San Francisco Photographer – Bay Area Portrait Photography

So I’ve been building my arsenal of equipment and I wanted to share especially as folks have been recently asking me about it.  So here goes, as you can tell I’m a Canon girl for sure.  🙂

Armored Saint is back!  My brothers are in the band (Gonzalo on drums and Phil on guitar) and it was soo much fun to see them perform and have fun. The band came together again to do an Australian tour and they kicked it off with an awesome show in Hollywood’s Key Club on the 6th of March.  The band started as friends and teenagers in my neighborhood and have accomplished so much and have traveled all over the world – it is super cool.   They sounded great and they did not disappoint the standing-room-only crowd.

Here’s G posing for me during sound check.  🙂

I thought I would be able to get lots of really good pictures during sound check but what I didn’t realize is that they would also be programming the lighting.  Most of this time the lights were either off or super back lit.  I still managed to get a couple neat shots:

John Bush’s son was turing 2 the next day when the guys would be flying out, so they decided to bring him along and do a little ‘Color Me Mine’ party during sound check.  Little Guiseppe is following in his father’s footsteps singing and rocking out to the drums.  Here they are during sound check (nice protective head gear!):

I did manage to get a group shot before they all chilled out before the show (thanks, guys!):

Sandovals in the house!  Even my mother came to show!  My father would have been here too.  And he was there in spirit.  During the show the band dedicated a song to my father, “Armored Saint’s #1 fan” and to my sister Maria for her birthday.   It was a family affair!  🙂

The opening act was San Francisco-based, Death Angel.  They did a great job warming up the crowd.  Death Angel will also be traveling with Armored Saint to Australia – good combo!

My mother waiting patiently for the show to begin.  I love the tag on this Armored Saint t-shirt, “Made in the USA” with the Mexican-American spin on it!  🙂

And the the show BEGINS!   Oh my gosh, everyone was just cheering as the rumble of the music started!

Jeff Duncan on guitar, Joey Vera on bass, Phil Sandoval on guitar and Gonzo on drums!  

And John Bush on vocals!  🙂

I love how much everyone really gets into it and has fun, especially my brother Phil!

Everyone was on their game and John Bush really belted it out for us and also showed his range.

Check out the crowd!

I came down from my protected balcony with the engineers and techs and decided to get up front.  I had to push my way to the front but it was worth it.  Plus I think it is easier when one is female.  😉

Phil showing off for the fans!  They loved it!  🙂

I love this last show of Phil with the red light behind him and the light coming out from under his arm.  So cool!

These are some really happy Armored Saint fans right after the show.  The couple in front drove 500 miles from Arizona to see the show and the guys in back helped me get some good shots by hoisting me on their shoulders.  These heavy metals fans were so nice to me and I wanted to include them in the blog.  Long Live Armored Saint!  🙂

Today we had Gemma’s 18-month checkup.  I can’t believe it is already a year and a half!  She doing super well and we are really happy about that.  In the past 3 months she’s gained over 5 lbs and had a growth spurt in height.  Her weight is still 70% but her height jumped from 70% to 90% and her head still remains at 90%.  Scott is very proud of that fact.

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And in general, she is a very happy and healthy little girl.  But here in this waiting room photo, she’s looking a little suspicious about the whole thing.

Fully unclothed and waiting for the doctor in the exam room.  Scotty is talking to Gemma and keeping her warm with his jacket.  He is such a wonderful father!  🙂

Gemma is such a delight to be around.  And the more she learns the communicate, the more exciting it is becoming.  Here are the words she uses:

Agua (water in Spanish)

Food (sounds like ‘pooh’ and she does the sign for it)

Mimis (short for ‘dormir’ which is ‘to sleep’ in Spanish)

Melmo (she _Loves_ Elmo!)

