Alfred Tang

IG: @alfred.tang

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Cathedral Park Engagement in Portland, Oregon // Rebecca & Jonny

Engagement photos at St. John’s Cathedral Park.

If you’ve ever been to Cathedral Park in Portland, Oregon, you know just how iconic it truly is. Tucked under the towering gothic arches of the St. Johns Bridge, this spot feels like something out of a moody romantic film. The arches – painted in that dreamy "verde green" – stretch high above, framing the scene with bold elegance. Behind them, Forest Park peeks through with its evergreens and changing maples, their leaves turning gold and rust as fall settles in. It’s the kind of place that stops you in your tracks, especially in autumn.

For Rebecca & Jonny’s Portland engagement session, Cathedral Park delivered all the magic. That classic Pacific Northwest overcast sky made an appearance, casting a soft, even light that photographers dream about. No harsh shadows, just that beautiful moody glow that makes every detail pop. And let’s talk about their outfits – perfectly neutral with cozy textures and just the right pop of warm brown. Paired with the fall backdrop? Chef’s kiss 👌. They looked like they stepped straight out of an editorial, but without trying too hard.

What stood out the most, though, wasn’t just the scenery or styling – it was them. From the moment we started shooting, they were completely in sync. No awkward posing, no stiff smiles. Just two people genuinely enjoying being with each other. There were quiet moments of laughter, playful teasing, and the kind of body language that speaks volumes. You could tell this wasn’t just a photo shoot for them – it was time carved out to slow down, breathe each other in, and soak in where they are right now in life.

That kind of connection? It's what makes engagement sessions like this feel so meaningful. It’s not about being perfectly posed – it's about being present. And Rebecca & Jonny were so present with each other, which made the entire experience feel effortless and full of heart.

Some love stories just feel effortless – like two people were simply meant to find each other. That’s exactly how it felt watching Rebecca and Jonny together during their Cathedral Park engagement session in Portland. Their goofiness, their comfort with one another, and the warmth they exude as a couple was undeniable. Honestly, I wasn’t even sure I had to give them any direction at all while photographing them – every moment felt natural, intimate, and completely their own.

Rebecca and Jonny first met on a dating app back in December 2017 – and if you know Rebecca, you’ll understand just how perfect that timing was. Christmas is her favorite season, so their first few dates were full of holiday lights, cozy drinks, and that special kind of magic the season brings. Fast forward nearly eight years, and their relationship has only deepened as they built their careers and learned how to blend their lives in the most seamless way.

One of the strongest bonds between them is their shared love for travel. They’ve always found joy in experiencing new cultures, exploring different foods, and creating memories far from home. Jonny studied abroad in Spain, so when I asked them where they’d spend their last day together, the answer was easy – they’d be back in Spain, sipping wine, trying every delicious bite they could find, and soaking in the sun together. That passion for adventure and connection to culture is such a core part of their story – and it makes their love feel even more rooted and intentional.

Their engagement photos at Cathedral Park were the perfect reflection of who they are – playful, grounded, and full of love. Even though the Portland skies were misty and gray that day (classic PNW!), the session still felt warm and inviting. The way they leaned into each other, laughed in between shots, and moved so naturally – it all told the story of a couple deeply in sync.

It’s these kinds of moments that remind me why I love photographing engagement sessions in Portland – and Cathedral Park is hands-down one of the dreamiest spots to do it.

I seriously can’t wait for their wedding at The Water Oasis this April – if their engagement was any sign, it’s going to be an incredible day!

If you’re dreaming of your own Portland engagement session, let’s make it happen! Contact me here and let’s start planning!

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Seaside Beach Engagement Proposal // Brianna & Dylan Engagement

If takes a village to raise a child, then sometimes it takes a family to build an engagement proposal site. Okay, fine. So maybe that wasn’t my best attempt at a figurative analogy - but what remains true is that when there’s a collaborative effort in coming together to support a family member’s significant and pivotal moment in their individual love story. So when Brianna’s eldest brother reached out to me and discussed his future brother-in-law’s proposal plan to be set out on the Oregon coast, I jumped on the opportunity to document the much anticipated proposal!

Most engagement proposals I’ve done have been just the couple alone. Having family members there to witness and support Dylan & Brianna’s engagement proposal displayed how much love surrounds these two and the celebration that ensues is also a testament to the bond they all share. In these photos, you’ll find (and feel!) such genuine and authentic enthusiasm for Dylan & Brianna’ future.

After a great collaborative effort of setting up the proposal site with a blanket, pillow-cushions, some flowers and a champagne on ice, family tucks away behind the coastal grass. A call is made to Dylan that everything is good to go and their big moment is waiting for them just around the bend!

After Alisa runs to greet and celebrate with her twin, the rest of the family joins quickly thereafter. Hugs all around for the newly engaged couple!

