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My Photo Exhibition Reception at LITM Gallery - April 1, 2006

Last week, I had a phenomenal opening reception for my fine art photo exhibition, "Excursions". I think the show featured some of my best fine art work to date. Every time I have a solo show, I always feel so fortunate and blessed that I am an artist and that I get to create beautiful photography for a living and share it with others. So many of my close friends, artist buddies, past wedding clients, other wedding vendors, bellydancers and all sorts of dancers, interns and workers showed up to support me. I'm so, so, so thankful to all of you who showed up and gave me your support. I wish I had more time at the show to catch up with everyone or take pictures with everyone. Don't worry, I'll make time to hang out with everyone in the future and feature you guys some way on this blog journal. Also since it was my show, I decided to take a break from shooting. The photos below were shot by my partner O.B. and my good buddy and fellow wedding photographer, Dan Loh.

Here's a shot of me with all the dancers who perfomed and entertained at my opening. You guys were absolutely awesome. Pictured here (from left to right) are Melanie & Karin from NJ (known as the dance duo Kassar), Tina Krause (who actually isn't a dancer but helped me so much with the show and designed the awesome art books for the show), me, Mimi from Miami (Mimi's website featuring lots of my photos will be coming out soon), and Sira from NYC. I love all of these women so much.

Me with one of my best friends, the talented Tina Krause. I'd like to note that besides being an awesome book designer, Tina is a full time actress and has been in over 50 movies (mostly horror movies). She's also directed, produced and starred in her own horror movie, "Limbo" which she will be finished editing in the coming months. I'll let all of you guys know about it when its done.

Me with Saranya, one of my past brides who has become a close friend.

Me with Abhi and Yuri, past wedding clients who have become close friends. They are so cool and I'm always trying to find time to hang out with them. We watch movies and celebrate birthdays together.

Me with the newest addition to the Lina Jang Photography team, Ania. Ania is a budding new photographer and assistant for me. I see so much promise and talent in her. She's also a huge heavy metal music fan. Her boyfriend is a heavy metal rock guitarist and she loves photographing rock shows.

Me with my good friend and fellow SVA alumni, Dorian Vallejo. Dorian and his wife Liana, are two of America's premier portrait painters. I actually had the honor of being one of their sketch models a few years back.

Me with another one of my artist buddies, Miranda Small. I've known Miranda since we were in high school taking art classes. She's now getting her masters degree in Fine Art Painting.

Me with my fellow wedding photographer buddy, Dan Loh and his assistant Amy. Dan is an amazing wedding photojournalist. He was a pulitzer prize winning AP photojournalist before becoming one of NYC premier wedding photographers. He and I were two of the first wedding photographers to embrace digital wedding photography in NYC back in 01' and help the movement here towards creative digital wedding photography. We refer each other for jobs when we are booked out on dates.

And now on to the bellydance performances. First up is Mimi who flew all the way from Miami, FL to perform at my opening. She did a beautiful and sensual fan dance. It was really hot.

The second act were my good buddies from NJ, Kassar, that did an amazing synchronized dance set.

Closing out the show was Sira from NYC who performed an awesome candle dance.

An amazing shot by Dan Loh.

Another cool shot by Dan.

At the end of Sira's performance, she presented me with the candles she danced with which I got to blow out.

Again, thanks everyone for your support and making my show opening one of the highlights of my year. Tomorrow, I'll post up all the photos that were on display at the show opening because I know a bunch of you out there didn't get a chance to go.

Katrina & Reginald's Wedding - March 30, 2006

Here's some shots from last week's great wedding at Westbury Manor in Long Island, NY. Check out a whole bunch more through the link on the bottom of the post.

The rings.

The dress and shoes.

Katrina getting her hair and make up done.

Checking herself out in the mirror.

Getting into the dress.

Katrina looked stunning.

Reginald getting ready.

The handsome groom outside Westbury Manor.

Right before the ceremony begins.

Katrina walks down the aisle with her father.

Reginald looks at Katrina in her dress for the first time. His father who was also the best man was by his side.

