget so they can work around that with the type of flowers they can use for your wedding.

These boutonnieres were all homemade.

Makeup and Hair: This is oftentimes the most important thing for a bride to get right on her wedding day, so you want to hire someone who has experience, and someone you're really comfortable with. Allow at least 2-3 hours for the bride's make up and hair and 1 hour per person for each bridesmaid, mother of the bride, mother of groom, sisters, etc. Makeup artists will sometimes offer a trial before the wedding date, which is also a great day to set up your engagement photos with your photographer. Take advantage of the trial, spend a few hours getting your makeup done, and get to know your makeup artist.

Hair and makeup artist Katie Bee doing what she does best.

Invitations: This is a reflection of the couple and should be carefully chosen. Depending on the type of paper and design, prices can get really expensive. You can also always be creative with invitations and make your own. Always ask the invitation company to include Thank You cards or Save-the-Date cards as part of your package. Also, it’s generally not necessary to have them create a map to your reception. You can save money by simply printing out directions yourself and adding it to your invitation. Be aware that some companies will charge a "stuffing" fee. Instead, you can get your bridal party and friends together and stuff the invitations in less than a few hours together.

Okay, so these aren't invitations, but Becky made her own invitations and wedding programs. Nicely done!

Lighting: Special lighting for your venue is generally optional, but most people prefer to add a special lighting touch to their reception. It can really add to the overall effect of your wedding. Light changes will cost more but sometimes your DJ may have the equipment and give you a package deal. Ask!

The pink lights really enhance the mood of the room.

Slideshow: Slideshows can really add a nice personal touch to your wedding. It can be a chance to recognize all the important people involved in both of your lives, and is always an enjoyable part of the reception. Keep in mind that slideshows can also be played during the rehearsal dinner if you cannot fit it into the reception. Video vendors sometimes have the ability to do “same day edits” and have a video played during the reception, where everyone can see the way the day unfolded from beginning to end.

Virginia and Erick filmed a mini movie for screening at their reception.

Here they are enjoying their movie with their friends and family. It was a crowd pleaser!

Wedding dress: It is important to try on all your favorite options. Bridal magazines and websites are experts at making dresses look good, but different looks flatter different body types in various ways. Shopping for wedding dresses is not like shopping for a pair of jeans. It’s impossible to know how a dress looks on you until you try it! Bring someone you trust for a second opinion. They can also take photos of you from the front and back and you can review the different looks afterward. Look for sample sales because designer dresses can sometimes go for up to 75% off. Last but not least, buy a dress that fits. Remember to be realistic in your expectations – besides, you’re beautiful just the way you are!

Fun fact: Becky's dress had pockets! Genius! I think all dresses should have pockets.

Bridesmaid dresses: There is no need to make your bridesmaids look ugly because they will not steal the spotlight from you. Keep in mind that not all bridesmaids’ dresses need to look the same. As long as the color is the same, they can get different cuts and styles while maintaining consistency. Let them be comfortable and be considerate of them.

Groomsmen: The same rules from above apply. It is important for the groomsmen to match the bridesmaids somehow- most likely through complimentary colors. Keep it uniform - don't look tacky and make them all different, unless you are stylist and really know how to mesh different looks together. Despite popular belief, some men have preferences as to what they’d like to wear on your wedding day. There are different ways to work in your wedding colors whether it be a tie, vest, or boutonniere. Similar to your bridesmaids, let them be comfortable and take their preferences into consideration.

Cake: There are a variety of ways to go with the cake – cupcakes, cake pops, and your traditional tiered wedding cake. In addition, it is not uncommon to see individual bride and groom cakes (his and her), allowing cake vendors to get really creative, and can customize cakes to fit each person’s personality. Always go cake tasting to pick out your flavors, and don’t forget that some venues will charge a cake-cutting fee, which can sometimes apply to cupcakes as well. Ask!

Can you guess John's Alma Mater?

Food: The most important thing to remember about food is to taste everything that will be served during the reception. Most venues will offer a limited tasting menu of just a handful of items they will be serving. You may be allergic to food on the menu on your wedding night, that may not be tested during your food tasting session. I’ve had a bride have an allergic reaction after eating an item she did not previously taste. Please be sure to taste everything they’ll be serving.

