Archive for August, 2009

ching & james: wedding

August 27, 2009

“all of the above”

A few weeks ago, I received the opportunity to shoot with the wonderful Brian Khang for Ching & James’ beautiful summer wedding at the Pacific Palms Resort. Be sure to check his blog for more amazing photos. I am always thrilled to shoot with other talented photographers, meet new & fun people and visit gorgeous venues. This day was no exception. Ching & James were all smiles from the start.  They were at perfect ease throughout their wedding day – maybe that’s because they did such a great job on planning the entire celebration! Every detail was carefully planned out and in the midst of it all, they always took the time to make sure their vendors were doing ok. *Sigh*….I love summer weddings and amazing couples…

I just love “first looks”. It really puts the couple at ease and results in some amazing, spontaneous moments. Here’s James waiting for his beautiful bride.

ching & james wedding by kim le photography

Here’s James with his new watch, courtesy of his beautiful bride :)

ching & james wedding by kim le photography

And here comes the beautiful bride in her gorgeous Monique Lhuillier gown:

ching & james wedding by kim le photography

Anticipation…

ching & james wedding by kim le photography

Aren’t they just the cutest?!

ching & james wedding by kim le photography

I just love this series…first James checks out the pretty flowers and then checks out his beautiful lady!

ching & james wedding by kim le photography

Next we ventured outside for my favorite part of the day: pretty portrait time! And here’s how pretty Ching was that day:

ching & james wedding by kim le photography

Her flowers blew me away:

ching & james wedding by kim le photography

So did the guys’ fun & colorful socks!

ching & james wedding by kim le photography

More lovely details:

ching & james wedding by kim le photography

And more smiling, happy family:

ching & james wedding by kim le photography

This lil cutie stole the show during the group portraits:

ching & james wedding by kim le photography

All smiles…all day!

ching & james wedding by kim le photography

ching & james wedding by kim le photography

ching & james wedding by kim le photography

Time for the ceremony…

ching & james wedding by kim le photography

ching & james wedding by kim le photography

ching & james wedding by kim le photography

ching & james wedding by kim le photography

The getaway cart:

ching & james wedding by kim le photography

and cans:

ching & james wedding by kim le photography

Ching & James changed it up for a traditional tea ceremony. I caught some photos of them getting ready:

ching & james wedding by kim le photography

ching & james wedding by kim le photography

And then off for the reception details:

ching & james wedding by kim le photography

How about Ching & James forgoing party favors and donating the money to charity instead…like I said…amazing people!

ching & james wedding by kim le photography

ching & james wedding by kim le photography

Some of my reception favorites, including an incredible Lion Dance!

ching & james wedding by kim le photography

ching & james wedding by kim le photography

fighting on…

August 26, 2009

“battlefield”

I get dizzy just looking at my calendar everyday. I feel like there’s so much to do and never enough time. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE being busy and with my work, it’s a very good thing to be busy. But, I find myself constantly coming and going and having to remind myself to eat, breathe and relax. There are days when I just want to throw my arms up and surrender and say “I’m tired, I’ve had enough“, but then I think of my dear friend Matthew who is in the battle of his life with cancer and I realize that I should be thankful that I can be busy, that I can do what I really love to do, and spend time with the people I really love. You may have read about Matthew on my blog a few months ago. In 2007, Matthew was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. He is currently undergoing his third round of chemotherapy and his condition has become more critical. Matthew is still in need of a bone marrow transplant to help save his life. Because of his illness, Matthew was forced to postpone pharmacy school and his wedding. I can’t even imagine what he is going through and I admire how strong he has been throughout this whole ordeal. I visited him recently and he perked up with excitement when we started about photography. He mentioned that he would like to see me in action and I can’t wait for the day when he is healthy again and I can show him a thing or two :) . For now, I am learning from him – what it means to be strong and how precious life really is.

Matt posted this video on his blog a few months ago:

If you would like to give Matthew and others a chance at finding their bone marrow match, you can find more information and register online at www.teamMATTHEW.org.

chanlyma & jesus: expecting

August 19, 2009

“see you soon”

Chanlyma & Jesus are expecting a baby girl and I was so happy to document this time in their lives for them.  Chanlyma was positively glowing as a mom-to-be and Jesus was always there to make sure his baby’s mama was well taken care of.  I can’t wait to meet the newest addition to their family!

chanlyma maternity photography by kim le photography

Here’s the beautiful-mommy-to-be with makeup beautifully done by Monica Ledesma Taylor of Salon Lavish.

chanlyma maternity photography by kim le photography

Aren’t the expecting parents so cute?!

chanlyma maternity photography by kim le photography

chanlyma maternity photography by kim le photography

One of my favorites of our session:

chanlyma maternity photography by kim le photography

Some more loveliness:

chanlyma maternity photography by kim le photography

chanlyma maternity photography by kim le photography

chanlyma maternity photography by kim le photography

jenny & bryan: lifestyle

August 18, 2009

“home sweet home”

Jenny & Bryan invited me over to their home or soon-to-be-former home to capture some memories of their time there before they make the next move in their life together. I wanted to capture this husband & wife duo in their natural daily state – just relaxing and enjoying each others company. These two are proof that home is definitely where the heart is.

lifestyle portraits by kim le photography

Typical Sunday morning…

lifestyle portraits by kim le photography

Aren’t these the cutest coffee cups?!

lifestyle portraits by kim le photography

I know Bryan is going to kill me for this photo! I was photographing Jenny & Bryan in their office and on top of HIS desk was this cute Hello Kitty doll. So I made them take a photo with it and then of course I had to post it :) .

lifestyle portraits by kim le photography

lifestyle portraits by kim le photography

lifestyle portraits by kim le photography

I swear I am not obsessed with feet!

lifestyle portraits by kim le photography

lil’ miss emmy

August 12, 2009

“just a girl”

Lil’ miss thang here celebrated her birthday last month and we took some photographs in honor of the big 3. Emmy is practically family and I have enjoyed watching her grow up. She grows cuter everyday and it was so much fun (and tiring) just to watch her run around. What I wouldn’t give to be 3 again!

