Amoreena's Photography Blog

New Things with Amoreena Photography

2011-12-24T09:13:00.000-08:00

Exciting new developments with Amoreena Photography for 2012! Amoreena has started up a Child/Family only Photography Blog called Bay Area Child Photography. This blog will be focused on just Child Photography, Infant Photography, and Family Photography. Since becoming a mom within the last year Amoreena has had the opportunity to do more and more infant and toddler photography and found great enjoyment in it!

Amoreena Photography has upgraded their equipment! Yey! All photographers will be shooting 100% with L-series lenses and Canon Mark II cameras. We have been fortunate to have access to most of this gear throughout the years, but now all of us will be shooting 100% with the best, even second shooters!

Since Amoreena's parents have relocated to San Diego, Amoreena Photography will also be servicing the San Diego area with weddings, events, and portraits. Find out when Amoreena will be in the area next for portrait sessions or schedule your event/wedding (for events/weddings there is no travel charge) with Amoreena this year.

Lastly, Happy Holidays!!

Lucie Stern Wedding

2011-12-22T15:32:00.000-08:00

Amoreena Photography was at it again...at Lucie Stern. This is the 4th time we have photographed a wedding at this location in Palo Alto. It is great, we love it! The trees, architecture, and beautiful banquet room is great for weddings! I highly recommend the Lucie Stern Community Center as a venue for weddings. Here are some favorites!

Family Photos of Meghan, Scott, and Reece!

2011-12-08T14:26:00.000-08:00

Amoreena Berg spend a lot of time doing photography for families in November and December! We had a lot of fun doing it and produced some great images. Child photography is always an extra challenges but also one of the most rewarding when you capture the spirit of the child. Here are some of the favorites from Meghan, Scott, and Reece!

Family Photos of Traci, Josh, and Zoe!!

2011-11-28T13:24:00.000-08:00

Toddler Photos!

2011-10-10T20:01:00.000-07:00

Toddler photography can be the most challenging photos to take. This is my daughter actually and I am learning so much by photographing her and every stage she goes through. She is 11 months old here and what I have learned by all the toddlers I have photographed is you have to let them do their thing. Children look the most beautiful when they are exploring, looking at things or laughing at you because you did something funny. A few ways to get toddlers on the move to stop for a few minutes is to give them something to do. Putting them up against a wall or in a corner helps them from escaping fast as well. Most importantly don't force a toddler to stay still, pose and smile. Not only does it not look natural, but they don't like it and then you miss capturing their spirits. Don't be afraid to let your child crawl in the dirt or eat something messy. Get down on their level, it makes them curious and they will look at you more. It makes for the best photos! When in doubt hire a professional because unless you know how to operate a camera fast and have a high end camera you won't be able to really get what you are looking for. Children grow so fast so I say spend the money and get it done right.

Rock N Roll

2011-09-25T09:54:00.000-07:00

These are some really fun shots of John Murry for his upcoming CD and record label. They were photographed in the Mission District in San Francisco. The Mission district was a place where most of his new songs were inspired from, so we figured this is the place we should shoot. I have actually shot in this alley several times from weddings portraits to glamour...you name it, it is a great setting for something fun and seedy.

Children Portraits

2011-09-17T09:53:00.000-07:00

These Child Portraits were done in the Washington Burlingame Park...a great setting with a lot of greenery and plenty of shade. I love how all the different personalities comes out in these photos in every child. As you can see some are more extroverted and some introverted. Toddlers are a particular challenge since they really don't want to stay still for a photograph and prefer exploring their environment. An easy way to get their photos done is to give them something to do, like looking at a flower or playing with a toy of theirs.

Maternity Photography

2011-09-17T09:34:00.000-07:00

I love maternity photography! It is such a relaxing and happy time...one of the most special times in my life. Women look beautiful pregnant and you should definitely get your maternity photos done. Best times are between 7-8 months, but I have plenty of women who come and shoot at 9 months. You just never know how big you will get or how you feel, so I say to be on the safe side try and schedule these photos prior. Also it is a good idea to schedule the newborn photos following since once the baby comes it is easy to miss that opportunity with how busy you will be. Trust me, they grow up so fast, my girl is almost 11 months old! These photos were shot in my home studio of Tamara.

Gianna 8 weeks

2011-09-14T08:29:00.000-07:00

Adorable Gianna at 8 weeks old! I photographed Christina's wedding in San Francisco last year and now they are starting a beautiful family! Photographing newborns is always a challenge, but Gianna did really well. She didn't cry from being without clothes on and tolerated a few changes. Of course we did this all in about 20 minutes, but that is how fast baby photography has to be at this newborn age. Babies can't handle much more because they get overstimulated. These will be for their birth announcements. So precious!

Wedding in Stanford

2011-08-04T13:43:00.000-07:00

Last weekend we did a beautiful wedding in the small town of Stanford, Palo Alto. The wedding photography was easy with this romantic setting. The Dish was behind the family home which made for some fun photos in the hills. Mayfield Cafe in Palo Alto catered the event which apparently is a new service they are offering. I have to say it was one of the best meals I have ever had and I have had a lot of wedding food! So look them up if you are getting married in the Palo Alto area. Amazing buffet!
Check out some highlights!

Leslie - flash slideshow

Baby Photography

2011-08-01T14:31:00.000-07:00

I was lucky enough to get my girl in on some photos when I took photos of Harlan. Both just turned 9 months old! Sophia is crawling which makes baby photography a little complicated at this age. She was obsessed with eating grass...however if you distract them with food (like crackers!), yourself jumping around, or other babies you can get some great photographs!

