We had a wonderful collaborative bridal shoot at the Bellevue Club by Lake Merritt in Oakland, with all twelve contributors donating their time and services toward the project. My hope was to get some great portfolio shots for everyone and also to work with other local wedding vendors. I was especially excited to connect with Ellen Kim from Gingerleaf Floral and Angel Saldaña from the Bellevue Club, since both amazing women are based right here in Oakland. I had a great time working with everyone though. It was really a treat since I’m usually out on my own.

The Bellevue Club sits right across from Lake Merritt, nestled inconspicuously in a residential neighborhood. It’s a great mansion that’s been around since 1929, but I’ve driven by it many times without even suspecting the grandeur inside.

I’ve now worked with several makeup artists from A-List Makeup based in San Jose, and they’ve all been wonderful. We had three makeup artists, originally intended for three female models. But sadly, one model simply never showed. We adapted and made the most of it!

The ring is from Dianne Jago, my wonderful second shooter. I’m looking forward to more collaborations in the future.

It’s a fun challenge to create work for clients, but it’s whole different experience to be able to create whatever you want for yourself. Ellen really ran with the opportunity and did an amazing job with the florals for this shoot. We created two looks for the shoot. The first was white and purple, with over-the-top elegance fitting of the venue.

Sarah was a stunning bridesmaid for our shoot. In real life, she’s a martial arts instructor.

Puneet just moved to California recently, but he was previously modeling, acting, and dancing in India. Yes, he’s a natural.

And playing the role of bride is Autumn Pricolo, looking beautiful in her wedding dress.

Switching to our second look. Hot pink, modern, chic.

Many thanks again to everyone who participated in the shoot! It was such a great experience, I’m already dreaming up what we can do next time.

And that’s not all! View much more of the shoot on the Anna Wu Photography Facebook page.

Venue: Bellevue Club, Angel Saldaña
Floral Design: Ellen Kim, Gingerleaf Floral
Models: Puneet Aneja, Autumn Pricolo, Sarah Marleau
Hair/Makeup: A-List Makeup: Kansinee Adsanatham, Kathy Ly, Emily Nguyen
Photographer: Anna Wu, Anna Wu Photography
Second Shooter: Dianne Jago, Jagophoto
Assistants: Lucy Saephan, Vay Hoang

Related posts:

1. Candace & Tony’s Castro Valley Shoot | San Francisco Wedding Photographer
2. Part 4: Live Shoot | Workshops
3. From Here to Eternity | Sneak Peek

What started as a 30% chance for precipitation had billowed into 90% all day Sunday. So luckily, within a couple of hours, we managed to move the whole shoot a day earlier to a new location for convenience: Lake Chabot in Castro Valley. We had a new hair & makeup artist Penney Do, Courtney, the floral designer, dropped off the bouquets in the morning, and all was set.

We created two looks with three different floral designs for our shoot. Candace had her wedding dress, as well as a shorter cocktail dress, both of which were absolutely stunning.

The florals were provided by Courtney Marie Floral. She drove them all the way up from Santa Cruz to Oakland that morning!

The great thing about the rainy season here is that rainy days and sunny days are often mixed in as if they’ve been shuffled up in a random alternating pattern. Sandwiched between two absolutely dreadful days are sometimes beautiful days, perfect for photos. After it rains, nature turns an amazingly bright green, as if the saturation bar has been rigged in real-life Photoshop. And a big cloudy sky is nature’s giant softbox, providing flawless shadowless lighting. And every so often, the clouds part open for a peak of sunshine that warms the entire place.

Candace and Tony are such a cute couple– warm kind, and loving. They got married recently, and you can tell they’ll glow with happiness together for a long, long time. They’re a couple that loves an adventure in each other’s company, and I think more than anything, they love to laugh together. Not a little smirk, like an ‘oh, haha’ kind of chuckle. No– it’s a wide-open mouth, enthusiastic, creases-in-your-eyes kind of laugh.

Photographer: Anna Wu Photography
Assistant: Mona Quinlan
Floral Design: Courtney Marie Floral
Hair & Makeup: Penney Do
Location: Lake Chabot, Castro Valley, CA

Related posts:

1. Bridal Shoot at the Bellevue Club | Oakland Wedding Photographer
2. Cynthia & Nathan’s Wedding | Julia Morgan Ballroom | San Francisco Wedding Photography
3. Audrey & Aaron | Grace Cathedral | San Francisco Wedding Photographer