Event: Catholic Wedding
Location: Cathedral of Annunciation in Lodi, CA

Last July, I assisted as a second shooter for a wedding in Stockton, CA. If you're not familiar, that's near Stockton. If you're not familiar still, it's one of the hottest towns in Central California on a July day. The ceremony took place at the Cathedral of Annunciation, and if you know me, I LOVE church interior photography. We then headed out to an event hall in Lathrop or Lodi (I can not remember at the moment) for the reception with the newlywed's well-wishing guests.

For this wedding, I got to work with some of the best camera guys -- my officemates at The Filipino Channel! This wedding had it all good with videographers and an editor that did an excellent job with the same-day edit montage!

The official presentation of images is by PXL Photography, and these are just my personal favorites from this wedding. Click on the image to begin the slideshow!




File under: california wedding photographer, stockton wedding photographer, lodi wedding photographer, california wedding photography, stockton wedding photography, lodi wedding photography, bay area event wedding photographer, san francisco photographer, california photographer, church wedding photographer, catholic wedding photographer, catholic church photographer

Portraits: Family and Children
Location: Stow Lake in San Francisco, CA

It's been nearly a year since I've done family portraits, so when I was asked to do my first one of 2013, I felt a little rusty but eager to get back into it.

The B family came out to Stow Lake for their portraits on a gorgeous November afternoon. The sunlight and weather were just right, and mix that with a beautiful family and we got some wonderful Fall photos at the lake!







File under: san francisco family photographer, stow lake photographer, golden gate park photography, san francisco family photography, children's photographer, family photographer, san francisco photography

Last May, I got to join 3AF at their Asian Marketing Summit at MGM in Las Vegas as a photographer. It was a day and a half of summit, and many shots were taken. Just a quick share of that... Please follow this link >> http://3af.org/eventphotos/3af2013conference.htm

File under: las vegas event photography, mgm grand conference photography, conference photographer, las vegas events, asian american events, asian american professionals, asian american advertisers, asian american marketing, event photography at mgm grand

This past August 11, 2013, we set up the PEPbooth for a fundraiser event called "Lumpias and Martinis." The proceeds supported local Filipino artists, and there were plenty of lumpia, sisig and martinis to go around. It's always a funtime with the PEPbooth, as you will see in these wacky photos :)



File under: san francisco photobooth, san francisco event photobooth, san francisco photographer, san francisco photography, event photobooth, open-air photobooth, san francisco events

I had the first-timer opportunity to be a photographer at a Quinceanera a couple of months ago. My friend Kenni got me in on this event, which was actually a double Quinceanara. We split our photographic focuses during the preparatory hours-- he did one of the girls, and I did the other. Afterwards, I followed my girl to her church ceremony (the other girl chose to opt out of it), then we all united at Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum for single, double and group portraits with the entourage. This group of teenagers was a pleasure to work with -- they were very poise and easy to talk to. Then the reception at Santa Clara Fairgrounds (Fiesta Hall) gave both girls' families and friends a night to remember with performances, entertainment and lively music.

The official photos are presented by Kreative Productions (who was the videographer as well), so again, these are just my personal selections of the shots I did. I'm not showing the girl's face in these photos as I can only share accessory details during the preparation.




File under: Quinceanara photographer, quinceanara photography, campbell event photographer, campbell event photography, san francisco event photographer, campbell quinceanara, santa clara events, santa clara photographer, santa clara photography

Click photo to open the slideshow!

Be Careful With My Heart US Tour | Silver Spurs Arena | Kissimmee, FL

File under: concerts, concerts and events, the filipino channel,  tfc events, concert photographer, performance photographer, san francisco concerts, san francisco live events, san francisco live event photographer, california photographer, california concerts, party photographer san francisco

This past May, The Filipino Channel produced and staged a very successful concert in Los Angeles, and again in Kissimmee on the same weekend. I always bring my camera to these events because when there's a chance for me to take some shots, I go for it. My task at these events are always different, and I'm ever barely stuck to doing one thing. And with that said, I did get some shots in.

Here are the photos from the Los Angeles show. The Shrine is a gorgeous venue, and made these pictures look better!

May I add that this was a very sleepless weekend for me and our events team! From Friday morning through the night and Saturday morning until the wee hours of Sunday morning, I personally did not sleep a minute. I had a long nap overnight and woke up late for our Sunday show, but I made it back home alive the next day.