Our photos showcased for Wurlitzia at the San Gabriel Mission Playhouse

2011-05-05T18:37:00.000-07:00

You may remember our recent photo shoot for the San Gabriel Mission Playhouse, which included some photographs of the amazing Wurlitzer organ. They've used some of our photos to promote Wurlitzia - an event at the playhouse showcasing some of the nation's most accomplished organists playing the legendary organ. In addition, they are screening Charlie Chaplin silent films accompanied by music from the Temple City High School jazz band. There will be food trucks in attendance as well, so go get your grub on. It should be an entertaining night for all - young and old, and be sure to check out the talented band. We were on campus in Temple City a few weeks ago capturing an early morning practice session. Be sure to check out Wurlitzia on May 22, 2011 at 2 pm at the San Gabriel Mission Playhouse!

-Johnny

It takes some talent to hold four mallets like this and make real music!

I want this kid's guitar! Les Paul in Iced Tea. I like Honeyburst too!

Johnny Vy Photography's Fresh New Look

2011-05-02T11:16:00.000-07:00

Johnny Vy Photography's got a fresh new look! If you haven't had a chance yet, please go check out our new website! This has been a long time in the making, and a lot of credit goes out to all the awesome people that helped make it happen.

In honor of our new launch, all couples booking a wedding photography packages in the month of May will receive a FREE $100 Visa gift card (for him & her) and a FREE tuxedo or suit rental for the groom, compliments of our newest partner, Friar Tux!

We'll be providing more special deals in the future. Please keep up-to-date with our promotions by following us on Facebook and Twitter.

-Johnny

Tips for Successful Engagement Sessions

2011-04-30T15:00:00.000-07:00

Tips for Successful Engagement Sessions

* Select a location that has significance to you as a couple.

You want the engagement session to reflect your relationship, and the location is important for a meaningful session. Perhaps it could be a place where you first met, a first date spot, a high school or college campus, your favorite hangout spot, etc...

* Consider having a theme for the engagement session.

If you share a common interest, this could be a good theme to play upon. Do you both support a local team? Do you both like to go hiking? Whatever it is that makes you a unique pair will be a great way to showcase your identity as a couple. Themes are a great way to incorporate your personalities into the shoot. Props are encouraged!

* Plan to wear at least two different outfits.

Having a change of clothes not only offers a fresh look to your engagement photos, but it allows you to play on different themes if you choose to do so. For example, if you’re going for a vintage look, go with something less contemporary. Plan on wearing something casual and comfortable, such as jeans and a t-shirt, and then changing into something a bit more formal late on in the shoot. Either way, dress to fit your personality, and be comfortable in what you wear.

* Wear colors that are bold and bright.

Stick with solid colors, and avoid patterns, stripes, and logos. The idea is to stand out from the background, and from each other. Consider wearing complimentary colors and avoid wearing similar colors. Wearing colors from your wedding theme is also a great way to tie in your engagement session and wedding.

* Consider using a photo for your “Save-the-Date” cards.

If you plan on scheduling your engagement session well ahead of your wedding date, perhaps you may consider using photos for your save-the-date cards. Bring props such as number cutouts to create a memorable photo session.

* Schedule a makeup trial for the day of the engagement session.

Many makeup artists will offer a free makeup trial, and it is a great idea to schedule the engagement session on the same day.

* Know the rules and regulations of your locations.

Things that are sometimes overlooked are parking fees, ease of access, and shooting permits. Oftentimes locations will require you to show permits to film or photograph. Know in advance what the rules and regulations are in order to avoid surprises that may affect the shoot.

* Arrive early

It is a good idea to arrive early to allow time for parking and have an informal discussion about expectations, especially if it is a location that is not familiar to you. Some couples take longer than others to feel comfortable being in front of the camera. You want to dedicate enough time so as not to feel rushed throughout the shoot.

Our Japan Relief Effort Wedding Photography Contest Winners

2011-04-22T13:06:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Caliyane and Chris, who have been selected as our winners for the Japan relief effort wedding photography contest!

We selected this special couple because of their tremendous compassion, consideration for others, and selflessness. They have consistently put the needs of others ahead of their own. 18 years ago, Chris’ sister was battling non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma as a teenager, and he provided his unyielding support. In addition, Chris left behind a project in Europe to be with his mother through chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery as she battled breast cancer. Caliyane and Chris both volunteered with his mother at the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in Santa Barbara, supporting participants and thanking them for their support.

