annie cat photography

Angelina's Senior Portraits

2010-05-09T21:16:00.017-05:00

Meet Angelina. We started the session at a little cafe in Rice Village and then headed to Rice University.

One of my favorites. Angelina requested her parents to be a part of her senior portrait session and it is so heartwarming to see their close bond.

My client is awesome! Not only is she gorgeous and fun to work with.. she even brought her own balloons for the shoot!

This was my first Senior Portrait session and I really liked how these turned out! Congrats on your graduation!

I heart springtime

2010-04-28T22:14:00.008-05:00

I've never been very good at taking care of my plants. My dad has always been an amazing gardener and I've admired his ability to cultivate and care for his garden. The cover of last summer's J.Crew catalog was this model with this giant flower pin that resembled an English rose. I saw that and had to have it- well, really I decided to try and grow them. I researched everything about rose care including yearly pruning, soil amendment, supplements, what's best for our region, disease resistance, hardiness, etc before beginning. A year later, I am really quite pleased with how my English roses are doing. It took a whole year in order to get blooms this big and abundant especially with the burning Texas heat. I have ordered more and am looking forward to planting them in the front flower bed (yes starting all over again). All my current ones except for 2 mini rose bushes were put in containers at the back of the house, near the detached garage, so we could enjoy seeing them when we drove home. The lighter pink roses has a light lychee fragrance- my new ones I just ordered (apricot color) smell even more amazing than these. Lots of work to do but very excited!

The Khuong Family

2010-04-16T20:00:00.012-05:00

Meet the Khuongs! I could not have asked for a nicer spring day with such a lovely family.

Baby Kyler really liked my camera. Future photographer in the making!

Camden had ran off to explore a nearby patch of grass covered in these tiny daisy flowers. He picked one up and started picking off each petal one by one. I could not help but ask him if he had a girlfriend. =)

I leave you with my favorite from the set!

The Carlisle family

2010-02-27T12:45:00.000-06:00

The Lankford family

2010-02-26T23:17:00.001-06:00

The An Family

2009-12-30T11:15:00.006-06:00

First picture: Elyse + Her "Bubby" = OMG SO CUTE

Hi Readers,

I wanted to share some photos from a recent family shoot. We've been friends with Young and Angela for a long time now so I think its funny they just ignore me when I whip out my "big" camera- they have gotten so used to it by now. I guess it works out for me because they are very natural and comfortable while I am snapping away. You may recognize Angela from one of my previous posts. They are two of my biggest supporters of my work and open to my ideas to try out. I really appreciate this as friend and artist!

Anyways, they asked me to take some family pictures to be used for their Christmas cards this year and I obliged, of course. I do love photographing Elyse (toddler). I know kids generally do/say cute and silly things but Elyse is in a league of her own. She's fearless, very animated and already speaks with a southern accent! Her baby sister seems to be a bit more reserved and quiet. Its truly amazing to see how different their personalities are at such a young age. As always, thank you for letting me photograph your beautiful family!

Enjoy!

Sammy and Irene in anticipation...

2009-12-28T00:55:00.021-06:00

Dear Readers,

Hope you had a lovely and a not too hectic holiday this past week. My husband and I just came home from visiting our friends Sammy, Irene and their new baby girl. She is really super cute. She even makes cute faces when she poos. =) I have to mention that Rocky, their Malti-poo, has been a very good "big brother". I hear all time about dogs being jealous of new babies but he's been great! This session is one that is near and dear to me. We've been friends for years now, traveled together, Irene was one of my bridesmaids, we celebrated their awesome wedding in Mexico a couple of years ago and now they are welcoming their first child after almost 10 years of being together! I was honored when they asked me to capture these pre-parenthood moments for them. They even treated me to lunch at a pizza joint that offered gluten-free pizza! Enjoy!

Coming up next!

2009-12-09T08:40:00.014-06:00

Greetings!

We just got back from attending our friends' AMAZING wedding in Puerto Vallarta! We actually got back a day late due to a mechanical issue with the plane so just going to try and catch up this week with work, housework and editing.