These baby photos were taken at Lake Temescal in Oakland...a great spot for baby photography and then a little park time afterwards. Harlan was a lot easier to take photos of then Sophia...every baby is different! The clothes are by Janie and Jack, a great place to buy clothes for a baby portrait! If you can catch their sales even better!

Wedding at the Berkeley Botanical Gardens

2011-07-13T14:39:00.000-07:00

Here is a wedding I photographed last weekend at the Berkeley Botanical Gardens! Who knew this place was so pretty to have a wedding at...I didn't! It has a beautiful Japanese garden that made for great wedding portraits. I loved the setting where the ceremony took place, very peaceful and serene. I would definitely recommend having your wedding at the Berkeley Botanical Gardens...just think about the time of day you have the wedding. Noon is a tough time for photography, luckily we found shade for the formals.

CathyPatrick - make slideshow

Put away your cell phone and get real photos done

2011-07-06T07:31:00.000-07:00

I am guilty of this too, trust me...but our cell phones are starting to replace cameras. I know too many people that have all their photos on their cell phone. The cell phone photos are ok, but they don't replace a good camera photo. Get professional photos done of your children and yourself so you are not left with low quality photos on your cell phone. Or at least invest in a decent camera and start snapping away. I missed a great moment of my baby this 4th of July in a beautiful dress because I forgot my camera. :( My phone just doesn't cut it. Even my small canon camera that fits in my purse would have been better!

Quinceanera in Tiburon

2011-06-30T19:31:00.000-07:00

Here are some fun photos from Simonne's Quinceanera a few weeks ago in Tiburon. I have photographed one if these events before, but this one was definitely unique with Simonne making her entrance on a horse! I hope to photograph more Quinceaneras in the future. Here are some photos from the entrance that I loved and a few others. Enjoy!

Baptism Photography in Oakland

2011-06-30T11:31:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I photographed my first Baptism! Baptism photography is similar to wedding photography in that you still you a photo-journalistic approach, but obviously it is some what less stressful. This Baptism took place in Oakland and I really enjoy it...here are some of my favorites.

Don't go budget on your Wedding Photography

2011-06-24T18:04:00.001-07:00

I hear it time and time again how people decide to have a friend shoot their wedding...or get someone really cheap off of craigslist for wedding photography. By the way I used to advertise myself really cheap there when I started out and yes I wasn't worth more than $500 either. I didn't have the equipment nor the experience I have now. I frequently hear how disappointed people are with their wedding photos and how it is all they have left from the event.

Here's the deal...it is a mistake to have a friend who does photography to shoot your wedding and it is a mistake to not pay a decent amount for it as well. You pay for what you get. Wedding photography is extremely challenging...you can be a great photographer, but it doesn't mean you can handle a wedding. Wedding photography has multiple lighting situations that you need to adapt too quickly. There is no time to be setting up the perfect lighting situation. People don't want to spend their day posing under fancy lights. So you better know your camera and how to shoot in all sorts of situations.

There are people you need to direct and many times large groups of people. If you are a shy, quiet person this is not the type of photography you should be doing. When you are hiring someone look for an outgoing personality, someone who can get the attention of several people, who at the moment are acting like they have ADD.

A 6-8 hr wedding is physically and mentally exhausting and these days clients expect a lot of photos so there is little downtime. This photography needs to have stamina! What people forget is that you are also paying for editing. Gone are the days when we would shoot and drop it off at the lab. Now I spend at least 20-30 hours editing post wedding. This is how I get those creative, artistic photos most are looking for now. So be selective, someone who is doing this for a hobby just won't be able to compete and you will be disappointed. I would say if you go below $1500 for a day of photography you are asking for trouble. Cut back somewhere else...the cake doesn't need to be $1000, your invites don't need to be $2000, or have a buffet instead. You are only left with your photos, so choose wisely and spend the money to find someone right.

The Reveal for Wedding Photos

2011-06-18T08:53:00.000-07:00

If you're straight down the aisle traditionalist, this concept may not be for you. If you're the couple seeking more than the average set of photographs from your perfect day while still being able to attend your cocktail hour...read on.

By revealing yourselves to each other privately, several hours prior to the ceremony, couples have seen how they can experience much more photographically. With a talented photographer in tow, extraordinary images can be made in the precious hours preceding the afternoon or evening ceremony.

Imagine being in your perfectly prepped bridal beauty with flawless hair and makeup, without stress about who's arriving late, or whether you will cry and ruin your make-up for the ceremony. The "reveal" offers a personal and intimate revealing of yourself to your spouse to be. These beautiful moments are shared privately, giving you both the luxury to cry, laugh, chat and smooch, long before your ceremonial moments.

After the intimate moments, move on to some fun. Have a pre-wedding cocktail in a bar, trek ou into a beautiful remote field, take an urban stroll on the city streets; better yet, be spontaneous. Talk with your photographer and decide what works best given your time and tastes. Go modern, reveal yourself! Experience your wedding photography, rather than just being placed in it.

What is Boudoir Photography?

2011-06-13T12:37:00.000-07:00

Everyone always ask me what is Boudoir Photography? I offer these sessions in one of my Wedding packages as an option. Boudoir photography has become recently popular among brides who want to do something extra special for their hubby-to-be. They are sexy, classy, and edgy portrait sessions. We create an image that can look like something out of the pages of a men's magazine or Victoria's Secret catalogue! Some tips to prepare yourself for your session:

1)Book your shoot far enough in advance in order to receive your produce in time for the wedding date.
2)Bring something fun that you're planning on wearing on your wedding day...maybe veil, bridal lingerie, your garter, or wedding shoes.
3)Have your make-up done professionally if you can, or schedule a session at the Mac counter...this can make the biggest difference.

Have fun...I have lots of experience creating beautiful images of women so you can be assured we will produce something amazing!

