alumiere studios - san francisco based photography and cinematography

WHAT ARE WE UP TO? CHECK OUT OUR AVAILABILITY...

2009-10-22T21:45:00.000-07:00

We are thrilled to have had a chance to meet and work some really great photography clients this past year. We are very excited to see what new adventures and experiences 2010 will bring. We look forward to working with our new clients for 2010. If you know us, you know we can't sit still and we are always looking for things to keep us busy from covering a wedding, to doing a family portrait session, to hanging out with one of our friendly couples shooting their engagement session, or attending a seminar. Please feel free to return to this post for our latest schedule updates. And contact us to setup a photo session. :) Namaste!

==2010==
08.28.10 : Wedding - Andrew and Dona
09.05.10 : Wedding - Sylvia Hoe
10.10.10 : Wedding - Vivi Richards
10.16.10 : Wedding - Jason and Katie

==2011==
03.12.11 : Wedding - Lan and Linda
05.21.11 : Wedding - Shawn and Tina

THE KNOT MAGAZINE - WINE COUNTRY VIDEO SEGMENT

2010-08-19T23:57:00.000-07:00

I made a very nice friend yesterday, Jess of Jess Flood Event Design. A few weeks back I got a call from Jess to help shoot a wine country segment for The Knot Magazine. We'd basically showcase a select list of vendors and venues in the Napa and Sonoma Valley and get to know the people and families behind the unique wines, flowers, cakes, and services available to couples planning a wedding in wine country. We spent the day interviewing, wine-tasting, hors d'oeuvres sampling, touring, and filming (did i mention wine tasting already?) with Jess and two other wonderful friends from The Knot Magazine, Christa Vagnozzie and Rebecca Crumley. We got a really unique peek into the lives of some really special individuals whom make it their passion to provide such exquisite crafts and experiences for the rest of us to enjoy - particularly couples in the market to get hitched! Thanks Jess for the wonderful opportunity to work with you and don't hesitate to let us know if there's anything else we can help you with in the future!! Couples, you gotta check some of these places out! Incredible!!

Check them out!!

Jess Flood Event Design

Kunde Estate

Beltrane Ranch

Cline Cellars

Seghesio Family Winery

Fleur De Lisa

Dragon Fly Floral

TERESA + TRUNG | WEDDING TEASER (PART 1)

2010-08-13T02:17:00.000-07:00

So the day finally arrived for Teresa + Trung. I recall when we first met a little over a year ago, that we'd have a great time working together. Being that Teresa is a MUA (Make Up Artist) and Trung is a culinary maestro, their combined creative energy was going to be great to work with. I was right and we had a blast shooting their wedding. Here's a few photos to enjoy...more to come!!

JACKIE + IRWIN | CITY SHOOT

2010-08-12T00:44:00.000-07:00

We recently had a chance to spend a fun filled evening with Jackie and Irwin in the city. The evening colors were at their best and we couldn't resist snapping some of these photos as the sun went down. Then we skipped over to the piers and managed to grab some more shots. Please enjoy the photos below!

JACKIE + IRWIN'S HIGHLIGHTS

2010-07-23T12:24:00.000-07:00

Hot off the press is Jackie and Irwin's wedding video highlights. The entire day was magical and we enjoyed every moment of it, which - I am sure - our couple did as well. In this sample, you'll notice that we've applied some of our custom made color correction filters to give particular clips a unique vintage feel. You'll not find a plugin anywhere on the market with these same looks...it's all done by hand and in-house. Hope you enjoy it!!