I just wanted to do a quick update on some of my recent sessions that I am working on. These are my faves from the sessions. Stay tuned and have a lovely week!

The day it snowed in Houston

2009-12-04T19:17:00.026-06:00

Hi Readers,

It snowed today in Houston and since it rarely snows here - everyone freaked out and stayed off the roads due to hazardous road conditions. Some parts of Houston actually got a layer of snow. We had some flurries that lasted us a few hours. My 19 month-old nephew has never seen snow so I grabbed my camera and headed over. I took these in about 15 minutes freezing my tail off while my nephew had a ball.

It was also a special day for me as he was able to call me "Co An" (Aunt An) as before he could only say single syllable words. The formal way of addressing an aunt in Vietnamese is by prefixing the name with "Co". He had been calling me (well, everyone) by my first name so it sounded funny hearing a baby calling an adult by my first name. So yea, HEART MELT!

This is his usual expression when I ask him to smile.

What's cuter than a baby in suspenders?

2009-11-24T20:45:00.019-06:00

Hi readers! I am in the mist of editing a recent family session and wanted to post some of my favorites so far. It was a joy photographing this beautiful family. The suspenders on the baby had me going "omg too cute"! It was the perfect fall day (we don't have too many perfect weather days here in Houston). I drove around to scout for a location before meeting them up, parked and grabbed my camera. While exploring, I took a moment to take in all the gorgeous fall foliage around me- the world astounds me sometimes in all its awesomeness! I know its almost the end of November but the mosquitoes were relentless. I didn't know they could bite through jeans! Lesson learned- always bring a can of bug repellant to outdoor shoots. Anyways, hope everyone will have a relaxing Thanksgiving with their friends and family.

Requesting fashion advice!

2009-11-18T16:23:00.052-06:00

Hi readers, I am reaching out for some fashion advice si vous plait!

When my last birthday rolled around I decided that I will wholeheartedly try to dress better. I've never been good with putting outfits together- I picture Tim Gunn giving me his trademark crossed arm look of concern. I pretty much go with whats comfortable. I can barely pick out which shoes to wear let alone attempt accessorizing. (OMG SO MANY CHOICES) Adding jewelry makes me feel like its too much. Anyways, I will be attending my friends' wedding soon and need some help getting my outfit together. Fashionistas, feel free to ~~point and laugh~~ let me know if the shoes/accessory goes with the outfit or if you have any suggestions!

Please vote for one of these 3!

I chose these because:
1. The wedding will be at a tropical climate- so need to stay away from winter wear.
2. I will be helping with photographing so will need something fairly comfy to move in.
3. Unless I can get my legs all nice, smooth and tanned in time- tights are a must for now. (The back of my dress flew up once while I was photographing an outdoor summer wedding. Lesson learned.)

Yes, I realize this dress is a silk bag but its very comfortable. Would a big blingy bib necklace work for this outfit?

Must remember not to bend over much while photographing.

Flats or heels?

Close up of the second outfit's shoes.

Warning: cheese ahead!

2009-11-15T23:35:00.012-06:00

I came across this picture while editing a set today. I just love photographing babies. They are not aware of the camera thus they have the most natural expressions. This photo astounds me of the beauty that constantly surrounds us and in the cycle of life. This child will not look the same in a few weeks nor months and to be able to capture this photo in this moment is so completely fulfilling.

SO FIERCE!

2009-11-02T17:03:00.005-06:00

One out of 2 of my faves. She makes it so effortless. Love the tights btw!

My other faved from the session. So pretty.

A behind the scenes shot. Thanks Dru!

Hi readers! I just had my first fashion related shoot and it was so much fun. I peeped the pics last night and really liked how they turned out. Sorry for the lack of posts, I've been so swamped lately with work work and on the side work. I've been asking myself, "when did life get so busy?". And once in a while I get to do something different that totally fulfills my creative passion and it just gets me going again.

On Saturday I photographed a maternity session for a good friend of mine and then for my nephew's Halloween party. On Sunday Andrew (fellow photographer) and I had a fashion photoshoot with Issa and Tramanh. I thought it was pretty awesome that the girls modeled also made their own clothes and accessories! So Issa and Tramanh thanks for being such awesome models! It was perfect fall weather and the lighting was GOR-GE-OUS out which made up for being eaten alive by Texas-sized mosquitoes!

