About Vivian
I began my photography journey two decades ago, assisting high-end wedding photographers before branching out on my own. What started as a job became my purpose as I fell in love with storytelling through my art. I am incredibly lucky to spend my weekends surrounded by joy, having now captured over 500 weddings from lavish celebrations at luxury hotels to quiet, intimate elopements by the sea. Photography has been my passport to travel the world and connect with remarkable people while playing a part in preserving their stories and family legacies for future generations.
Growing up as a Taiwanese-American immigrant, I know firsthand how powerful it is to feel truly seen and represented. I am passionate about creating a space where my couples feel celebrated for who they authentically are, beyond the narrow lens the wedding industry often presents. As a quiet observer, I approach my photography from a place of empathy and openness, understanding that every couple deserves to have their love documented with care and intention. It is an honor to be entrusted with these cherished moments.
“For me, childhood roaming was what developed self-reliance, a sense of direction and adventure, imagination, a will to explore, to be able to get a little lost and figure out the way back.”
—Rebecca Solnit, A Field Guide to Getting Lost
I collect rocks from my travels and save trail maps in a binder that’s bursting at the seams. I’m a sucker for well-told stories, perfectly crafted jokes and good conversation. Taking friends on redwood hikes is my love language. I’ve filled my home with too many houseplants and believe I was a tree in a past life. Cloudy skies are much more interesting to me than clear blue ones. Petrichor and komorebi are two of my favorite words. Calling myself a “maximalist magpie,” I hoard colors, shimmer and sparkle in the form of 300+ bottles of nail polish. I once chauffeured Too $hort in my '98 RAV4 for an interview when I worked at a Bay Area hip hop magazine. I draw inspiration from Wes Anderson’s charmingly playful compositions and Wong Kar Wai’s lush and cinematic lighting. Ramen of any kind, from cheap college packets to fancy restaurant bowls, is my favorite food. The week I spent backpacking in Yosemite’s High Sierra backcountry left me awe-inspired and humbled by the California wilderness. I live in San Francisco Bay Area with my family, two cats and a school of freshwater fish.
What inspires me
“Adopt the pace of nature. Her secret is patience.”
— Ralph Waldo Emerson
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![A couple dressed in wedding attire sharing a kiss under a transparent umbrella in a lush forest. The scene features tall trees, ferns, and a wooden platform in a natural setting.]()
“I’m a photographer myself and felt very invested in picking the right person. I was drawn to her documentary style and way of creating a sense of place and time that felt both authentic and magical. We didn't want photoshopped or airbrushed, we just wanted us, in love, having a great time.
I look at our photos all the time and they bring me right back to that weekend. She captured us as we were—the energy, the in-between moments, the overwhelming feelings of joy.
Vivian’s photos created the perfect memories to help us relive it all over and over. Our family portraits were so smooth and throughout the night we barely noticed she was there, yet she captured micro-moments we wouldn't have remembered otherwise.
Even my mother-in-law said they were some of the best wedding photos she’d ever seen.
If you want photos that capture you at your best, while also feeling very much like yourself, I couldn't recommend Vivian enough.”
—Becky + Sam
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![A newlywed couple walks down the aisle, smiling and holding hands, surrounded by guests throwing flower petals at an outdoor wedding ceremony.]()
“I literally was delayed replying to you because my bridesmaids wanted to Facetime in and video chat about how STUNNING all of these photos are! J and K also do a bit of photography on the side and they couldn't stop fangirling over you during the day, and now these photos. My dad peeked over my shoulder and immediately said, "SEND THESE TO ME. NOW!!!"
I think your work speaks for yourself, but you did SO so good on Saturday. It felt like you were my emotional support the entire day, and I really appreciated how you kept me on schedule, and were just so thoughtful and kind with your presence and professionalism. AND now these photos. You are perfection in a bottle and I am so happy that we got to work with you!”
