Exclusive Wedding Tips from Hong Photography

Getting to know a talented Wedding Photographer – Ellen Ho of Hong Photography

Ellen Ho of Hong Photography is one of Vancouver’s top wedding photographers. I met Ellen almost 10 years ago while booking a boudoir photo shoot for myself. I came across her work and was blown away at how unique and feminine her style was – without that pin up girl look that I was not a fan of. At the time, she was really the only one offering a different style of boudoir photos and it was exactly what us girls needed. I won’t get too into how my session went, but I can say that she made me instantly comfortable in front of the camera and made it so easy for me to pose in basically next to nothing. I have never felt that at ease with anyone! I have followed her wedding and boudoir photography career since and have always been inspired by her creativity and effortless way of capturing people and details!

When I started REVUE BLANC, I knew she was a photographer I just had to feature so I got up the nerve to reach out and was THRILLED she accepted!!

So allow me to introduce you to a photographer that is constantly raising the bar in the wedding industry – one that you should without a doubt contact for your upcoming wedding!

Ellen welcomed me into her soft lit studio full of beautiful details perfectly reflecting her feminine luxurious romantic style. Beautiful white sheer drapes separate the studio space from her living space while floor to ceiling windows creates the perfect lighting for any photo shoot. The space is full of beautiful antique details; a variety of different sized antique frames decorates the wall with images of beautiful women, beautiful sofas line each side of the studio surrounded by delicate pieces that complete the setting for any photo!

Sitting down with Ellen surprised me…in a good way! She is incredibly humble and down to earth; perhaps a bit unaware of how insanely talented she is! She is grounded with such a calm energy which is probably why her clients feel so at ease with her. It was adorable seeing her giggle throughout the interview at some of her answers or my questions. Being a bit nervous to interview such a creative genius, she definitely made me feel at ease – yet again.

 

Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself, where you’re from?

EH: My name is Ellen and I run a Photography and Cinematography company in Vancouver. I am originally from Taiwan but moved here when I was really young.

Did you attend school or receive training for photography, or are you self-taught?

EH: I completed a Visual Arts program at University of Victoria (UVIC). It focused on photography, painting and digital media arts. I loved it, it was so much fun! The program was four years, but I ended up staying in Victoria for seven years. I actually started a photography company in Victoria, but it got so busy here in Vancouver and I didn’t want to travel that much so I decided to move back.

What first got you interested in photography?

EH: I have always loved photography but it wasn’t until my sister was getting married and suggested I become a Wedding Photographer that I really started to consider it. My sister suggested  I  talk to her Wedding Photographer(she is still in the industry today and is amazing!), but I said no because I was too shy.  I started by myself but I’ve been very fortunate.

How long have you been photographing weddings?

EH: This is my eleventh year! It’s been a long time.

What is your favourite part of the wedding day?

EH: I would say the portrait session between the ceremony and reception. This is when I can really get creative.

How would you describe your photography style and approach?

EH: I would say more fashion-based, very luxurious, elegant and timeless.

What keeps you inspired?

EH: With social media you see inspiration all the time and sometimes it can be intimidating seeing other’s work because there are so many good photographers out there. Usually I go to wedding blogs and Instagram accounts to see other people’s work. A lot of the time I look at non-wedding related things to bring newer elements to weddings and make it more interesting.

I look at design websites and also Wedluxe, which is good.

What are some questions couples should ask to ensure they’re booking the right photographer?

EH: The most important question is the style, how the photographer works throughout the day, and their packages. A lot of people think that all photographers offer the same services and the same packages, but each photographer is very different. Another good question in terms of files is how much editing will be done? Many people think their photos will be edited like a fashion photo but since it’s wedding photography, it is very different.

Not all clients are comfortable in front of a camera or are creative. How do you manage their expectations and encourage them to step outside of their comfort zone?

EH: This is a tough one because most couples are not models. The most important advice I have is to let them be themselves and give them a lot of encouragement. When they are interacting with each other and having a good time – that is the most beautiful moment for me. Once I capture that, show it to them and let them know how good they look and reinforce it, eventually they always open up.

I think I am very fortunate to be doing boudoir photography with women.It gives me a lot of practice with real people and helps me understand how to relax and pose them.

How do you handle shy clients?

EH: With shy clients, you really just have to let them do their own thing. I’ll walk far away and use a zoom lens at first. I don’t really tell them how to pose – I just let them be themselves. Once they feel comfortable and are able to be themselves and open up, then they slowly start posing.

