Shang Chen Photography, jetsetting wedding photographer of dynamic couples » Boston waterfront

Joanne and Chris, Engaged! | Boston waterfront engagement photos

Shang — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 19:36:02 +0000

Pitter patter, pitter patter. I dialed Joanne on my phone. I knew she had traveled all the down from Maine, but the rain? It was a miserable day. Luckily for all of us, one week later, Joanne and Chris would be in Boston again to continue their vendor appointments. We got the softest, most gorgeous light for their waterfront engagement photos. Joanne and Chris are a laid back couple – and the session felt equally relaxed like catching up with friends (prior to this, we’d only met on video chat). Every now and then you’d see them burst out in laughter and having a good time, and so did I =)

We began our session at Fanueil Hall, which was a busy and happening place

Like me, Joanne’s fav flavor of ice cream is vanilla! Keeping it classy

Windswept hair: Check. I’m obsessed with her hair

Depending on the couple, sometimes I’m more directive with poses, and sometimes I’m not. Joanne and Chris somehow just *know* how to sit with one another.

LOVE

I haven’t seen a lot of maxi dresses so far this season but I love the fact that they flow when you walk. I think I want one now too

Sun flaaaare… this was the picture I previewed on my Facebook fan page

I’ll be photographing their wedding later this summer at the DeCordova Museum in Lincoln – if you know that sculpture park, you can see the playfulness and whimsy reflected right in their personalities. Can’t wait!

Also, this photo is too fun not to post. Amy had approached me for some photography advice and I ended up having her assist me on this shoot… granted, the assisting thing really isn’t all that glamorous, but she makes it look so cute!

July 14 – 17 – Lafayette, Indiana
July 29 – August 4 – San Francisco / Bay Area
August 19 – 22 – Jamaica
August 23 – 25 – NYC
August 31/Sept 1 – Return to Chicago
Sept 8 – 12 – Boston
Sept 23 – 25 – Boston

hear the news first - like my work on facebook . follow my thoughts on twitter

Jen and Joel, Engaged! | Boston engagement photographer

Shang — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 11:00:27 +0000

They were in town for 2 days to get their marriage license. I missed them when I went to SF. This time we were going to make it happen, even if it snowed a little – after all, snowy flakes are pretty! I’m so glad I got to create these photos for this super-adorable couple, who will be wed in May. I’d met Jen first and we immediately clicked when we found out that we both love having short hair. This was my first time meeting Joel, who is a little shy, but clearly very in love with Jen and has his own sense of humor. Our engagement session was very short (around 40 minutes) so that I could get them off to the airport, but once we got going it was as if I wasn’t there at all. Thank you two for spending whatever precious time you had in Boston with me!

You can see a little snow in this one!

When Jen posted these shoes on Facebook I liked them immediately. I’m so happy she wore them for the session

I asked them to wear bright accessories because it was going to be cold. Joel mentioned he brought a silly hat. Silly? Of course we had to photograph it!

I really like seeing how people hold hands

By the way, Jen says that this is the longest her hair has been for years

Hugs are beautiful

Super-looking forward to their wedding, which will be coordinated by Pink Orchid Weddings! I just got their wedding invitation in the mail – it is SUPER cool. But I’ll wait until the wedding post to reveal it ;)

Travel Schedule:
Apr 29 – May 1 – Boston
May 13 – 15 – Ann Arbor
May 20 – 22 – Boston
Jun 11 – The long-awaited return to Boston for the summer!
Jun 14 – 16 – New York City – available for shoots

2011 is currently in the process of being closed for weddings. Inquire within this week!
2012 is currently 25% booked for weddings

want to learn more about my photography? inquire!
hear the news first - like my work on facebook . follow my thoughts on twitter

Jill and Nathaniel, Engaged! | Boston waterfront engagement photos

Shang — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 11:00:49 +0000

“Just letting you know, we don’t really know what we should be doing!” declared Jill and Nathaniel as they arrived at the engagement session and handed me a box of delicious cupcakes (nom nom nom). Worry not, that’s why I’m here! After a while, they quickly stopped noticing the camera and Nathaniel even showed off his goofy side! Jill and Nathaniel spend many of their summers at Nathaniel’s parents’ summer house down near Buzzards Bay – which is where they will be getting married in the fall of this year. So we built their engagement session around Boston’s waterfront as well. Props to them two for toughing out freezing conditions – Boston’s spring has not started off very warmly. We explored many areas and ended up with very colorful scenes. Jill, I know you have been dying to see these on the blog, and it is my pleasure to show this dynamic set!

