Shang Chen Photography, jetsetting wedding photographer of dynamic couples » Arnold Arboretum

Lynn and Chris, Engaged! | Arnold Arboretum Engagement Session

Shang — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 12:00:45 +0000

And as quickly as I left, I fly back to Boston today to shoot a wedding on the most popular wedding date of the year – 9/10/11! I’m crossing my fingers, hands, and arms that it will be beautiful weather. Oh if only the kind of light we saw in Lynn and Chris’s engagement session could happen every day! As fall approaches I look at my last remaining summer shoots with so much fondness – summer (in Boston) really is my favorite! The warm temperature, the light, the colors, everything. One of the things I really like about this session is its natural sense of style – soft pastel clothing, pops of color, cute little details like pockets in Lynn’s dress. It definitely reflects two people who are very comfortable being together (they are, after all, high school sweethearts)

Lynn and Chris were visibly nervous at the start of our session, they’re not used to having the spotlight be on them, being the super laid-back couple that they are. My best tip for those first-time professional photo jitters? Talk to me! I will talk a mile a minute and I hope you do the same, it helps take the attention off of the fact that you are being photographed

I LOVED the props that Lynn and Chris brought. First, sunflowers that they picked from Waltham Fields Community Farm. They are part of the CSA there

Many of my 2012 couples are lovers of good food. Yum!

I believe in photographs that show motion and emotion

And sometimes we add more traditional portraits too, because hey, you don’t get professionally photographed often! Lynn’s makeup was done by one of my favorites, Danielle Ross of Advanced On-Site Artistry, and her hair was styled by her hairdresser Laurel at Creative Expressions – I just love the flower clips in her hair. Unless you are quite the expert at hair and makeup, all my brides should invest in professional hair and makeup for their day of

Lynn and Chris are complimentary in their personalities. I giggled at the following facts they revealed to me: Lynn hates carrying the laundry up, Chris hates carrying it down. Lynn likes loading, and Chris likes unloading the dishwasher.

I really, really have a soft spot for nerdy things. Like these super-cute buttons from etsy that are all about science. Lynn works at a microbiology lab and Chris is pursuing a Doctorate in Physical Therapy

Sun flaaaaare!

Usually, your best photos from your session happen towards the end, by that time you’re so relaxed and forget about me, these photos just come naturally

We’re making a canvas out of this one!

Thank you two so much for your time – and isn’t the weather we got awesome! I will see you guys next year!

Sept 8 – 12 – Boston
Sept 23 – 25 – Boston
Oct 8 – 10 – San Francisco / Bay Area
Oct 22 – 28 – Barcelona, Spain
November 4 – 6 – Boston

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Vy and Than, Engaged! | Boston Engagement Photographer

Shang — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 18:30:45 +0000

Vy and Than’s engagement session is very unique even when it comes to engagement photos with me. You see, it is traditional in many Asian cultures to wear your bridal attire in your engagement photos – it’s like a bridal session, but for the couple! So for our engagement session, Vy and Than chose a casual white outfit for the beach, and then changed into their dress and suit for the Arnold Arboretum. It was such a fun session and I’m also happy to get to spend more time with them seeing them as they would on the wedding day!

Quincy’s Wollaston Beach is where Than proposed to Vy. It was unusually foggy that morning, so while I couldn’t get any blue sky shots, I was able to get very dramatic white backgrounds!

Vy’s family helped with her hair and makeup. It’s so perfectly flowing for the beach!

Than wanted to make sure he looked good in his photos. Than, even without my help, I think you did quite handsomely! This might be my favorite

Love this one too! Sea foam!

Then off to Arnold Arboretum! I don’t want to show too many of these photos because I don’t want to spoil the look too much for the guests day of =)

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Maiko and Dan | Boston lifestyle photographer

Shang — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 14:00:18 +0000

Maiko is in a way a big sister to me and many of my friends from back in college. She and Dan met and fell in love while both at school at Harvard, and they got married soon after. I was so happy to learn that they wanted to travel up to Boston for a lifestyle shoot! Who says you can’t get photos after you get married? :D What is really wonderful in seeing them interact is how strong their love is for each other – it is not a loud love, as they are both rather humble and soft-spoken people, but it clearly has brought them together through some pretty tough times. I really admire them for their tenacity through thick and thin, and in moving their lives ahead together!

We began our session at one of the most famous streets in Boston’s Beacon Hill

I also wanted to take this time to show the fabulous style featured in the shoot:

Their rings in a bright flower

Maiko’s shoes! I loooove featuring ladies’ shoes, because many ladies go to extraordinary lengths to wear them and look fabulous, thus they must be captured! These are from J. Crew and I just love the detail on the petals

Another look at the flowers

You can tell it’s spring because we’re starting to get leaves everywhere!

Maiko and I actually had spent some time prior to the shoot finalizing the outfits, I’m always happy to offer additional wardrobe consultation if people are unsure!

This is a pretty candid moment, sometimes I just play with my camera while telling my subjects to keep each other occupied with some conversation. That is when some of the most genuine moments happen

We then headed over to another Harvard property, the Arnold Arboretum. There were still some giant puddles / faux-lakes from prior weeks’ rainstorms, but there were definitely signs of spring everywhere

I’m super-psyched to have this shot of the tree. The combination of the branches and the bright sun makes it seem out-of-the-world

Maiko and Dan, as you move across the country to become a smart lawyer and smart businessman, I wish you guys all my very best, and I hope to be able to visit sometime!

Thank you Christina for your help!

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