Want your engagement session to feel like a vintage cinematic film strip? When Andrea and Jide first reached out, they had a very specific vision in mind:
“One of our visions would be to recreate the aesthetic of the ’80s Hong Kong pre-wedding style’. We want a paparazzi feel to our city photoshoot.”
They gathered their favorite Pinterest inspiration, let go of any stiff, traditional posing, and simply had fun being themselves. The result was a stunning, nostalgic session in Pasadena and Downtown Los Angeles (DTLA).
Setting the Scene: Pasadena to Chinatown, DTLA
To bring this vintage vision to life, we chose locations that feel frozen in time.
We started in Pasadena, utilizing its grand, historic stone architecture and clean city sidewalks to establish that chic, metropolitan “paparazzi on the run” mood.
From there, we headed to Chinatown in DTLA. Walking into the central plaza of LA’s Chinatown is like stepping into a time capsule. Having visited this neighborhood as a kid, I can confidently say it hasn’t changed.
The vibrant red-and-gold pagodas, neon signage hanging overhead, and narrow pedestrian alleyways create a classic, cinematic backdrop. It is the perfect place to capture that moody, retro street vibe.
The Paparazzi & Candid Vibe
The key to nailing the 80s Hong Kong wedding aesthetic is movement. Instead of looking directly at the lens and smiling, Andrea and Jide focused on each other.
We used direct flash, slightly lower angles, and motion blur to mimic the raw, candid nature of a retro tabloid print. Andrea and Jide truly brought this session to life by remaining playful, relaxed, and deeply in love.
Photographed by Kevin