Caliyane’s passion for helping people has influenced her career path, as she decided to focus her studies in health services research and non-profit development. She has devoted her time to causes that she believes in, including interning at organizations for causes to eliminate domestic violence, human sex trafficking, HIV/AIDS, health care inequality, and social injustice. She volunteered with Break the Cycle in both their Los Angeles and Washington D.C. offices to help empower youth to end domestic violence and create a positive change. She is currently working at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center analyzing data for nurses and physicians to improve health service delivery.

Currently, Caliyane and Chris are expecting their first child, and at the end of the month, Caliyane will participate in the March of Dimes March for Babies Walk at Exposition Park with her nursing team at Cedars-Sinai. Their dream vacation is to one day take their family to Cambodia and volunteer at an orphanage. Clearly, Caliyane and Chris have shown an admirable sense of compassion, and it is fitting that the proceeds from their wedding photography go to charity. They have also reminded us not to forget about the people of Haiti, and have chosen UNICEF as their charity of choice, electing to split the funds to support the relief efforts to aid both Haiti and Japan.

Thank you Caliyane and Chris for being model human beings, and for helping us support these causes. We’re looking forward to photographing your wedding on the campus of Pepperdine in Malibu. We would also like to thank all the couples who entered the contest, and are continuing to do their part to make a positive impact in the lives of others. Congratulations!

Ellen & Steve's Engagement Session at UCLA

2011-04-20T16:00:00.000-07:00

Ellen & Steve’s Engagement Session at UCLA

For every wedding and engagement session, I go into it thinking that I want to come up with the coolest photos anyone has ever seen – quite the challenge for every subsequent shoot, but it really keeps the ideas fresh. We scouted UCLA a month before the shoot, and developed some ideas to use. Ellen and Steve are such a sweet couple and a lot of fun to be around. Ellen is kind and gentle – perfect for an elementary school teacher and Steve is fun and bold – perfect for a high school teacher. Together they make a quite a dynamic duo. Steve is also a dancer and really helped to create some light hearted moments throughout the day. They are getting married this summer, and we’re hoping to carry on the cool photographs and fun moments for their big day. Check back in July for their wedding photos!

-Johnny

A little light painting with a cell phone and flashlight.

The Importance of Internships: My College Experience at the Hotel Del Coronado

2011-03-29T21:07:00.000-07:00

One of the most common questions I get asked by students is “What should I do in order to gain more experience in photography?” The answer is simple: Go out and apply for an internship. This is true for any other field of study. You can get instruction in the classroom, but an internship is a great way to apply what you learn in a real life situation, for very little risk. Many professional organizations will work with universities and colleges to offer class credit for performing duties under an internship. Not only do you get to go out there and work like a professional in your field, but you can use that valuable time to gauge whether or not something is your cup of tea. In college I was very interested in sports photography, so I sought assignments at my school paper to cover sporting assignments. I came across a public relations internship for the world famous Hotel Del Coronado, and quickly applied. Though it was not sports related, it was photography-related, and I would be working right along the beach during my senior year 3 days a week with a light class load. It was more like landing a dream job than anything else.

My one regret in college is that I did not do more internships. I probably would have been good doing one per year, if not one every quarter. Perhaps I should have studied abroad, but I digress. It wasn’t until after I graduated from college that I seriously started looking for jobs in photography, only to discover that many opportunities that would have been great for me were open more to college students through the form of internships for college credit. I sought internships at the Associated Press, Los Angeles Times, and Getty Images, only to be turned away simply because I had already graduated. So if you’re reading this and are in college, what are you waiting for? Your window of opportunity is right now!

I really did enjoy my time at the Hotel Del Coronado. I worked specifically with Lauren Ash Donoho in their public relations department, and had a great time being their PR photographer. I would have a different assignment every time I came in – whether it be portraits of their Executive Chef, capturing surfing lessons on the beach, or trying to convey the “essence of Coronado.” I had free reign many days to photograph my assignment, and then dip my toes in the water and hang out on the sand. I loved every minute of it. For those of you who are not familiar with San Diego, Coronado is literally an island across from San Diego, that requires you to traverse a bridge to get to. It is home to a large Naval fleet, and is one of the most beautiful little towns one could ever have the privilege to visit. It is obviously home to the Hotel Del Coronado, which itself has a rich history – and a story for another day.