Photography: Gene Higa

Event Design: Amazae Special Events

Floral Design: Nicole Ha

Venue: Casa Real

TERESA + TRUNG ENGAGEMENT SHOOT

2009-10-03T01:17:00.000-07:00

this couple just oozes creativity and uniqueness. i guess that's what you'd expect since teresa is a MUA (make up artist) and trung is a professional chef (Japanese-Asian fusion restauranteur). we had a blast getting to know them and even more so taking their pictures. whenever we work with fellow artisans, we find it hard to stay in our safe zone. before we knew it, we were doing things we never thought we'd do...like shooting under a freeway overpass!! teresa and trung were a fantastic couple to work with and we can't wait for the wedding day to come!

couple shots underneath a freeway in SF. can you guess which freeway? (hint: it's near AT&T Park)

the sunny was shinning so we put our flash to work...

on the way to this location, a huge rat ran right across our path...good thing teresa kept her composure...you rock!

a few snaps at a nearby canal...so cinematic and dramatic at the same time!!

quick stop at a nearby abandoned train station...

this nice ivy wall makes for a nice backdrop...

a quick stop at the Rutherford winery...

then we saw this cool car in napa and just had to pull over for a few quick shots

this one is one of my personal favorites, just love the chrome on that baby!! check out that bumper!

it was late afternoon and the sun was just right in this little field of tall grass

the sun was starting to hang low and we managed to grab some nice shots in this grassy field...

quick run through the vineyard, after all, we were in napa

then over to sausalito for a few last shots

trung may appear to be a cool cat on camera, but deep down there's a big soft spot for his true love

-- vincent quach

-- contact us

-- http://www.alumierestudios.com/

MIMI + TOM'S VINTAGE WEDDING

2009-10-05T22:15:00.000-07:00

Vintage-style Highlights of Mimi and Tom’s wedding. Ceremony was at Santa Clara Mission and reception was at San Jose City Hall Rotunda.

Photographer - Gene Higa (http://www.genehiga.com/)

JEFF + JENELL'S NASTALGIC WEDDING HIGHLIGHTS

2009-10-05T22:20:00.000-07:00

we love super 8mm. it's sexy, chic, sophisticated, and just fun...just like our clients Jeff and Janell. when we first met jeff and janell, we knew we were in for something really fun. of course when we found out they were film buffs and that their wedding theme was classic vintage nuances from the 40'sand 50's...we naturally had to incorporate some super 8mm to complete the package. it's something we recommend to anyone wanting a unique touch to their wedding video (a dramatic change from the razor sharp high definition digital stuff). the images we got from the footage can attest to how gorgeous this medium can be and if you are looking for something a little different than your typical wedding video, try mixing in a few rolls of SUPER 8mm film, you'll be glad you did! :)

jeff and jenell's ceremony and reception was filmed at Decathlon Club in Santa Clara, Ca.

WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY INVESTMENT

2009-10-10T14:46:00.000-07:00

investment packages begin at USD 2500.00, including:

complete wedding day photography coverage
all post-processed, high-resolution images on disc
private online proofing of all images

for more details, please CONTACT US

ALUMIERE GIFT CERTIFICATES...A SENSIBLE GIFT IDEA!!

2009-12-10T21:49:00.000-08:00

In these tough economic times (especially so during the holidays), it's even more important to spend your money wisely on buying gifts. We feel our gift certificates are the perfect choice for giving your family and friends a gift that will truly last a lifetime (and won't break the bank!). Why not give them a photo portrait session that they will cherish forever whether it be a family portrait session or senior portrait session or a baby portrait session. It's the perfect gift for almost anyone on your list. We offer portrait sessions in increments of 30 minutes and start at very great rates. Just give us a call or email us for more details!

ELENA + DIEGO | TEASER

2010-04-15T01:21:00.000-07:00

We are thrilled to post these teaser photos of Elena and Diego's wedding for you to enjoy. Elena and Diego married their respective sweetheart in the beautiful and historic St. Joseph's Basilica. We had a blast with the wedding party photo session at the San Jose City Hall Rotunda and then celebrated in style with a banquet reception nearby at the beautiful St. Claire Hotel. All throughout the day, we were touched with how much warmth and hospitality their family and friends received us and are honored to have been part of their special day.

TECHNICAL TIDBITS FOR OTHER PHOTOGS AND CURIOUS SITE VISITORS...

