Winnie + Wallen in Oakland, Calif.

I don't know if I have made this clear before or not, but I am a total sucker for dogs.  Oh wait, of course I have!  So, when I found out that Winnie and Wallen planned for their two Corgi pups to make an appearance for their portraits I was a little bit excited. Why wouldn't you have the furry members of your family take part in your big day?

Winnie and Wallen had their wedding at the Mills College Chapel in Oakland, and we photographed their portraits among the beautiful buildings and trees on campus.  Later, we snuck them away from their reception at East Ocean in Alameda for some sunset portraits along the water looking out to San Francisco.  Congratulations, Winnie and Wallen!!!

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Amy + Kamika's Photo Booth!

Our dear friends Amy and Kamika were married over the weekend!  Much much more on that to come, but for now, enjoy some photos and the video from their photo booth!  Need I reiterate that the photo booth is ALWAYS a big hit with guests of all ages?  Backdrop made by The High Five Factory.  Oh, and forgive me for the long lapse in between blog posts.  We are working round the clock right now plus we just moved (!!) so things are a little crazy right now.  : )

Kamika + Amy Photo Booth from Alison Yin on Vimeo.

 

Aileen + Louis in Berkeley, CA

Each time I meet with potential clients, I try to impress upon them how important it is for them to feel comfortable hanging out with their wedding photographers, well, us.  On the most special day of your life, you definitely do not want to spend your wedding day with people you're not completely at ease with.  Aileen and Louis are a great example of a perfect fit with Adm and me.  We felt like we were spending time with friends and you can see from the photos that everyone was able to be their natural selves, which always makes for the best moments.

When Aileen's mom first found out about Louis (these two started dating in college), she initially thought her daughter was going to run off and elope.  Well, that didn't happen, and here these two are, almost ten years later.  Instead, her mom got to put her mother's pearls on Aileen's wrist just before watching them get married at Corpus Christi Church by the same priest who married her to Aileen's father a generation earlier.  There were so many sweet touches to this wedding - even the suitcase that was on display to receive postcards for the newlyweds was a part of Aileen's family history as it was the same case her grandfather used when he emigrated from Ireland to the United States.

And, there were many contributions from Louis' side as well.  For starters, Louis was in charge of the music, and he picked a killer bluegrass band to play for their cocktail hour followed by a funk, soul and rock 'n roll nine-piece party band for the reception.  I mean, you can't really go wrong when you hire a band called "the Floorshakers," can you?  Oh, and while Aileen may have been planning her wedding since she was a little girl, there's no way she could have ever planned for Louis' father's incredible rendition of "What a Wonderful World."

Okay, I could go on and on, but I think that I have gushed enough.  Onwards to pictures...

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Introducing Bryant and Dylan!

When Adm and I first moved to Oakland five years ago, I didn't know much about some of my relatives on my dad's side of the family who lived up here.  I felt a little apprehensive meeting family for the first time in my twenties at a birthday party in Oakland's Chinatown.  After all the milestones we have since shared it is fun to look back on what it first felt like to meet them.  I am so lucky to have been accepted  as a part of their family with open arms.

So, without further ado, I give you my cousin, Yen Yen and her husband Davin's newborn twins, Bryant and Dylan.  The sleepy baby is Dylan, but you have to give him a break because he is a growing boy.  It was a lot of fun photographing my brand new baby cousins, and I am sure that there will be many updates on their lives along the way, just as we have followed their parents.  You can see Yen Yen and Davin's engagement session here and their wedding here.