A couple dining at a restaurant, with the woman in a wedding dress eating noodles from a black bowl and the man in a black jacket and glasses holding chopsticks, with condiments and flowers on the table.

Annie & Nate

I first met Annie & Nate in 2019. I had just moved to San Francisco for work and they lived up the street from me in the Mission. One of my earliest memories of them was when I was invited to their Oscars watch party, where I first learned how Nate was a huge film buff (dedicated AMC A-lister) and how Annie loved hosting and cooking for her friends. Since then, I’ve always seen them as the kind, down-to-earth couple that loved bringing people together around films and food.

So, when Annie shared her Pinterest board, “tying the knot picz” five years later, filled with references to Wong Kar Wai film scenes and photos of brides eating at food stalls in their wedding dresses, I couldn’t have imagined their engagement shoot any other way. I was so excited to celebrate their engagement and to help bring her vision to life.

Package: Cinematic

January 2025

Assisted by: Michelle Whang & Mike Hom

A man and woman are standing close together in a subway station, smiling at each other. The man has curly hair and glasses, wearing a black coat and a scarf. The woman has her hair in a bun and is wearing a black and gold floral dress with a watch. The background shows a metal wall with a blurry red and white sign.

Annie & Nate

“We absolutely loved shooting with Brandon—he created exactly the engagement photo aesthetic we wanted, and was incredibly thoughtful during both the planning phases and the shoot. Would highly recommend getting your photos for any celebration done by Brandon and his awesome team — they’re the best out there!”

Let’s capture your unique love story together.

Read more about the process & behind the scenes on my blog:

VOL.14—A Chinatown Love Story by Brandon Lu

Behind the scenes of an 80s Hong Kong cinema-inspired engagement shoot

Read on Substack