Update: 30-Before-30 List

Watching the movie The Bucket List last night reminded me of my own 30-before-30 list, which sits terribly neglected. As a reminder, the list is below, albeit a little marked up for my record-keeping. While I don't have the funds to take an impromptu African safari while singing "In the Jungle" a capella like the movie depicted, I do plan to get a lot of really cool stuff accomplished by the time I turn 30. As of October 23, 2008, I will have just ("just") three years to get ALL OF THESE THINGS DONE.

1. Read one book every two months
2. Keep blog updated at least once a week
3. Take one “strangers holding hands” picture per month
4. Work out once a week
5. Volunteer 100 hours in progress!
6. Learn a foreign language
7. Send out four postcards a month
8. Tour a movie set, sound stage, or be part of a studio audience
9. Travel to Japan
10. Travel to Hawaii
11. Travel to Canada
12. Travel to Philadelphia
13. Travel to Chicago
14. Travel to Denver
15. Travel to Washington DC
16. See the tennis US Open in Queens, NY
17. Travel to Eastern seaboard
18. Visit Eastern Europe
19. Travel to Caribbean
20. Travel to Australia / NZ
21. Write my screenplay
22. Foster a dog
23. Sit down and review all financial documents, organize tax forms, and clean it all up (close any open accounts that are unused)
24. Write my will
25. Sell and/or give away things I don’t need
26. Make a comprehensive list of family and friends birthdays
27. Attend a photography workshop
28. Design and print an album
29. Design custom products (e.g., save the date cards, holiday cards, etc.)
30. Book destination weddings

The bolded ones are going off my list. I think it's silly to think that I can keep up doing stuff habitually (as opposed to a one-time deal). Although, to be fair to myself, I have been sending a TON of postcards out via postcrossing.com on a weekly basis. Regardless, since I'm taking off six, I'm adding the following six to the list:

1. Hike Half Dome at Yosemite (this will be a toughie!)
2. Play $50 at a table in Vegas (I've done slots, but never sat at a table to play before; I'll leave once I lose the $50, hehe)
3. Host a dinner party (I need something relatively easy to keep the list balanced)
4. See the Grand Canyon in Arizona
5. Visit Central America
6. Visit South America

The underlined ones will be taken care of shortly since they're reasonably quick and painless. Somewhat. It will just take a dedicated full day's time to knock them out! Maybe. (How do you like the tiny voice of dissent?)

OK, so here's my revised list, taking out the ones I've already done and categorizing them a little bit. I'm going to go ahead and print this baby out so that I can get them off my list once and for all:

Travel-related (15 items; half of my total list!)

• See the Grand Canyon in Arizona
• Visit Central America
• Visit South America
• Play $50 at a table in Vegas
• Hike Half Dome at Yosemite
• Tour a movie set, sound stage, or be part of a studio audience
• Travel to Canada
• Travel to Philadelphia
• Travel to Chicago
• Travel to Denver
• Travel to Washington DC
• See the tennis US Open in Queens, NY
• Travel to Eastern seaboard
• Visit Eastern Europe
• Travel to Australia / NZ

Taking care of business (6 things)

• Design custom products (e.g., save the date cards, holiday cards, etc.)
• Book destination weddings
• Sit down and review all financial documents, organize tax forms, and clean it all up (close any open accounts that are unused)
• Write my will
• Sell and/or give away things I don’t need
• Make a comprehensive list of family and friends birthdays

Miscellaneous (4 things)

• Volunteer 100 hours (in progress; I've done about 20 hours up to this point, so if I volunteer a stellar 8 hours a week, I'll be done by mid-September!)
• Write my screenplay (sort of in progress)
• Host a dinner party
• Foster a dog

Done (5 things)

• Travel to Japan
• Travel to Hawaii
• Travel to Caribbean
• Design and print an album
• Attend a photography workshop

I <3 Blogging!

I really do! It probably doesn't seem like it because I hardly keep this blog updated regularly, but it's mostly because I’m uncertain as to what kind of content I should be posting here, outside of photographs from my photo shoots and stuff. Outside of photography, right now I'm a bit of a "professional" writer (i.e. paid to write), so I do like to generate random verbiage using the letters A through Z, with the occasional l33t thrown in for good measure and to g33k up the joint.

If you want to read more opinionated-Chung things, you should probably read my Tumblr blog, which is at the URL http://chungnguyen.tumblr.com – it's a roller-coaster of randomness. The thing with Tumblr is that I can just highlight text from websites and "quote" (I can't believe I just put the word "quote" in quotes – twice!) the content, then respond to it. I surf the Internet more than Kelly Slater surfs ocean waves, so there's pretty much never a shortage of content to be flabbergasted with/of/by out there, and I respond accordingly.