What is included in your wedding photography packages? And what is the price range?

EH: I have so many different packages. The basic one would be six hours of photography, 100-200 specially edited photos, and 600-800 unedited photos.

My lowest package, which is for six hours, starts at $5,000. It can go all the way up to $20,000 if the couple  wants an engagement session or anything else. If the client is having  a destination wedding, my travel costs would be added as well.

How many hours of coverage are included?

EH: It starts at six hours to basically however much time they need me for.

Do you use flash or natural lighting for weddings?

EH: Usually I prefer natural light, but these past few years I have been using flash lights. At a reception, if the flash lighting is set-up right, it is really flattering. For portrait sessions, I think natural light is better because it is more romantic and soft.

What is the best time of day to schedule your wedding photo session?

EH: I love to do portrait sessions at  sunset as it is really flattering, but a lot of the time you don’t get to do that during the wedding day.

Do you have specific spots that you love doing your portrait sessions at?

EH: I really love Jericho Beach. It is very stunning. It has the view of Vancouver, the water, the colour of the sky, and the sand which is soft and pastel-like. Otherwise, my favourite indoor location would be the Vancouver Art Gallery and the Fairmont Vancouver Hotel.

Do you shoot film, digital or both?

EH: I shoot both. With weddings I shoot digital and I’ll use film for some lifestyle sessions.

What cameras and lenses do you shoot with?

EH: I have been using Nikon for twenty years and for film I use Contax. Lately though, I have been switching to Sony which is really surprising because I have always loved Nikon so much. Now that I’m doing videography as well as photography, I find I can use Sony for both. Zeiss also makes lenses for Sony now and they are amazing. The blurriness is so creamy and beautiful! (I know I sound like a geek, haha!)

How many weddings do you do in a weekend?

EH: My max would be three, but usually it is one. Three is really crazy and two is pretty tiring, so ideally, one is good.

Do you follow a shot list? Or do you prefer to have free reign to capture the festivities how you see fit?

EH: I don’t have a shot list anymore because I have been doing this for so long. In my mind, I already know what I need to capture as go-to shots. Once I have achieved the go-to shots I try to do more creative stuff.

Do you bring assistants or second shooters with you?

EH: Yes. For a typical wedding, there is a second shooter. But for a really special wedding, there is another assistant or another shooter.

How many images do you take during a typical wedding?

EH: For a typically wedding it ranges from 4,000 to 10,000. That’s why there is so much post-processing work. I tend to shoot quite a bit, for example, for one moment I shoot about 10 images and pick a couple of them out of the 10.

What is your post-processing workflow?

EH: First I upload to my hard drive and then import to Lightroom. For example, I get about 6000 photos for a wedding and then filter down to about 1000 photos. After that I filter down again to about 800 photos. I then colour correct and pick about 100 photos and import them into Photoshop. I do a lot of Photoshop, more than a lot of photographers do. I then clean up skin tone, tinting and make any other adjustments needed.

How long do you spend editing the average wedding?

EH: It ranges from three months to a year depending on the clients as some want to select their own photos. The faster they select their photos, the faster I can finish. Typically though, I would say three to four months.

What has been your most interesting wedding so far?

EH: All of them are all really interesting in their way. But this trip I just went on to Dubai was really amazing. Even though it was just a pre-wedding photo session, it was really something I will remember.

The desert and the mosque were so beautiful. It’s so different from here in Vancouver, it is something I will remember for the rest of my life.

What is the best thank you that you’ve ever received?

EH: I did a wedding for a client who told me she first saw my photos about seven years ago and at that time already knew that I was going to be her wedding photographer. Then six years later, she was getting married and hired me as her photographer and said it was a dream come true!

Which of your own photographs is your all-time favorite?

EH: There is this one that is actually of that same bride I mentioned that has been circulating online for six to seven years and people still love it. It’s a portrait of an Indian bride and is very colourful and her eyes – the way she is looking at the camera, it’s stunning!

Have you ever had a wedding where you absolutely did not like the setting and had to work really hard to find good backdrops?

EH: There are quite a bit of weddings like that but you have to make it work. You have to find something that is really simple and have them stand in front of it. With weddings, it’s hard to predict what you will have to work with. When you arrive you have to start setting and cleaning up, so having a love for interior design really helps me stage for my clients.

If I can, I will visit locations ahead of time, but if I can’t, I’ll make it work.

Do you offer destination weddings and engagement photography sessions?

