We were awestruck as soon as we saw this field of gold. I’ve never seen so many sunflowers in one spot. It had all sizes of sunflowers too, big and small. We felt like we were in Tuscany with Diane Lane. It felt kind of surreal…we’ve always talked about wanting to shoot in one and low and behold, there we were standing in one! One of my all time favorite locations; portrait session in sunflower field?…checked off our list! yays!

We didn’t intend it to be, but looking at the resulting photos afterwards made us think of one word: Bollywood?

Bashful sunflowers. From a certain angle, don’t the sunflower faces look a little like shower heads? ;p

The field was even wider than this! This photo just doesn’t do it justice. Sadly, we were told the farmer who owns this plot of land rotates what is planted: between corn, sunflowers and other vegetables. Does this mean no more sunflowers next summer? =(

BTS info:

These photos were all taken under natural light. As you can see in the last wide shot, it was a partly cloudy day which meant off and on harsh lighting. With conditions like these, you really have to make the most of your time when a cloud is blocking the harsh sunlight. You have to move fast because you have no more than 30secs of soft diffused light (depending on how big your cloud is). But even with harsh direct sunlight, all it takes is facing your subject in different directions to create dramatic lighting. Scroll back up and you’ll see how we used the sun as both the main light and as a side light.

The gear used during this quick session was the amazing Nikon D700 using the 50mm f/1.4 and 35mm f/2 lenses. Make sure you take a look at our gear page for much more gear recommendations.

Thanks for stopping by our site. If you have any questions, feel free to leave them in the comments section below.

Below: With the chance of not seeing this amazing field in a long while, we just couldn’t resist a little fun. Look at the clouds moving in and out!

Looking back on all these wonderful times gives us so much motivation to keep taking photos and creating even more memorable sessions! We hope you check back often and join us here as we share more creative portrait sessions and of course, lots of random pretty and geeky stuff as well. =d We hope 2012 brings you lots to smile about! =)

Above: We–or maybe it was just me lol–had so much fun digging through Gaohli’s fabulous shoe collection. She is so darn good looking too and has a shoe closet to die for…we hate her Millie? NO, we love her! =D She is one of the sweetest girls you could ever meet! =D

Below: These sisters were gorgeous and so great to work with. I’m always wary of a pack of beautiful girls because someone is always bound to pull a diva moment…but nope–all came with lovely personalities as well. Did I mention the parking ticket? lol, that was pretty memorable. =/

Absolutely adored this baby session. And with a face like hers–especially this cupcake filled one–who could forget?! cuteness overload. =)

This adorable little family had the most infectious smiles! My nyab had an idea for a shoot with tons of rubber duckies floating around but I asked to borrow them and she so graciously obliged. They were a hit with these two cuties! Why was it memorable? Because of these cuties, we now bring bubble gum (read: bribery) to every one of our family sessions.

Below: Little babies are so adorable, and they grow up way too fast! We were so glad to have been able to see Ty’s nephew Mattie when we was 1 month old. Here’s a sight every parent is guaranteed to love, a baby who’s fast asleep! .

We love the Baeks, they have such a photogenic family! They have been so great to us since we moved up here. =) I love this photo because it captured the kind of energy that little Baron brought to his family session.

In the trusty hands of his father, little Haven took flight!

Another couple that has made our stay here a lot more fun and interesting, Erica and Sebestian!! They are a beautiful pair inside and out. It’s one of the perks of being a photographer, you get to be around so many people in love! What made this engagement session so memorable for us were the crazy adventures together…farm animals and librarians shooshing us and light painting and all. =)

…and a romantic detail photo from their wedding day.

Every time we are in LA, I always want to do a shoot on this rooftop with it’s awesome view of the city lights. This photo is from one of our favorite shoots last year; it had everything we love rolled into one: gorgeous location, glamorous wardrobe, and a beautiful and willing model. Gemco Jewelry, we hope you guys are doing great! <3

Below: We still haven’t found our “picture perfect” orchard yet, but this one came close. It wasn’t the photo that made the day memorable, it was getting pulled over by a police officer for suspiciously circling around and snapping photos at some random field.

Above: Kay wasn’t just looking to the side to be coy… she was also on the lookout for black and white cars.

