Jan 212012
 
Northern california wedding photogaphy. Candid photojournalistic shot of the bride and groom laughing in the reception.

Portraits are great, don’t get me wrong. A god portrait can reflect back to someone just how beautiful they are. I love doing portraits. I love the collaborative process and the deliberate pace.

But my heart leaps at candid, photojournalistic and naturalistic photography. To capture a moment as it happens is such a thrill. Most people just are never going to fake an emotion right. Show me “overjoyed and in love” the best actors can pull that off, but for most of us, if you want a photographer to capture that moment, they have to be there, be quick, be unobtrusive (it can’t be about the photographer by definition) and be good. I love the moment when it all comes together. I am not thinking of my camera, I am not even thinking of myself. I am just caught up in the moment as it happens, and I capture it as it happens. This feeling, this is why I love wedding and event photography.

This picture below is an example of what I am talking about.

Northern California wedding photography. Candid photojournalistic shot of the bride and groom laughing in the reception.

Look at them! Happy, laughing, in love, in the moment. Real. I love that I captured that and can show it back to them.

Mar 152011
 
Candid photo of bride and groom at Crystal Springs Golf Course, Burlingame, CA Crystal Springs Reservoir. Asian bride, western groom

I always love the chance to shoot a weeding at the Crystal Springs Golf Course in Burlingame, CA. They have a beautiful location for weddings. A wonderful gazebo on a lawn with spectacular views of Crystal Springs Reservoir.

This photo was from a ceremony there in 2009. As a photographer, I love catching moments like these where people are glowing with real happiness. Everything is beautiful and nothing is fake.
Candid photo of bride and groom at Crystal Springs Golf Course Burlingame, CA Crystal Springs Reservoir. Asian bride, western groom

Photo © Alex Schoenfeldt 2009 All Rights Reserved
San Francisco Wedding Photographer

Mar 032011
 
beautiful young girls looking at camera, smiling. Children, portraits

The best way to get a shot like this with kids is to be friendly and fun. Kids won’t be rushed, and they look much less happy and relaxed if you are trying to boss them around. It takes longer, but it is worth the effort.

If you are taking pictures of your own kids, be prepared for the first hour to not be nearly as good as the second hour.

beautiful young girls looking at camera, smiling. Children, portraits

Photo © Alex Schoenfeldt, 2011
San Francisco Bay Area Photographer

Jan 282011
 
Elementary school children MLK, Jr. Oratorical 2011, Oakland California

Every year to commemorate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. children participate in an Oratorical.

Montclair Elementary in Oakland California asked me to take portraits of the participants with their certificates.

The full gallery of all of the shots can be seen here:

http://schoenfeldt.com/2011_Oratorical/

Here are some of my favorites.

All photos © Alex Schoenfeldt 2011. All rights reserved.
San Francisco Event Photography

Elementary school children MLK, Jr. Oratorical 2011, Oakland California

Elementary school children MLK, Jr. Oratorical 2011, Oakland California

Elementary school children MLK, Jr. Oratorical 2011, Oakland California

Elementary school children MLK, Jr. Oratorical 2011, Oakland California

Elementary school children MLK, Jr. Oratorical 2011, Oakland California

Elementary school children MLK, Jr. Oratorical 2011, Oakland California

Elementary school children MLK, Jr. Oratorical 2011, Oakland California

Elementary school children MLK, Jr. Oratorical 2011, Oakland California

Elementary school children MLK, Jr. Oratorical 2011, Oakland California

Elementary school children MLK, Jr. Oratorical 2011, Oakland California

Elementary school children MLK, Jr. Oratorical 2011, Oakland California

Elementary school children MLK, Jr. Oratorical 2011, Oakland California

Elementary school children MLK, Jr. Oratorical 2011, Oakland California

Elementary school children MLK, Jr. Oratorical 2011, Oakland California

Elementary school children MLK, Jr. Oratorical 2011, Oakland California

Elementary school children MLK, Jr. Oratorical 2011, Oakland California

Elementary school children MLK, Jr. Oratorical 2011, Oakland California

Elementary school children MLK, Jr. Oratorical 2011, Oakland California

Elementary school children MLK, Jr. Oratorical 2011, Oakland California

Elementary school children MLK, Jr. Oratorical 2011, Oakland California

Elementary school children MLK, Jr. Oratorical 2011, Oakland California

Elementary school children MLK, Jr. Oratorical 2011, Oakland California