We did what we could to warm up every now and then – such as ducking inside the ICA

We had gorgeous weather that day (after clouds that threatened but did not bring rain)

Jill just fits so well into Nathaniel’s arms

They really, really love the water. Wherever we went, Nathaniel would say to Jill “wouldn’t it be nice to live right here and see the water?”

This is one of my favorite spots in Boston. It’s secluded and peaceful and I’ve had a couple of pretty significant personal moments in this place. Jill discovered this spot separately on her own.

heehee

Yummy sunlight

We rounded out the day at the North End. I love all the colors we can get there

I fall in love with red. All the time

This is a couple that embodies gentle hearts and giving spirits. I cannot wait for your wedding day!

Thank you Karman for assisting!

Travel schedule:

Apr 29 – May 1 – Boston
May 13 – 15 – Ann Arbor
May 20 – 22 – Boston
Jun 11 – The long-awaited return to Boston for the summer!
Jun 14 – 16 – New York City – available for shoots

want to learn more about my photography? inquire!
hear the news first - like my work on facebook . follow my thoughts on twitter

Tricia and Mike, Engaged! Boston engagement photographer

Shang — Sat, 02 Oct 2010 12:45:49 +0000

Why are my clients all so adorable? Seriously, you guys make me melt and melt and melt during our engagement sessions, and that’s a good thing! The fabulous Tricia and Mike met me by Boston’s waterfront and we walked around there and the seaport district. We made sure to get some shots near the Boston Harbor Hotel, which was where Mike popped the question. Their wedding will be next year at the Black Rock Country Club in Hingham, MA. I look forward to seeing many crazies on the dance floor!

Such a classy and elegant couple! Tricia’s dress is such an excellent choice, love the pop of color!

This moment is one of my favs!

We walked by a lobster shack and had to get these in!

Tricia specifically requested a brick photo. A fabulous brick photo you shall get!

We got shooed away by a security guard while attempting the photo on the right (there were no clear signs!), but after I told him they were engaged he let us get a couple shots in!

I love it when you guys get so cute with each other! It will be a while before we meet again but I know your wedding will be a blast!

Thank you Kendra of Summer Street Photography for assisting!

want to learn more about my photography? inquire!
hear the news first - like my work on facebook . follow my thoughts on twitter

Sarah, in(SCP)ired!

Shang — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 17:39:57 +0000

Sarah is the only person I know of who owns a pair of Christian Louboutins. No joke, check them out, they are completely off-the-wall hot. So we built her in(SCP)iration shoot to center around these shoes. More importantly, I’ve known Sarah since college and she has been nothing but a strong pillar, a woman who follows through with what she believes in, but at the same time, not afraid to have fun. Thank you so much dear for such a wonderful shoot, I had so much fun! Sarah was super-nervous about how’d she look, but I think you guys will agree with me, she has nothing to worry about!

We found some amazing spots by the Seaport District area in Boston, one of my favorite places to go for modern and inspiring photos!

And Sarah’s look was completed by the fabulous handiwork of Danielle Ross Makeup Artistry, a preferred vendor =)

We had some amaaazing light for these next two photos! They still give me the shivers

We then went to Brookline near my place for a couple of casual portraits

Sarah and I are both looking forward to starting our MBA programs soon! She will continue her track at Harvard, and I have no doubt that our paths will continue to cross in the future!

Thank you Amie for assisting!