Payne Mansion Wedding

2011-06-09T10:03:00.000-07:00

Here is a beautiful wedding we photographed last weekend at the Payne Mansion in San Francisco. The flowers were done by Kate's Blossoms in San Francisco and the wedding coordinator was Dawn Silva. Here is a slide show of the highlights from the wedding.

payne mansion - free slideshow

Santa Cruz Wedding - Jenny & Chris

2011-06-06T09:30:00.001-07:00

We go everywhere for weddings...the last one was in Santa Cruz at the Boardwalk. It ended up being on the day when one of the American Idols had their home tour...but it all worked out. We all got parking and everyone made it to the wedding on time. Jenny and Chris had a beautiful wedding at the Coconut Grove. I really liked the ceiling...it had rows of lights in it and it really brought out the evening photos...check them out!

City Hall Weddings

2011-06-03T10:40:00.000-07:00

I have been doing a lot of San Francisco City Hall weddings lately and it is really fun. Obviously they are a little easier in terms of time commitment and the amount of people one needs to coordinate. I love getting the chance to take my clients in some spots in the city to shot after too! Currently we are doing a City Hall Photography Special...$890!!

Girls in hats and tutu's

2011-05-24T12:11:00.000-07:00

Baby girls look adorable in tutu's so you have to do it! Here is my girl and her friend and a few shots as well as some solo ones of them. Sophia is 6.5 months and Willow is 7.5 months. Baby photography at this age is WAY easier then the newborns.

Amanda's Maternity Portraits

2011-03-16T09:47:00.001-07:00

Amanda's maternity photos were done at their home, here are some of my favorites!

Harlan - 3 months!

2011-02-03T09:19:00.001-08:00

Harlan is 3 months old, close to Sophia's age! I did a baby grid for them and some other fun shots...check them out!

3 months!

2011-02-03T08:43:00.000-08:00

Okay here is the update on my baby girl...I know I can't help but photograph her constantly! I am really learning some key elements to photographing babies. They are tough but there are some things that make it easier. A few suggestions is to make sure the baby is well rested, just feed, and warm. For newborns a heater turned up or a radiator in the room is helpful. Babies can really only handle about 20 minutes of photographing so plan accordingly and maybe that leaves time for 2 outfits.

My Baby Girl!

2010-11-22T17:49:00.000-08:00

Well I just had a baby girl, Sophia, on November 3rd! She is our little miracle! Of course she needed to be photographed right away and I was prepared with props. Newborn Photography is very challenging since you never know the mood of a newborn and they don't like to be naked in the first few weeks. So I will be doing weekly updates...but here is Ms. Sophia Berg at 5 days old!

Christina - Trash the Dress Session

2010-10-07T18:30:00.002-07:00

Christina and I did a Trash the Wedding Dress Session up in the Montclair Hills area in Oakland. After her SF city wedding she wanted to have something that more rural as a backdrop, so what is more perfect than Montclair?! Being a Bay Area Wedding Photographer it is also fun to do these shoots since we have many scenic options in Bay. You can go rural, seedy city scenes, romantic beaches, dramatic coastal lines, and the mountains. Truly beautiful!

2010-10-07T18:30:00.001-07:00

Jennifer & James in Napa

2010-09-23T19:23:00.000-07:00

This is a beautiful wedding that I did up in Napa on a private property last weekend. It was definitely a very remote location, but made for a very romantic and intimate weddings. We also worked with a great DJ that I would like to recommend, Michael's Music . I have done many weddings up in Napa and the doing wedding photography in Napa is always a joy!

Jennifer & James - Free Slideshow Maker

Pet Peeves at Weddings

2010-08-29T12:15:00.000-07:00

I thought I would write something about my Pet Peeves from the years of experience I have from working many weddings. I am hoping this can help one better understand why we photographers do the things we do and how to make your special day go smoother.

1) Wedding Guests acting as professional photographers or thinking they are one.

What has happened to me on several occasions...enough for me to put this in my contract is for one of your guests with their big digital camera to be snapping away right behind me. I have almost tripped on guests in the isle...being pregnant recently, that was a fun one! I have had guests firing off their flashes behind me while I am working with natural lighting therefore creating the opposite look I am trying to create. I have also had guests tell my clients which lighting was good and try and suggest poses. Now where this gets irritating is I am the professional photographer and obviously you are paying me a lot of money to get the job done. To have a guest come in and make suggestions or opinions is inappropriate, but trust me it happens. I would love to say..."would you like it if I came to your job and started telling you what to do or did it for you the wrong way." But I refrain. I have had to kindly ask the guests to please leave the directing up to me and my assistant.

Another issue is when guests take photos from my perspective. They are getting a very similar shot and many people who are aspiring photographers will post this on their websites or blogs and claim they photographed a wedding. This is unethical and it happens all the time. So this is one reason why I ask all high end digital cameras to please not be used while I am photographing a particular scene. I could care less if the guests are running around somewhere else like at the reception and taking photos but not right behind me while we are doing formals or in the isle when I am running around.

2) Dinner time and serving your photographer a meal.

This is definitely an issue that I have tried to get resolved many times but it still comes up on sit down meals. Buffets I love because my assistant and I can step in early on get our food and be done by the time speeches or dances start. At this point we have been working for many hours on our feet and if you want happy photographers with more energy to complete the evening I suggest feeding them as soon as you are feed, not after all the guests are feed. With sit down meals this becomes tricky. Apparently caters like to wait to serve vendors until the end. Just think about how this doesn't make any sense for your photographers. For one thing you are paying a lot of money to get your event documented, so having the photographers eat dinner after everyone else when it is likely speeches, dances, or other things isn't good planning. Frequently we are placed in a location where we can't hear what is going on so having our meal at the same time just makes logical sense so we can do our job. That leads to my next pet peeve!

