HyStudio – Life Behind the Lens

Thanksgiving day is about giving-thanks. For me, it’s few precious moments in a year when I can just be a regular house wife: going to supermarket, doing laundry, and cooking for my husband and the family.

This Thanksgiving, Hy and I hosted a Persian Feast. We tried out Persian beef & chicken kabob recipes from my Iranian coworker. The food was delicious!

The night ended w/ sweet roasted Acorn Squash.

The Persian feasts looked fancy and complicated, however, the recipe was extremely simple and delicious. We got the sword looking skewers from International Food Bazaar. You can search for recipe for both chicken and beef kebabs right of the Internet. And in no times, delicious food are on the table. I also made saffron steamed basmati rice to go with the BBQ. Thanksgiving dinner was a success.

While I was busy with my hands, my brain did’t stop. Wed night, Hy and I watched the movie “Iron Man”. With a engineering background, it excites me to dream about possibilities of engineering. I am also in the middle of a novel, “The Swarm“, written by a German author, Frank Schatzing. Though it is a fiction, it made me more aware of our environment and gave me a slight glimpse of what environmentalists are worried about w/ our earth. The novel was a exciting and thrilling read if you enjoy wide range of topics.

During thanksgiving break, Hy also put up couple more frames w/ his nature work. Now our walls looked more complete. I can’t wait for our Paris trip during Christmas time. I know we will have more beautiful photos to display at home.

Happy Holidays ~

Florist: Jessica Rao
Makeup Artist: Aimee Lam

Quick portrait shots during cocktail hours.

Happy Thanksgiving Girls ~ Till next week 🙂

Sat. afternoon, Lucy and Paul dropped by with their 1 year old son Christian. Lucy & Paul were HyStudio 2005 bride & groom. 2005 was HyStudio’s first year in business. We were thankful that Lucy & Paul believed in us and allowed us to participate in their big day. It was first time we met w/ Christian. He was a very cute, energetic and active boy. Christian and I had fun playing ball in our living room.

Paul just started a wedding photography business as well. Hy and I shared a lot of our experiences w/ both Paul and Lucy. This past 4 years, we were just very thankful and were truely blessed. We worked hard, but without doubt, we believed what we achieved is really God’s blessing. We were provided w/ opportunities and really nice brides and grooms that we truly enjoy working w/. Many had become life time friends.

Sat. evening, Hy and I walked around Berkeley campus after watching the Big Game (on TV). On campus, there were a portrait wall that displayed photos from a photo booth set up by Christopher Irion. It was set up for a fund raiser campaign called ‘The Campaign for Berkeley‘. According to the website: the campaign’s theme — “Thanks to Berkeley…” — invites the Cal community to join together to express pride and gratitude for all that Berkeley does to create opportunity, transform lives, and make a better world.

The 111th Big Game. Whose aXe?? Ours!! : -) Go Bears!
In case you missed out, read more at The Bears Take Back The Axe!!

After watching (on TV) the Big Game tonight between Cal and Stanford, Hy and I decided to pay the campus a visit. It was foggy and cold. But we had fun walking around campus at night.

Hy’s favorite tree on campus

Hy and I met at Cal and fell in love at Cal and with Cal. While we were in school, we never got a chance to slow down and walked around the campus. So now, we often go back and enjoy what we missed.

Though, it’s been 10 years. It’s not the same. Lesson learned? Enjoy the present!

There are more photos from tonight. I will post them … if you are patient .. : -)

Florist: Jessica Rao
Makeup Artist: Aimee Lam
Venue: Hotel Valencia, Santana Row
Jazz Band: Jazz By Design

Wow, a week just flew by. I was hoping this week, I can finish blogging Christina & Phil’s wedding. Looks like it will drag till next week. Well, I am fully guilty as I am spending some of my spare nights on planning a winter trip. Hy and I will be spending our Christmas night at Paris! This is our first Europe trip and we are not joining a tour. So, we are super excited. Hey no worries girls, while I am spending my time working on hotels and air, Hy’s working hard on post-processing the photos. I am making sure he’s not slacking off .. heehee. ..

I still need to get my travel Visa to France. Hopefully that can go smoothly. I’ve travel a lot this year internationally. France does ask for a lot of information for its Visa application. BTW, we will also stop by NYC for couple days before flying to France. It will be an adventurous Christmas.

Now, back to wedding photos.

More next week 🙂 It was a beautiful wedding! Stay tuned!

Florist: Jessica Rao
Makeup Artist: Aimee Lam

I know I know, it was an August wedding. I am super behind on blogging 😛 Feeling very guilty of not posing anything last week. I will make it up this week. I promise! The polka dots theme starts from the invitation, and continues on bridal bouquets to the ceremony & cocktail site decoration.

This gown is so beautiful & fits Christina perfectly. I wish I know who’s the gown designer!

Jessica did a great job w/ floral design through out the wedding!

Hy & Frank love taking photos of pets!

This is by far, the best decorated bridal car of the year!

I am in love w/ this gown!

More tomorrow ~

Just lived through a historical night. Obama’s speech was inspirational, full of hope, yet grounded. Looking forward for the next 4 years.

Stone Mountain Park, Atlanta, GA.