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Author Archives: Chris Schmauch

Duck, Duck, Shoot!

Went back to Shokolaat today to shoot this fine, fine duck dish. Shekoh, the owner, was kind enough to let me eat it afterwards, and it was mighty deelish! It’s usually served with rutabaga instead of green beans, but I’m not complaining. Check this place out, it’s a must-visit restaurant if you’re wandering down University […]

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Where’s My Toof?

Had to share these ones of my oldest daughter, Kaitlin. Tooth number three (top), and ain’t she proud o’ that gap! Natural light Natural Light Two SB-800s firing through a FourSquare Softbox (review on that baby coming!)

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Catheryn & Sebastian (Wedding Album)

Catheryn & Sebastian had a wonderful ceremony at the Sainte Claire Hotel in downtown San Jose this last August – I had no idea the banquet spaces were so nice there! C&S are a beautiful couple inside and out. I really enjoyed our first engagement shoot down in monterey, they were real troopers braving the […]

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Lorig Family, Natural Bridges

OK, so I mainly chose the location because of the iconic natural bridges that give the park its namesake, but if I’ve learned anything about photography, it’s to assume nothing about weather, light, kids good behavior, camera and lighting gear functioning properly… you get the picture. Anyways, I met the Lorig family in the parking […]

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Thanksgiving, Deconstructed (Food)

I met up with my buddy Daniel Patino today, the Executive Chef at Downtown San Jose’s Arcadia (in the Marriott Hotel). We wanted a couple photos of their Thanksgiving special which he was kind enough to plate up for me. Here’s a pic from the quick shoot below. Afterwards we went up to the 26th […]

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Just Give Me “Blue Steel” Already… (Fashion)

I met with critically-acclaimed clothing designer Franco Uomo at his Santana Row location to shoot some of his creations on our model, Jason. The store manager, Angelina Haole, was indispensable as she dragged the rolling clothes hanger up and down the alleys of Santana Row, all the while providing constructive creative input. Franco whisked in […]

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Conrad Family, Sunol

I met up with Jason, Madelyn, and their two adorable rugrats this morning at Sunol Community Park. We shot a ton of photos, and I’m just downloading them now, but I thought I’d share one that caught my eye in the last few minutes. I try to creatively wing it when shooting families, it keeps […]

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Way More Than Chocolate at Shokolaat (Food)

She was excited as that very morning she’d received the coveted 2010 Michelin Recommendation

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Family Fun at Arata’s Pumpkin Farm, Half Moon Bay

My family met up with Sean, Jenna and their one-year-old Michael for a little fun pumpkin hunting and looking for photo ops. We found a few. Enjoy! {Hint: Click the Slideshow for a Full Screen Presentation} [slidepress gallery=’family-fun-at-aratas-farm’]

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Give Me a Y-O-G-A!

Linda McGrath of Yoga Source Los Gatos needed some group and individual shots of her Yoga teachers. We met at the front lawn of Los Gatos High School, which is big, beautiful, green, dotted with tall palm trees, which would help accentuate the reaching poses. It was hot as hell, and everyone was wearing all […]

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Luisa & Graham (Wedding Album)

Luisa and Graham got married at the beautiful Murrieta’s Well in Livermore, CA. Graham used to work at the winery, so it was a bit of a reunion with the folks there. The main building looks like a big, weathered, two-story barn with rocky walls on the base level and giant wooden timbers and glossy […]

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Poochie Woochie Hotel (New Business)

Jo Abbie, Heather Driscoll and I met up with Robin Tomb, the owner of the new Pooch Hotel in Sunnyvale. She generously gave us the PR tour of the opulent, canine-only hotel. Prices range from $50-$100/night, but most suites include flat screen TVs (24/7 Animal Planet, Anybody?) and webcams to remotely check on your pooches […]

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Kelly & Doug (Wedding Album)

Kelly and Doug are totally laid back, left me to do my magic. They had a wonderful wedding at Sesnon House on the Cabrillo College campus in Aptos, CA (near Santa Cruz). Please enjoy the album slideshow below. All their printable photos are on my portfolio site here. {Hint: Click the Slideshow for a Full […]

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Portrait: Mitch Cutler, Owner of La Fondue in Saratoga

While busying myself with the Plumed Horse photo shoot, Mitch Cutler from La Fondue across the street came over to visit with his fellow restauranteur buddies. I’d never actually met Mitch before, but I’d shot at his restaurant’s old and new location several times. In fact, the photos gracing his website are pretty much all mine. “Oh, […]

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Burritozilla 1. Nick Veronin 0.

Went to Iguana’s in downtown San Jose to watch Mitchell’s friend Nick attempt to master the 5+ pound monster that is “Burritozilla.” Nick made a valiant effort, managing a little more than half of the beefy behemoth down his gullet. I was there to point my finger, laugh, and of course document the moment for […]

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The Grill – Architectural Interiors, Seafood, Steak…

Here’s a few new interiors of The Grill on the Alley in Dowtown San Jose. I shot 7 bracketed exposures for each HDR image. Also, a couple food pics. Full gallery here.

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Dredg, The Band

Mitchell Alan Parker and I met up with local band Dredg today before they leave on tour for Europe. We met them at their new practice studio in Fremont – basically a largish room in an old storage complex. The place was crammed with musical gear and other “stuff,” so I had to try not to […]

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Louis Gossett, Jr. – Interview

The Wave Magazine Editor Mitchell Alan Parker and I met up with Actor Louis Gossett, Jr. today at The Fairmont Hotel in Downtown San Jose. We met in the [dark] lobby and conducted the interview on some comfy couches. The ambient light levels were quite low, but I made do. Using the Nikon D3 & […]

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Watercourse Way Fashion Shoot

Many thanks to everyone involved in this last-minute Wave Magazine cover photo shoot! Dorian at Watercourse Way Bath House (http://www.watercourseway.com) in Palo Alto opened the doors to their business for three hours today, and with only 24 hours notice! We had the choice of two rooms, we took the bigger one with more natural light, […]

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Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero, Junior Featherweight Boxer

OK, so I probably outweigh this guy by at least 50lbs, but if we were in a ring together, I’d last as long as it took for him to cross the distance to get to me. Mitchell Alan Parker and I drove down to the Team Guerrero gym in Gilroy to interview and take pics […]

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