Hey guys! We've been growing our team here at the NY studio, and one thing I value is working with other people. I've had the fantastic opportunity to have Anita Ng this past year. Here's more on her:

Where are you from, where did you go to school, and what did you major in? 

I was born and raised in New York City's Lower East Side, but I take no ownership of it. I would say I never really explored New York City until I was 18 and moved out of my parents. I went to a local elementary school, a progressive middle school, the FAME school, and then majored in photography at Pratt. I come from a communicative visual art background. It's all I've known.

Tell me about your time working as a studio manager for Albert Cheung Photography. 

Its been fun. I'm learning a lot of new techniques, shortcuts and software. Every week is kind of different depending on which deadline is due, which is a dream for mid twenties millenials with short attention spans...or maybe that's just me. I really enjoy that while photography is the overall theme, it's not one repetitive task. Aside from editing and doing post work on images, there's also album layouts and studio help that require attention. 

Can you describe your creative style?

Put together with a twist...but done my own way? I like things to to be deliberately composed and framed. Presentation matters a lot to me, and I don't mean that in a vain way, I just think when things are presently nicely, it'll command more attention, and it shows effort. Plus it hurts my eyes when theres a hodgepodge of information I have to look it. I also relate my style to that of an onion; there are multiple layers. On the surface it's recognizable, but beneath there is another meaning, another reading.

Name some fashion influences you admire.

I adore brands that made a reputation for themselves by playing with texture, shapes and patterns while still keeping with simple silhouettes, like Kenzo, Marni or Band of Outsiders. I like fashion that can be a staple for a wider audience. However, I don't adhere to any strict brands. I know what I like and I think I know what looks decent on me. I tend to go for more tailored clothes with minimalistic design details for just the right amount of flair. I enjoy following menswear; it's less chaotic to follow and usually more focused on classicism rather than trendiness. 

How does photography play a role in what you want to do?

I like the communicative aspect of photography and the fact that there's always a narrative to tell. I love narratives that are open ended where one can develop their own personal resonance to it. I look at photography in an artistically therapeutic way. It's something I wish to expand further into. 

What are some photographers/artists/figures you highly respect?

Off the top of my head...Jeff Wall, Burk Uzzle, Uta Barth, and Joann Verburg. 

Do you have any tips for fellow peers who want to work for a photographer or a creative studio?

Be motivated and passionated about what you want to do. It also helps A LOT if you surround yourself with creative (or like) minded people, because you're just thrive off one another.  

Thanks so much! Visit Anita's personal photography website at anitatakespictures.com.

It's destination wedding season, and there's no better way to kick it off than a wonderful Turks & Caicos feature from last Fall! Sara and John meticulously planned every piece of their three-day adventure for close friends and family. From off-shore excursions to wonderful cocktails, there was not a moment we didn't savor. Thankfully, my trusted associate, Clarence Chan, flew down with me to cover all the details. He was also the better swimmer, and we were able to execute a good number of underwater photographs. Enjoy these - the images speak volumes on an amazing destination weekend!

If you're a New Yorker, you know Spring comes bursting forth in the most unexpected way. Last year it came freakishly early in March, but it's already April this year and everyone is still wearing their winter coats! In an effort to usher in some Spring action, here's an engagement session from 2012 that really warms the heart, and hopefully our still-wintry-shuttered city. The colors in this set work wonderfully well, all due to great planning and the exuberantly creative duo of Jissenia and Lawrence!

My journey was a thrilling one. After landing in Manchester, we drove through the the beautiful town of Chester, England, soaked in the vistas at Conwy Castle, and arrived at the bucolic site of the Isle of Anglesey off the coast of Wales where Andy grew up. Being there for several days on the isle offered an opportunity to take some video off my DSLR as well, and I am glad to feature my first highlight film that attempts to represent the true beauty of the Welsh landscape. The ceremony was held at Llangeinwen Church, which has been standing there since the 9th century. Incredible!

To Erin & Andy: A special thanks for the opportunity to bear witness to your wonderful vows, and opening my eyes to the beauty of a land few have seen.

Andy + Erin from Albert Cheung on Vimeo.

The party continued through the night in the spectacle-lit barn, and I was able to sneak Erik and Nicole out for a few portraits. Simply gorgeous.

Be sure to follow Erik's excellent photography site here. Big thanks to Fred Lee Films for the wedding film as well!

