KUOH:How do you say it, what does it mean?
KUOH: pronounced Quo (as in Status Quo) is a transliterated Mandarin Chinese last name meaning transition or passing. The Kuohs were originally from China; their ancestry can only be traced back a few generations. The temple housing their ancestors can still be found in a rural town outside of Beijing. Most of the known remaining Kuohs are currently residing in Shanghai.

What kind of camera do you use, and do you have backups?
I use professional grade Canon digital SLRs, and a range of L series zoom lenses. I have a backup for every major piece of equipment, from cameras & flashes to portable hard drives.

What is your photographic style?
The style I like to shoot is journalistic, but that doesn't mean that is all I do. Each style is like a tool in my toolbox, and I use whichever style is best to GET THE SHOT! Even in a formal group shot I'm always looking for that great candid moment that tells a story . The chemistry of putting people together and letting them react to each other is the key to getting authentic emotions. If the situation calls for sitting up high with a long zoom lens and being a fly on the wall, then that is what must happen. But if getting involved to break the ice is called for, then you can be sure I'll be in the thick of it, stirring things up.

Definitions
Formal Shots - Formal shots are when the bride and groom are lined up with family and the bridal party in front of the altar, church staircase or other formal setting arranged in advance.
Setup Shots - A setup is when the photographer asks the bride and groom to hold a pose. There are a variety of setup shots. A good photographer will use a setup skillfully - allowing spontaneous emotions and actions to drive the setup and capturing true emotions and moments in time.
Photo-Journalistic or Candid shots - This style of wedding photography is currently very popular. With the advent of digital photography, weddings are no longer priced at "rolls" - a term referring to the number of rolls of film a photographer agrees to use for the wedding. In photo-journalistic style, a story of the wedding day is captured. The slices of joy and laughter and the genuine emotions surrounding the event are what the day is all about. During the wedding, the bride and groom are usually so overwhelmed with the hundreds of people lined up to shake hands or hug and give congratulatory pats, much of the day is lost in a blur. A photo-journalistic photographer, with the help of a second shooter, is the best way to savor those fleeting moments for eternity.

What is the file format and resolution of the pictures? How large can I print?
I shoot in large uncompressed JPEG file format (12.8 mega pixels). It is also possible to shoot in RAW format upon request. With the proper enlarging software and technique I have been able to print beautiful 12"x17" images. It is even possible to print poster sizes with great effect at 2 feet by 3 feet.

What is RAW and how is it different from JPEGs?
The RAW file is a non-destructive format of storing camera data. When light strikes the individual camera pixels, an electrical charge is detected. The intensity of this charge is recorded and stored on the memory of the camera. The RAW file is the record of this data. It does no further processing to that data, thus non-destructive. Much of that data can be used for photo manipulation in the post-processing of the photo. A JPEG (Joint Photographic Expert Group) file is a compressed image file. It compresses on a sliding scale depending on the desired file size and print quality. A low-compression/high-quality file is unnoticeable to the average human eye. But when it comes to post-processing, a more skilled and subtle technician is needed to preserve photo detail. It can be said that the RAW file is like a photo negative, whereas a low-compression JPEG is like a fine print.

What about black and white?
The beauty of digital is its ability to be versatile. All images will be shot in color, but can then be changed to black and white or sepia-toned or even mixed processes to give the photo the desired artistic effect.

Are digital pictures as good as film pictures?
The short answer is YES! The long answer is that comparing film to digital is like comparing a phonograph record to Blu-ray DVDs. Some people love phonographs and eight-tracks, but it is undeniable that there are technologies that far surpass those analog devices in quality, versatility and time-savings. Digital has become the new standard, but what is so good about it? With digital photos, the fun comes after the actual photo shoot. You can turn a digital file to B&W or Sepia or super saturated. It is easier to transport and can be redundantly backed up on multiple drives and computers. Also, it's easier to share your memories with friends and family via email or websites. There are plenty of cheap or even free photo hosting services online, such as Kodak or Flickr. Even Yahoo and Google offer their own free photo hosting services and they are usually linked to low-cost, high-quality printing from Kodak, Fuji and even Costco. I will provide you with instructions on how to create your own online gallery for sharing with family and printing, as well as assistance with technical questions .

