Kien Lam Photography

Eng and Jennie: Los Angeles Engagement Session

Kien Lam — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 10:14:26 +0000

I enjoy when I can take my clients to a place that’s both special to me and beautiful. For Eng and Jennie’s engagement session, we headed to Eaton Canyon, where I regularly hike with my family whenever I’m down in Los Angeles. I love getting to see how a couple interacts with each other before the big day. There’s an additional level of trust and comfort for both myself and my clients being able to work together in a more informal atmosphere before they walk down the aisle. With Eng and Jennie, it didn’t take long for them to toss their shoes and forget about the camera. I think the beautiful creek and trail helped. Just before we lost the light, we headed to the iconic Disney Concert Hall for a bit of contrast with Frank Gehry’s building as the backdrop.

Sean and Kelsey: San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers Wedding

Kien Lam — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 10:21:45 +0000

This is one of my favorite weddings I’ve shot this year. Sure the couple was gorgeous, the girls rocked the entire color spectrum in their dresses, the guys pounded PBR cause it’s classy like that and everything from their invitations to the location was just plain awesome. But above all that, there was a straight up giant Tyrannosaurus Rex to boot. How many weddings have you gone to where you can have drinks under a T-Rex’s butt? Grab a beverage, sit back and take your time to browse through the photographs below. This is a new record for me as far as the number of photos that I’m posting just because it was that hard to pick and choose from my favorite ones to capture everything from the girls getting ready at the Ritz Residences to the first look and portraits around Golden Gate Park and finally the ceremony and reception at the Conservatory of Flowers. Oh and there was chicken and waffles!!!

I love Sean and Kelsey’s style. Everything from the floral print tie to the thin leather belt was just fit together so well. Cool side note. Kelsey’s dress was remade from her mother’s wedding dress.

Best. Jump. Shot. Photo. Ever. Maybe.

Each of these invitations were hand made. Love the attention to detail. I would have just RSVP by email and kept the invitations.

Testing the integrity of the make-up or checking for chicken salad between the teeth? Not sure about this one.

Can the monkey come to the wedding?

First look.

What a beautiful setting for a wedding. I’ve run by the Conservatory of Flowers before, but it was just transformed beautifully for the ceremony.

Gorgeous light falling on the bride and groom.

It’s a f*cking dinosaur. Enough said.

The Magnolia Photo Booth was a hit with these awesome black and white photo strips. I know this is a black and white photo, but they really were black and white too.

The couple’s favorite band putting on a great live show.

To check out all the crazy dance actions, click on through to the dancing gallery.

Rachel and Adam: Marine’s Memorial Club Wedding

Kien Lam — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 05:15:30 +0000

I first met up with Rachel and Adam in the Presidio where we did an engagement session with gorgeous weather. I joined up with the couple again on their big day at San Francisco’s Marine’s Memorial Club and Hotel. It was certainly an interesting day of shooting that included a Gangnam Style tribute dance, an unexpected addition to the wedding party, and a particularly interesting advice from the best man to tuck the dress shirt into the underwear to keep it well in place. You learn something new everyday.

While I’ve had many onlookers whenever I’m shooting in a crowded area, I’ve never actually had anyone who just walked in on the picture. Now we’re uneven. I don’t think anyone was more surprised than Adam.

What I’m wondering here is why the other groomsmen isn’t joining in on the action.

Like a child on Christmas morning. As a bride, you can’t ask for more of an excited groom.

Oppa Gangnam Style!

Guests can check out the full set of dance photos at: Rachel and Adam’s Dancing Photographs

Protected: Sean and Kelsey: Dance

Kien Lam — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 08:11:27 +0000

Protected: Rachel and Adam: Dance

Kien Lam — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 05:57:31 +0000

Anna and Jason: San Francisco City Hall Wedding

Kien Lam — Sat, 13 Oct 2012 07:41:15 +0000

The first time I shot at City Hall, I was completely shocked by how quick the ceremony was – under 3 minutes. From a photographer’s perspective, that’s not a lot of margin for error and that’s what I absolutely love about shooting here. No matter how many times you do it, that 3 minute drill will always keep you on your feet and definitely sharpens your ability to capture fleeting moments. I met Jason and Anna at a previous wedding and was very excited when they asked if I would photograph their wedding. After the ceremony, we headed to Golden Gate Park and found a lovely spot tucked away for a portrait session that allowed them to be alone in a natural setting. This was especially important since “Hardly Strictly Bluegrass” was going on that weekend everywhere else in the park. Beautiful day with a beautiful couple.

I loved the crown of flowers that matched the bouquet and went so well with her dress.