In the end, this internship was my first experience with photography in the real world, and though I look back at all my photos and am quite embarrassed to look at how badly some of the stuff turned out, it was all about learning. I knew that place inside and out – exploring every facet with my trusty FM-10 film camera. I met so many awesome people there and got an opportunity be the guy responsible for the photo production at “The Del.”

So go out there and pursue as many internships as possible. If you don’t find something that you really want- try something else. Who knows, it may lead you to a career path you didn’t know you could love. On the other hand, if you’ve immersed yourself in something you thought you would love and somehow it’s not what you thought it would be, you’ve just figured out that it may not the right field for you. You never know until you try!

Here are a few of my favorite photos from the internship. 99% of this stuff was taken on film (what’s that, right?!). Enjoy!

-Johnny

One of the first portraits I've ever taken.

What a great place to work, huh?

A view from above.

The Spa and Fitness shoot was an interesting one to say the least.

This image was used in one of their PR collateral brochures.

Surfing lessons on the beach.

You could take a ferry back and forth to San Diego without crossing the bridge.

I took a ladder up to the roof, set up a tripod, and spent 20 minutes trying to get this shot while guests watched from below. One of my all time favorite photos I've ever shot. I framed one for my director as a parting gift.

A view from inside the famous turret.

I encourage you to visit the hotel, and request this room in particular! There is a world famous story behind it.

Johnny Vy Photography Japan Relief Effort Contest

2011-03-21T12:51:00.000-07:00

In the wake of the Japanese disaster, I am offering a reduced wedding photography package with 100% of the funds going to the Japan relief effort to the charity of your choice. In order to qualify, I must be available on your wedding date (in other words, I must not be "booked" for that day on another wedding). Please submit a 2-3 paragraph essay about how you and your fiance have positively affected the lives of others. The deadline to submit entries is Friday, April 15, 2011 at midnight. If you are getting married and haven't found a photographer, this is a great way to contribute to the relief effort. If you have friends / family getting married, you may nominate them for entry as well. Looking forward to reading your entries. The winning couple will be announced April 22, 2011.

Lighting for Impact

2011-03-07T20:30:00.000-08:00

A few of you have asked how I lit the photo of the beer glass that I had put up on facebook last week. It is simply lit from behind by a desk lamp. The purpose of this post is not to reveal how the photo was lit, but rather to talk about the significance of lighting for impact. Those of you familiar with how cameras read light will know that the internal meter will tell you whether your camera settings will give you a dark picture or a bright picture. If you’ve got your camera on any of the “auto” modes, then it simply does all the work for you – it sets the shutter and aperture automatically for a “properly exposed” photo that ideally is isn’t either too light or too dark. This is usually good for the majority of everyday situations, however understanding that you can intentionally make the photo brighter or darker can drastically change the mood of your picture.

This beer glass is a very simplistic demonstration of this concept. Take a look at the first picture above. The black thing behind the glass is the desk lamp, which is illuminating the entire room. When I point the camera at glass, my camera reads the amount of light in the scene, and gives me a reading that tells me how to properly expose this photo. It is essentially what an “auto mode” photo would look like. But I like dramatic photos, and don’t like all that clutter going on in the background, so I’ll intentionally make my background go dark. Here’s how:

Look at picture above. I am intentionally changing my shutter speed or aperture to make the overall photo darker. Notice how the overall mood of the photo has already changed. The lamp is now pointed straight at the glass, illuminating the liquid. If this glass were opaque, I would have myself a nice silhouette, but it’s clear, and the light shining through is giving me a nice glow. Let’s see how it looks when we change our settings further to make the scene darker.

Photo 3 above is even more dramatic, and the background is completely dark, hiding all that clutter, and emphasizing the beer glass – shape and color especially stand out here. The impact is so much more dramatic.

So go ahead and experiment with your exposures to see how it may change the mood of your photos! You’d be surprised how different things will look.

-Johnny

NBA Photo Editing Workflow

2011-02-26T16:14:00.000-08:00

For those of you who are curious about my photo editing workflow, I’m going to give you a quick peek at how I do my game night edits for NBA Photos. The idea is to take a selection of photos during a game and edit, crop, caption, rename, and publish them live as the game is going on.