Below: Failed. =( We call it guerrilla photography… you know? shoot and run before you get caught, ahh the life of an outdoor artist. ;p

Oh how I miss San Francisco and this girl right here! The best hostess anyone could ask for. =) She looked like a goddess in this dress. <3

Kajua and John were in a wedding the previous day but they still had enough energy for a long day with us. =p We’d been wanting to do a shoot at an amusement park–especially on a pretty carousel–and finally got the chance to! These two captured romance so perfectly, can’t wait for their big day.

This was one of our favorite senior sessions, I think Mz must have been practicing her poses in front of the camera because she was working it for the camera that day! ahah

Below: It’s something we’re resolving to do more of this year, do more and share more of our personal creative projects. We found a nearby trail that led to a beautiful spot overlooking the river. Dotted along the way were camellia trees which had fallen petals that created such a romantic mood, we couldn’t avoid snapping away.

…the trail led to a hauntingly beautiful lone tree atop a cliff.

Most memorable about this family session was Caden’s big hug! Julia & Caden’s mom put them in the cutest outfits and brought along a gazillion magical balloons…we loved how their session turned out.

This family is at the top of our favorites list. Look at one of the many faces of TouPheng…adore him! <3

One of our resolutions during the past year was to take more photos of “US”. Valentines Day gave us the perfect excuse to play dress-up!

Below: What was most memorable about this photo below was how it actually happened. We were out location scouting on a balmy afternoon when it suddenly started to snow on us. It was one of the most beautiful things to experience. If only we had a magical white dress with us!

Below: Maybe our favorite personal project session of the year. Like a blackbird, we flocked around town and stopped by every scenic spot we could find. This big mossy tree was a dangerously good climb, maybe that’s why it was so memorable for us.

Early in the year we held a “Quest for the Prettiest Dress” contest. Once we saw Mylee’s beautiful classic wedding dress, we couldn’t wait to photograph her in it. We’re so glad we decided to make a stop by this group of oak trees to snap a few frames because they ended up being our favorites. We’re looking forward to hosting more contests this year as well, so stay tuned!

I’ve loved the scent of lavender since forever and was amazed to finally visit a lavender field…lace, lavender, and Lor girls do go very well together don’t they. =)

Below: Another photo snapped while location scouting (yes, scouting in a dress!). The setting sun with the springtime wild flowers made a perfect combination.

Our storyboard for our anniversary shoot…and it was free since we shot it ourselves. =p

Since it’s overcast here a lot of the times you don’t get as many gorgeous sunsets but we lucked out on this day and hauled butt to get this one of us. =)

Below: Every time we drive by those giant wind turbine things, no matter where we’re driving to or from… we always say the same thing “Gosh, would love to snap a few photos there!”. On a trip to visit friends and family, we finally stopped talking and started snapping. What made this memorable was meeting a new friend (who had allergies we didn’t know of) who was so willing to guide us to the perfect hillside spot full of wild grass everywhere!

Omg, you cannot forget a Vera Wang dress! lol, or Kimy, the owner of it. I felt like I’d known her for years when we first met…maybe it was because she had such great taste in dresses. hehe. We got kicked out of this place shortly after arriving but the stairway outside made for a Cinderella type feel. You looked gorgeous Kimy!

Mai Yer and Pheng are such an ideal couple to work with and we were so honored that they chose us to create another session for them. This one is just another example that you can’t really go wrong with a beautiful couple who are in love.

We had no idea there were wineries in MN but quickly learned otherwise. This fab foursome came to the shoot styled to perfection–even down to their Louboutin shoes! They had great chemistry together and we had a wonderful time shooting them.

Priscilla and Charles and their chihuahua made the cutest trio. Priscilla was very detail-oriented and I was blown away by how many charming vintage props she brought along for their road-trip themed session. We’re excited to share more from their session soon!

All the details that went into this shoot made this one especially memorable for us. Tasha, our Raveness, had THE COOLEST FRIENDS EVER! They made a bird’s nest in their backyard! Now how many friends do you know who would 1). want to make a life-size bird’s nest and 2). can actually do it…mad skills! =D Tasha is also a very cool cat (lover). We’re so thrilled to finally have met her; she is an awesome storyteller too!

Last summer we visited my awesome niece, Kj, in San Francisco and hit jackpot with some BREATHTAKING locations. Another highlight of the trip was meeting Chrissy and Karen! Chrissy was such a trooper while we photographed her from dawn til dusk…so happy to have met you both! =)

Below: Quite possibly our most magical session of the year. When all three things come together so well (location, subject and theme)… it makes us so giddy inside! The chilly afternoon ended perfectly with a tasty bowl of pho too!

