Alice Kuo Shippee Photography » Ordinary moments, extraordinary memories...

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make time stand still

These days, we want everything FAST, right now, hurry up already--except for these: the sweet, savory memories of real life & real love. When we're finally facing the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel, we are going to wish we could rewind & play these moments back in slow-mo. So capture what you can today--whether it's a milestone or just the daily, ordinary, no-drama quietness or laughable chaos. Make time stand still--a few hundredths of a second at a time...

Aug 04 2010

6:11 am

three generations • the sutarwala family

Tasneem is another wonderful mommy friend I met through our children’s school in Redondo Beach. I was so excited to be asked to do a big family portrait of three generations of the Sutarwala clan, her husband, Shahzad’s side of their family. We had a gorgeous, sunny, SoCal day and a big open space all to ourselves. Tasneem & Shahzad’s two beautiful kids, Kian & Zaara, were full of energy–I got to know Kian’s big smile & Zaara’s coy one. Shahzad’s sister, Seema, & her husband Jay, joined us from Pasadena with their dog Achilles. And Shahzad’s lovely parents, Zafar & Nasreen, were the regal grandparents. It was such an honor to spend time with them & have the opportunity to chronicle their family tree…

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Nasreen & Zafar have been married for more than four decades…

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When I asked them to hold hands, Zafar said, “We’ve been doing this for almost 50 years…” And they laughed that I was taking so many pictures of them. Tasneem pointed out that they didn’t have a professional photographer at their wedding, so it was appropriate. Zafar got a bit misty-eyed, and behind the lens, so did I…

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Jul 13 2010

6:49 am

farewell to SoCal • the taka family

Azusa & Tamehiko invited me to their home & its surroundings to commemorate their time living in Rancho Palos Verdes with their two sweet boys, Kei and Rui. In early July, they relocated to the Midwest, & they wanted to take with them some memories of Kei’s favorite places near their home. We had a wonderful, easy time, walking around while Kei showed me his favorite daisies, his “hopping stones,” & of course, his speedy tricycle. Kei and my daughters attend the same preschool, & I only wish that our families had hung out more! I will miss seeing his smiling face and talking with Azusa…I hope these photos will always remind them of their happy years in SoCal…Bon Voyage, Taka Family!

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Jul 01 2010

9:11 pm

the wirsig family • beach portraits

The first time I met up to shoot Heather & Johnny’s family, the winds were gusting and the coast was a brisk 60 degrees! We were caught by surprise–the sun was shining beautifully, & we all anticipated a perfect So Cal day…but no go. So as they say in Hollywood, “Take two!” Our second meeting was warm & overcast–great conditions for being on the shore & shooting. Their daughters Taylor & Maliah were totally natural in front of the camera, fearless in the cool water. And little Noah was such a lovebug, mellow & so agreeable, just contentedly falling asleep in the embrace of his parents & sister to the sound of the waves. I hope I captured what a warm & loving family this is! They were a joy to shoot!

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Jul 01 2010

2:22 am

the feigenblatt-mizrahi family • marina del rey, ca

Lea has been my friend for over 15 years now! I met her when I walked into Carlton Hair Salon at Century City Mall my first year teaching, & she’s been the only stylist to cut my hair ever since. She is warm, spiritual, insightful, & humorous–someone you can talk to for hours. Her husband Avry is a crack-up! He’s always playing, always joking, always a good time. Together, they’ve built a beautiful family with their two little princesses. Our session in May was a celebration of Elliana & Amielle–growing up so quickly. I do their photos several times a year–and I absolutely love having so many chances to capture their energy & love!

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May 24 2010

5:00 am

mother’s tea • riviera playschool

It’s a great privilege for me to be the “un-official official” photographer for my daughters’ school, Riviera PlaySchool in Redondo Beach. It’s truly a magical, free, cozy little paradise for children & their parents. I can’t say enough about what an extraordinary place it is–a sanctuary of joy & childhood that celebrates individuality & teaches children how to embrace their own emotions & how to get their needs met, & ultimately how to be kind to each other. If I had to sum up the school’s philosophy in one sentence, I think it would be, “For children to learn compassion, they must experience & be shown compassion.” What they do there everyday with our kids is show them how to honor themselves & thus others & the world around them.

For Mother’s Day, the children & teachers organized a “tea” to share with their parents. It included an exciting episode of Show & Tell, as well as pb&j sandwiches, obviously cut into heart & star shapes by little loving hands. It was my honor to try to capture some photos of the children with their moms (& some dads & grammas).

A most heartfelt thank you to Linda, the director, & all the wonderful teachers at RPS!

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Blake shows his mommy his handmade Mother’s Day gift. Looks like she loves it, Blake!

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some of the wonderful teachers at RPS who are in loco parentis–”in place of the the parents,” essentially the “moms” when we’re not!

(left to right: Andrea, Heather, Tasha, & Dawn)

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© 2010 Alice Kuo Shippee Photography | ProPhoto3 by NetRivet Blogs

A l i c e ' s S t y l e

Welcome to the website & blog for the work of Alice Kuo Shippee. My style is eclectic & energetic--I try to adapt to the people & places I shoot, so my work always looks a little different & hopefully fresh. I want my photos to be an impromptu eye, witnessing your special moments & capturing them with simplicity. I want my photographs to be a collaboration with my subjects, so they are as much about them as about my artistic choices.

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