Meet lil’ miss Emmy!

emmy children portraits by kim le photography

She is just too cute with her lil’ blue dress!

emmy children portraits by kim le photography

A future chee-lee-duh?

emmy children portraits by kim le photography

Yup she’s got spunk.

emmy children portraits by kim le photography

Ok finally got her to calm down..a lil’ :) .

emmy children portraits by kim le photography

emmy children portraits by kim le photography

Not for long! Once we blew the bubbles…she was ready to go!

emmy children portraits by kim le photography

emmy children portraits by kim le photography

Look at those lil’ feet go! I love how she likes to run around on her tippy toes :)

emmy children portraits by kim le photography

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Emmy!

emmy children portraits by kim le photography

amy & david: engagement

August 11, 2009

“something to talk about”

One of the many perks of being a wedding photographer is getting the opportunity to photographer people in love. What’s even more of a treat is photographing your friends in love. My lovely dear friend Amy packed up her bags two years and headed to the Big Apple in search of something new. After a short time there, she met David and it didn’t take long to see that she had found her something. Now I am happy to say they are engaged and getting married at the end of this month!!! During my recent trip, I could not pass up the opportunity to shoot Amy & David in New York City – the place where they fell in love and where they will start their happy & long life together. I’m just soooo happy for them!!!

I must warn you – there’s a whole lotta kissing going on here! I just couldn’t keep these two apart!

amy & david engagement by kim le photography

I swear there were times when these two didn’t even realize I was there :P . I was like “ahem:) .

amy & david engagement by kim le photography

Here we are at one of their favorite local eateries…I just love the fact that I can document memories like this for them!

amy & david engagement by kim le photography

And now back to the kissing…gotta sneak in a lil’ kiss before we headed to the famous Brooklyn Bridge!

amy & david engagement by kim le photography

I mean really – you can’t ask for moments better than this!!!!

amy & david engagement by kim le photography

Or these:

amy & david engagement by kim le photography

Ok or these, with this light:

amy & david engagement by kim le photography

amy & david engagement by kim le photography

Or this kind of backdrop:

amy & david engagement by kim le photography

But what you can really ask for is this kind of love… :)

amy & david engagement by kim le photography

amy & david engagement by kim le photography

“livin’ on the edge”

Yes I live on the edge. Here I was lying on the Brooklyn Bridge – trying to get the shot and this New York bike rider almost runs me over. And look at him yelling at me! DUDE – I was only trying to do my job!

kim le photography

More memorable moments from my engagement shoot with this mysterious couple coming soon!

my birthday shoot

August 7, 2009

“otherside”

I decided to give being in front of the camera a try for my 29th birthday. I always feel weird looking at myself in photos, but I figured I might as well do something for myself, especially while I can still get away with looking young and frolicking in the grass…lol. I always wanted to do that! So I asked the talented Brian Khang to help capture some fabulicious memories of me and boy did her ever! I was in total awe when I woke up this morning and found that Brian had already posted some on his blog. I couldn’t decide which ones I liked best so I posted them all. The light was just so delicious! Thank you Brian & Helen for such a fun & splendid shoot!

Thank you to the amazing Angelina of the amazing All Made Up Team for her incredible job on my hair & makeup. I know it’s hard to believe, but I don’t wake up looking like this…lol.

The location and light were just soooo yummy!

kim le by brian khang photography

I borrowed my friend’s old skool camera as a prop for the shoot. I also brought along my dorky sample album :) .

kim le by brian khang photography

kim le by brian khang photography

kim le by brian khang photography

I vacationed all summer with my Jason Mraz hat and just had to incorporate it into our session.

kim le by brian khang photography

kim le by brian khang photography

kim le by brian khang photography

kim le by brian khang photography

kim le by brian khang photography

This is how I prepare for my shoots – with meditation.

kim le by brian khang photography

the best is yet to come

August 4, 2009

“it’s my time”

WOW! It’s hard to believe another year has already gone by! It’s even harder to believe that I have officially approached my last year of my twenties! YIKES! It’s almost the end of an era for me. I have TONS of twenty something memories and I guess I’m just not ready to grow up…lol.

On a serious note, I find myself on this day at the fine age of 29 – a very happy, lucky and strong person. It’s been quite a year for me – a lot has happened and I can’t even put into words all the emotions I have experienced in the last 365 days – excitement, disappointment, nervousness, happiness, heartache and the list goes on. But, it’s with these life experiences, that I find myself a remarkably better person. I know with all the love, wisdom and support I have, there’s no goal I can’t achieve nor any obstacle I can’t overcome in my life. The sky is the limit and after living and learning for 28 wonderful years, I can whole heartedly say that life is truly what you make of it. The best is yet to come and each year seems to just get better and better. So lets celebrate!!!

I took this photo with my iPhone during our Florida Trip. We were crossing the Seven Mile Bridge in Key West and I thought to myself “how blessed am I to experience this?!“. I pinch myself everyday.

kim le photography

And yes, President Obama and I share the same birthday. We were going to have a joint birthday party this year, but I didn’t want to steal his thunder.