We had a great turnout for our photography workshop…omg, yes, it actually happened! Still feels like a dream. =p I was a mess of trepidation and nerves (as I usually am when I have to speak in public) but Ty took the reigns and it turned out to be a really good learning experience for us..hopefully for the attendees as well. =p This year we’re looking to host more workshops that will hopefully get even more people to fall in love with photography.

The New Year

Isn’t it amazing how fast time goes by. It seems like I was just turning legal last year… and now i’m breaking my 30s! WTHeck? But, no matter how fast it goes by, it’s always great to look back at photos and reminisce all the wonderful times. It’s incredible the kind of emotion that a single photo can elicit. Honestly, this is one of the main reasons why we love photography so much… it allows us to capture a moment in time, whether it is of our own lives or from others. This is also one of the most important things we share with our clients and friends: Don’t just take photos… PRINT them! Hang them on the wall or put them in an album and toss them on the coffee table. When you turn them into something you can physically see and touch… you’ll be amazed at how much more you will “feel” when looking at them on the wall or flipping through the pages full of your favorite photos. Think about it this way, how many times have YOU or your friends or family seen the photos that are stored away somewhere in your computer?

Last year flew by so quickly; we just want to thank all of you for love, support and encouragement. Let’s go out and make this year memorable! We hope 2012 brings only the best for you and your loved ones.

<3 Kay & Ty

I’m always excited to see what each session brings in terms of style. I was very impressed when I saw how much care they put into doing their retro hairdos and their wardrobe. These ladies really made their blast from the past theme lively and fun. There was an abandoned factory nearby that matched the vibe perfectly too.

Although the best of friends, each one had her own special quality that set her apart and we definitely wanted to capture it. The ladies brought along a few of their favorite things for solo shots and it was great to see what made each girl’s face light up with interest.

After the vintage set, the gals changed into an always timeless ensemble: pretty white dresses and pearls.

What better way to finish a session on a warm autumn afternoon than with a toast to friendship with ice cold coca cola bottles.

Ladies, it was such a hideously humid and muggy afternoon, thanks for sticking it through. You girls were beautiful regardless of any melting hairstyles or make-up. =p

There was also a story to Mylee’s dress submission, and it made this session even more rewarding for us. During her wedding, Mylee wasn’t able to get creative portraits in her dress! With a stunning dress like hers, we weren’t about to let go the opportunity to right this wrong! ;p

Loving the train of this dress, isn’t it gorgeous?! And her bouquet of red roses was lovely and added a nice touch of color.

Mylee was pretty laid-back and very accommodating, she didn’t even cringe at all when we asked her to lay down on the ground in her pristine white dress! She really was a trooper throughout the whole shoot and it was quite chilly out that day as well so lots of love to her for braving the cold and our many odd requests. =)

Nearby our grassy field was a stretch of majestic oak trees. The setting sun provided the perfect dramatic light.

Look what a plain old painter’s ladder can add to a portrait!

Mylee, we hope you like the photos and thanks for being so willing and oh so gorgeous . Thanks everyone for stopping by and make sure you SUBSCRIBE to our site for email updates so you can be notified of all our upcoming contests! It could be YOU with a FREE creative portrait session next. =D

Mai Zua’s from a small Wisconsin town so for her senior session, we found a beautiful old corn field right around the corner! The farmers decided not to plant this year so the low growing wild grass provided the perfect textured flooring to this amazing backdrop. It’s incredible what you’re able to find when you keep your creative eyes open.

As you photograph outdoors more often, you soon realize that the sun doesn’t set in the perfect direction all the time. But just because the sun is in your subject’s face doesn’t mean you can’t capture a creative portrait. Quick tip: sun in the face = lovely blue skies.

Mai Zua was a natural in front of the camera, able to give different expressions effortlessly. These next two are a few of our favorites from this session: a moody one then a relaxed one.

Wild flowers… the added bonus of having a session on a natural open field.