3) During meals being seated far away from the reception

If I am not in earshot I can't predict what is going to happen next during the meals. Of course I usually have a schedule but we all know weddings aren't always on time. So please make sure your photographers are sat close enough to hear in case they need to jump up and get the shot of an important moment. Otherwise they can't be held accountable for missed moments. This doesn't need to be in the same room, but right outside is sufficient.

4)Not having the guests that are to be in the group formals ready and in a nearby area.

For the most part this goes smoothly, but when it doesn't it can make for a complicated situation. Once guests are allowed to mingle in the cocktail hour you can pretty much forget gathering them up for a group shot. So make sure all guests know where they need to be and when. I don't know who Uncle George is so make sure someone is also assigned to coordinate the people you want in the formals.

Burlingame Wedding with Alexis and Josh

2010-08-15T08:38:00.000-07:00

Here is a beautiful wedding we did last weekend with Alexis and Josh at Temple Sholom in Burlingame.

alexis wedding - how to create a free slideshow

Mill Rose Inn Wedding - Half Moon Bay

2010-08-06T21:32:00.000-07:00

mill rose inn - make slideshow

I am so into this new slide-show feature! So here is a wedding I just did at the Mill Rose Inn in Half Moon Bay, one of my favorite places to shoot. The whole inn is covered in flowers and the wedding takes over the inn for the day. It is a perfect setting for an intimate wedding. Check it out!

Engagement Slideshow From Piedmont Park

2010-08-02T10:50:00.000-07:00

engagements - slideshow dvd

Livermore Wedding - Poppy Ridge Country Club

2010-07-12T12:57:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago we did a wedding at the Poppy Ridge Country Club in Livermore. It had a lot of great spots to take photos around the golf course which we were escorted by a golf cart. That made things simple!

Professional Ballet Dancers - Wedding

2010-07-04T07:53:00.000-07:00

Recently I photographed a wedding where the bride and groom are both professional ballet dancers! I have been dancing myself since I was a child so I really enjoyed photographing them. The reception was a blast and their first dance was amazing! Many of their friends were dancers so it made for some great performances. Here are some photos that captured the moments.

Baby Photos

2010-06-28T22:08:00.000-07:00

Baby photos are so much fun and now that I am expecting I am getting really into them!

Senior Portraits

2010-06-25T13:21:00.000-07:00

It's that time and we are still wrapping up the Senior Portraits. Now days you get to do something a little more magazine style, way cooler than those boring studio shots.

Kim & Tony Engagement Photos

2010-06-23T20:34:00.000-07:00

Engagement photos in Livermore for Kim and Tony.

Livermore Weddings

2010-06-23T13:35:00.000-07:00

Lately I have been photographing a lot of weddings in Livermore. Livermore really has changed and it is a great place for weddings. The weather is usually really nice and the wineries make for a very scenic setting. Here are some from Kerri & Michael's wedding recently.

Senior Portraits

2010-05-26T20:18:00.001-07:00

Well it is that time of year for Senior Portraits in the Bay Area! I had a great package this year for $200 including the cd and a selected number of photos edited. Here are some from a recent shoot done in Piedmont, Oakland.

Babies and more babies

2010-05-26T20:10:00.001-07:00

I love taking photos of babies and family portraits...these were done in their home in San Francisco.

Engagements

2010-05-26T18:16:00.000-07:00

More fun engagements portraits done in Livermore a few weeks ago.

Wedding of the Day - Wedding Channel!!

2010-05-11T10:25:00.001-07:00

Check us out here!

Yey! We were selected as the wedding of the day on the Wedding Channel.com and put in their weekly newsletter. So exciting!

Don't forget to ask about our 2010 discounts for last minute weddings.

More Glamour Headshot Parties!

2010-05-02T14:51:00.000-07:00

This time Melissa came along with me to help out at the 2nd meetup.com get together where we had hair stylists and make-up artists for the girls. Each got their turn at several minutes in front of the camera...what a good time!

Glamour Photo Meet Up Event

2010-03-26T07:36:00.001-07:00

We offered our services at a meet-up recently, which I will be doing on more where the girls had a few minutes each with me to strike a pose. I then edited 2 photos for them. They all had a great time and it made for a great party! The next one is in SF with a new batch of beautiful women!

Tiburon Wedding

2010-03-22T12:44:00.000-07:00

What an adorable church in Tiburon this couple choose...it looks like something out of Ireland! Melissa and I had a blast shooting this wedding, it was a lot of fun, check out some of our favorites.

Senior Portraits

2010-03-16T20:21:00.000-07:00

It's time for Senior Portraits in the San Francisco Bay Area and Amoreena Photography is offering a great deal on senior portraits for 2010! In studio or home location Senior Portraits.

More Maternity!

2010-03-03T18:51:00.000-08:00

I am starting to get really good at this maternity photography! From all over the Bay Area people are calling me to get their maternity portraits done, it is great! I think women are so beautiful during this special time. This woman in particular wanted to something more fun and I really loved the idea! Check these out, much more glamorous than your typical maternity photos.

Bridal Faire in Pall Alto - March 14th

2010-02-26T20:10:00.000-08:00

We have been invited to attend the Palo Alto Bridal Faire as one of their main photographers for free! Pretty cool! If you have time and are planning a wedding it should be a great low key event to stop by. I hear the first 50 people are getting gifts.

Lucie Stern Community Center
1305 Middlefield Road
Palo Alto, CA

Sunday, March 14, 2010
11:00am - 3:00pm

No Entrance FEE

www.cityofpaloalto.org/weddings

Maternity Photography

2010-02-15T11:47:00.000-08:00

Maternity photos are on the increase that is for sure! Aren't they beautiful! Here are some of Maggie's recent maternity photos.

