Christine Chang Photography Blog » Recent work, Photo Tips, & Random Rants by Christine Chang.

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  • Christine Chang

    Destination Wedding Photographer. Adventurer. Ninja.

    Lover of brussel sprouts, chubby dogs, and Disneyland.

    I began taking pictures in middle school when my best friend and I would set up a portrait “studio,” which consisted of hanging up a bed sheet and shining house lamps toward it. Fast forward 20 years and today I am living my dream as a worldwide photographer based in Los Angeles.

    Here you will find some of my recent work along with some personal adventures and useless banter.

Apr 01 2013

Q&A: Indian Wedding in India, Dealing With Bad Weather, Best Hiking Trail In LA

Greetings from overseas!  I am in Vietnam and will be back in LA next week.  In the meantime, here are the answers to last week’s Q&A on Facebook.

1. Sheila C.:  What is the most essential thing that motivates you to pursue photography?

Loving it!  I feel REALLY lucky that I have the opportunity to do what I love.

2. Jayce A.:  I’m getting married in Manila in November so I started to look for photographers there.  I encountered some wedding photographers that don’t shoot RAW.  Should I still consider them or I demand for it?

If you look at their final images and like what you see, I would still consider them.  Photographers have different preferences and I don’t think it should matter how they shoot.  One of my favorite photographers Hilary Maybery shoots in jpg and the quality of her work is fantastic!  I would totally hire her for my wedding.

3. Jamie G.:  Where is your favorite place in Los Angeles to hike and why?  Where is your favorite place in the world to hike and why?

Griffith Park Observatory is my favorite place in LA, as well as in the WORLD to hike!  The trails are wide, it is the perfect mix of city vs. nature, and my dog can come with me!  She loves it too.

4. Mawiyah J.:  How do you recommend handling bad weather?  Cancel or find an indoor locale?

Most of the time I still shoot and improvise.  I love to improvise!  I think rain actually makes for great photos.  One time I had a scheduled engagement session in Marin and it was storming that day.  I asked my couple what they wanted to do and they said, “Let’s go for it.”  The photos turned out super cute, and it was one of the most memorable days of our lives, right Mona & Leo?!  :)

5. Lagrima L.:  What kind of situations do you recommend photographing for practice?  I like to photograph family events (mine) for practice, but I still feel very blah.

I recommend any situation that you are not familiar or comfortable with.  It pushes you to get out of your comfort zone, and that is when you grow!

6. Hicham C.:  I’m from Morocco and I would like ask what is your most used lens, and what do you prefer – Photoshop or Lightroom?

50mm f/1.2 is my most used lens (I love it!).  I prefer using Lightroom, but will occasionally open a photo in Photoshop if I think it needs more work.

7. Brittany A.:  What’s your opinion on photoshoot collaborations (excluding the typical two photographers shooting at a wedding) where you have two photographers working together?  Any tips on how you would work in that situation or just your view of it in general for two photographers to both be shooting and creating the shoot?

I think it can be great to collaborate if the other photographer’s style is similar to yours.  That way you are more likely to be inspired and fired up about their suggestions instead of feeling like you have to compromise and do something different.  You want to feel proud of the work you put out there. From my experience with shoots like this, even though it is a collaboration, one photographer usually becomes the dominant.  Maybe I say that because I am a control freak.  Haha.  I personally like to have full creative control, or none of it.

8. Tai S.:  When you came into this field did people ask you to do it for free, and if you quoted a price they would say “Let me check with my family etc.”?

Sometimes people still ask me to shoot a job for free!  When they do, I send them my price list and then you’re right, they usually say something along the lines of “Let me check with so-and-so…” and then they come back with, “It’s not in our budget.”  I kind of assume that’s going to be the answer if they are asking someone to work for free!

9. Grace K.:  Where did you buy your coconuts for your workshop last week?  I must have it again!!

Haha.  Whole Foods.  Thanks for coming, Grace!  I was so happy you were able to attend!

10. Angana B.:  Would you ever come to India and shoot an Indian wedding?  You have a big fan following here and we would have love to have you!

India is on my list of places to travel (hopefully this year)!  I have never been so the answer is a big fat YES.  Keep me posted on the wedding, and thanks for following!  ;)

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Wish You Were Here - April 8, 2013 - 12:35 pm

I took your answer to #5 to heart during a scheduled shoot two weeks ago. I didn’t cancel the shoot despite the rain (it only sprinkled for 5 minutes but we got to use a yellow umbrella. Yay!

Christine C. - April 9, 2013 - 5:59 pm

Awww, I love it! Please send me the pic with the yellow umbrella! :)

Mar 29 2013

Destination Photography Workshop, Los Angeles

Last week I held a photography workshop for photographers who are interested in Destination Wedding Photography.  Travel + Weddings + Photography.  Three passions in one! ;)

After the lecture we went to Topanga beach to do a shoot.

Thanks to everyone who came out, and thank you Apryl for sending me some of these photos!  I really enjoy doing these workshops.  They are a great way to learn and connect with other photographers!