On any given night, I could be editing for maybe one, two, or even three different photographers, but my workflow is generally the same. The first goal is to have pictures up on the web by the first timeout. These first images are typically used by nba.com. Photographers will typically shoot some of the pregame warm-ups, which usually gives me something to work with. I work hand-in-hand with the editors at Getty Images in New York to make sure that everything gets posted correctly and in a timely fashion. The NBA has got a deal with Getty to be their official provider of content, much like the NFL and the Associated Press have their own deal. As official NBA photographers, we put our stuff up on Getty Images as our official “wire.” I am the editor for Senior Director of NBA Photos Andrew D. Bernstein. I also edit for NBA photographer Noah Graham.

Here's Noah talking about what it's like being an NBA Photographer:
http://espn.go.com/espnradio/player?rd=1#/podcenter/?id=6091373&autoplay=1

And one from Bernstein:
http://toginet.com/podcasts/buildabetterphotograph/?s=buildabetterphotograph

The Workflow:

I use Photo Mechanic as my main “viewing” software. This allows me to download cards quickly and apply an IPTC (metadata) template to the images, with all the pertinent info on it. From here on out, it is as simple as plugging in names and describing what is happening in the photos. Every photo that I send out needs a specific caption. Look at the IPTC box to see my generic caption.

Metadata template.

If you are curious to see what the final captions look like, check out the final posts on Getty Images. You’ll find that they’re very similar to the template. The goal for me is not only quality of image selection, but speed with which they make their way online from the moment it happens in real life.

A look at Getty Images's submissions for the game.

At the firs timeout, I’ll run out to the court and grab memory cards. That’ll get me something to put up immediately, and run a test with the picture desk to make sure everything looks ok. Next I go out between every quarter for memory cards, and download each card into specific folders. Take a look at what my game night folder looks like by the end of the night:

A look at some of Andy's 1st quarter images.

There are separate folders for all the remote cameras, and for each photographer (divided generally by quarter). Then come the miscellaneous stuff like marketing, friend photos, etc. There are a lot of photos to handle and by the end of the night, I’ll have to sort through thousands of photos, so I want to be as organized as possible.

So the gist of it is: Download, edit, crop, rename, caption, send. Then when it’s all over, the real work begins. I delete all the photos that don’t make the cut, and burn a disc for the team. Some nights are a lot more work than others, depending on the volume and magnitude of stuff being photographed. On a given night, I may send 30-40 images per photographer. For the All-Star game, however, I sent 248 images just for one guy. The hardest thing to do is find only a handful of "winning" images out of thousands in the entire take in only a couple of hours. Everything gets magnified for the bigger games, but I love the challenges. Here is a what the stack of memory cards looks like at the end of the night - there are a lot!

Yes, we use all of them for every game.

I hope that gets you a better understanding of what it’s like behind the scenes of our photo production, and I hope you enjoyed reading about it!

Johnny

Our Custom Designed Genuine Leather Flushmount Albums

2011-02-16T09:57:00.000-08:00

Wedding Products - Images by Johnny Vy

We are excited to deliver Becky & Ben's custom designed genuine leather flushmount album (that was a mouthful, wasn't it?) Let me tell you about the whole album process and how it works. Throughout your wedding day, we'll capture the images. No more than a week later, we'll post a selection online where you and your friends and family can view and purchase prints. We'll deliver to you a disc of all the full resolution images from that selection. From there, you'll select roughly 75 of your favorite images to be turned into an album.

The design process is fully interactive, and you will have a chance to view your album design drafts and approve it before it goes to print. We share with you a link to the current design, where you can input comments and suggestions, and finally approve the design. The best part about it is that you will have unlimited revisions (most people out there offer only a handful of revisions), so we'll design it to your liking. Here are two links to some recent album designs:

http://showmyalbum.com/johnnyvy/marissa-juan/preview.html

http://showmyalbum.com/johnnyvy/becky-ben/preview.html

Give it 4-6 weeks, and you'll have a wedding album delivered to your doorstep! And to top it all off, all of our leather albums feature a lifetime warranty against manufacturer defects. We'll take care of you even if it's years after your wedding date. Sounds great doesn't it? Contact us today and let us know how we be of service to you!

Email: info@johnnyvy.com
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-Johnny