Glamour, Boudoir, whatever you want to call it....

2010-02-07T09:03:00.000-08:00

I am really getting into this Boudoir Photography, or whatever name you want to label it! I think it is such a great way for women to feel sexy and flaunt their stuff. Every woman has something beautiful and unique about them and it is really rewarding to be able to capture that in someone. Here are a few photos from my recent shoot working in my new home studio! yey!

Pin-Up Photography Special!

2010-01-17T11:52:00.000-08:00

So Melissa and I shoot each other this Friday to practice with some new lighting and our Pin-Up look! We are offering a killer special right now with make-up as an option. Melissa works at a make-up counter in Macy's so she can apply make-up professionally. We also have access to the Castro Theater to do some fun glamour/fashion work. Let us know if you are interested in that option...otherwise we either go on location or shoot in my home studio.

Pin-Up Photography Special!

2009-12-26T18:31:00.000-08:00

Amoreena Photography is doing a Pin-Up Special in 2010!

— $299 —
A perfect little pin-up package in the San Francisco Bay Area...

Pin-Up, Glamour Photography SPECIAL INCLUDES:
· 2 hours in the studio or on location
· Gorgeous Props
· A disc containing all the images from the shoot
· A sparkling 12 x 8" print of you favorite photo,
completely retouched and photoshopped.

What to expect when doing a glamour shoot... Usually a whole lot of fun. You'll start by getting your make-up done. Then picking an outfit and props which will work best with the poses you want to try.

A small collection of props is provided, and depending on the theme of the shoot, I may be able to provide wardrobe as well. If I don't have appropriate wardrobe, you will have to provide it yourself.

You'll look your sexy best if you are feeling relaxed and comfortable. So along with your favorite music, bring anything else that will make you feel calm, confident and sexy--a good luck charm, a good friend, a bottle of tequila--whatever it takes to build your confidence and sense of adventure.

Holiday Portraits

2009-12-15T20:34:00.001-08:00

More family portraits for the holidays! Amoreena Photography does family portraits in the San Francisco Bay Area. Lisa's family was adorable as you can see, we had fun getting these shots in shot 35 minutes!

Holiday Portraits

2009-12-12T20:18:00.000-08:00

Ok, it has been awhile since I have posted photos, oops. I am several weddings and portraits behind. So lets just jump ahead to the month of December and go from there, ok? Wedding season has come to a hault and holiday portraits/family portraits are on the rise! Here are a few from some great clients of mine in Oakland.

Whitney & James

2009-10-13T19:28:00.000-07:00

Whitney and James got married at Fort Baker in Sausalito 2 weeks ago. It was a beautiful hot day and the setting was unique and perfect! Some of the highlights were the food! I am kind of a foodie and when I saw this was an organic raw catering company I went wild! So check out Table Nectar if you are hosting an event in the Bay area and want some great healthy organic food! Here are some of the highlights of the rest of the wedding!

Erin & Arron's Wedding

2009-10-02T14:05:00.001-07:00

Erin and Arron (I know, cute names!) were married two weeks ago at the Cypress Meadows in Moss Beach, CA. It was the day/evening where there are thunderstorms and everyone was wondering what the outcome was going to be with an outside ceremony in Moss Beach! But as luck would have it everything turned out to be a beautiful misty overcast day with no rain! I say beautiful because this is ideal lighting for us photographers and in the meadow at the site it looked amazing! Here are some of my favorites.

Erin and Arron (I know, cute names!) were married two weeks ago at the Cypress Meadows in Moss Beach, CA. It was the day/evening where there are thunderstorms and everyone was wondering what the outcome was going to be with an outside ceremony in Moss Beach! But as luck would have it everything turned out to be a beautiful misty overcast day with no rain! I say beautiful because this is ideal lighting for us photographers and in the meadow at the site it looked amazing! Here are some of my favorites.

Wedding at Crystal Springs Golf Course

2009-09-26T11:57:00.000-07:00

We did a wedding a few weeks ago during that heat wave of the Crystal Springs Golf Course in Hillsborough. Great day for photos since it was slightly overcast there, but at 6pm is was about 90 degrees! Rachanee Redick from artoccasions.com did a fantastic job on Naomi's make-up and Shawn Storm was the DJ for the reception. Here are some of my favorites.

Melissa and I working!

2009-09-05T20:49:00.001-07:00

So here Melissa (my sister and assistant) are working at the Crystal Springs Golf Club a few weekends ago. These are a little out of order, but Melissa was recorded by one of the guests who was making a cd of people singing love songs for the bride and groom. I decided to just listen and giggle.

This photo was actually taken of me at the Tiburon Yacht Club last weekend shooting an Indian wedding during that heatwave. What great weather for an evening party on the Bay!
Melissa again getting ready to work on the golf course taking pre-ceremony photos.

85 degrees at 6pm in Hillsborough! What? Ok when can I stop wearing black to these things during heatwaves?? I haven't figured that out yet.

Robert's Headshots

2009-09-01T07:26:00.000-07:00

Professional headshots are fairly easy and fun! These headshots are for Robert Haynes who is a professional massage therapist in the Bay Area. He does house calls or you can go to his place for a massage. I reviewed his massage services on Yelp since we did an exchange for these photos. Pretty nice exchange if I might say! Oh yes we can barter, it is a great system.

Julius & Tita

2009-08-26T09:49:00.000-07:00

Julius and Tita were married last weekend in San Rafael at their home. It was a lovely small intimate wedding in their backyard with just close friends and family. Tita's son found my photography services as a gift for their wedding present...very sweet and great idea! Here are some great shoots from the day.