Katrina's dad gives her a kiss before he gives her away.

Katrina's dad looking on.

The exchange of rings.

The kiss.

After the ceremony we took some portraits around the beautiful grounds.

In front of the manor.

The grand entrance.

The first dance.

Hugging Reginald's nieces.

The best man, Reginald's dad, gives a toast.

Katrina's best friend and maid of honor gave an emotional speech and Katrina came over to hug her.

A smooch after the toasts.

Now the party starts.

The couple feed each other cake.

Lots of other photographers were there taking shots.

Katrina dancing with her dad.

The last dance.

To check out a bunch more photos from the wedding click below:
more photos

Set Building with My Interns, Fernanda & Erica - March 26, 2006

Last Sunday, I scheduled two fine art shoots, one with Naraya and another one with Sira. These two fine art shoots were to be my last ones for my gallery show at the LITM Gallery. The shoots where going to be a little more complicated than my usual fine art shoots because I wanted to build sets in my photo studio. Also I was going to operate 2 industrial fans and 2 smoke machines during the shoot. Of course I called up my trusty interns, Fernanda and Erica to help me out. I have to give props to these two because they are always there to help me and Lina Jang Photography out. Erica also designed and created the sea shell belt that Penelope wore in the fine art henna pregnancy shoot. Here's some pics of them as well as some from the set building.

Fernanda posing outside my office.

Erica lying down near the Empire State Building elevators outside my office.

Erica and Fernanda attaching the vines and leaves to my photo studio ceiling.

I'll show everyone the work they helped me photograph in a few days when I unveil the images that were on display at my gallery show.

ZO2 Rock Concert - March 25, 2006

After the shoot with Kazja, we stopped by Arlene's Grocery (located at 95 Staton St. in Lower East Side, Manhattan, NYC) to watch her boyfriend and my buddy, Paulie Z perform. Like I said before, Paulie and I go back to high school. If you like classic rock like Aerosmith, Queen, or Gunz 'N' Roses, than you'll love the work that ZO2 do. Here are some shots from the concert.

Paulie's brother David Z, the bassist, enters Arlene's stage first.

Next up is Paulie Z, the guitarist and lead vocalist.

The Z brothers rockin' the stage.

Paulie howling a song.

Kazja & her friend, Madeline. Madeline is also the fiancee of ZO2 drummer, Joey Cassata.

The hardcore and rabid ZO2 fans at the concert. They call themselves Z-Heads.

In the next couple of months, ZO2 will be releasing their second album, "Back to Oz" and I'll be doing some photography for the album. I'll be doing either the cover photography and/or portraits of the band for the inside booklet of the CD. You can download their awesome first album, "Tuesdays & Thursdays" on Itunes.

To find out more about ZO2 including upcoming performances, check out their official website:

www.zo2.com

Just a heads up, they'll be playing at the world famous B.B. King's Club in Times Square, NYC on April 11. I'll try to stop by to take more pics of the band so stay tuned.

Kazja told me that she's working on a bellydance act with a bunch of other dancers that would open for one of the band's shows in the future. I'll keep everyone posted.

Also if you guys want to see a video by the guys, click on the link below:
Z02 Video

Bellydance Photo Shoot with Kazja - March 25, 2006

Last Saturday, I had the pleasure of photographing my good bellydancer friend Kazja. Kazja is a gorgeous bellydancer based in Brooklyn who I've photographed before for my fine art photography. She needed some new promo shots for some upcoming shows she's planning. I actually went to art high school with her boyfriend and rocker, Paulie Z. Paulie and I go way back and I still remember being in 3D design class with Paulie when we were 16 years old. Here's just a few pics from the shoot.

Kelly & Christian's Wedding - March 23, 2006

Every year I shoot a number of intimate weekday ceremony weddings, and Kelly & Christian's wedding (at the Ladies' Pavilion in Central Park, NYC) was one of my favorites. Kelly and Christian are actually from England but vacationed to NYC during last year's holidays. He proposed to her on New Year's Day during the countdown while waiting for the ball to drop. Of course she said "yes" and they decided to come back to NYC, which they felt was the most romantic city in the world, to say "I Do" with 10 of their closet friends and family. Even though the ceremony and portrait session was only an hour and a half, I had so much fun with Kelly & Christian.