After everyone took their turn to congratulate Brianna & Dylan, they take a moment to themselves as they pop a bottle of bubbly and cheers with fluted champagne glass and their engagement dates etched onto it. Oh, and the pup got a new bandana to celebrate his pawrents engagement!

Guess who’s ecstatic to get back to her sister and celebrate the engagement again?!

What’s a better way to document these newly engaged fleeting moments? Run out to the water, feel the sand between your toes and just have fun being in the present, soaking in the moments, knowing that you have forever to make more memories with.

What an honor and a fun memorable experience it was for me to coordinate and work with Brianna & Dylan’s family to document such a signifiant day in their lives. Having family there to immediately celebrate their engagement was a lovingly warm sight to behold and as I left them to continue their celebration, I had a feeling it was not going to be the last time I get to work with them….

….to be continued?

Enjoyed this beach engagement proposal? Looking to work together with me on your own proposal? Click the button below to get in contact with me and let’s discuss how we can make your proposal a wonderful and stress-free experience! (as stress-free as possible 😅).

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In-home newborn lifestyle session // Baby Andreas, The Eriksons

When I first started my photography business, I set to carve out my brand to be one of telling emotionally-invoking stories of human connections through photographs that stood the test of time. Connection session (aka engagement sessions) and weddings helped fulfilled this and thus steered my brand towards this portion of the market. But as I watched my clients and friends add members to their families, and as I thought about my own childhood and relationship with my mother, I began to realize something I’ve already known: having and raising children in it’s own is a different type of emotional love story that is usually unconditional. And one, where both parents learn a lot more about themselves and one another. These new parents are literally carrying out the words spoken during their wedding vows of committing to being by each other’s side on “this crazy journey called life”.

“Children are the reintroduction of the unsullied paradise of being.” - Dr. Jordan Peterson

All this to say that this is why I don’t advertise family sessions as they’re typically the standard family-posed type of shots that doesn’t really tell an emotionally invoking story that “fits my brand” (but still are important to the family!). These sessions are typically reserved for previous wedding clients, friends or from personal referrals. But then, an email from Helena’s mother led to a session that would alter the way I viewed the interpretation of my brand and my journey of telling love stories.

I’ve worked with Helena & Jasper a number of times, documenting some of their most special life events (even took Jasper’s headshot for his med school application!), so when I was presented the opportunity to document the new addition to their family, I was ecstatic! Not just because Helena & Jasper are sweet and awesome people who deserve nothing but the best, but because becoming new parents is a very transformational pivot point in their lives - teaching you things about life and love that no other life experiences can. I wanted to document the beginning of this unconditional love and bond with their 8-week old human.

Let me tell you, this half hour session was one of the most sweet, tender and magical moments I’ve ever had the privilege to witness. I won’t say why as I hope the images from this in-home newborn lifestyle session will do all the talking. Thank you Helena & Jasper for inviting me into your home and photographing another intimate and pivotal point in your lives. You guys will be the best parents and I already know Andreas will be the best big brother other siblings will be jealous of!

“The family you create is more important than the family you came from.” I said what I said! While this statement is subjective and debatable, there’s an awful lot of truth in it.

If you have enjoyed this Portland newborn lifestyle session, I’d appreciate a comment or a share! If you’re interested in working together on your family session, click the button below to get in touch with me!

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Mt Hood National Park Engagement // Aprajita & Nick Connection Session

Aprajita & Nick found me as a preferred wedding photographer from Stemple Creek Ranch (an absolutely stunning and FAVORITE Northern California wedding venue of mine. Check out my previous wedding at Stemple Creek Ranch). They almost booked a Hood River wedding venue - saw and loved my photos from there as well 🤗. So that helped confirm their desire to reach out to me for their wedding photos.

During our inquiry process - and much to our delight, we found that we were both California natives and now are living for the outdoors in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. So thus, making it easier to connect for our connection session in Mt Hood National Park. We started the day with a drive towards Old Salmon River trail in Welches, Oregon, but passed by a beautiful field of foxgloves flowers in bloom and had to make a quick stop. This is where I learned how intelligent Nick is with plant names and his love for biology. He even got distracted by a white moth that he gracefully captured into his hands. The moth hung out for a while, wished them a happy engagement shoot and went on its way -fluttering through the field.

After a quick session in the foxglove fields (I could have shot there all day!) we made our way to the original starting point. A quarter mile hike down towards the river was like walking through an enchanted forest. This trail is a favorite of mine to visit and have always dreamed of shooting an engagement session here. With Aprajita & Nick whom declares that they are the happiest when under trees, it was evident as they smiled and skipped through the fern-lined forest trail.