Tina and Curt Wedding Teaser

2009-10-21T21:00:00.000-05:00

uninspired lately

2009-10-21T01:03:00.000-05:00

Alice asked the Chesire Cat, who was sitting in a tree, "What road do I take?"

The cat asked, "Where do you want to go?"

"I don't know", Alice answered.

"Then," said the cat, "it really doesn't matter, does it?"

Alice in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll

a few favorites from the weekend

2009-10-11T23:32:00.000-05:00

Samantha's sweet baby

Thanks Kat for the pic! hahah I don't know why I look so serious?

I finally got a weekend off so yay! I was really productive with reorganizing my closet and trying to get caught up with photo editing. We attended our good friends, Irene and Sammy's, baby shower yesterday. So many babies! It was cuteness overload!

I'm going to be an aunt!

2009-10-09T23:13:00.000-05:00

I know I should update more frequently but lately I've been pretty swamped with work. I'm also so far behind with all the photo editing that needs to be done.

Here are a few from my recent visit to CA to see my pregnant sistar! I literally took these in 5 minutes before we headed off to catch my flight home. Every morning when I asked her if she wanted to take a couple pictures we would end up delaying it. She would sit in usual spot on the couch with a sports bra and shorts. Poor girl is a walking ball of heat and it was abnormally warm out so I didn't want to bug her too much.

As always, I had a lovely time there. We were very productive going shopping to load her and her hubby up with baby gear! Good thing the girl made a very specific list of things to buy. Each item was carefully googled and researched. It made the shopping trip so much less overwhelming but we still needed to ask the other mommies for help at the stores.

Lastly, I am always so well fed there. We hit up my favorites several times - Curry House (Japanese) and Wasa Sushi. I am so looking forward for her visit and my next trip out there!

PS: Does anyone know how to widen the frame so that my pictures can fit? I can't figure it out by looking at the coding. TIA!

While in Austin

2009-09-15T23:38:00.000-05:00

I had been looking for someone to practice casual portraits on but since most of my friends live quite a drive away- I didn't know who to ask. Angela is a good friend of mine but it didn't occur to me to as ask her as I assumed, like most of my friends, did not like to be photographed. Imagined my surprised when she said she'd love to! Not only is she gorgeous she has a certain je ne sais quoi quality that I was looking for. We took a little roadtrip to Austin over Labor Day for my husband's Triathlon and while the boys hung out, the girls went vintage shopping and I grabbed my camera.

Ang- if you are reading this, thank so much for helping me out!

A few from this weekend

2009-08-31T23:56:00.001-05:00

I don't get to wear my boots too often but when I do, I revel in them. <3

The talented Samantha

Just wanted to add a few from my lovely birthday dinner with the girls. It seems as though the more we get busier as our lives go on the more it makes me cherish our small windows of time when we do get together.

I always come back to this passage...

2009-08-30T23:16:00.000-05:00

She Seeks Sensuality

"Pleasure in ordinary moments. Pleasure in extraordinary moments. She does not confuse commerce with culture and the narrative in her life does not come from what she buys or sees on TV; rather, it comes from getting sensual satisfaction in the moment, from feeling an almost tactile pleasure and evocative power in the seemingly mundane. Remember Audrey Tatou in Amelie? She dips her hands into sacks of grain just for the pleasure of how it feels. She relishes the crackle of a teaspoon breaking the crust of a creme brulee. And she soothes herself skipping stones at Canal St. Martin.

Sensuality is so pervasive in her life that it is almost transparent. It is in the general texture of life, the patina of age that comes with time. It is the baking of bread by hand, the aging of wine. It is the color of inkwells or damask drapes, in the uproarious flamboyance of architecture. And it is fundamentally in the perfection of imperfections--the complexity and realness that create character, depth, and charm." - From Entre Nous by Debra Ollivier

Adding another candle...