EH: Yes, it is my favorite and I want to do a lot more if I can.

What would you say was your favorite place/destination or experience?

EH: All of them are great – I love different cultures. So far, Santorini for pre-wedding shots and Dubai were really amazing. I have also been to Thailand for a wedding which was really beautiful.

If there was one place in the world you would love to capture a wedding where would it be?

EH: I would say Europe – in Italy. I have always wanted to go but I haven’t gotten any requests…yet!

As an experienced wedding photographer how have you seen the industry change over the years?

EH: It’s really interesting to see the different trends. Right now it’s the hipster style. Sometimes it’s a struggle for me to know if I should follow the trends or not. There have been times I did and looking back now, the photos are pretty obsolete. For me, I think it’s best to keep it clean so that it stands the test of time.

What do you think of weddings in 2017 – have you noticed any photography trends that people are asking for this year?

EH: I’ve been thinking about this…I think the upscale hipster style.

If you were to pick one defining moment in your Wedding Photography career what would it be? Was there a specific moment that made you think you could really make a success of this?

EH: I think after the first few weddings I just knew this is what I wanted to do and I would rather be doing this over anything else. I felt like even though it was difficult, hard physically, and I had to establish business practices and get new clients, it was still fun.  I knew it was okay to earn less money as long as I was doing photography.

Do you have some goals for where you’d like to see yourself in five years?

EH: I am hoping I can do a lot more destination weddings and photo shoots. I have always wanted to be a Destination Photographer and used to travel a lot more so I’m hoping I can get back to where I was. I would like to establish the cinema division because I feel very passionate about it.

With so much talent in the industry, how do you make yourself stand out?

EH: I just know that I want to do something different than whatever is going on in the industry. Bringing new and unique ideas and avoiding what others have already done – I strive to be unique.

With so much great talent in the wedding industry, can you name five professionals you adore working with?

EH: Countdown Events is one of my favorites. Anita Lee, hair and makeup is really amazing. Dushan Flowers is also really talented and is up and coming. Capture the Moment, they are good friends and are really good! Mostly, I like people who are easy to work with, have integrity and loyalty, and have good business practices – which is really important to me. This makes you feel safe working them.

Other than photography, what are your other passions or hobbies?

EH: I am really passionate about yoga. I also do a lot of reading on spirituality and, from the business side, I read about photography, cameras and equipment. Mostly though, I’m interested in self-development, I am really obsessed with that.

Aside from Wedding Photography, you also offer boudoir photo sessions and cinematography. First ho

w did you get into Boudoir?

EH: I wanted to do something that made women feel good and beautiful. I saw a photographer from L.A. offering boudoir sessions and back then there weren’t many offering this. The ones who were offering it looked cheesy, so she really inspired me.

Do you still offer boudoir sessions now? What about the Boudoir Marathon sessions?

EH: Yes I still offer boudoir. Right now my packages start at $685 which includes a one hour session with one hour hair and makeup with five edited digital images. Unfortunately, I do not offer the Boudoir Marathon sessions anymore. They were too short, and now I really want to spend more time with my clients, get to know them, and make them feel comfortable. I used to do eight sessions per day and it was a lot.

How did you start branching out into cinematography?

EH: So, I also studied videography back in University. After doing photography for eleven years, it became easy for me so I felt it would be nice to do something to keep me interested. I think that’s part of the reason I did boudoir as well because I needed something else to keep me inspired. Videography has been really exciting! I’m learning new things and creating, instead of photos, kind of like moving photos – it’s really fun to do! And since I already know the equipment, it’s easy for me to get into it.

Do you work with someone on this part of your business?

EH: It’s just me! But sometimes I will hire a team to film if I have to do photography on the day of. When I can film, I try to do as much of it as I can. If I am photographing a wedding as well as the cinematography, I will have my team handle filming and I will handle the editing as this is the most important part and I have my own style.

What are your packages for Cinematography?

EH: It starts from $3,000-$5,000. I am still new, so I want to slowly build up and increase my portfolio.

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Want to meet this beautiful person and get to know her personally? Check out our video featuring Ellen answering our random personal questions and showing us how to do a pretty difficult yoga pose – in her dress clothes! She is a woman of many talents.

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Ellen, THANK YOU for the honor of featuring you and getting to know you a bit better! I can honestly say that I will be contacting you when I get married.

Make sure you follow Ellen and I guarantee you will be inspired: Instagram, Vimeo, Facebook.

XO Jessica