Emer and Stefan: St. Helena Wedding

Kien Lam — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 11:46:41 +0000

I’ve known Emer for years now and couldn’t be more excited to share in her big day not only as a friend, but as the photographer. Earlier this year, I shot one of her sister’s wedding (she is no. 2 of 5) and got a taste of what it was like to be part of a Sands wedding. I think I passed their litmus test because they liked me enough to invite me back for round two. The couple gathered their friends and family from all over to St. Helena for a beautiful fete at Tra Vigne. This was a special occasion for the obvious reason of course, but what only insiders knew was that with this union, members of the Sands family would now have more frequent access to Stefan’s madeleine recipe and the buttery cake themselves. And that was a big deal.

Game time for the sisters of the bride.

How awesome is it that it was her idea for this shot?

Yes. Stefan’s happy. But he’s also doing the Bernie dance from “Weekend at Bernie’s”. Dancing can’t get any easier than this.

And everyone wanted in on the action.

2 point deduction for keeping the eyes open.

Bonus points for the buddy action. If you’re going to do it, best do it right.

What I learned from shooting a previous Sands wedding is that the father of the bride loves to get down on the dance floor. He’s just warming up here.

There was also a lot of tie action going on.

If you’re going to wear a graphics tee under your dress shirt, do it with purpose.

Enjoy and let me know what you think below.

Ko and Yuki: San Francisco City Hall Wedding

Kien Lam — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 09:25:59 +0000

Weddings bring people from all over together. Some drive, others require a flight. In this case, Yuki’s family flew over from Japan to see her wed to Ko and then to enjoy a lot of meat at a Brazilian Charrascaria afterwards. I’ve eaten quite a number of delicious wedding dinners, but I can’t help but admire the simplicity in having a reception where the bride and groom doesn’t have to plan the menu, there’s something for everyone, and you can go back for seconds, and thirds — in fact, it’s encouraged. I digress. After the ceremony at City Hall, we had several hours for portraits, allowing us to hit a number of locations and, in the process, working up an appetite for the above mentioned feast. Between City Hall, Fort Point and the Presidio, we were able to create a set of portraits with a fairy tale feel and theme to them. Enjoy!

Look at that!

And that!

And that! Don’t worry, there were vegetarian options too.

The couple even had a double rainbow on their wedding (though you can only see one of the rainbows in the photograph).

Sven and Tove: San Francisco City Hall Wedding

Kien Lam — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 08:15:40 +0000

I met Sven and Tove approximately 15 minutes before their ceremony walking through City Hall. The immediate reaction from the couple was one of extreme relief — that their photographer who they’ve corresponded mostly with via email back in Sweden, actually showed up to shoot their wedding. As it turned out, we were just waiting for each other at opposite entrances to City Hall. I reassured them that I in fact was a real photographer and that they didn’t travel all this way from Sweden to be married without someone capturing it. San Francisco has one of the nicest City Halls in the world and it’s no surprise that the last two couples I’ve shot here have traveled thousands of miles to say their “I do’s” in this ornate building. In Sven and Tove’s case, they timed it to fit in with a whirlwind California roadtrip. Since they were way-out-of-towners I wanted to be able to grab not just special moments between the couple, but also to capture the essence of San Francisco in these photographs – hence a trip with the bride and groom from City Hall to the Ferry Building at Embarcadero via Bart. Not a sight people see too often.

I loved how at ease the couple was with each other and how easy going they were throughout the entire time we were together.

City Hall at it’s finest — when it’s empty.

Artisan chocolates and iced coffee to finish the shoot. Just the way it should be. One of the best parts of my job is meeting people from all over and being able to be a part of some of the most important moments of their lives.

Tanya and Surya: Palmdale Estates Outdoor Wedding

Kien Lam — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 14:47:37 +0000

I am usually a big fan of using black and white photographs in my work, but I found it incredibly difficult to do while shooting Tanya and Surya colorific wedding. The couple held their wedding at the picturesque Palmdale Estates. What makes capturing an Indian wedding so different from a Western wedding is the amount of activity, interaction and participation involved during the ceremony. With twice if not three times the running time of most ceremonies, it is elaborate and quite fast pace. Wherever you look, there is something going on and something beautiful to shoot. The colors and fabric worn by the wedding party and guests alike are incredibly vibrant and delightful to photograph. I was amazed by all the thought and effort that went into the aesthetics and the details that made the entire so wonderful to attend and capture.

I love the intricate henna design.

He was just resting up to do some dancing later.

While I didn’t fully understand all the metaphorical things that transpired during the ceremony, I know that it involved a coconut, the burning of ghee, and all the guests taking their turns throwing rice and the bride and groom.

Let the rice throwing begin.

I loved the outfit change switching to warmer tones.

I found it incredibly moving that Tanya’s uncle surprised her with a voice message from her father who had passed away.

Apparently there was no footwear dress code.

Check out all the dancing photos from the Wedding and Sangeet night.