2009-09-05T02:51:00.000-07:00

What kind of equipment do you use?
we are a canon shop and love the results canon gear provides us. here's a complete list:

* canon 5d mark II
* canon 14mm f/2.8 USM
* canon 16-35mm f/2.8 USM
* canon 24-70mm f/2.8 USM
* canon 70-200 F/2.8 IS USM
* canon 50mm F/1.2 USM
* canon 60mm F/2.8 Macro
* canon 85mm F/1.2 USM
* canon 100mm F/2 USM
* canon 135mm F/2 USM

* canon 580ex speedlite
* canon 580ex speedlite
* canon 580ex speedlite

* 3x32 gigs of CF and SD cards
* 3x16 gigs of CF and SD cards
* that's a total of 144 GB

* AlienBee B1600 Flash Unit. to increase ambient light in large halls
* 25" and 60" Westscott Softboxes. to increase ambient light in large halls

do you bring back up gear too?
does a skydiver jump without a backup chute? we can't afford to NOT bring backup gear! You only get one chance!!

did you go to school for photography?
not really. i got my bachelors in the life sciences field, ended up working as an IT manager for a leading biotech firm...go figure. but it doesn't really matter what I did. in 2001 we saw the need for a contemporary and stylized videography service so we started our company, cinematictouch. the ensuing 7 years in the videography business allowed us to work with many wonderful clients and incredibly talented photographers. i learned so much watching these talented artists do what they do and it has help me tremendously with my videography. it was only early this year that I mustered enough courage to dive into photography. now I don't know why I didn't do it sooner...I love it!!

do you have a studio?
we currently work out of our home studio because we want to be close to our family. when we meet with our clients, we usually meet at a cozy coffee shop and bring all our materials for viewing and sampling.

do you use an assistant at weddings?
yes. many. sometimes 2 or more depending on the wedding and complexity.

WINNER OF THE KNOT 2010 “BEST OF" IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

2009-11-30T22:23:00.000-08:00

I received a surprise phone call this week from The Knot informing me that I am a winner for The Knot Best of Weddings 2010. I was voted by past clients as one of the Best Wedding Videography Studio in the San Francisco Bay Area! How awesome is this?! I am thrilled to be awarded this title and feel so blessed by my past beautiful brides who made this happen. :) I had no idea that I was even in the running for this award.

The publication of The Knot Best of Weddings 2010 will kick off on January 22, 2010. I will be listed in the Northern California magazine in 2010, I get the privilege of using The Knot Best of Weddings logo and will receive a plaque to be displayed in my studio. What great confidence booster! I’ll find out more about this award as time goes on.

For each one of you who spent time filling out The Knot surveys and putting in a good word for me, thank you a million times over. I am so grateful and thankful to have had fun relationships with you! You’re the best!

(Note: Our company name has changed since the award was issued. So if you wanted to look us up on the official winners list, look for our old company name "Cinematic Touch". Hence if you tried to look for our new company name of "Alumiere Studios" on the list, you won't be able to find it.)

AVA'S BIRTHDAY PORTRAIT SESSION

2009-10-22T21:59:00.000-07:00

We had a chance to take some portraits of Ava as her mom, Jen, was looking to get some new photos of her for her upcoming birthday party. We were thrilled to spend a few hours with Ava and she was absolutely a doll to photograph. We started out a bit simple and let her do what she is most comfortable with, which was playing on the swings. Then when she got a bit more comfortable being in front of the camera we decided to put a nice backdrop behind her to get some nice photos that her mom requested so she can frame. Needless to say Ava did great and we got some cute photos of her. Looking forward to taking her picture year after year.

ROWE FAMILY LIFESTYLE PORTRAIT SESSION

2009-11-10T23:38:00.000-08:00

I met up with our good friends, Danielle and Doug, and their two precious girls, Brianna and Lily, for a family portrait session last weekend at a nearby park. Being that the holidays are right around the corner, Danielle wanted me to get some photos of the family for holiday cards and some for the family album. As usual I started out the session pretty easy so the kids can warm up to being in front of the camera. After a brief game of chase I started snapping some candids then we rolled into the family portraits, then back to climbing on the trees, a brief fruit snack break, then back to some more portraits. On thing I have to say about taking pictures of children, aside from getting good exercise, is you gotta go with the flow. :) And when they've completely lost interest in what it is you are trying to do, there's always CANDY! Luckily Danielle (being the prepared mom that she is) had a bag of fruit snacks which worked like magic!! NOTE TO SELF: add fruit snacks to gear bag. :)

isn't she a cutie?