Aprajita & Nicks love story starts with being employed at the same Bay Area company some 10 years ago. Aprajita found him cute, intelligent and intriguing - but it wasn’t until he left the company until they began dating. Both are compassionate, kind and generous humans who found love and comfort in one another. As one can tell, they have a love for the outdoors and are always planning their next adventure in the mountiains. So it was fitting we ended the connection session with Mt Hood as the backdrop. After 10 years of dating, they now will be celebrating their marriage at Stemple Creek Ranch on the second week of August 2022!

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Bay Area Engagement Session - Pleasanton, California // Chloe & Katie Connection Session

Prior to moving to Oregon, I was a manager at Starbucks Coffee Company. Throughout my tenure there (almost 10 years!) I made many GREAT friends with customers and employees alike. It was truly one of the best years of my life as I enjoyed my job and the culture surrounding the company. One of the best things about my role was building a great store team. Learning to hire the right people for the job and sustaining a low employee turnover rate WHILE being one of the best stores in the district was absolutely fulfilling.

One of my favorite employee was Chloe. A person who was always had a charming smile and doing her best to lift up other people’s spirits. Even on her worst days, she would hide her own emotions and step up to the plate for others. Always willing to learn and grow, not only as an employee, but as a person as well. Through the years, I’ve had the privilege to witness this kind, yet fiery (trust me on this one!) - soul pour her heart into everything she did and anyone she invested herself to. As I always say throughout my journey of telling love stories - love doesn’t come easy. We often show all great times and hide the heartaches. These heartaches and obstacles are part of the process in growing as an individual and as a couple. Hence the saying: “They helped me become a better person” or “my better half”.

When it came time for Chloe to reach out to me about documenting the new chapter in her love life, to say I was ecstatic is absolutely insufficient. I WAS EUPHORIC! Chloe had found the love of her life!!! And once I heard about who Katie is, it absolutely made sense she was the one for Chloe. Katie is compassionate, unselfish yet hard-headed and apathetic. But one fateful evening at a salon, Katie put her heart out there for Chloe. It was the first time they met, but I bet there was something about Chloe’s smile and stunning look that brought Katie out of her shell. After hitting it off on the dance floor, the two ended up talking through the night with Chloe not getting any sleep before her morning shift. #anything4love

Fast forward 4 years, Chloe & Katie enjoying spending their time relaxing at home with their 3, maybe 4 doggos? I can't keep up with their fur kids, but I do know they want to add more!!! While their dogs was not able to make it to the engagement shoot on Katie’s family private property, my crazy gal, Halo was lucky enough to roam the property (and chase the goats 😭). She makes an appearance in one of the images below 🤗

Thank you Katie & Chloe for the honor of photographing your intimate connection in such a stunning setting! See you in a month!!!!

Can’t wait to see Chloe & Katie next month for their intimate San Francisco City Hall wedding ceremony. Then to follow it up with a wedding reception with the best of friends!!!

Love what you see here? Interested in working together on your Bay Area engagement or wedding day? Click the link below to get in touch with me!

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Painted Hills Engagement, John Day National Park // Steph & Sean Connection Session

I’ve been to Painted Hills out in the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument by Mitchell, Oregon a couple of times, but never for an engagement session. The Painted Hills are one of the three units that comprise the John Day Fossil Beds Monument and provides a gorgeous backgrounds of stripped hills of red, tan, orange and black. So when Steph & Sean suggested doing their engagement session at Painted Hills, I jumped on the opportunity. The kicker? Steph & Sean wanted to include their dog Lucy! As a pawrent myself, of course I said “yes!” Lucy almost stole the show if you asked me. 😏

We started just outside the official park boundaries of the Painted Hills as I saw a stunning backdrop that would provide a different perspective than the official Painted Hills Park would. These little stripped hills were easy to access and provided a nice area for Lucy to get her zoomies out. After running around for a few warm up poses (it was actually very easy to take Steph & Sean’s engagement photos if you couldn’t tell), we moved closer to the official Painted Hills area and continued the engagement session in some tall wheat grass. Steph brought out a beautiful white blanket to cuddle up with Sean in, and boy did they look cute! Finally, we moved onto the “official” Painted Hills park area and spent a good hour and a half marveling and wondering around, taking in the stunning views that the Painted Hills provides. In addition to being well-dressed, Steph & Sean’s choice of color palette was impeccable *chef kisses. Lastly as we headed out of Painted Hills Park, we ended the engagement session with some blue hour photos in front of their vehicle’s headlights.

Not only did their engagement session come out beautifully, but I got to get creative with my directing of poses and glad they were game. With each session I do, I attempted to do something a little different than the typical photo session. This keeps things interesting and “new” for me. The Painted Hills in Oregon definitely helped with being a fall back in the case I lacked in creativity. 😅

What do you think of this engagement session at the Painted Hills? Does this look like something you can see yourself in for your engagement photos inside of John Day Fossil Beds Monument? Click the button below and let’s start a conversation on how I can be your Painted Hills engagement photographer!

