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Las Vegas Vacation - March 21-24, 2008

Before the wedding season was going to kick off, I wanted to take a fun vacation. This year, I went with two of my best buddies to Las Vegas for a much needed vacation.

  

We flew JetBlue and here's a shot from the airplane window. 

We stayed at the Paris Hotel in Vegas. 

My two vacation buddies. Lavinia, one of my former brides (from 06') who has since become one of my best friends and Tina Krause, horror movie actress who has been one of my best friends for the last decade.

Lavinia & me.

Tina and me.

The three of us.

During our first night in Vegas, we went dining at TAO, an upscale Chinese Restaurant.

On the second day we went to the Circus Circus casino to check out the circus show.

We went to check out Wedding chapels after the show.

Me with a recent Vegas couple that had a $99 fast wedding.

We went to check out Old Vegas. 

While we were in Old Vegas, the three of us went into a blue screen video shop and made a hilarious dancing heads video. Here we are checking it out.

The dancing heads video (click the "Play" button to play):

We went up to the Stratosphere roller coaster. On the way up, I got a blue screen portrait.

At a nightclub after we went to check out the "O" Circue Du Solei show. 

The last night in Vegas, we went to check out a Chip-N-Dales show. It was great and we got some souvenir shots with the cute guys.

Circus Elephants Outside My Apartment - March 19, 2008

Every Year the Ringling Bros. Circus comes to NYC and the elephants walk across 34th Street to get to Madison Square Garden. The movie "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" had a clip of the scene. The movie is also one of my favorites. Anyhow my 3rd floor apartment on 34th Street and Park Avenue has a good view of the elephant trek. I shot a few snapshots from my window and ran out to get a few more snapshots.

There's always a large crowd that gathers before the elephants come. It's a neighborhood pastime to watch.

The view from my window.

Julie Skya's Birthday @ Mesa Grill - March 5, 2008

For 08', we celebrated Julie's birthday at Mesa Grill Restaurant. Bobby Flay, prominent Iron Chef, is the owner and executive chef there and the food is some of the best in the world. Nothing but the best for my family of associate photographers. Mary Maris, another one of my associate shooters brought her camera along and shot some photos during the night.

Mary shot some portraits of Julie while we walked from the Empire State Building, our office, down to Mesa Grill which is near Chelsea.

Some more shots of Julie at the restaurant as we're waiting for our table.

Julie and me.

The whole gang. Me, Mary Cee, Julie, and Mary Maris.

Julie blowing out here birthday mini cake.

Tanna Bellydance Performance - February 24, 2008

One of my best friends, Tanna, who happens to be an amazing bellydancer, performed during a rock concert at the Europa Club in Brooklyn, NY.

Mary Cee Birthday - January 18, 2008

All the people that ever work for Lina Jang Photography are a part of my family. Whenever one of us has a birthday we all go out and celebrate. Mary Cee has interned for me for the past year and we all love her. Mary helps around at the office doing post production on photos and she has also assisted me on a couple of wedding assignments. Mary held her birthday party at her home in Brooklyn and her closest friends and family celebrated the day with us.

Mary and me.

Mary Maris, Mary Cee and Julie Skya.

Toasts.

Mary and her family.

Julie took Mary outside and took a few fun shots.

The birthday girl and her cake.

Mary's Birthday - November 24, 2007

My associate photographers are some of my closest friends. They're like family to me. Every birthday is a special occasion. We celebrated Mary Maris's birthday at one of my favorite restaurants in Brooklyn, MyMoon in williamsburg. The atmosphere and food there is great.

The ambiance at MyMoon restaurant. A lot of the trendy restaurants in Williamsburg are converted warehouses and MyMoon is probably the best of the bunch.

A pic of me with Mary.

Julie and Mary.

The three musketeers.

Our delicious cuisine. Yellow Fin Tuna.

Maya Prawns.

Pan Roasted Cornish Hen.

Grilled NY Rib Eye Steak.

Mary about to blow out her cake candles.

Julie Skya photographed a few fun portraits of Mary.

Seides Family Photo Session - October 21, 2007

Back in August of 04', I photographed one of my favorite weddings of all time for one of my favorite couples, Shari and Ted. I still remember their magical wedding at Tavern on the Green as if it was yesterday and I still show off a sample album from their wedding to many of my potential clients. In the years since their wedding Shari and Ted have moved to the suburbs of Connecticut with the intention of starting a family. Well their plan was a success and they recently welcomed twins into their lovely family. Recently, Shari had contacted me to take a fun family photo session with her, Ted and their two children, Ryan and Skylar. The kids are just adorable. We had a blast and here's some of my faves.

Here's a pic I took of Shari and Ted from their 04' wedding.

Here's how they look now. They still look fantastic. Notice that Shari has not put on a pound since giving birth to the kids. She's fantastic.

Skylar.

Ryan.

We took lots of photos at a nearby playground.

Marisa Bridal Shower - October 7, 2007

In the beginning of October I photographed a surprise bridal shower. It was such a cute event. Marisa's mom was in charge of the event.

Marisa is one girl who's obsessed with shoes and shoes were the theme for her shower.

Marisa arrives to the shower.

Her maid of honor gave a touching speech.

Marisa and her gang.

Some of the cute kids.

Her shoe cake.

Checking out some of her gifts. This one was a pretty lingerie teddy.

Every bridal shower includes a silly hat.

Fred's Birthday Party - July 28, 2007

At the end of July, my good friend Tina Krause held a birthday party for her longtime boyfriend Fred at his Brooklyn home. I came along and had a blast and took a few snapshots.

Me with my pal Tina.

Tina and Fred. Fred is such a cutie. Remember I did a bridal portrait shoot with them in 06'.

Bringing out the birthday cake.

Blowing out the candles together.

They had a live band for entertainment.

Tina with her sister Karen (whose wedding I'm shooting in 08'), her mom, and her sister Jesse.

My 30th Birthday at the Polynesian Cultural Center - May 28, 2007

I celebrated my 30th Birthday in Laie, Hawaii at the Polynesian Cultural Center. The center is part learning center and part theme park. There were dance performances, live musical concerts, educational tours, canoe boat rides, and shows offered the whole day. The park is a not for profit organization and all the profit they make goes into scholarships for Polynesian college students. In fact 85% of staff at the center is made up of Polynesian college students. The Polynesian culture encompasses lots of Islands from Asia to Australia. Fuji, Tahiti, Samoa, Hawaii, the Philipines and even my anscetry has Polynesian roots. I had a fantastic time at the center and below are just some of the shots I took that day.

Here are some pics of the beautiful grounds at the center.

Dance Performances.

One of the guides showing tourists how to climb up a 50 foot palm tree in under two minutes.

During the evening, we were treated to the "Horizons" show. It was fantastic.

The finale of the show had fire dance performers.