Want to learn more about my in(SCP)iration sessions? Click here. These are one of the few non-wedding sessions I will still be offering in the next year

want to learn more about my photography? inquire!
hear the news first - like my work on facebook . follow my thoughts on twitter

Sarah and Frank | Boston Engagement Photography

Shang — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 03:59:17 +0000

What do you get when you add a rocker and a sweetie? You get Sarah and Frank! I gush about all my couples, I know, and Sarah and Frank are one of those people who are not afraid to let their silly sides out! I could not stop laughing through our entire photoshoot. Our engagement session was on one hot, hot day in the North End. Their wedding is going to be in the Caribbean so they wanted to get some engagement photos in Boston. Frank originally was going to be bring his guitar (he’s played some pretty awesome gigs) but it was too hot…

what a colorful find – check out that background!

Wow check out that rock, beautiful!

A quiet little back alley we found…

Sarah’s dress is pretty fabulous

Please don’t kill me! I love the silliness here! We got gelato to cool down

By the waterfront… a lot of people were actually out here, I thought it was supposed to be a quiet spot

This cracked me up too much.. Frank was imitating a dog that was about to… well you can guess… ahahhahaa!!!

Well I think this patch of grass is clean…

Victoria and Vlad | Boston Lifestyle Photography

Shang — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 13:34:23 +0000

Today’s post features once again, Victoria and Vlad. This time we decided to leave their little boy at home and have just a session between them two Victoria had great fun vision for this shoot: edgy, sexy, and colorful. I of course jumped on it, after all, I love it when clients wholeheartedly throw themselves into a session and let me run with it! I don’t know how long it took Victoria to also choose outfits, remember poses from our inspiration folder, but we were SO happy at how the weather turned out, but I’m so happy at how we worked hard as a team to make this happen.

After a record 3-hour (!) session, here are the best of the best. AYes, each and every one of these photos are retouched to bring out the artistic feeling that we had behind the photo. I never, ever just take photos and present them, not even people working in film would leave a shot unmanipulated. To the technical people: No preset LR actions (I don’t have Lightroom yet, so it is painstakingly done through Adobe Camera Raw and Adobe Photoshop), this is all done mostly using my own method of combining many Â masking and adjustment layers as well as spot touchups. I shot all photos on 50mm or 85mm prime lenses on my D700. We were on location at MIT’s Stata Center as well as outside the ICA (Institute of Contemporary Art).

I love the colors in this one! [just Victoria]

I was going for a very industrial edit here with the iron curtains

I love this little sculptural piece that we found at MIT. The grass was amazingly green (see the full gallery for more shots on that grass)

V&V asked for a ring shot and I’d been a little tired of all the stretch-arms-out-and-show-ring photos that I’d taken with recent engagement sessions. Given their rings were fairly large, I asked them to hold their hands together and I really liked how strong Vlad comes across in this photo

Love Victoria’s shoes! She brought 3 or 4 different pairs

I like ending on a cute note

Thank you guys for your energy and your continued support of me! You are so fun to work with and thank you for continuing to push me to explore more! See more photos from the session here

Today’s post features once again, Victoria and Vlad, their previous posts are here, and here. This time we decided to leave their little boy at home and have just a session for them two. Victoria had great fun vision for this shoot: edgy, sexy, and colorful. I of course jumped on it, after all, I love it when clients wholeheartedly throw themselves into a session and let me run with it! I don’t know how long it took Victoria to choose her outfits, remember poses from our inspiration folder, but we were SO happy at how the weather turned out, and I’m so happy at how we worked hard as a team to make this happen.

After a record 3-hour (!) session, here are the best of the best.

I love the colors in this one!

I was going for a very industrial edit here with the iron curtains

I love this little sculptural piece that we found at the center. The grass was amazingly green (see the full gallery for more shots on that grass)

Moving to the ICA… it cooled down and there was shade

Love Victoria’s shoes! She brought 3 or 4 different pairs

I like ending on a cute note

Thank you guys for your energy and your continued support of me! You are so fun to work with and thank you for continuing to push me to explore more!