Being a “senior” session, she also needed the yearbook type photos

We decided to finish the portrait session by incorporating something she loves… playing football. Go Lady Decepticons! Not our usual “soft and pretty” look, but it was fitting

BTS Info:

When shooting outdoors, sometimes the direction of light isn’t ideal… at least not for the perfect frame you’ve positioned for. For this session, after lining up the love seat with the backdrop, the sun was more front and sideways than it was behind the subject. When this happens, you’ll get harsh shadows if you don’t use a separate light source as fill. In this instance, we used an SB-600 speedlight to lighten up the shadows so they dont appear too dark and contrasty.

But why not just re-position the subject then? Well, in this case if we had done so, our subject would have been just as pretty… but the breathtaking backdrop would’ve been replaced by a makeshift parking lot with a few beaten down trucks. All you need are a few busted looking cars to transform your perfect “pretty” frame into something ghetto-fabulous. ;p

So what’s the bottom line? Sometimes harsh lighting isn’t too bad. If you adjust to it, you can minimize the harsh shadows and create some pretty darn creative photos. Remember the quick tip from above? Sun in the face = beautiful blue skies in the back… and conversely, Sun in the back = white skies. Scroll up and look through the photos again to see if you can spot the photos that were taken with the sun in the face vs the sun on the side/back. Take a look at the background sky for a clue.

Side note: we used flash for the harsh sun and natural light for the backlit sun. Another quick tip: When you need the most power you can get out of your speed light (and you definitely need it when going up against sun light), set the zoom on the speedlight itself to as much as you can (80mm or higher). This will narrow the beam and give you a more powerful focused beam of light.

And before I forget, thanks MDX for letting us use your cute sofa/love seat.

Gear used:
We used the 35mm f/2 lens for a few wide shots, but most of the frames came by way of the 50mm f/1.4 and 50mm f/1.8 on the Nikon D700 and Nikon D90. When using flash, we relied on our trusty SB-600 speedlight remotely triggered by RadioPoppers. Take a look at our gear page for a lot more info and gear suggestions.

We got to spend a little behind-the-scenes time with the girls before the shoot deciding on what would coordinate best and it was a blast to see dresses flying in and out and everywhere! Growing up with two sisters of my own, we were always in each others closets; sisters help you to save money on clothes and other pretty junk too. Sharing is caring right? yay!

From peachy perfection to poised in purple…these ladies are so photogenic! I’ve always found it (bizarrely?) interesting to look for similarities and differences when it comes to family traits or characteristics…one thing is certain with these three, they’ve all got the pretty gene! =D

How’d the masks get in here? ;p We had them on hand, so why not! Always fun for playing dress-up!!

Julia, Mk, and Sumalee, thanks for being your gorgeous selves and for being so willing to walk in the forest in your nice heels We had such a great afternoon with you ladies, minus the parking tickets =/.

KJ comes from a very traditional Hmong family and wanted one of her outfits to be the traditional Hmong attire. I love the contrast between the bright colors and silver ornamental jewelry pieces. We decided to photograph a few frames with the customary bridal umbrella. Traditionally, the umbrella represents the union of not only the bride and groom, but also of both their families. (We think.) =p

Above: a pose from yester-year… And below: a pose of today, casually simple.

We were lucky enough to find the perfect bridge for this particular shoot and came away with a pretty neat heart shaped frame for KJ and John.

The road ahead…

… is full of big laughs! Yays These two have the best smiles!

Once the traditional clothes were carefully put away, they slipped into something a little more comfortable. This intimate moment is one of Ty’s favorite frames from that day.

We found a beautiful jetty at a nearby beach. Kajua was so beautiful in this dress and it caught the wind just right! Great job finding our always insisted on “flowy” dresses.

Here’s another favorite, “The Ring” shot.

When you are around KJ and John… you quickly notice how much fun they have with each other. Water always adds an interesting element to photographs and thankfully, they weren’t afraid to get a little wet, who could ask for anything more?

We finished the session with a trip to the State Fair! Our pretty couple surrounded by pretty lights, it was the perfect way to end the evening!

One of my favorite sequences of the whole session. John loved being the lucky recipient.

The carousel lit up their tender moment perfectly.

How’s the saying go? What’s yours is mine, what’s mine is mine? ;p

What’s a carnival without games and prizes!?

You know love is in the air when, KJ is still willing to kiss John looking like this!

Kajua and John: You both are so inspiring to be around. Thank you for letting us catch a glimpse into your lives together and at a beautiful thing called love. =) Can’t wait to capture your wedding day!