Cracker (sounds like ‘caca’)

Uvas (grapes in Spanish)

Fruta (fruit in Spanish – sound like ‘booba’ in Gemma-speak)

Apple (this is really clear)

Banana (Gemma speak is ‘nana’)

Ya (this is ‘all-done’ and does the sign)

Pee-pee (she’s interested when I go to the bathroom… she’s doing the sign for this now)

Poo-poo

Peekaboo (she does this with a Spanish accent and I just love it)

Please (sounds like ‘peeeas’)

Thank you (sounds like ‘tunku’ and does the sign for it… sometimes)

She does the sounds and sign language for the following:

Bird – pio-pio

Airplane – shuuuuu and points to the sky

Dog – gua-gua and pats her leg

Gato – gaaa

Cow – mooooo

Duck – quack-quack

Flower – she pretends to smell a flower

Car – she pretend to drive a car and goes beep-beep

And the dreaded, MINE!  I know she learned that in daycare.  Oh well.

She understands everything I say to her in Spanish but somehow she is tending to produce words in English.  I’ll still speak to her 100% in Spanish since I know she is getting it.  The best I can do is give her a framework for the language and hope she continues it in her life.  I’m just so happy that she is learning and communicating and feeling confident and loved.  🙂

After a little sun, thank you for coming out for us, lunch and a fun fund-raising auction, it was time for some more shows!:

Here comes the dragon!:

Nerissa Wong-VanHaren, parent-volunteer and friend of mine, was in charge of decorating the auditorium and she did a fantastic job. 

Here she is with her family after a successful celebration.

NOTE:  To view the complete gallery of photos and order prints, please click here.

I was invited to photograph the Chinese New Year celebration put on by the Yew Chung International School.  I was thoroughly impressed by the organization, parent involvement and especially the children.  Wow, the children were so adorable, talented and well-behaved!  The majority of the show was in Mandarin and I didn’t understand a lick of it but I still enjoyed myself none the less.

Photos before the event started:

Adorably and patiently waiting for the show to begin:

As soon as the doors opened, the auditorium was filled with representatives of 300 families with cameras!  🙂

The kids were just too cute!

After part 1 of the show, it was time to go outside for lunch and the school’s fundraising auction:

Back inside for more shows!  Another post coming soon.

NOTE:  To view the complete gallery of photos and order prints, please click here.

I had the great honor and joy to attend an amazing concert in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr.  This is a yearly event, entitled “In the Name of Love”  organized by RCI, creators of community music events such as Jazz Camp West and Jam Camp (for teens).  Each year, 1,400 adults, elders, children and families from very diverse communities come together and share the hopes, teachings and dreams of Dr. King through the joy of music (and this year dance too!).  The event, now in its 7th year, had even more energy as we were all looking forward to Obama’s inauguration just 2 days later.

Here’s the hall as it filled up:

Our fabulous emcee was none other than Clifford Brown Jr., of KCSM, KDYA and KDIA fame:

Up first was the incredibly adorable and inspiring Oakland Children’s Community Choir.  There was about 150 2nd graders singing their hearts out and it was a great way to start the show.  They sang about unity, peace, Obama, hope and sang several chorus’ of “yes we can”.  I was moved and I know everyone else was too.

Next up with the very classy and hip Marcus Shelby and the Marcus Shelby Jazz Orchestra.   They performed some amazing arrangements from his commissioned body of work celebrating the life of Harriet Tubman.

Marcus for sure is a sharp dressed man!

Accompanying them was an amazing line up of vocalists:  Nicolas Bearde, Jeannine Anderson, The Dynamic Miss Faye Carol and Kenny Washington.

Faye brought the house down and gave me shivers when she sang!

Destiny Arts Youth Performance Company performed for us too.  These young folks co-created their origianl performance art pieces with professional artist, combining all form of dance and expression.  What a treat!

This is a community event and every year they give out the Citizen of Oakland Humanitarian Award to someone who has given back to the community in extraordinary ways.  This year the award was given to Kevin Grant for his work with troubled teens on the streets.  He used to be one of those teens but found a way out and now goes back to the streets to seek out those who probably wouldn’t seek help otherwise.  Because he’s been there he knows how to reach them and is very effective.  He was very honored and touched to receive the award.  Oakland is lucky to have someone like this in the community.

To end the show, the 60-voice Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir got us inspired, sining and dancing in the isles.  It was the only way to end such a wonderful night of love, hope, music and community.

Terrance Kelly wanted to hear more form the audience and we happily obliged.  🙂