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Thank you for the Stovers and the Pusharts for this lovely opportunity.
Here are some images from the 152 change of command.
I just love the change of command..
I had much fun working with this family. And my oh my.. Ms. Ella was so easy to work with!
Here are more sneak peek from The Wades' session! Thank you Josh, Rachel, and Ella!
Regards,
Nizar
I had an honor to photograph VMFA (AW) 242 Change of Command for LtCol Jabari J. Reneau last Friday, May 13th 2016.
Congratulation again for the Reneau family!
Nizar
Aaaawww.. Kanna is ONE this May!
Look at these adorable photographs from her one year old session!
XOXO
Because a cute picture isn't always the smiling one :)
A week ago, Tasha, one of my fellow photographers here in Iwakuni, contacted me to work together for her latest glamour shoot with Viking as its inspiration.
I was instantly saying yes when she told me about this. I was excited as I LOVE conceptual/glamor shots, and I haven't done it in a while.
Below are some behind the scenes from our shot last Friday.
The workflow/set ups
Our simple lighting.
The amazing MUA (Caitlyn Shaw) and the brilliant hairstylist (Tiffany Cassey) were working on our talented model, Aristia.
Tasha, the mastermind, was trying to figure out the lighting. LOL
Got this pic of Tasha and Aristia in between shots. LOL
I enjoyed this session a lot. I definitely had an amazing time discussing about lighting with Tasha -- which only photographers can understand why it's so exciting. LOL
Can't wait to do more conceptual-glamor shots with Tasha.
Here are few photographs of Aristia that I took during the session. Isn't she an amazing model???! She really should considers doing modeling as her career :) And can you believe that she has two kids and the youngest is one year old? GAH! Some women are blessed with great metabolism. LOL
Anyway, check more photographs of Aristia on Tasha's page, here!
Cheers,
Nizar
A sakura tunnel at the Kintai Bridge, Iwakuni, Japan.
Beside Fall, Spring might be the busiest time for (portrait or landscape) photographers, or even those who love taking pictures.
In Japan, we've been blessed with a beautiful-magical scenery, and endless flowers seasons around Spring and Summer. From Ume (Plum Blossom), Sakura (Cherry Blossom), Tsutsuji (Azalea), Fuji (Wisteria), Bara (Rose), Ajisai (Hydrangea), Hanashobu (Irises), and Himawari (Sunflowers).
Full bloom sakura (cherry blossom) at the Kintai Bridge (Iwakuni, Japan) after the rain.
Full bloom sakura (cherry blossom) at the Kintai Bridge (Iwakuni, Japan) after the rain.
This is my second year doing the sakura sessions. Unlike last year, this year I've limited myself for working. Last year, I did 32 sessions, and man was that exhausted! I even took a break for visiting Kintai Bridge for two months after done with all the sessions.
This year, I only accepted 15 sessions. And I was happy.
This year, I really took my times during every session (except when we had one bad day because of the raining), paid more attention to all those little details. This year, I enjoyed myself creating arts for my clients, hence I spent longer in editing.
I want my clients to be able to show off their beautiful pictures of their Japan's life. I want my clients, in the future, when they look back at their sakura pictures, they still in love with them.
This couple was taking their pre-wedding pictures during the beautiful sakura season.
A boat that will take you around the Kintai Bridge.
I do feel bad for those who couldn't get any photographs during the sakura session this year, though. But here are some simple tips from me for your future sakura pictures, especially for my Iwakuni friends.
1. Don't Wait Until Your Last Year.
Don't wait, people! You think you will have 3 years in Japan, but really you'll never know. Time flies. Little do you know it's been 3 years and you are leaving soon.. Or, maybe it's not even 3 years yet, but somehow you need to leave Japan immediately. Even if it's your first sakura time, book now!
2. Choose Your Photographer.
Everyone has their own preferences, from budget to style (and even friendship relation). When you found a photographer that you love, book her/him right away.
3. Choose Your Location.
In my personal opinion, as a photographer and as a person who live in Iwakuni, I won't choose any location but the Kintai Bridge area for my sakura sessions. Simply because, you can find sakura in other countries, but sakura and Kintai Bridge are only in Iwakuni. And that's part of your memory living in Iwakuni, Japan.
3. Doll Up For Your Session.
Whenever you book me, I will give the link of my Pinterest of "WHAT TO WEAR" to give ideas/inspirations for your photo session's outfit. And, if you ask me, I will come to your house, help you check your closet, or even shop with you! But, a photo session should be a fun time, hence don't let yourself stress out to think about the outfit too much. Sometimes plain T-shirt and jeans are enough :) Of course having professional MUA and hairstylist to help you is recommended :)
4. Have Fun.
During the session, your job is only to enjoy the session. Trust your photographer as they know what they do.