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Haystack Rock Proposal. Cannon Beach, Oregon //

What makes a surprise engagement proposal successful? Well, first it starts with that genuine and intimate relationship between two people. Then, when the time is right and you’re ready to pop the question - finding the right photographer who not only has the style you’re looking for, but who can help guide you through setting up that picture perfect engagement proposal will be essential in documenting this memorable moment. Constant and clear communication, with an adaptable attitude was the key to success when Kyle proposed to his college sweetheart, Taylor.

It does help tremendously that Kyle is a great communicator to begin with. From the initial inquiry email, to chatting with him on the phone and even during their after-dinner stroll down Cannon Beach, Kyle and I kept in touch with timing and positioning of his proposal to Taylor. I showed up in front of Haystack Rock half an hour prior to the proposed time of 6:30pm to scoop out the light and crowd. It was a beautiful partly cloudy day with the right amount of sun poking through. I texted Kyle photos of where I believed he should propose for that perfect lighting. Unfortunately dinner was being served slowly (out of our control) and kept pushing things back a bit.

At about 7:15pm, Kyle gives me a text that he and Taylor were done with dinner and were beginning their stroll down Cannon Beach towards Haystack Rock. “Game time!”, I exclaimed to myself as I live for these moments. I think the pictures tell the rest of the story. Kyle positioned his proposal at the PERRRRRRRFECT spot. The lighting was just delicious *chef kisses. I couldn’t have coached him any better. And the cherry on top? Kyle & Taylor’s friends had rented a house right on the beach for their post-engagement celebration and I’d say they had some of the best seats in the house.

Scroll through Kyle & Taylor’s engagement proposal at Cannon Beach in front of the infamous Haystack Rock and tell me how it could have been better. Don’t worry, I won’t hold my breath as it’s already breath-taking as it was.

Thank you Kyle for trusting in me to capture your proposal and to Taylor for trusting in me to take some post-engagement portraits -encapsulating a small piece of your forever love story! Here’s to the beginning of forever!

Love this Cannon Beach Proposal with Kyle & Taylor? Getting ready to plan your own surprise proposal to your soulmate? Let’s connect and collaborate on that perfect engagement proposal!

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Stemple Creek Ranch Wedding - Marin County Wedding // Genevieve & Juoko, Tomales, California

“What would you tell yourselves (as a couple) in 40-50 years from now?” Genevieve & Jouko: Don’t forget to take your teeth out at night and don’t forget to put on your night diaper.

Now, that is love and this is marriage. A commitment to knowing, learning and facing the realities of truths of growing old together. Dealing with whatever life throws at you. Together.

Genevieve & Jouko bonded over otters (her spirit animal and he happened to be a wildlife photographer who love capturing these little critters. He grew fond of her obsession with cats, bonded more over food, hiking, reading and all things creative. Their wedding at the beautiful Stemple Creek Ranch in Tomales, California (which also is one of my favorite ranches for organic grass-fed beef) is the perfect template to celebrate and put on a display of their personalities and union of love.

These two are definitely unique and sweet individuals who are unapologetically themselves. They love each other exactly as who they are as individuals- accepting all the great things and flaws that comes one another. Like with every couple on their wedding day, I had the privilege to witness and observe how effortless their relationship was. Their wedding in Northern California reflected their unique taste and vision. All of the thrills without the frills.

Check out their engagement video by Yukio Studio to catch a glimpse of their personalities and relationship. This will help further understand their wedding day and offer a deeper insight into the emotions of this day. There was no posing these two and they wanted to celebrate the only way they know how and I was just privileged to be there to celebrate and document their day with them.

Okay, let’s take a bit of a deeper dive in the the wedding venue that is Stemple Creek Ranch and the other wedding vendors. Geneviev and Jouko put a lot of thought and planning to bring together these awesome vendors and they definitely deserve the shoutouts. I know if I was planning my wedding, I’d use them! Samar from Blissful Events, based out of Petaluma, California helped put together and organized everything. It’s not unusual for wedding day plans and timelines to have to be adjusted on the day of, but with Blissful Events in coordination with the wedding venue manager, everything went off without a hitch.

The beautiful wedding cake was a friend of Genevieve’s as I believe she (the cake-maker) is a school teacher. But to see her build the cake from the bottom up and the dedication she put into it was inspiring. It’s also another example into the type of people Genevieve & Jouko surrounds themselves with.

The stunning floral arrangements? None other than B-Side Farm Flowers in Sebastopol, West Sonoma County, California who grows their own flowers. They use sustainable and organic methods to grow a wide variety of old-fashioned, fragrant flowers for their design studio, workshops and of course, weddings. By going this route and putting in the back-breaking work, B-Side Farm Flowers is invested before even planting the seed all the way down to the putting on the finishing touches on the bridal’s bouquet just before walking down the aisle.

