Oliver Peng's Blog

Mikey + Becky

oliverpeng — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 18:53:08 +0000

When Becky asked to have part of the photo shoot in a bookstore, I wasn’t sure what to expect. But after I arrived at the Jane Addams bookstore in downtown Champaign, I found that it was such a neat and quirky place! While it rained outside, we shot some unconventional engagement photos there and I’m really pleased with how they came out. When the weather cleared up later on, we moved outside for some greenery. I’m sure you’ll agree that the combination of the sun, the colors, and Mikey and Becky made for some really great imagery!

Dan + Maddie

oliverpeng — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 22:11:04 +0000

Alumni of U of I, Dan and Maddie wanted to have their photoshoot on the campus of the university. As they prepared to come down from Chicago for the shoot, they were getting nostalgic of all the history and memories that they shared while they were here. At the same time, they got excited putting together a plan of attack for a food itinerary just to make sure they hit all the places they used to eat at during their college years. You can’t leave important things like that to chance

After going around the Quad and the Illini Union, we went to the Arboretum where they had one of their first dates. Fitting for their personalities, the shoot was light hearted and fun. Enjoy and be sure to wish this soon-to-be newly weds the best!

Joe + Melissa’s Wedding

oliverpeng — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 16:44:46 +0000

Despite Joe’s many faces that he makes, as a couple Joe and Melissa are more fun than crazy. Chill even. I had the opportunity to be a part of their wedding day and despite the sun being out in full force and the pressures of having to move out to California in a few days, they kept it cool under the tux and wedding dress In fact, with dandelion balls blanketing the grass and the occasional lazy summer breeze, we had our own unique snow that day. It didn’t make the day any cooler temperature wise, but it certainly added to the already beautiful day!

Taft + Becky Engagement Session

oliverpeng — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 19:49:12 +0000

Holy batman! It’s almost been 2 months since my last update. But what better time to post since tomorrow is my college roommate and good friend Taft’s wedding? We did a pre-engagement shoot last year, but we decided to have a engagement shoot as well.

If you know Taft, many of you know that he is the king of corn. Not everyone can appreciate corny jokes, but I must admit that every once in awhile he comes up with a good one. With his marriage one day away with a lovely soon to be wife, I look forward to many baby corn in the future!

I won’t be wielding a camera tomorrow since I have the honor of standing. Now if you’ll excuse me, off to the rehearsal I go!

Paul & Amy’s E-Session

oliverpeng — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 04:40:29 +0000

“Let’s go by that pot smoker place!” What? While our shoot didn’t involve lighting up any reefers, Amy’s suggestion did help determine where we had our shoot. With the location down, the question that remained was: when?

After a long spell of unseasonably cold and rainy weather, Mother Nature overcompensated and on the day of the shoot it was pushing 90′s. Take that and throw Paul & Amy into the mix and you know it’s gonna be a HOT shoot. But despite the energy-sapping heat, apparently all it took was a look at my sweat drenched shirt to make them feel better. Hey, I guess I’m happy to help =) But temperature aside, I had a great time with them going around town, discovering photogenic locations, and having fun with together. See for yourself!

Here’s to the Start of Something New

oliverpeng — Sun, 30 May 2010 20:16:40 +0000

As mentioned yesterday, today is our guest post from Chris!

“I think this is where we shake hands.” - Elijah Price, Unbreakable

Reluctant superhero, David Dunn hears these words spoken by aspiring villain, Elijah Price in the final moments of Shyamalan’s extremely well-crafted Unbreakable, setting up their serendipitous and inevitable rivalry.

The quote actually has no bearing on mine and Oliver’s relationship whatsoever, other than the fact that we are shaking hands in the picture above. Unless… it was Oliver’s brilliance and scheming hand that was responsible for every accident in my life I walked away from, unscathed, as the sole-survivor!

I suppose having me come on a guest blogger makes up for it all, though. No harm done, my friend!

Wedding season is upon us once again. Couples, in their own unique ways, are tying the proverbial knot and Oliver has been doing an outstanding job capturing many of those special moments. He will certainly continue to do what he does best… while extending his expertise into another area as well.

Oliver and I would like to take this opportunity to announce that we have combined our forces, just like the legendary Captain Planet, to create a Wedding Cinematography company! Oliver’s eye for aesthetics + my love for film = HEART. Captain Planet, you would be proud indeed.

Rebranding is inevitable, but as for now we are simply who we are… Chris & Oliver Cinema

We leave you now with our first post for the season! It’s actually a repost of sorts, but with fresh music, a new cut, and a few color grading tweaks, we would like to present to you Glenn & Nicole… the remix.

Cheers,

Chris & Oliver

Guest Post Tomorrow!

oliverpeng — Sun, 30 May 2010 02:04:27 +0000

Tomorrow, we’ll have a guest post from my good friend Chris Sotelo. If you spend some time with Chris, you come to see that beyond his smooth looks he may not be completely what meets the eye. Indeed, he is quite the movie buff and connoisseur of films. Not only does he appreciate watching all types of films, or just have a remarkable ability to quote lines from them, but I do believe that his mind sees the world as a series of movie scenes. He also has the eye to create them and he’s worked as director on many of the projects that I’ve posted on this blog (I’m at FACT, Dae & Jina’s Proposal Video, and Part I & Part III of the Covenant Fellowship Variety Videos) and some other projects like Normal Activities.

Stay tuned!

Gunny & Lynn’s E-Session

oliverpeng — Tue, 25 May 2010 22:22:02 +0000

May has been a crazy month in terms of weather and definitely not an easy one in terms of photography! One day it’s windy and cold, some days it’s raining, and others it’s scorching hot. When we started the esession in St Louis a little over a week ago, the clouds looked like they were ready to burst. And burst they did!

What do you do when it pours..? See below for the Gunny & Lynn way!

Jacob & Areum’s E-Session

oliverpeng — Thu, 20 May 2010 21:27:42 +0000

The first thing that comes to mind when I think of Jacob & Areum is the word “friendly”. They’re just a sweet and friendly couple and you can’t help but feel excited for them =) I feel privileged to be their photographer and we got to do our first shoot together in Chicago for their e-session. It was a blast and the chemistry between them just radiates from these pictures!

Jacob’s co-workers gave him a hard time about leaving work early for a photo shoot that day, probably laughing at the idea that Jacob thinks he’s a model. I won’t say one way or another, but I will let the photos do the talking

Joe & Melissa’s E-Session

oliverpeng — Tue, 18 May 2010 08:51:30 +0000

5.22.2010. Mark the date and be sure to congratulate them on their wedding in just a few days!

A couple days ago, Joe flew in from sunny California and we did a shoot in the heart of the Windy City. And man did the city stay true to it’s name. Despite being a week into May, it was in the 40′s and windy! Not sure what happened to summer? The world must be coming to an end… but it’s all good because at least they can be married by then!

Despite the chilly weather, Joe & Melissa were all smiles and laughs. I can’t wait to see how they’re like in a few days when they’re not freezing =) But until then, here are some teasers of the soon to be husband and wife!

Joe flashing gang signs of LA