Be Careful With My Heart US Tour | The Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, CA



File under: concerts, concerts and events, the filipino channel, the filipino channel concerts, the filipino channel events, san francisco photographer, california photographer, san francisco concert photography, san francisco band photographer, san francisco event photographer, band photographer, california event photographer, be careful with my heart, richard yap, sir chief, jodi sta maria, doris and sabel, the shrine, shrine auditorium, los angeles event photographer, california event photographer

Event: Wedding Reception
Location: Willows Event Venue, Vallejo, CA

Frederick and Geraldine hired me at the last minute to be their wedding celebration's photographer in early February. Their civil wedding had taken place a few days before, but the party was when family was able to celebrate with them at Willows Event Venue in Vallejo, CA.

Willows Event Venue is an intimate space that hosts all kinds of events. Its interior is smaller than a community hall, and is customized to each event. For Frederick and Geraldine's reception, the flowers were all decorated by themselves and an aunt. The rest of the decors were by the venue. We took a few portraits in the outdoor area behind the building, and the rest of the day was all about celebrating: first dance, cake cutting, money dance, bouquet toss, garter toss, line dances, and lots of food :)

Congrats to Mr. and Mrs. B!




File under: california wedding photographer, vallejo photographer, vallejo wedding photographer, vallejo wedding photography, event photographer, vallejo event photographer, vallejo event photography, bay area photographer, bay area wedding photographer, san francisco wedding photographer, willows event photographer

On the day of the Lunar New Year, there weren't activities in Chinatown but we went anyway. The parade and celebration actually happened a few days afterwards, which we skipped. Chinatown is always decorated with colors throughout the year, and the children enjoy walking through on a nice day. So many shops for both tourists and locals, cheap haircuts, cheap food... it's San Francisco's Chinatown!

Instead of taking the bus from the Sunset to Chinatown, we drove and parked (free) at Fort Mason. We walked for the next 30 minutes to Chinatown.

No, we don't surf, but husband and I took a walk down to Ocean Beach @ Noriega St, to snap some shots of amazing waves. It was the weekend of the Maverick Surf Competition in Half Moon Bay I think, which we didn't go to, but we were having some really beautiful waves in San Francisco as well.

Luckily, the sun was also setting, so that added some welcomed drama here.

We wouldn't really recommend swimming in that dirty water, but to admire it dryly from land, it really makes our time worthwhile here.

Photos from January 20, 2013.

Portraits: Family Photography
Location: Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco, CA

Cathy is a longtime friend of mine since we were in junior high. Over the years, we never really talked or spoken to each other until the social media explosion. I've since learned that she's become a mom and lives in another state.

She approached me on one of our Facebook chats to do her family portraits, and she brought her whole family from Las Vegas just a few days before Christmas 2012. We decided to do the photos at Palace of Fine Arts. It did rain, but we managed to get plenty of shots in between the pouring madness. Plus, that dome and the columns at the palace served as a mediocre shelter, but it was more of a wonderful prop (or backdrop). I loved their simple outfits of white tops, blue jeans and Chucks. The ladies each had a red accessory on them.

Evidently, this family has a very goofy side.




File under: sf family photographer, san francisco family photographer, sf family photography, sf family photography, palace of fine arts photographer, palace of fine arts family photographer, bay area photographer, children's photographer, san francisco photographer

Event: Wedding and Reception
Location: Our Lady of Mercy (Daly City, CA), One Ferry Plaza (San Francisco, CA)

Nicco was the videographer at Travis and Amanda's wedding, and that was my first time meeting him. He is very good at what he does, and so I couldn't say no at a chance to work with him again in another wedding. He asked me to help out at Gerard and Sophia's wedding in October. The ceremony was at Our Lady of Mercy in Daly City, CA. It was a traditional Catholic wedding.

For entourage portraits, the group went to Legion of Honor. There were many other wedding parties that day, but once Nicco got his shots in, off we went across town to One Ferry Plaza for the reception. It was a gorgeous venue with the Bay Bridge as part of its wide backdrop! Loved the windows, loved the lights, there was nothing not to love.

The official photos are presented by Paderna Photography, but I would like to share my personal favorites that I shot. :)

Click here to start the slideshow!