Kelly being escorted by her dad to the ceremony pavilion.

Christian looking at Kelly approach.

The couple glancing at each other.

All their friends and family read a blessing, a quote of love, or a passage of wisdom during the ceremony.

The lucky bell which they rung before they read their vows.

The exchange of rings.

The kiss.

Kelly's dad and Christian's mom looking on.

After the ceremony, they took a carriage down Central Park.

We then went down to Times Square, the spot where he proposed, to get some fun shots of the two of them.

Beledo Trio Jazz Performance - March 21, 2006

On Tuesday night last week, O.B. and I got to listen to an amazing jazz jam session by the Beledo Trio at the cozy Via Della Pace restaurant (located at 48 E7th St. in Greenwich Village). Besides being an amazing jazz guitarist and pianist, Beledo along with his wife Carol Moore are very good friends of mine. The trio performed some classical sets as well as more modern sets that even had some rock guitar fusion mixed in. There were even some fun improv moments when Beledo would start a set with his piano, then jump on his guitar and play a few hard riffs, and then settle back down to more relaxed piano playing. It was so much fun catching up with Carol and Beledo.

A shot of me with the Beledo Jazz Trio shot by O.B.

Beledo playing the keyboard piano.

For more information on Beledo and his band including future performances please check out his website:
www.beledo.com

Alix & Mitch's Engagement Photo Shoot - March 18, 2006

Here's some shots from last week's fun engagement photo session at Jones Beach in Long Island, NY. It was a chilly and windy March day but we still had a blast.

We stopped off at a Starbucks to get some hot chocalates to warm ourselves up.

We got a nice sunset at the beach.

We had such a fun time and I'm so looking forward to their wedding at the New York Botanical Gardens in May.

Zikrayat Performance - March 16, 2006

In the evening after Laura & Stewart's wedding, I headed over to Lafayette Grill (located at 54 Franklin St. in the Tribeca distrinct of Manhattan, NYC) to check out the Zikrayat Ensamble perform. As many of you know, I really enjoy world music, especially Arabic music. While I have to admit that most of my tastes in Arabic music is modern like Natasha Atlas, I do enjoy a more traditional repertory of the genre. Zikrayat is an excellent group of musicians that cover the more classical approach to Arabic music. Of course, no great Arabic music performance is complete without performances by artistic bellydancing and as all of you know, I love artistic bellydance. The bellydance performers that night included two of my closest bellydance friends, Sira and Dameshe.

Sira, me, Dameshe, and my new bellydance friend Naraya. Photo taken by Dameshe's husband, Sami, with my camera gear. I've photographed both Sira and Dameshe numerous times for my fine art photography and next week, I'll be photographing Naraya. Stay tuned as I'll be showing off a few shots from my shoot with Naraya next week.

The Zikrayat Musicians.

The crowd at Lafayette Grill enjoying the great music.

The amazing Sira. Many in the bellydance community consider Sira to be one of the best and most dynamic bellydancers in NYC. It's been a couple of years since I last took bellydance classes (too much wedding work) but Sira was one of my favorite instructors.

My good friend Dameshe. I have to mention that it was a privilege to photograph her gorgeous wedding to Sami last year. I'll have to show off some of the great images I shot from their wedding on this blog sometime in the future.

Another dancer with the Zikrayat group, Nahara, performs.

For more information on the Zikrayat Ensamble including future performances with bellydancers, please check out their website:
www.zikrayatmusic.com

Laura & Stewart's Wedding - March 16, 2006

While I mostly shoot large over the top weddings, every once in a while, I get some small intimate weekday assignments. Laura and Stewart's wedding was a beautiful 1 hour ceremony wedding I photographed last Thursday at the Conservatory Gardens in Manhattan, NYC.

Laura being escorted to the ceremony grounds.

Stewart looks on as Laura approaches.

The couple glancing at each other during the ceremony.

The kiss.