San Francisco Japanese Tea Garden Engagement: S & S

Posted February 9, 2016 at 8:00 am

This week, we’ve got another Japanese Tea Garden engagement, with a quick drive downtown for an outfit change and some extra shots! This was all the way back in last March and we were looking for some blooming cherry blossoms, but we only found a couple trees that had any flowers at all. So… March? Apparently not so much cherry blossom time in the GG Park Tea Garden. Though, who knows this year with all the rain! Anyway, this couple wanted to capture S2’s beard before he had to trim it for work – and I mean, just look at that glorious beard! If only life was as easy as saying, “I’m not giving up this beard for my job!” Booooo jobs with dress codes! We live in SF, guys, can’t we just move on from dress codes now?!

We wandered the Tea Garden for an hour or so before jumping in their car to head downtown towards Embarcadero. And can I just say how amazing their outfit change is? Now, I’m not saying I didn’t love S1’s skirt at the tea garden (hello, Japan!), but the bold lipstick + all black combination is basically amazing. ALSO THAT SCARF! The skulls! The band t-shirts! I love it all so much!!! Even if the weather wasn’t quite cooperating with any feelings of warmth. 😛

Without further ado…!

Not that it’s a bad thing, but I’ve noticed I started shooting a lot more vertical frames in the last year.


Seriously, though, this may be my favorite spot in the whole garden, I can’t seem to take a bad photo here.




Ahhhhhh why is it so cold????


Although I don’t showcase it here an incredible amount, one thing that always fascinates me about photography is the way it’s a bit of a give and take between photographer and subject(s). In the editing process, I found myself with my usual silly images, it’s true, but this set overall came out more dramatic, more striking, and with a lot more black and whites than I usually deliver. I love that – working with different personalities always brings a new unique element to my portfolio and it’s so interesting that my own work is not 100% static as a result.

Congratulations S & S and all the best for your wedding!!!!! You’re going to be picture perfect!!!