File under: daly city wedding photographer, daly city wedding photography, san francisco wedding photographer, san francisco wedding photography, sf wedding photographer, sf wedding photography, sf photographer, legion of honor photographer, our lady of mercy daly city photographer, our lady of mercy wedding photographer, our lady of mercy church, church wedding photographer

Event: Wedding
Venue: Wildwood Acres Resort in Lafayette, CA

Back in September, I had accepted my first second-shooter opportunity for PXL Photography to help with Travis and Amanda's beautiful wedding. I started with documenting the groom and groomsmen getting ready, and proceeded to the venue and took detail shots of flowers, props and of course the ceremony. It was a very long day, but this is one of the funnest weddings I've witnessed.

These photos are not the entire collection (those are presented by PXL Photography), but rather, my personal selection of favorites that I shot and edited.

Thanks to Nino Nucum for taking me under his wings on this :)



Click here to start the slideshow!


File under: wildwood acres resort wedding photographer, lafayette wedding photographer, lafayette wedding photography, bay area wedding photography, bay area wedding photographer, san francisco photographer, san francisco wedding photographer, east bay wedding photographer

A very warm welcome to you on our new website!

I have decided to take this back to the blog-style because I have never stopped liking it, and experimenting with Smugmug proved to be ineffective for what I do. The galleries are still hosted on Smugmug, and prints/products can still be purchased by clients. Please feel free to contact us through private messaging (use the form to the right), or leave a comment on any of the pages here. It is very easy to reach out to us! Shy people who prefer email can do this, but we also have a phone number if you want to talk :)

What we are facing this year is a re-positioned focus on events. Children, maternity and family portraits are mostly shelved now, but will be considered during each inquiry. Past clients will of course be considered without hesitation. Events we are available for include weddings, birthdays, religious ceremonies, sports and any and all. In addition, we have a fun open-air photobooth: the PEPbooth (PanFocus Event Photobooth). This service is available for any event, and will be discounted if booked along with our photography service. The PEPbooth is a mobile photo studio, and will be sure to make your event a big hit.

If you need recommendations for videography and hair+makeup, we can help! We know the best videographers and a wonderful beauty artist, and guess what? We would LOVE to be YOUR team for YOUR big day!

Along the way, we are also tuning into fine art and stock photography. This is a step towards a personal fulfillment to shoot on our own time on our own terms. For this, we are using the resources of 500px.com to host these images. Please follow our work at 500px.com/panfocusstudios.

-Rio

The husband and I left the sleeping kids at home with grandma a few nights ago, and headed out to Turtle Hill in Golden Gate Heights. Two cameras toted along, as well as a tripod, and a defense weapon (hey, it's dark out there, gotta stay safe), we spent a few long minutes up there in the cold and took these photos. I'm not too familiar with the directions up there, as the roads get very curvy and confusing, but husband is more familiar with it. When we used to live on 14th Avenue and Irving, he used to take casual walks all the way up to this hill, and it's quite a walk!

Excuse us for the lack of updates here, but times were spent with family and re-working this website.

We are behind by 3 blog entries (three weddings) since September, and a family portrait from December. I'll get to them eventually.

Just some brief updates: Our photobooth is now its own brand, and we call it PEPbooth (PanFocus Event Photobooth). For the year 2013, this is what we will be pushing. I (Rio) am preparing for an Adobe Exam with a couple of courses and so there will be very little time for me to book weddings and edit the many photos they produce.

I am also making myself available for hire as a second shooter, so if you are an event photographer in need of some assistance, please drop a note!

Also, check out our new nature & urban photography page at 500px!

Event: Outdoor wedding
Location: Sutro Heights Park (San Francisco, CA)

Moses and Rebecca had me document their very intimate wedding in one of San Francisco's quiet public spaces: Sutro Heights Park. It was a very overcast September afternoon, and I met with the bride and some of her entourage in the nearby Seal Rock Inn at a suite to cover the bridal preparations.

Shortly before the ceremony started, I hurried across the street and across the park to the other end where the ceremony was going to take place, where guests and Moses were waiting.

It was a very custom ceremony, in which the couple had a "sand ritual" with black and orange sand; this was a nod to their favorite baseball team, the SF Giants (whom, at the time, were vying for the playoffs).

Congratulations to the lovely couple! And the Giants went on to win the World Series a few weeks later =D




File under: sf photographer, sf wedding photographer, sf wedding photography, san francisco photographer, san francisco wedding photographer, san francisco wedding photography, sutro heights park wedding, sutro heights photographer, outdoor wedding san francisco, san francisco weddings, beach wedding, san francisco event photographer, bay area event photographer