2009-08-26T08:20:00.001-05:00

..as I reflect on my life. Where I am going and what I want to do next.

This birthday I am thankful for:

1. My family and friends - They are always supportive and encouraging me in more ways than they know. I also want to say Happy Birthday to my twin sistar, Vivien. It's the one day of the year that I get to officially be older than her for a whole minute!

My mom emailed my sister and I this morning:

Bonjour mes enfants,

Nous pensons a vous deux aujoudh’ui. Meilleurs voeux de bonheur et de joie. Nous vous aimons beaucoup.

Grosses bises… Papa et Maman

I also received a touching card in the mail from my sister's mother-in-law yesterday. I've only met her once and keep in contact via email but her kindness had such a profound effect on me that it made me tear up. I sat in my car for a few minutes having an overwhelming moment. She made a donation our our behalf to heifer.org, an organization that helps to end hunger around the world and help build sustainable communities. She specifically chose the gift to go towards a project in a southern province in Vietnam where we still have family. For someone I've met only once her such kindness really hit me hard. My sister is so fortunate to have such a wonderful mother-in-law.

2. My health. I think I am pretty healthy for the most part. I know I might not work out as much as I should though. I am A-OK as long as I don't have ice cream and coffee in the same sitting.

3. I am thankful that we don't have to struggle to make ends meet. We read about it everyday people working extra jobs just to afford the roof over their heads and provide food on the table. Not like we have buckets of money to spend but I don't have to work two jobs to make a living. We are fortunate to be able to eat where we want and buy things (within our budgets of course) and not be too worried about it. And our families and friends are all pretty stable as well.

4. All the photography opportunities I got this year to help me grow as an artist! These encounters have given me a chance to fill the void of creativity in which my career in IT lacks. Although I am no where near where I want to be- I am on my way. To everyone who gave me a chance, thank you.

A few from this past weekend...

2009-08-10T21:47:00.000-05:00

Jacklyn and Sunny counting down the days...

2009-07-23T20:59:00.000-05:00

Summer reading fun

2009-07-11T10:46:00.000-05:00

Last month, I asked my Facebook friends for some summer reading recommendations. Middlesex by Jeffery Eugenides was one of them. When I found out that it was by the same author as The Virgin Suicides I remembered being captivated by the movie so I decided to give this book at try.

It was a story rich with details of family history up until the discovery of a medical defect told by the narrator who is a hermaphrodite.

I just finished it yesterday. I guess I should clarify and say that I prefer listening to the audio version for longer books as my commute is on average about 1.5-2 hours a day. So after 20 hours of this 500+ pages I felt quite attached to the characters. For a long time I couldn't specify why I was so engrossed in this book. The writing is very descriptive but he made every detail seem relevant and he writes in a very circular manner. I can't recall what I ate for lunch two weeks ago and here the author is recalling decades worth of details. From the reader's perspective one would never know it took him 10 years to write it.

By the final couple of chapters I was emotionally dampened as I knew there would be no more of this fascinating story. I haven't felt this way about a book for a long time. I purchased a copy to be reread along with The Virgin Suicides to be read next.

Our babies

2009-07-01T00:34:00.000-05:00

Toby

Frodo

The Princess turns 4!

2009-06-26T03:52:00.000-05:00

Sharing a quiet moment with Mom.

oh hello

2009-06-26T00:38:00.001-05:00

Just a quick update on my roses. After a couple of gorgeous blooms my plants are mostly leaves for the time being with a rare bud once in a while. At this point with it being near a 100 degrees out I'll be thrilled if all my plants make it through the unyielding heat of summer. For the exception of 4 rose bushes that stay out in full sun, I have pulled the rest into the shade and they seem happier here. It was a nice surprise yesterday morning to see one of my magenta pink roses finally grew a bud and bloomed! I'll try to get a picture tomorrow morning before work.

6/27 *updated with a pic!

Portraits

2009-06-17T00:31:00.000-05:00

My beautiful friend, Anida. Now I realize both photos are of the same pose but I just love her expressive, deep olive eyes in these two photos.