Anyway, I will try to blog more on this site because there are a lot of random things pertaining to photography, me, and me and photography that potential clients, friends, and e-stalkers alike may be interested in.

I can't believe I just blogged on blogging more. What a cop-out. Oh well, get used to it!

Peggy & Terry Preview (June 15, 2008)

I've been meaning to blog this wedding for a while now. I shot this wedding for Ziba Studio. It took place at Trentadue Winery, which is in Geyserville, California. Never heard of the city? Yeah, neither did I. But Google Maps has, and that's all that matters. (:

Peggy and Terry are awesome. Why? They're fellow Cal grads (Go Bears!), albeit in far more scientific and arguably practical majors than me. Did I mention that their adorable doggie, Chili, was the ringbearer? (Don't worry, no real bling was harmed in the process.) Please enjoy this little preview:

The backdrop for the wedding was a beautiful landscape with a charming winery.


The bridesmaids, who were both Peggy's sisters. This reminded me of my sister's wedding; we also have three girls in the family. Come to think of it, my dress was a similar color, albeit much, much, much, much, much, much poofier! (:


Check out the groomsmen. (I insisted that they smiled, despite their protests.)


And check out the groom.


Here Terry is rocking what can only best be dubbed the GQ pose. And he does it well.


A fun pre-ceremony portrait with bride and groom.


A moment during the ceremony. Doesn't Peggy look fantastic in that dress?




One of the most adorable pooches. Ever. Chili's probably wondering why so many hands were touching him at once. They're putting on his wedding outfit.


You're probably wondering what Chili was doing during the ceremony. He was looking longingly at his parents. Probably thinking, "What are they doing? And where's my squeak toy?" (: He's so made in the shade!


Another crowd favorite at the wedding was the only kid present, Katelyn (Peggy's niece).


A few details. The fabulous flower work by Laura of Poppy's Petalworks (a fellow Cal grad!).


And this unbelievably, fantastically beautiful cake by Patiserrie Angelica.


During the first dance we witnessed a wonderful moment between Peggy and Terry. There's no shame in crying tears of joy, Terry. You've got yourself a fabulous wife!


I pulled these two outside for some more photos. It was past 8 PM but there was light out (best thing about Summer!). If you're curious about what Peggy and Terry are really like, I think this picture sums up their joyful spirit.


I don't know if they've practiced this or not, but this is too cute! (And kind of reminds me of the saying that couples who are together for a long time tend to start to look/act like each other.)


We'll end with a quiet moment between these two lovebirds.

Thanks for your patience, you two. I know you've been really looking forward to see the images in totality. Don't worry - it'll be worth the wait! (;

Jenine & Marco - Part Two

Here they are!



Jenine had doubts about a good-looking picture in the hallway, but I think it works!


One of Jenine's bridesmaids. I love her hair! It has a beautiful vintage style.




The handsome groom, hamming it up big time!


The beautiful bride, beaming at her husband.


I love these guys: the only FOUR "single" men at the ceremony. Yeah right! More like, the only four guys who want to risk catching the garter....


Big cake!


Red on white is lovely.


First dance:


The end. (:

Jenine & Marco - June 14, 2008

I photographed Jenine and Marco's on Saturday for Ziba Studio. Basics on the event itself:

Ceremony Site: Lake Merritt United Methodist Church
Reception Site: Oakland Asian Cultural Center
Florist: Butterfly Catchers

Now, enjoy some photos and captions from the first half of the day:

The ceremony site with the phenomenal triptych:


A few details. I love that the florist, Janice, incorporated Jenine's color pattern onto the outer petals of the roses. Red and brown complement each other well:


People need to be cautious when they get dressed around me. I'm a bit of a shutterbug. I love the parallel of the pairs helping each other get ready:


The kids there are adorable! Check out Mya, who's pretty got the most adorable dimples. Ever.


Aww....


Joy was playing hide and seek with me:


Sure, she didn't drop a lot of rose petals as per her job requirement. But can you fault her? She was far too busy being super cute!


The groom beaming ear to ear as he sees his bride walking down the aisle. (This is one of my favorite wedding moments; you never know how the groom will react!)


Jenine's tiered dress. Beautiful.


They had a live band for the ceremony!

More images to come, especially some fun portraits of the bride and groom. Together!