P.S. To see photos that were taken of our lovely models, click here.

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Grace HY Kang - April 3, 2013 - 4:45 pm

My legs are so weird in the picture where we’re all lined up on the mini-pier. :P

Mar 28 2013

Is Photography School Necessary?

My friend Conway taught me the basics about how to use my first dSLR camera.  From there I practiced, read books, attended workshops, and took 3 basic photography classes at a Community College.  The classes at the community college were very helpful.  They taught the fundamentals of photography and pushed me to refine my skill.  I actually want to take the basic B&W film class again.  Technique and skill should always be practiced!

 Although I highly recommend taking some classes, with most things, I think that you learn more with real life experience.  With photography, you can intern for someone and get one-on-one training.  You can see first hand what it’s like to run a photography business.  In my opinion that’s way better than paying to be in a class of 30+ students.  I also think that what most classrooms lack is the opportunity to think outside the box.  Especially for a creative field.

Times are changing.  We have the internet.  We have all sorts of tools and resources at our fingertips.  If you want how-to information, you can find it anywhere online.  Sites like CreativeLive and YouTube teach millions of things for FREE.  The other day I wanted to learn how to open a coconut.  I typed “How to open a coconut” into YouTube.  2 minutes.  Boom.  I learned how to open a coconut.

I did this, except I put the coconut on the counter and my other hand behind my back while whacking it with the knife.  I’d like to keep my fingers, thank you very much.

 

So, the short answer is no.  For a subject like photography, I don’t think it’s necessary to go to photography school. :)  Sometimes I wish I did, but the photography friends I ask who did, all say it wasn’t necessary, and on top of that, it was expensive.

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Laurie - March 28, 2013 - 2:08 pm

Thanks, Christine! Now I know how to open a coconut. Like you, I’d put my other hand behind my back as well. It looks scary!

Armaine - March 29, 2013 - 9:48 am

i’m planning to took up a photography class but reading this blog confuse me now.
I want to be great photographer like you someday. :)

Mar 27 2013

Los Angeles Engagement Photography: Matt & Hannah, Topanga Beach

Fun, romantic, and playful.  Matt & Hannah are everything love should be. :)

Photos taken at Topanga State Beach.

Matt sharing the story of how they met.

Most guys don’t know this beforehand, but if you sign up for a shoot with me, you are actually signing up for a cardio workout.

Hannah is in it for the booty.

So is Matt…

I had to keep making adjustments to camera settings, so I told them to just stay there and keep kissing.  I got a thumbs up. ;)

Matt found his second love on the beach.  Watermelon.

FYI – for anyone thinking about having a beach photoshoot, red is a great color to wear.

Matt getting some stretches in before attempting the “Dirty Dancing” lift.

Matt & Hannah were my IRL couple (IRL =”in real life” – I recently learned this term, just like I finally learned what “YOLO” meant) for my last photography workshop.  Matt & Hannah – thank you for putting a smile on everyone’s face! :D

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Laurie - March 28, 2013 - 2:10 pm

Love the red against the beach! will need to try this someday when I have a willing couple to photograph!

Mar 26 2013

Asking Questions

I admire people who have the ability to ask really good questions.  Asking good questions is a VERY important people skill.  It shows how much you are able to engage with others.

One time I was talking to a girl I had just met.  Out of no where she asked, “Are you in love?.”  I paused.  It was a much better question than asking, “Are you married?” or “Are you seeing anyone?.”  Instead of a simple yes or no, her question caused me to think.

So what’s a good question?

One that causes people to want to engage.  Generic questions like, “How are you?” don’t really get a good conversation going.  Most of the time when people ask how I’m doing, I reply with a simple, “I’m good!.”  I know this, yet I continue to ask people the same.  It’s a reflex, just like saying “hi.”

Whenever I remember to, I like to practice asking good questions.  Some examples of questions I like:

“What’s your favorite part about your job?”

“What was the most profound moment of your trip?”

“What’s your favorite thing about your significant other?”

I also enjoy “How much…?” or “Would you rather?” questions.  These kind of questions are funny, make you think, and allow you to bond with the people you’re with.

“How much would someone have to pay you to jump into a non heated pool right now and then take a cab home?” (asked in freezing weather).

“Would you rather eat a handful of dust from the vacuum cleaner or a wad of hair?”

Think about what kind of questions you can randomly ask to get a good conversation going!

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Alexandra - March 26, 2013 - 10:41 am

Hey it’s me! :) hehe.

Always love your posts CC.

Question: would you rather fight a hundred duck-sized horses. Or a horsed-sized duck?

Christine C. - March 26, 2013 - 11:31 am

Yes! I love that photo of you Alex.

Hm. Both are pretty creepy. I’ll go with a hundred duck-sized horses. Then at least I can kick them.

Margot - April 15, 2013 - 1:09 pm

…a handful of dust from the vacuum cleaner. ;-)