Copyrights and Usage?
In general any images your receive from me are yours to do with as you like, whether that be print, manipulate or share. A signed contract will be necessary if you intend to publish or sell the images. As the photographer, I reserve the right to use the photos for my advertising and sales.

How do I print the pictures?
Kodak.com, Shutterfly.com and Costco do surprisingly good jobs for most common applications. Again, I will provide you with instructions on how to create your own online gallery for sharing with family and printing, as well as assistance with technical questions.

What about sales tax?
Internet deliveries (downloads), PC to PC file transfers or out of state deliveries of physical items are not taxable. California deliveries of physical items (CD, prints, albums etc) make the entire package taxable. The tax rate is 8.5% for San Francisco deliveries and 7.25% in the rest of the state.

What do I need to do to book you?
Step 1- we agree on cost, location, date & time, services to perform and I email you a formal contract. Step 2- you then send me your 50% deposit and fax me your signed contract.

What forms of payment do you accept? What is the payment schedule?
Credit cards (via Paypal), Paypal, checks, cash. 50% to reserve the photoshoot, the rest at the start of the photoshoot.

THE KISS - for the kiss, don't rush through it, enjoy it, and let the photographer get a good shot too! Remember, practice makes perfect.

THE BOUQUET - Hold the bouquet low, it looks more relaxed and graceful.

MANAGING YOUR DRESS - As you are walking around , have one of your bridesmaids drape your dress's train over your left elbow and hold the bouquet in your right hand. This little trick frees you up from tripping unnecessarily and others won't have to constantly help you move.

GROUP SHOTS - Come up with a list of all the formal group shots you want. Limit it to ten. We have a very efficient system of getting all the group shots done in a small amount of time, but we need your help to make sure no one is overlooked.

ENJOY YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER - You will be in very close proximity to the photographer for the entirety of your wedding. Make sure you genuinely like the person before hiring them. Meet with a number of photographers and go with your gut, less with your pocket book or special deals and packages.

SECOND SHOOTER - It is often good to request a second shooter (photographer). In this way you can maximize the photo opportunities throughout your wedding day. Your wedding only happens once, then it is over. You don't want to miss anything.

HIDDEN COSTS - Be wary of hidden costs. If a photographer's package includes a book with 10 pages, know that you will likely end up buying 20 more pages in the end. This is how some wedding photographers increase your price. Ask in advance about the cost of additional pages and additional prints. Assume you will be purchasing at least 2-4 times more then is included in the package. Additional pages in matted albums can easily be $30 without any pictures. Additional prints range from $5 for 4x6 to $50 for 8x10.

DIGITAL FILE STORAGE - Be sure to ask how they will be storing and archiving your images. If they won't release them to you for 1 year, find out if they have a good solid system for storing digital data.

GROUP SHOT TIMING - Plan on having the group shots directly after the ceremony and that the onsite manager, caterer and the wedding coordinator are prepared. Make sure your wedding party and the family you want in the shots also knows about this. This important point will save you the stress of searching for family in a scattered party and save time, too.

PRE-WEDDING PHOTOS - Choose a nice sunny room for your pre-wedding dressing and prep area. It is essential for getting great pre-wedding photos. Also, plan at least 1.5 - 2 hours to save yourself stress.

BUDGET - If you're on a budget, you can provide each table with disposable cameras at the reception. That way, the photographer does not have to stay for that portion of the celebration.

MEET THE PHOTOGRAPHER - Always ask to meet with the actual photographer that will be shooting your wedding. Some photo studios have many photographers they work with so you might end up with someone you just don't mesh with.