A year ago, I met Melissa Gonzalez at a New York networking event hosted by OS-Fashion. Melissa is the creative founder and CEO of Lion'esque Style, a fashion marketplace for wearable trends, and have since collaborated as their photographer on several projects, such as the F/W 2012 runway show for Laura Smalls (Michelle Obama's latest gown designer favorite) and product/lifestyle photography. She is well-respected when it comes to style choices and professional leadership, and has been nominated as "The Top 20 Most Inspiring Individuals in New York", one of "America's Top 100 Young CEO's", and is regularly featured on ABC and WPIX segments with regards to emerging fashion brands.

When it came to her wedding, Melissa was no different. Every detail was thought out and picture perfect. Through Melissa, I got to know her husband Nick and their beloved third member, their Jack Russell terrier, Mila! They are full of life and always optimistic, and being their photographer gave me an opportunity to acquaint myself with their wonderful extended families as well.

Their wedding was a two-day affair in East Hampton, Long Island, complete with a sunset-laden welcome party at Maidstone Beach. Melissa and Nick got ready at the upscale and bucolic Maidstone Hotel, and topped everything off with a wonderful reception at Wolffer Estate Vineyard under the stars. In attendance was Andre Leon Talley, America's Next Top Model judge & former editor-at-large for Vogue. The perfect summer wedding - congratulations!

I could not have done this wedding without my second photographer, Edmond H. Lee. His shots are noted below.

Photo above: Edmond H. Lee

Photo above: Edmond H. Lee

Photo above: Edmond H. Lee

Photo above: Edmond H. Lee

Photo above: Edmond H. Lee

Photos above: Edmond H. Lee

Photo above: Edmond H. Lee

Frank is a good friend and my business partner at FRAME Photographics, a commercial photography studio that we co-founded in 2011. Frank was married to Judith last week in New York, and it was a real privilege to do their portraits in the city where they met and got engaged. They spent many of their dates eating around the East Village, so much that we dedicated part of the shoot to the eateries they love  - namely Luke's Lobster & Ray's Candy Store for their awesome beignets.

Congratulations, Frank & Judith!

Staying lighter on my feet while feeling and looking comfortable has been the general approach for my wedding and environmental portrait work. Substituting the institutional black slacks and white shirt in favor of a more casual look actually takes effort, especially when you are looking for wardrobe pieces that are both functional and look good. I've been a faithful user of BlackRapid's DR-1 Double Camera Strap system for the past year, but I've been longing for a double strap that carried sartorial value. Don't get me wrong - the BlackRapid options are durable and comfortable, but adorning thick ballistic nylon straps over a well-chosen outfit began to look out of place.

A fellow photographer recently tipped me on a new company called HoldFast, and their innovative products seemed to fit the bill. HoldFast applies attractive form and practicality to a realm where this combination is rarely found – photography equipment. In a world dominated by black neoprene straps and nylon bags, founder/photographer Matthew Swaggart offers timeless materials like waxed cotton duck and beautifully aging leather. HoldFast was born out of necessity, and its gear evokes a time when photography gear was not only functional, but also effortlessly stylish. 

I recently purchased HoldFast's "MoneyMaker" Dual Strap System, and was immediately struck by the exceptional quality of its construction. All HoldFast products are made in the USA, and the level of craftsmanship associated with American made goods is definitely found here. One my of main motivations behind purchasing the MoneyMaker was its ability to age. A characteristic of quality leather like this is that it will start to evolve with regular use, becoming even more comfortable and creating wear patterns that are unique to me and how I use my gear.

The product came freshly oiled and wrapped in brown paper tied with rawhide lacing, with noticeable treatment soaking through the paper like a piece of meat fresh from the butcher. This was the oiled brown version; their other colorways and hides include natural leather, water buffalo, and even an American bison option. The straps are soft to the touch, but like all high-grade leathers, require a break-in period for the material to really soften up. I linked both my pro bodies up to the proprietary stainless steel hardware, and definitely felt that I could trust HoldFast's support system. Their steel rivets and buckles were very well made.

My problem with the BlackRapid double-strap design was that it never felt like a complete unit - moreso two separate straps linked together. With the HoldFast MoneyMaker, I definitely experienced a more complete yet simplified support structure that works regardless of your torso size. 