Chan's Maternity Photos

2009-08-23T11:17:00.000-07:00

These maternity photos were done in my home in the Oakland Hills. Sometimes I also travel to the couples home to do these photos, it just depends on the lighting available or backgrounds. Here are some of my favorites!

Estella and Brian's Wedding

2009-08-18T16:32:00.000-07:00

Last weekend we did a small backyard wedding in Los Altos. Done with taste and style Estella and Brian had a beautiful wedding right in their own home. The Three Seasons in Palo Alto catered the event and boy were they good! Here are some of my favorite photos from that day.

More Baby Grids

2009-08-04T19:33:00.000-07:00

I think this is the cuties discovery I have made yet! I love these, such a fun cute way to display infant photos and the macro shoots of the babies parts.

Infant Portraits for Sean and Amanda

2009-08-04T11:44:00.000-07:00

San Francisco Baby Portraits done two weeks ago. And yes, that is a lobster pot she is sitting in! Sean and Amanda are from Maine and they also love sports so that is why we used a baseball! I like to have couples gather things that are personal or anything fun we can add as a prop to the shoot.

Angela and James

2009-08-01T14:26:00.000-07:00

Angela and James had a fun wedding in Sacramento a few weeks ago. Angela is from Kenya, so there was a lot of traditional African rituals and bright colored attire at their wedding. It made for a really fun wedding to photograph and witness! Here are some of my favorites!

Baby Jack

2009-07-29T20:53:00.001-07:00

Baby Jack is only 4 weeks in these photos taken 2 weeks ago. My infant photos are done in my clients homes for a more natural causal look...plus it is easier with an infant!By the way, did you know the blow dryer calms babies?! Me either...but it works and you can see John using the technique in the background of one of the photos. I love adding in extra fun props...like with Jack we used the pool table! love it!

Listed as one of the Best Wedding Photographers Around Half Moon Bay!

2009-07-28T18:56:00.000-07:00

I am thrilled to have found an article written about my photography listing me as one of the top 3 Wedding Photographers around the Half Moon Bay area! I have done many weddings in that area over the last few years and love photographing there because of it's beauty and charm.
Best Wedding Photographers Around or Near Half Moon Bay

Family Portraits at Bakers Beach in San Francisco

2009-07-27T19:57:00.000-07:00

I did some family portraits with a fun family at Bakers Beach in San Francisco two weekends ago...and finally got a chance to post them. This is a great location to shoot, but definitely weather permitting! We got lucky but the bridge was fogged in a little. I still think these photos came out great!

Heidi and Tim's Beach Wedding

2009-07-16T08:08:00.000-07:00

Heidi and Tim did a really nice low profile beach wedding on the Alameda island in Oakland. I really liked the feel of this wedding...bare feet, sand, causal attire, picnic tables, and their dog! Here are some of my favorites!

Maternity Portraits for Rachel and Vincent

2009-07-06T08:06:00.000-07:00

More Maternity Portraits for a happy couple expecting in a few months! These were done at my place actually and they are soooo pretty!

Wedding at the Ritz Half Moon Bay

2009-06-25T10:36:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I shoot a beautiful wedding at the Ritz in Half Moon Bay! Meghan and Justin were married in a church in Burlingame and then had their reception at the Ritz. It was a great place for formals! Beach access, cliff views, sunsets...all the ingredients a photographer wants! The sun was a little bright at 2pm but I worked around it and still came out with some wonderful photographs! I would definitely welcome the opportunity to work there again!

15 Ways To Help Green Your Wedding Day

2009-06-18T07:58:00.000-07:00

Going Green? You can now do your Wedding Day Green!! Check out these ideas....

Weddings traditionally have been all about splendor and extravagance, indulgence and luxury, not necessarily sustainability. But all of that is changing; couples are turning their marital celebrations into earth-conscious affairs. “Even small changes can make a huge difference,” says Emily Anderson, author of Eco-Chic Weddings (Hatherleigh Press), which provides simple, sustainable suggestions for everything from selecting a location to deciding on a ring.

Here are some ideas to make your wedding a sustainable event:

1. Choose an eco-conscious venue. Contact organic restaurants and catering halls in your community and ask about their food suppliers and preparation methods.

2. Serve an organic dinner menu. Serve free-range, organically raised beef and chicken, as well as seafood that is not commercially raised or high in mercury.

3. Choose organic desserts. Ask your caterer to substitute organic ingredients for your sugar, flour, butter and eggs, or choose a baker who specializes in organic cakes. Also, offer “fair trade” coffee and chocolate; “fair trade” means that farmers were paid a fair price for the beans and, in most cases they were grown in an ecologically sustainable way.

4. Choose locally made wines, or peruse organic markets in your area for available organic brands.

5. Buy organic flowers (pesticide-free) for table centerpieces, or use in-season flowers to reduce the environmental cost of shipping in non-local flowers. After your event, donate them to a local hospital or senior citizen center.

6. Go flower-less! Have your bridal party go flower-free, replacing ladies’ bouquets with fans or silk purses and men’s boutonnieres with meaningful pins or emblems.

7. Buy conflict-free diamond rings and recycled gold wedding bands. Or transform cherished vintage pieces – perhaps your grandmother’s broach – into something new and spectacular.

8. Use recycled paper for wedding invitations.

9. Have guests RSVP online, saving you paper as well as mailing costs.

10. Create a virtual wedding album. Using digital photography saves film, chemicals and paper, and you can create your own wedding website so that friends and family have access.

11. In lieu of a cake-topper, use edible flowers or fruit.

12. Offer a “to-go” menu. Eliminate leftovers by having guests take home food when they leave. Then donate the rest.

13. Use candlelight, besides reducing electricity usage, soy candles, in particular, are made from a renewable resource, and they burn longer and cleaner than regular candles. What’s more, they make a great parting gift.