It wouldn’t be a Genevieve & Jouko wedding if they didn’t include knitted cat-shaped book marks as their wedding favors. Genevieve made all 100+ herself! Though I believe her mom did have a helping hand. Notice the otters as their wedding cake toppers? What a special touch!

And lastly, they had to include their cat, Wildred into their wedding as part of the family. But in the form of a cardboard cutout. Why is Jouko making that expression in the image of them holding Wildred up? It was in response to what Wildred would be doing if he were actually there with them on their wedding day. 😂

I’m sure I’ve missed a few important details. So please wedding vendors, feel free to correct me and add to the conversation in the comment section below. Maybe even reach out to Samar at Blissful Events!

I mean, just check out this stunning natural wedding ceremony site at Stemple Creek Ranch! What a beautiful grove of Eucalyptus trees. And the stunning arrangement of crystals and floral arrangements made for the perfect scenery to get married under.

One thing I loved about how Genevieve & Jouko made this wedding about them was during the walking down the aisle. Their respective parents walked them halfway down. And from there, Jouko and then Genevieve would walk themselves to rest of the way to the alter. To them, this signifies them being their own person walking into the next phase of their lives.

The wedding ceremony was a beautiful one. Their personal vows to one another was well-written with a poetic vibe. Nothing but support and encouragement for one another. Jouko’s father flew in from Germany and gave a beautiful tribute to his son and new daughter-in-law. The officiant was just as well-spoken and I can still remember his words of wisdoms on the windy hilltop. The cowboy hat was a nice touch as he displayed a true gentleman that he is - ducking back “out of the shot” whenever possible.

Something about that California light at sunset and especially at Stemple Creek Ranch’s rock outcrop. The venue manager mentioned it’s a popular spot for wedding portraits and I can see why! Can you? And as I mentioned earlier in this blog, there is no posing Genevieve & Jouko. They are unapologetically themselves and honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way on their wedding day.

I was sad that I wasn’t contracted to stay into the reception, but I’m sure it was filled with nothing but love, celebration and a beautiful tribute to these two wonderful and unique individuals. Happy One Year Anniversary, Genevieve & Jouko!!!

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Loloma Lodge Wedding - A simple rustic Outdoor chic Wedding // Helena & Jasper

Helena & Jasper found me through a fellow Portland wedding photographer, Katy Weaver. High school friends and unfortunately - yet fortunately for me - Katy was booked and referred them to me. The engaged couple connected with my work and could see my wedding images as something they’ll cherish forever from their wedding. From the first day of our in-person consultation, I felt connected with Helena & Jasper. Their personalities seemed to vibe well with mine - positive, compassionate, cheerful and active in the outdoors. As we built a relationship from their connection session through their wedding, I have come to the realization that these folks are my ideal clients. Really, Helena & Jasper are all the good words that would describe model human beings: empathetic, generous, wholesome & genuine. Their wedding and the people who attended it are a reflection of this. Like them, the wedding was full of beauty, all of the important stuff without any of the fluff. They’re also both in the medical field (one is a nurse practitioner and the other is in med-school to get his doctorate degree), and it goes to show how they’re willing to sacrifice their eyeballs in studying such complicated subjects to help others.

Loloma Lodge in Central Oregon was their wedding venue of choice and they could not have chosen a better venue than this one. Located in McKenzie Bride, Oregon this wedding venue offers campsites, log cabins and A-frames to their overnight guests while having access to all the wonderful water sport activities.

Situated right by the river, Loloma Lodge is a simple & rustic-chic venue with riverfront units by the McKenzie River, with some dating to the 1920s. Hand in hand, the wedding venue along with Helena & Jasper’s planning, there was plenty of time to explore the venue and take some beautiful wedding images. As I mentioned previously, Helena & Jasper’s wedding was all about the celebration of all things they love. They invited only the important people, with family from Germany flying out (remember international travel?), had stunning florals by Woodland Florals, and a beautiful dress by BHLDN and no wedding party. Their wedding was so simple that they didn’t even have a wedding party. K.I.S.S. - Keep It Stupid Simple and the fun will follow (such as when Helena’s German family sang a song and gifted the newlyweds with a birdhouse clock!).

One last note before you look at the many images I had issues with culling down (typically I try to not upload more than 100 images from a wedding, but I almost doubled it this time 😅). Weddings without a wedding party have tend to be some of the most intimate and creative weddings I’ve shoot. From a photographer’s standpoint, these are my favorites as the emotions and feelings that the images put out seems to be more deep and have an affectionate connection. Take a gander and scroll through Helena & Jasper’s wedding and tell me if I’m wrong.

Thank you Helena & Jasper for trusting in me to document your wedding day. You guys are the reason why I love doing what I do. Happy 1st Wedding Anniversary guys!