5. Wait and Relax.
I often got question why some photographers take forever to give the clients their photographs. I myself always tell my clients that my turnaround time is about up to two weeks (for the editing - not including if they order prints, etc). Well, a professional photographer isn't only taking your pictures; but she/he is also culling, editing, posting the sneak peek, delivering the proofing, (sometimes ordering your prints), blogging (like what I'm doing now :), resizing your pictures for the social medias' size hence your pictures still look awesome on your Facebook/Twitter/Instagram, etc, and later packing your order (CD and/or prints). Those take time, my friends! :)
6. Tripod is Your Best Friend.
But what about you are not able to book any photographer, or you just want some simple annual pictures? Well, get your camera and tripod out. Tripod is really your best friend, though. It's worth to invest one tripod, because taking your self-portrait with tripod is kind of a better version of selfie. LOL
Our self-portrait using my amazing tripod.
Lastly, I'd love to thank to all my sakura clients. Thank you so much for choosing me to capture your memory in Iwakuni, I hope you guys like your pictures as much as I do, and I look forward for any opportunity to work with you in the future!
Thank you! どうもありがとうございます!
Love,
Nizar
My amazing 15 clients.. plus my own (with my husband) in-camera double exposure picture.
Oooooh.. I LOVED working with this young man! He does know how to pose, it was definitely fun and easy session.
The proofing has been delivered, but here are sneakpeek of Jason's session for you all.
Look at all those big, bright, beautiful smiles of Kanna. Love this Mommy and Me moments.
Here are the sneak peek of this session.
Aaaaaahhh.. The Osher family is on my blog! This family was super super easy to work with. I got lots of good photographs of them!
Olivia's parents are also in Iwakuni now, so gotta take some pictures with them obviously :)
Anyway, here are just few of my faves from their session :)
The one below wasn't staged, Aiden was kind of, "No more holding sisters anymore, please!!!" LOL
And few more from this family...
Aaaahhh.. Yumiko is one of those clients that every photographer dreams of. She is so pretty (inside and out), has flawless skin, prepares her session really well, and... she's a soon-to-be mother of twin girls! I'm so excited to shoot her twins sometime soon! :)
Below are few shots from her session!
Got to try few shots of double exposure to Yumiko :)
Oh Yumiko was accompanied by Lucky, who was very well-behaved while waiting for Yumiko. And everyone, here's Lucky! :)
MUA and Hair by Exze Hair
Phone: 0827 23 5830
Flower Crown by Salut Flower
(It's the building next to "Mameka?")
Phone: 0827 28 4008
Aren't they gorgeous? My camera loved them, I kept smiling when I edited their session. And Ms. Summer, oh very pretty! Look at those bright big smiles of her!
Check few images of them below! :)
And they have a joyful news for their family and friends... :)
Oooh.. I'm soo happy that I could do cherry blossom pictures for this family, and moreover the rain was waiting until we are done!
Look at some of my faves from The Estradas' session!
This family is so wonderful and easy to work with. Ms Abi definitely helped a lot during this session as she's one of the most easiest 3 yo clients ever! :)
I love all images of this family, but here are few of my faves.
I took their cherry blossom pictures last year, when they were family of four. But they got to take another one this year because now they are family of five!
Their session was supposed to be today, but we changed it earlier as the forecast kept saying today's raining should be worse than yesterday, which actually today was better than yesterday.. Of course!
Here are few images from The Ivascus, and happy birthday Kaitlyn!!!
It was pleasure to work with this beautiful family again! Last year I did their cherry blossom, too, and boy does one year make a big different!
I love love love MaryAnn's hair cut, she looks so young and super pretty! My camera definitely loves her flawless skin and beautiful face! :)
And Ryker.. Hahaha. This little dude's expressions kill me! I kept laughing when I was editing their session. LOL
Anyway, here are only few of my faves from The Boswells' session!
It's my first time working with The Loewensteins, and sadly maybe my last time to work with them as they are going to PCS soon. *sad face*
I really loved my session with them as they were so easy to work with :)
I got lots of good shots from their session, and here are few of my faves.
They got stuck in the traffic soo bad on their way to the Kintai Bridge yesterday, hence we had only about 15 minutes to do the shots, but good thing I got about 10 minutes in between my third and fourth clients so I could do few more shots of them!
Daddy isn't in town now, but I think this "Mommy and Me" session was perfect!
So here are some of my faves of The Flores' session :)