14. Choose a wedding dress made of 100 percent silk and cottons. Or wear your mom’s wedding gown or buy a previous worn vintage gown – preferably one you will wear again.

15. Donate your gown, as well as those of your bridesmaids, to charity, such as The Glass Slipper Project (glassslipperproject.org) or Fairy Godmothers Inc. (fairygodmothersinc.com), both of which provide prom dresses to underprivileged teens.

Dina Santorelli

Green Wedding Albums!

2009-06-15T08:11:00.000-07:00

Drum roll please....Green Wedding Albums are coming you by Amoreena Photography! I have been making every attempt to go green lately and this is my first step, other than being digital! I'm excited to offer this new "Green" album by Couture Book. I am so pleased with the simple elegance of it's construction and design. This design is the NYC East Hampton all printed on beautiful matte 50% recycled paper with a full color photo printed slipcase. They are produced in as environmentally friendly a process as possible. The books themselves are simply gorgeous... with torn page edges, contemporary layout designs, and traditional elegant hand-sewn bindings. For the eco-conscious couple who doesn't want to sacrifice any style this is your option!

Flushmount Albums

2009-06-14T18:09:00.000-07:00

I use Flushmount Albums or the Coffee Table s=Style Albums. I design the albums based on the clients top 100 photos. Here is a look at what an album can look like! This is not the complete album, but it gives you an idea.

Maternity Photography

2009-06-12T13:03:00.000-07:00

More Maternity Photography from a client who found me on craigslist.com, gotta love craigslist. This ended up being a really fun shoot at my home with the whole family! Check them out!

Body Building Madness

2009-06-07T18:13:00.000-07:00

Here are photos that I did for a friend of mine who competed in the Contra Costa Fitness Competition last month. I have never seen something like this before and it was great fun to shoot! I am thinking of possibly getting into the fitness photography area...ummm, ideas...check these out.

More Headshots for Professional Websites

2009-06-05T20:38:00.000-07:00

These are some of the easiest photos for me! Headshots for professional websites...therapists, consultants, real estate agents, ect. Even headshots for dating websites has become popular because lets face it most people don't have any professional photos of themselves laying around. Professional photos are a must for your business and a great idea for dating websites. I can highlight your best features, your best angles, and your best smile. In the end you great a photo of yourself that puts your best foot forward! See the photos I did of Joy for her thriving therapeutic practice in Oakland.

Gay Weddings!

2009-05-27T21:30:00.000-07:00

I am happy and feel fortunate to have photographed several gay weddings in 2008! I have a great network of "gay friendly" vendors as well. If you are interested please let me know. A well known Officiant in the Bay Area is Stephanie Wing with over 13 years of experience!

Maternity Photography

2009-05-24T17:49:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I shoot maternity photos for Myhaung, our second shoot together shooting family portraits. This was my first maternity shoot as a professional photographer and it was a lot of fun. We stuck to the basics of white and black backgrounds to highlight the pregnancy. I think these photos are simple but beautiful. From what I have heard it is perfect to do these photos around 6 months along, however Myhaung was 8 months in these photos! Wow!

Stacy's Headshots

2009-05-17T16:16:00.000-07:00

Stacy was interested in getting some updated headshots of herself to use for a number of reasons. We did the shoot at her place and came out with some really nice shoots!

2009-05-07T12:46:00.001-07:00

I love doing baby grids, these are just the most fun way to display b&w images of infants!

Also if you are a fan of Facebook, join me on my Photography Page for more current updates!
Listed under Amoreena Photography or this link:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Oakland-CA/Amoreena-Photography/43208243084

Golden Gate Park Portraits

2009-04-22T18:25:00.000-07:00

Erik hired me to take photos of his children as a surprise gift for his wife's birthday last weekend. What a wonderful idea! His kids were adorable and the Japanese Tea Garden in the Golden Gate Park was a lovely setting. Here are some below.

Gaucha's Wedding in Foster City

2009-04-11T21:56:00.000-07:00

Gaucha and her fiance were married in Foster City at St. Luke's. They had a small intimate wedding, which seems to be the trend this year, with mostly family and close friends. Here are some of my favorites.

This photo below was a little odd... these are doves that return home after they fly away, they symbolize good fortune. I love how the light got captured on the camera...no photoshop here, just good old fashion light and maybe a little something else. Maybe?

Colleen and Adam's Wedding

2009-04-05T12:04:00.000-07:00

Last week on Wednesday I shoot Colleen and Adam's very intimate wedding in Foster City. They had a small beautiful wedding on the water in Foster City with only family. Here are some of my favorites!

Jane & Hendrick Trash the Dress Session

2009-04-01T20:12:00.000-07:00

Jane and Hendrick wanted to do a Trash the Wedding Dress Session with me in San Francisco. We thought of heading to China Town for some bright colors and action, then we headed to the SOMA district to get more of a seedy warehouse look. We had a lot of fun and came out with some really great photos! Check them out.

Brittany - Trash the Dress Session

2009-03-05T19:21:00.000-08:00

Brittany and I shot a Trash the Dress Session a few weeks ago and we really put some beautiful images together. She was a lot of fun to work with and was open to try new things. Here are some of my favorites!

Julissa & Carlos Get Married

2009-02-11T18:50:00.001-08:00

Julissa and Carlos got married 2 weeks ago at a local church in San Jose and then took the party to the Fairmont downtown San Jose. I really loved the colors for this wedding...actually I used the same ones! I loved the deep red roses all put together, it made for an elegant, classy look. Here are some of my favorites!