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A San Francisco Treat - Alyssa & Alex Connection Session // by San Francisco Wedding Photographer Alfred Tang

Alyssa & Alex, a classic story of how a boy met a girl…. okay, but if I’m being honest, I forget how they met. I forgot to take notes during my initial consultation video call with them because sometimes conversations flowed better when I’m not taking the moment to jot down notes. I know Alyssa did find me through one of my first wedding blog a few years back.

I can confidently tell you that when we got to spend the day exploring my hometown of San Francisco, California, the connection that Alyssa & Alex shares is a classic one. They love to playfully bicker -she flirts with him in a timid way, while he acts as the tough-soft guy. Alex is a logical no-nonsense type of person and Alyssa leads with her heart. Needless to say, our weekend day spent in the beautiful, semi-eerily-quiet streets of San Francisco was an adventurous one.

Even though the coronavirus pandemic has crushed tourism and many businesses or recreational sites were closed, forcing the public to crowd areas that were actually open, we were able to visit and enjoy some of the iconic and beautiful landmarks of San Francisco. We even got to see the 16th Avenue Mosaic Stairway in the Golden Gate Heights. A “secret” mosaic tiled stairs that leads to a gorgeous view of the city facing the ocean.

Of course, we got to do the Pier by the Ferry building, a quick stop to dance in downtown by the financial district and ended our day at the ever-so-popular Sutro Baths Ruins. Alyssa & Alex said they never had professional photos done before - and pinch me if I’m wrong, but from the start these two love birds look fabulous and felt comfortable from the start. If they aren’t the definition of fun, then I don’t ever wait to be right again.

Thank you Alyssa & Alex for a beautiful day in the city and I hope we figure out how to navigate all this covid wedding planning 😜. See you guys in Portland for your elopement!

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Lodi Homestead - A piece of the American Dream in a global pandemic.

“We are all Americans”

I forget the question Meredith’s son asked his mother, but her response rang through me. In these crazy times that is the year 2020, we have a lot on our nation’s plate currently - from the coronavirus pandemic to social and civil unrest and to the resulting economic fallout from it all. I’ve always asked myself, what does it mean to be an American? What makes us different and separates us from the rest of the human beings of other nations? Diversity, for sure. The United States is a young nation full of different backgrounds, cultures and values. As we know, diversity, free-flowing ideas, competition and collaboration builds a stronger society and advances humanity forward. But it doesn’t come without it struggles - freedom doesn’t come free. Sacrifices are made through trial and error.

So what did I come away with from Meredith’s answer to her son? Americans come in all shape, sizes and thoughts. Americans lives in big cities and they live in small rural areas. Americans love their guns and their right to bear arms, others hate them and don’t believe the 2nd Amendment was meant for “weapons of war”, while others believe that American citizens have the right to own whatever the government has access to. Americans may only know how to hustle in one way - using their network to connect people, brokerage deals, build and sell businesses, while others hustle with their hands building and producing tangible products. Some Americans want to be left in peace to do as they please - travel to or stay in one place, while not having the feeling of being checked up on. Americans want to be able to provide for themselves and their families without having to be taxed for things they don’t agree to, while other Americans don’t mind contributing to the greater good of society.

Again, what did I come away with from “We are all Americans”? Americans comes from all different walks of life with different values and beliefs. Some Americans are native born, some are foreign born, but the respect that we have for one another, the ability to share cultures & ideas while having the freedom to provide for ourselves & families in our own unique ways makes us American.

Meredith and Manny bought a piece of land in Acampo back in November 2019 with plans of living off the land - and just in the nick of time as the global coronavirus pandemic forced people to go crazy and react in strange (but understandable) ways. The economy shutdown, amusement parks, sporting events and concerts were shutdown, people were told to quarantine, work from home if possible, schools were closed and kids were to learn from home. We were forced to change our daily routine and lifestyles in a quick manner and for some reason, many had to go poop a lot of times. Americans also rekindled their passion for home economics and baked up a storm. My social media feed was pleasantly filled with freshly baked artisan bread, beautiful colors of fruits & vegetables from the garden and even picking up (new) hobbies that they always wanted to focus on. Hope for humanity was on the horizon.

One of those that stuck out on my feed was Meredith’s. I could see her passion for her family and homestead building up. So when I had to travel to California for a wedding, I had to reach out to her and pick up on the opportunity to document Meredith’s passion and her family’s humble homestead. I came out of it learning and inspired more than I expected.

Manny, the owner and operator of Strive Academy, a Jui Jistu gym in Lodi, had to temporarily close under California state orders. So this gave them an opportunity to work on their 5-acre property and build upon their American dream. Waking up at 5:30 in the morning and working until the sun goes down (and even a little past that), there is nothing better than putting in the hard work to provide for yourself, your family and even within the local community. Her sons are eager to help and learn life sustaining skills along the way. Below is a snippet (an evening’s worth) of what Meredith & Manny’s day looks like.