As a portrait & wedding photographer, I'm on my feet all day. Besides my cameras and lenses, the most important part of my gear is my strap system. The HoldFast is an attractive solution and makes it easy to grab either of my cameras on the fly while evenly distributing the weight of my heavy gear. Look out for a followup review in a few months when they're broken in!

Check out the rest of HoldFast's collection here, as their other pieces are definitely worth a look. 

Much credit goes to my editorial intern, Adam Sue, for helping me photograph and assemble this post.

Hi Jackie! So, tell me about your background - where are you from, where did you go to school, and what did you major in?

I grew up in Plano, Texas (Dallas), and no I did not ride horses daily. For high school I moved to Southern California and now here I am in New York City.  The change was huge, but my year in the city has been so exciting! Currently, I'm attending NYU for Marketing and T.V/Film, but I love fashion--so I guess you could say I study it on my own time.

Awesome! You're also working for Annie Leibovitz in addition to our studio. How the heck did you land that job?

Ha-ha, I think I get this question more than anything. I wish I could tell you that I ran into Annie Leibovitz on the street, charmed her with my charismatic wit, and she offered me an internship on the spot... but that's not true. Truth is, my friend's brother works for her and I sent in my resume through him. Nothing too exciting, but I'm still definitely one lucky girl. It's an amazing opportunity, and everyone is friendly! They're all willing to teach the interns how to do things, even though there are a million things going on in the studio.

Tell me about your first few weeks as a studio manager for Albert Cheung / Minnow Park Photography.

 Well, first thing - it's incredibly fun. It's a job that I get excited to go to. I think during the first week we were all getting use to working together so we were being polite and what not, but now that we are comfortable with each other, we joke around and make fun of each other and take creativity breaks and go to the roof. On the other hand, I'm constantly learning a lot from Albert and Minnow; they both have such different styles of photography. I like working with InDesign as well, which is one of the things that I'm doing for them. Each time I come in there's something new going on - new people dropping in, new gadgets arriving in their glorious brown cardboard boxes, new assignments, new events. It's really great! Other than that, the office is located in the Fashion District so it’s really fun to take a lunch break and see all the wonderfully dressed girls and boys running around.

 So you've got a passion for fashion. Tell us more about that.

I've always been drawn to fashion. I think it came from my mom; she's always in the chic-est ensembles. I always raid her closet whenever I'm home, although I think she prepares for it and stashes away all of her expensive pieces. For the most part, my style varies a lot. One day I'm wearing punk rock attire; you know boots, cut-offs, studs, and some days I like to class it up with a matching short-suit. It really depends on the day and my mood, and I think that's one of the best things about personal style. It allows you to be someone or make you feel a certain way. Sometimes if I'm having a bad day, it'll be because I don't feel comfortable in what I'm wearing. We live in a visual world! I really believe that clothes can make you who you want to be - well maybe not completely, but it definitely plays a big part.

Sweet. Name some design / brand influences that inspire you.

Design wise, I find myself lusting over Alexander Wang's simple pieces and ACNE. I also really like Katie Emirillo, YSL, Chanel, Sandro, Theory, Equipment-etc. Minimal and Clean. Of course, I can't afford to buy Alexander Wang and ACNE, all the time so I usually do pretty well at Zara, they have some really awesome stuff this season. When I want to get trendy pieces, I'll usually look into stores like LF, Nastygal.com, and Top Shop.

How does photography play a role in what you want to do?

I definitely see myself involved with photography in my future. Perhaps not behind the camera but more as a creative director or a producer for photo-shoots. Even more than photography, I'd love to work with video. Currently, I'm working on a fragrance ad. I'm very excited about that. Eventually I'd love to work with Tim Burton or Disney and create something incredible for them.

Do you have any tips for a college student who has a desire to work for a photographer or a creative studio?

Make yourself marketable, make your online portfolio awesome, constantly practice your craft, play around with Photoshop/InDesign, and fumble with Video's and new mediums. This industry is constantly changing and heading toward an even more digital age (if you can believe that). Ask yourself, what will set you apart? Then when you're ready and you're applying, remember to use your school's connections and alumni! Lastly, collaborate with young talented people like yourself. You can learn something from everyone! 

 What is one thing that you wish you had known during your first job or internship?

 Always dress comfortably on a photo shoot day--you'll be running around like crazy.

Thanks so much Jackie! -Albert