Trash the Dress - Danie & Ron

2009-02-06T20:03:00.000-08:00

Danie & Ron did a "trash the dress" session last weekend. There wedding was actually 3 years ago and now they wanted to recreate photos that were more creative, fun, and unique. I didn't shoot their original wedding, but I think we made up for what they missed the first go around! Danie had a really cool out of the box idea to do some shots in a Gothic cemetery at Mission Dolores in San Francisco. What a cool idea that was! It really worked with her dress which is very unique in itself. We then headed to the Sutro Baths...my favorite this year. Check them out!

Nicole & Mike's Engagement Shoot

2009-01-28T18:27:00.000-08:00

Nicole and Mike came up with the great idea to shoot at the Sutro Baths in San Francisco and Golden Gate Park for their engagement photos. It was windy and cold, but we came away with some really unique, romantic images. Here are some of my favorites!

2009 Testimonals

2009-01-21T19:51:00.000-08:00

7/7/09 Meghan-M L. - Palo Alto, CA

After months of searching, I found the perfect photographer to shoot my June 2009 wedding at the Ritz Carlton in Half Moon Bay. Amoreena Berg is professional, reliable, focused, and pleasant to be around. Most importantly, her photography is exquisite. She struck the perfect balance between documenting the day, and capturing artistic and beautiful moments we will enjoy for years to come. A veteran bridesmaid, I've experienced my fair share of pushy, bullish photographers who interfere with the day, and put the wedding party through hell posing for too many photos, while keeping the wedding guests waiting. Amoreena was fun and polite, and stayed focused on getting the most out of our shooting time, so we could spend as much time as possible enjoying the party. And the photos are literally the most stunning I've ever see--at any price. She is a gifted artists who really enjoys what she does. Hiring anyone else would be a massive mistake!

3/2/2009- Brittany A.

I have had personal experiences with 4 photographers so far in my life, senior photo, engagement, wedding, and for my trash the dress shoot. Each time, I have looked for something special, but until Amoreena I had not found a photographer who I was satisfied with. I wanted an artistic, energetic, youthful, beautiful, and personal look to the photographs. I wanted the pictures to look like art and that is exactly what she took. Each pictures is so stunning and so beautiful. She has a god given natural talent and an eye for the beauty within her subjects. I was SO incredibly impressed my Amoreena. She absolutely blew me away with her ideas, the great angles she captured and how easy it was to work with her. Lets face it, we are not all models and most don't know anything about it but she makes you feel so comfortable and confident!! My photos are so breath taking and stunning and I have had many many many compliments on the quality of the photos! I am going to recommend her to everyone I know because i know that she will deliver such amazing photos! Don't even think about another photographer, she is worth it!

2/25/2009-Anna F.

I had a fantastic experience with Amoreena photography! We were doing a fashion shot I needed (see one of the pics in my profile). Amoreena was very professional, nice and fun to work with. In two hours we used around 200 frames and I came up with 88 good quality photos. She edited it amazingly giving me many options. She new exactly what I was looking for and I loved every piece of the experience. Highly recommended!

1/21/2009-Emily L.

I'm so glad I found Amoreena Berg to shoot my wedding photos! Planning a destination wedding in Half Moon Bay, I discovered her website online while researching photographers from my home in Colorado. I was immediately struck by her artistry and ability to capture a wedding day "story." Then when I saw how reasonable her prices are, it clinched the deal for me. I knew I wanted her to be my photographer. No regrets! We didn't get to meet in person until my wedding day, but her communication up until that point put me completely at ease - I was confident I'd have great photos of the day, and I wasn't disappointed.

Amoreena created an amazing photo-journey of the day. She not only creatively chronicled the main events, she captured many of those often elusive moments you always want to remember - like a smile between me and my dad, the look on my sister's face when I walked down the aisle, and my fiance's response to a joke during the ceremony. Now I have those saved forever in photos, and I'm grateful.

Beyond Amoreena's great artistic talent, I was also impressed with her professionalism. She was such a pleasure to work with on my wedding day - very friendly and fun, yet definitely in control as she efficiently led us through the photo shoot following the ceremony. Following up after the day, she had a link of edited photos ready to view by the time I got back from my honeymoon! This was especially important to me because I had a reception for everyone who hadn't come to our small family wedding, and they all wanted to see pictures. Amoreena's fast turn-around enabled my to share a slide show of the day. I was so happy I had this! The pictures made our 100+ guests feel like they got to experience our wedding - and they all commented on what a beautiful job Amoreena had done. Can't tell you how many people asked me how I'd ever choose from the hundreds of great pictures to put some in an album! And speaking of albums...Amoreena concluded her follow-up service by creating a beautiful one for me, patiently working with me in fine-tuning which photos to include and expertly laying out each page.

If you're currently looking for a photographer, I highly recommend Amoreena. She has an artist's eye and a talent for story, and will combine them with a professional, friendly approach to give you an exceptional experience.

1/14/2009-Danielle S.

I am a photographer who has had great experiences working with Amoreena of Amoreena Berg Photography. She has been the main shooter at some of these weddings, and my second shooter at others. We have worked together recently and will continue to do so in 2009. Amoreena is skilled, friendly, and has a wonderful positive energy about her. She is great working with groups and one-on-one and connects instantly with people of all ages. She is great at posing people and shooting photojournalistically for capturing great real moments as they happen. If you are looking for a great wedding or portrait photographer, I highly recommend you contact Amoreena Berg Photography for images you will treasure.

Ania's Fashion Shoot

2009-01-19T21:55:00.000-08:00

Here are some of my favorite photos from Ania's fashion shoot. Ania was looking to do some professional photographs of herself that had more of a fashion edge then just your average portrait. She had never had professional photographs done of her and wanted something special. I have to say I think we accomplished that together! I actually did her make-up as well...I have a knack for that if it is desired.