If you’re interested in following along on their homestead journey, find them on Instragram: @yellow_little_homestead. And if you close to Lodi or in the California Central Valley area and want to support their bakery, follow their Instragram account: @amassar.pao. Amassar Pao means “knead the bread” in Portuguese but is strictly a Jui Jitsu term that refers to a chokehold that Meredith is “very fond of”. 😅

After baking some delicious goods, it was time to feed the chickens, feed & milk the goats and collect the bounty from the garden as Manny continued to work on putting up the pasture fence for their cattle and horse. The white chicken are meat chicken that are ready to harvest in 7-9 weeks from birth. The colored hens you’ll see are the egg-laying birds. I could also get into how they’ve made their homestead to be self-sustaining with very little waste, but I’ll keep those secrets to myself or you can reach out to Meredith as inquire for yourself 🙃.

What better way to end an 80 degree Fahrenheit day than to run through the sprinkler before getting ready for bed?

Thank you Meredith & Manny for allowing me into your home and opening up your private lives and to witness a small piece of the hard work you’ve done to provide for your family.

What does being American mean to you? What has this pandemic taught you about yourselves? Let me know in the comment section below!

[alfredtangphoto]

A Maui Elopement Experience - Lahaina, Hawaaii // Kristine & David 02.22.2020

Kristine & David booked me two weeks prior to their elopement out on the beautiful island of Maui. They had a list of 30 photographers to start with, then narrowed it down to their top 3… so to be picked from such a field of talented photographers, made me feel honored & special. I knew I had to go above & beyond for Kristine & David.

A couple of emails and a phone call later, I booked my flight to Maui from Portland.

But this story isn’t about me or to brag. As with every wedding or elopement, nothing is possible without two individuals who come together and committing to their love story. I’m just grateful to be there to witness and document such a special and intimate moments throughout the day. Sometimes, such as in this case, I’m the first and only to witness such a beautiful & important event.

Kristine & David’s love story is a beautiful one. Nothing too dramatic, but still one for the books.

David was on a boys trip out in San Diego some 4-5 years ago. They were having an Easter brunch before their flight back home to Phoenix, Arizona when a waitress slipped over her number to David. After months of texting back and forth, Kristine & David set up the first date in Yuma, Arizona - a happy halfway point for the both of them. Their date was on a Sunday and they both had to work the next day. As you may guess, it was all worth it!

A year and a half of dating, Kristine left the coast for the desert and David. With careers set on a solid path, a condo and a puppy later, Kristine & David tied the knots on their own terms: just the two of them on the cliffs of West Maui, overlooking the beautiful beaches and ocean.

I got to spend a good couple of days with them, scouting, having a drink and just plain getting to know them more in person. Both are ambitious. goal-driven and level-headed. He’s a financial advisor and she’s a dental hygienist. Together, they’re a bunch of fun and balance one another out.

As we went with the flow of their elopement day on February 22, 2020 we hit a small snag. Kristine had purchased a unique pair of earrings for her elopement the day prior. During our sunset portrait session, we came to realize that one of them had fallen out and put a damper on things. I didn’t realize the significance of the earrings and told her it’ll be fine and that you wouldn’t notice in the photos. It wasn’t until Kristine told me of her hopes of handing down the earrings to their daughter or their son’s bride on their wedding day that I realized how much they meant to her.

it was already getting dark and the chances of finding an earring on the vast floor of a forest or even heading back to the cliffs were very slim. Yet, I believe in karma and all good things well end well with good people. So you’ll have to scroll through the images to see the outcome!

Kristine & David! Thank you so so soooo very much for having me on your elopement adventure! I’m so grateful to have been a part of it and I can’t wait to see what the future has in store with you and your family!

[alfredtangphoto]

Top 19 of 2019 Wedding Photos // Portland, Oregon West Coast Wedding Photographer

[alfredtangphoto]

Wedding Portraits - Top 19 of 2019 // Portland, Oregon Wedding Photographer - Alfred Tang

When I jumped into wedding photography 3 years ago, the first thing I asked myself was “what do I want to be known for?” and “How do I stand out from the world of talented wedding photographers?”. The answer was fairly plain and simple: I wanted to exhibit timeless romantic editorial-type of portraits. It fills my soul with creativity and allows me to tell a story. Mainly I want to tell a story about how love isn’t all sunshine, rainbows and butterflies - to get to a point in committing to marriage, there has to be some hurdles and a certain level of struggle to really get to know a point of love, trust and intimacy.

