Family Session with 8 Month Old Julian (San Bruno)

It was back in March that I photographed this wonderful family--then 8-month old Julian and his parents. They had received a Gift Certificate for an Alice Sokoloff Photography Family Package (2 hours of on-location photography & all processed images from the session in digital form) as a present from their friends for New Year's. This winter, if you'll remember, turned out rather rainy and cold (by our wimpy California standards, I admit, for anyone reading this from places that get truly cold). But by March, the sun had come out, if only a little, and it seemed safe enough to schedule a session outdoors.

For the first hour we photographed in Shelter Creek, the grounds of the apartment complex where Julian lives. For the second hour, we went inside and I set up a portable studio in Julian's room, if you are wondering about the studio-type photos towards the end. :)

Julian was such a great sport throughout the session. He smiled his sweet baby smile and behaved perfectly! It was such a pleasure to photograph him and his parents. I had a big smile on my lips all the way driving back home from the session--that's just how much positive energy there was!

And here are a few favorites from the session.

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I look forward to watching Julian grow and to photographing this sweet, loving family in the future.

Until next time!
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Lily & David's Vietnamese Engagement Ceremony

About a month ago I had the pleasure to photograph the traditional Vietnamese engagement ceremony of Lily and David, held at Lily's parents home in San Jose.

You may be wondering what an engagement "ceremony" (as opposed to the usual engagement "session") is, just as I was when Lily first contacted me, shortly after the Modern Bridal faire.

According to Vietnamese tradition, the engagement is a festive ceremony involving the fiancé's and fiancée's families, and arranged in advance by the parents. The engagement is considered very important, and in some areas, even more important than the wedding itself. The fiancé's family prepares gifts, that are placed on an odd number of trays. The gifts, as you will see in the photos, are covered by red cloth. Vietnamese belief states that the odd number and the red color will bring luck to the young couple. The gifts include betel leaves, areca nut fruits (trầu, cau), wine, tea, husband-wife cake (bánh phu thê), sticky rice and one of the most important gifts--a whole roasted pig.

The fiancé's family bear the gifts to the fiancée's home and are greeted by the fiancée's family. Once everyone is inside, fiancé's father asks the the father of the fiancée for the fiancée's hand in marriage on behalf of his party. The fiancée's father graciously accepts the gifts and presents the fiancée to her in-laws to be united. The fiancé then places the engagement ring on his fiancée's finger.

After the ceremony, the families celebrate the momentous occasion with a feast organized by the fiancée's family, where the fiancée serves the members of her own and her newly acquired family.

And now, on to the photos:

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Lily's family greeting David's family outside the house.

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The gifts.

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Lily serving the family heads.

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The food was decilious. Lily's mom was so sweet and gave me a full plate to take home after the ceremony, so when I say it was very good, I speak from memory, not conjecture. :)

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And here it is, the whole roasted pig! What a beauty!

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When the formal part of the ceremony was over, we snuck out to take some cute engagement photos of Lily and David.

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Lily's laughter is just contagious!

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Congratulations on your engagement, Lily and David! I am looking forward to your wedding next year!

Until next time!
http://www.alicesokoloffphotography.com/

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