Danielle with Brianna

these moments are so precious!!

Doug with the girls...

more fruit snacks please!!

one of my many favorite shots of Brianna...the lighting was just perfect

MOM + DAUGHTER PHOTO SESSION: CARRIE + REGAN

2009-10-23T01:19:00.000-07:00

For this photo session, we were asked by our friend Carrie to take some photos of her bubbly and very cute daughter Regan who was turning 5 years old in a few months. We of course were thrilled to get a chance to hang out with them. This was our first time meeting Regan and she turned out to be a sweet and cherry little girl who loved being in front of the camera. Carrie asked if we could do a few of our studio portraits as well so she can have something to frame so we took a few shots of those for her. All in all, mother and daughter made a great team and were extremely fun to photograph.

TARA + JEFF | URBAN NIGHT SESSION

2010-02-28T00:51:00.000-08:00

As some of you may recall, I started doing Urban Night Photo Sessions back in November of 2009 with the intent of creating something a little bit different than your "typical" engagement session for my clients. My goal was to mix in elements of urban city life to create bold and dramatic images that will not just "blend in"...I wanted them to "pop". I was after images that were rich in color, atmosphere, and personality. This meant that I had to pay attention to what's around me and use what the city has to offer...street lights, lamp posts, neon signs, you name it. And to add some unique elements to the photos, i would bring along some gels to add bold colorful profile lighting when the situation calls for it. Of course, trying to explain this to someone without samples to show what I was talking was tough to sell.

Luckily, a few brave souls such as Tara and Jeff believed in my vision and took me up on the offer. What I found from doing their photo shoot was that nigh time photography was so much more fun and exciting than I had hoped for. And I was thrilled with the images we are able to capture!!

JENELL + JEFF | MATERNITY PORTRAIT SESSION

2010-02-28T12:29:00.000-08:00

Jenell and Jeff's maternity shoot was another fun filled engagement. Some of you may recall, Jenell and Jeff were our videography clients when they got married. So when they asked us to do their maternity photos we said..."hell ya!!" The weather was iffy that day so we came prepared with studio equipment in case we were restricted to indoor photography. Sadly, we didn't get a chance to do any outdoor shots but nevertheless we managed to pull out a some really fun shots.

BETTY + PATRICK | URBAN NIGHT SESSION

2010-02-28T13:54:00.000-08:00

In this episode of the Urban Night Session series, I met up with another great couple, Betty and Patrick. The San Francisco skyline has always been something to behold with awe and wonder and I am always looking for ways to incorporate more of it into this series. For me, shooting at nigh time in the city is like walking into a candy store, there's just so many options you don't know what to pick. This to me is really exciting stuff and I plan to try everything this urban candy store has to offer. Also, some of the locations we shot at that evening were common photo spots but my goal was to approach each location with a new perspective. And to add some additional spice to our shots, I brought along some gels to give the photos a little extra kick.

DENISE + BENJO'S WEDDING HIGHLIGHTS

2010-03-22T22:51:00.000-07:00

Denise and Benjo's ceremony was filmed in Alameda at St. Barnabas Church and reception was at Scott's Restaurant in Alameda. And if you happen to be paying attention to some of the video clips, their photographer was the ultra talented Ed Pingol...amazing images!!

MAZIE + RANDY'S MUSIC VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

2010-01-18T22:07:00.000-08:00

Many brides want their wedding day to be like a fairy tale. After all, she's about to marry her prince charming and be swept away to a beautiful white castle and live happily ever after. Well Mazie, our beautiful bride, decided to turn her once in a lifetime occasion into a true Cinderella story - with her very own magical horse-drawn carriage and, of course, her prince charming (Randy)! Glad we were witness to a real life fairy tale come true.