—Wendy + James
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![Black and white film photograph of couple embracing on rocky Big Sur beach between towering coastal cliffs. Bride wears embroidered floral gown as waves crash behind them. Moody California elopement by photographer Vivian Chen.]()
“THANK YOU SO MUCH! These are absolutely amazing and everything we wanted, and more! We are grateful for you taking such good care of us and we are already enjoying looking at them over and over. We had such fun and you captured all the wonderful moments, beautiful scenery, and our quirky sides perfectly. The weather all day was absolutely perfect and we couldn't imagine a better adventure buddy.”
—Jessica + Daniel
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![A bride and groom are laughing and smiling at each other during their wedding celebration, sitting at a table with a bouquet of flowers in front of them, outdoors with greenery in the background.]()
“Working with Vivian was fantastic! First off, her photos are absolutely stunning. She shot at many different sites across our Santa Barbara wedding day—hotel, beach, two different parks—and what stood out is how diverse and yet complimentary the whole album is. All the shots are wonderfully composed and highlight the natural beauty of the place.
Vivian is also a dream to work with. She is super warm, chill, and made us feel comfortable for all the staged photos. She also has just the right amount of assertiveness to make sure the day stays on track and you get all the shots you want. Throughout the process she was very responsive, on top of everything, and helped us think through various locations for our first-look and portraits.
We’re so happy to have gotten to work with Vivian. Thank you for capturing our wedding as beautifully as we remembered it!”
—Erica + Kenneth
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![A bride and groom walking hand-in-hand down outdoor wedding aisle, smiling, surrounded by guests throwing flower petals under clear blue sky, with scenic mountainous landscape in background.]()
“Where do I begin? Vivian photographed our September wedding in Sonoma and every picture is STUNNING! We love the portraits, but her candids are what really took things over the top. All of our guests look like they’re glowing in her photos! She truly captured the joy of the day. I could not stop smiling-scrolling through our gallery. She went above and beyond to include a photo of all of our guests.
Vivian is super cool, she made sure everyone was comfortable and she kept things on time on the wedding day. We were tight one time, but she got my “getting ready” pictures done in minutes. You would never know by looking at them what a short timeframe she had.
Vivian already had a strong working relationship with our wedding videographer. That partnership made things run smoothly from a logistical perspective, but more importantly showed how respected Vivian is in the industry. We’re so happy we booked her for our big day!! You won’t be disappointed working with Vivian.”
—Jobina + Bradley
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![Two men in suits smiling at an outdoor gathering, holding glasses of champagne, with a table decorated with plants and a candle in the foreground.]()
“Vivian Chen is a fantastic photographer and truly an artist. With professionalism and grace, Vivian was able to capture the true essence of our wedding day and, more importantly, who my husband and I are as a couple. She also put us at ease on the big day and captured so many great, genuine moments of us and our guests. We couldn’t be more pleased with her work and we will cherish the images she delivered for the rest of our lives. We can't thank her enough!”
—Nick + Ted
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![A bride and groom walking hand-in-hand across a crosswalk, smiling, with wedding guests in the background. The groom is in a gray suit holding a bouquet, and the bride is in a strapless white wedding gown with a veil.]()
“We knew we wanted to work with Vivian when we saw her work. Her photos are natural, capture movement, the emotions throughout the day and natural beauty perfectly. We knew all of this going in, but somehow the photos still exceeded our expectations! She is also so easy to work with, so flexible, accommodating and easy going. She balanced our vision for the day with her expert recommendations perfectly and most importantly, made us feel comfortable and calm throughout the day.”
—Sachi + Alden
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![A bride and groom walking hand in hand through a grassy field with mountain scenery in the background. The bride is in a white wedding gown with a long veil and holding a bouquet, while the groom is in a black suit.]()
“Vivian shot my engagement and wedding photos for my destination wedding in Iceland. I’ve heard many stories from friends who spent HOURS stressing over photographers. For me, I knew from my first call with Vivian that I’d be in good hands. Vivian’s photos are serene and dramatic at the same time. Getting married in Iceland (a country I’ve never been before) meant trusting your photographer completely. I can tell you about how easy it is to work with her, how timely she is in her communications, how kind and spirited she is, or you can just go on her website and look at her stunning photos. Every time I look at the photos from my wedding day, I still feel butterflies in my stomach.”
—Vivian + Dragos