Asian American Giving Circle of Greater Houston

2009-06-09T09:22:00.000-05:00

The Asian American Giving Circle hosted a distinguished panel of leaders to discuss philanthropy and service within the APA community. The Path to Significance, featuring Ms. Donna Fujimoto Cole of Cole Chemicals, Ms. Duy-Loan Le of Texas Instruments & Mr. Gordon Quan of Foster Quan LLP. Held at the Houston Arts Alliance Gallery Space

It was a thought provoking talk with three of Houston's APA leaders and I found their speeches to be quite inspiring listening to their struggles and their strong belief system in the importance of giving back to the community.

Impossibly beautiful.

2009-06-09T00:51:00.000-05:00

C'est impossible

A few from my cutting garden. The first photo was taken Saturday and is dedicated to my good friend, Samantha. It bloomed Saturday but the fragile flower was wilted by the time I gave it to Sam at brunch Sunday morning. (Sorry Sam!) The second photo was taken this morning before I left for work. I thought they would last longer indoors so I brought them in to admire their apricot petals. They were just begging to be photographed! I finished planting the more fussy roses in their proper containers and planted the more hardy breeds into my front yard garden. Now the fun begins!

Meet Teddy!

2009-05-22T11:58:00.000-05:00

After going back and forth for about a year on whether to get a dog, my sister finally found herself the perfect little fluffball. Might I add that she is doing an awesome job training Teddy too!

How quickly a year flys by...

2009-05-20T09:30:00.000-05:00

3rd day of life. It is truly amazing- the miracle of life.

I've taking countless pictures of him and this one is one of my favorites. This photo reminds me of the Gerber baby.

My nephew on his 1st birthday.

Juliette and Bao

2009-04-28T00:31:00.001-05:00

Thomas and Maddy's Wedding

2009-04-17T11:47:00.000-05:00

Baby Portraits

2009-01-02T00:27:00.001-06:00

2008 Random

2009-01-02T00:15:00.001-06:00

Sunrise over Cancun

Sunday morning brunch

At hotel Zaza

Lanai, Hawaii

6 dozen peonies for my sister's engagement party.

Ian and Vivien's Wedding

2008-12-31T01:36:00.000-06:00

Location: Four Seasons Hualalai

Congrats on their beautiful wedding, it was an amazing 4 day celebration in paradise.

Jacklyn and Sunny's Wedding

2008-12-31T01:31:00.000-06:00

Tour de Pink

2008-09-06T23:19:00.000-05:00

Nykki's Baby Shower

2008-07-26T23:08:00.000-05:00

Volunteer Day at Work

2008-06-20T22:57:00.001-05:00

The reason I picked up a camera...

2008-05-10T23:36:00.000-05:00

My first Blythe doll.

Hmm what to wear?

Pretty!

Visiting my sister in Venice Beach, CA. (Melia Turquesa with Ila Paradisa)

Sera Crewe

Lux Lisbon in Paris

Breakfast on the rooftop

Melia overlooking the lake near Mt Fuji

Isla Paradisa was a highly anticipated birthday present!

Isla is my favorite as she loves the beach.

Birdie Oiseaux

Sophie Adore

Melia after her makeover

Ila and Isla - When I met up my sister in DC

The day I met Gina Garan.

Birdie in SF

Blythe in Saigon

My Christmas card one year...

Visiting the Junie Moon store in Tokyo!

In our ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) in Kyoto where we got engaged.

These were taken with my first camera, a Canon Elph point and shoot. Fun with blur, grainyness and harsh flash!

Blythe was my little muse. I had just graduated college and had abruptly moved out of my parents without a car nor a job. Having lived a very sheltered life it was a very challenging time. I had found this whole forum of people collecting, customizing, dressing up this big-eyed doll and photographing them. Everyone would post their pictures and we would all admire. I literally had $150 to my name and spent $90 to buy my first Blythe doll from FAO Schwartz. During that time that I spent it making her clothes, dressing her up and taking pictures- all my worries simply disappeared. Nothing else mattered. I was elated. Over the next few years I went on to collect more dolls and took them everywhere with me when I traveled.

http://www.thisisblythe.com/