As side note: Once again we decided to put our Canon 5D Mark 2's to the test and sure enough - they came through with flying colors!! This wedding was shot entirely using only 5DM2's. This time we threw in a little fisheye (per Mazie and Randy's requests) to spice up the footage. I have to say it definitely gave the video some edge.

Thanks to Mazie and Randy for letting us be a part of your story!!

Photographer: Jun Shien

Floral Designer: Flowers By Anne

Ceremony Venue: St. Ignatius Church

Reception Venue: Bentley Reserve

DJ: Denon & Doyle

JACKIE + IRWIN'S WEDDING TRAILER

2009-12-25T13:38:00.000-08:00

With Jackie and Irwin's wedding, we were fortunate enough to work with an amazing couple, amazing group of vendors, and at an amazing venue. You can't ask for much more than that. And since we shot the entire wedding with our Canon 5D Mark II's, we are stuck with a huge dilemma; figuring what footage to cut out. It all looks amazing! We are excited to present to you Jackie and Irwin's wedding trailer. Hope you enjoy it as much as we do!! :)

Photographer: Gene Higa
Make Up Artist: Maria Chang
Event Designer: Amazae Special Events
Floral Designer: Nicole Ha
Venue: Casa Real

LOUISANA Y NACHO WEDDING HIGHLIGHTS

2009-11-22T19:22:00.000-08:00

The vintage wedding gown that Louisana wore that day was exquisite! The morning started out quite relaxing as the girls got ready at Louisana's parents' house and the guys were at Hotel Montgomery. This was also in close proximity to where Louisana and Nacho were to be married, St. Joseph's Cathedral in downtown San Jose. From there we headed on over to the Ranch Golf Club for the evening festivities and banquet reception. It was just another beautiful day and a beautiful wedding....we just love doing what we do! :)

Photographer: Mark Stagi

LEILANI + MICHAEL'S WEDDING HIGHLIGHTS

2009-10-25T21:34:00.000-07:00

Picture a nice warm sunny day as you look out onto the rolling hills lined with rows of grape vines as far as the eye can see. Picture an outdoor ceremony in the breezy afternoon overlooking this picturesque landscape as a small gathering of family and friends watch two very genuinely kind and generous (and wickedly hilarious) individuals marry each other. This was Leilani and Michael's wedding that we recently shot at the Palm Event Center in Pleasanton, CA. To say we enjoyed shooting their wedding is a mild understatement, we had a blast!! We were also lucky enough to get to work side by side with the ultra talented (and wickedly hilarious - see a theme here?) and fantastic friend and role model, Gene Higa. Thanks so much Michael and Leilani for allowing us to be part of your special day! We love you guys!!

JOY + JOE'S WEDDING TRAILER

2009-10-24T23:39:00.000-07:00

One concept that is becoming more and more popular these days is the Wedding Trailer. Since we've already shown you what a wedding highlight looks like in an earlier post, I thought that it would be of interest to show everyone what a Wedding Trailer looks like. The two are essentially the same in the sense that they are a summary of the wedding day. The Trailer, however, is noticeably shorter (about 2-3 minutes in length) but that doesn’t mean that it’s any less compelling. With the right music and images, you can get a very moving piece that will keep the audience screaming for more. We really like putting the Trailers together because it give us instant gratification way in advance. It lets us show off to the couple and their family and friends (usually right when they get back from their honeymoon) all the best shots we captured of their wedding day and can get some direct feedback on our work early on. Every one of my clients loves the fact that they get a sneak peak at their video by watching the trailer and are happy to wait while we work on finishing up the wedding film for them.

Below is a wedding trailer sample of Joy and Joe’s wedding that we recently shot their ceremony at St. Peter and Paul Church and then their reception at the Officer's Club in the Presidio in San Francisco. The music is so powerful and moving…I just love how it adds to the video.