As I shot these wedding portraits through the years, I’ve found that not every wedding and lighting situation works or the types of portraits I’m after. And more so, newlyweds prefer the candid and joyous type of photos (rightfully so as it is their wedding day!). While I still try to sneak in the editorial type of portraits, I’ve got to shoot what the newlyweds want. It’s their images forever, not mine.

One thing still remains the same, the results of the portrait sessions come out natural, candid and full of emotion with plenty of story to tell. My approach has always been to give minimal direction and capture whatever emotions or story-telling movements happen in those timeframes. I mean look at my Top 19 of 2019 Wedding Portraits and tell me in the comment section below if I’m wrong!

Furthermore, follow along on Instagram if you want to see what my favorite Wedding Portraits from the past decade is. And if you haven’t yet done so, check out my favorite Wedding Detail Photos of 2019!

[alfredtangphoto]

Wedding Detail Photos - Top 19 of 2019 // Portland Oregon - West Coast Wedding Photographer

Sometimes I get asked what my favorite part of the wedding day is and whether I prefer to photograph one part over the other. While I love all parts of a wedding day to experience and document, each wedding is unique and has a different story from one another. One thing I believe to be consistent is photographing the getting ready and prep details. Many months of planning and preparation are coming together, the soon-to-be-newly-weds are going through a range of emotions (or can be just totally calm & chill) and during this time I’m getting to know the people who have influenced the two lovebirds story. Like a chef inspecting the ingredients in a kitchen before putting it all together, as a wedding photographer I’m able to observe these ingredients (details), appreciate the work and skill it took craft them. In conjunction with the wedding venue and it’s setting, I piece them together to document them as a small part of the wedding day story.

This is the first time I’ve done a collection of my favorite wedding images and wish I had the time to go back to previous years. But stay tuned for my Top 19 of 2019 Wedding Portraits and a Top 19 of 2019 Wedding Honorable Mentions. :)

Enjoyed these photos? Leave a comment below and let me know what you think!

[alfredtangphoto]

Stunning Backyard Wedding - Columbia River Gorge Oregon // Kelly & Trevor

“Trust your heart if the seas catch fire, live by love though the stars walk backward.” – E.E. Cummings

This blog post has been a long time coming. When I first met Kelly & Trevor, I knew I wanted to document the celebration of their love and commitment to each other. Trevor a man who knew what hard work was and yet, at the same time, enjoyed the good things in life - spending it outdoors with his best friend and their 2-yr old, showing him the world and how to be happy. I was honored when Kelly told me that she believed in me to capture their wedding day as she envisioned. Little did I knew, it was going to be more than a beautiful backyard wedding. It was going to be a whole family affair.

By the end of that spectacular night, I felt like part of the family. Everyone, regardless of their relationship with each other was so kind, welcoming and caring. Their parents even invited me to enjoy their property whenever I wanted to (I might have to use it for the perfect engagement session, Lori!). As the day unfolded, I learned more about their family history and it made me feel that much closer and privilege to be a small part of their families history. It truly was more than just a private backyard wedding with a view of Portland’s best known landscape. It was an Oregon family heritage wedding, in which the property signified the beginning of their family-owned company’s story. I forget exactly who, but an ancestor had come out here and begin fishing the river . Through the generation and decades of economic ups and downs, the old fish farm operation became what is now what known as Sterling Caviar. Boy, to have some caviar during cocktail hour got me feeling some fancy sort of way! And to have a cannabis bar as part of their wedding was the icing on the cake!

I mean, it was like most any other wedding, full of laughter, tears and emotions - but this one? This was felt just a little more special to be a part of and reenforced my passion for wedding photography. I hope you can tell by looking through their wedding day images below. Let me know what you think in the comment section below!

[alfredtangphoto]

Water Oasis Oregon Summer Wedding// Katrina & Kyle Wedding

Some believe in fate, some don’t. I believe that given the opportunity, one can control their own fate. Kristina & Kyle happen to meet at a mutual friend’s get together and while everyone passed out or left the house, these two continued to talk into the wee hours of the early morning - and as cliche as it gets, the rest was history. Inseparable since meeting each other that night, Kristina’s emotional and charismatic personality bounced off of Kyle’s logical and calm demeanor. She’s a musician and he’s a software developer. How much more opposite can you get? I mean, look through their wedding photos at the beautiful Water Oasis located just outside Portland in Newberg, Oregon. Evening thinking outside the box with wedding cookies & milk instead of the traditional wedding cake.

Kristina & Kyle’s fate also happen to be my fate as well as I had the honor to document Kyle’s brother wedding just 10 months prior. (Chris & Taylor, I promise your wedding blog is coming up soon!)

Oh, and another thing. Not a single drop of alcohol was served and yet I got to witness the most hyped dance floor in my wedding photography career. This just goes to show how much fun these two are along with the friends and families they surround themselves with. Please enjoy Kristina & Kyle’s wedding photos as much as I had fun being there to celebrate and document them!