Thai and I actually have some of the same mutual friends. I knew he was a photog who took EXCELLENT pictures - check out his IG! I have also seen the pictures he's taken of friends (engagement and family pics). Needless to say, I KNEW the quality of his work and I KNEW it was EXCELLENT. I've had the chance of taking family pictures in the last 4 years with quite a few photogs. My husband and I, a few years back, got burned when we mixed friendship and business so as a general rule, we try to avoid working with ppl we know. One night as I was scrolling IG I once again stumbled on Thai's page and I had to reach out to him! I have a particular photog style I like and I felt like Thai's style complemented the style that usually captures my eye. The rest is history. Since then I have had him take 2 of my family pictures and look forward to working with him again! I don't need to gush on the quality of his work because you can check it out yourself! I can say that I have worked with quite a few photogs and outside of the quality of pictures he delivers his customer service is equally top notch. Speed of turnaround - check - no one delivers the pictures as fast as he has! This is a plus because I don't want to have to wonder "when will I get it?" "is it ready?". Afterall, I am a paying customer! Easy to work with - check and check - he was accommodating and we even waited in our car to wait out a rainstorm. I must also mention that we were texting all morning with the unpredictable weather and he was willing to come out with limited notice Patience - CHECK - This one is important. My family pictures include 2 toddlers and 3 grandparents so needless to say he is patient and engaging to all the different personalities!! Thank you Thai for your service! =) I look forward to working together again! read more

Thai is a masterful photographer. I've hired him as a set photographer for years and am always impressed with his work. He was able to capture incredible behind-the-scenes moments of the cast and crew. His photos turned into valuable promotional material that ultimately helped my films succeed in festivals. From start to finish Thai is easy to work with, professional, unobtrusive (a must for set photography), and makes the whole process from initial pricing to final delivery quite painless. ...Actually "painless" is the wrong word - it was a gift to receive Thai's work! read more

Alive by Shooting - Session Photography Near Me

Thai has an eye for photography and location. Coupled with his energy, humor and communication/suggestions have helped our family photos look awesome. Thai's photos of his trips as well as his photos from other events have really captured the moment and tells that story. We had family photos in SF by Land's End, Thai set up the shoot and provided clear direction with humor and a light mood. He's energy and people skills made our photos look natural have captured those moments. His eye for locations and where to shoot made for excellent backdrops. His quick turn around for the photos coupled with his professional and positive attitude make Thai a great photographer but also a genuine person. I highly recommend Thai if you are looking for person to take photos for events, casual shoots or just need to capture a moment. read more

Alive by Shooting - headshots for auggie courtesy of Alive by Shooting - Session Photography Near Me

See all

I highly recommend Thai and will use him again in the future for any photography needs. Thai took our engagement photos in San Francisco and I've also had him photograph a fundraising event for my students. Thai is an impeccable communicator and promptly answered all our questions. He arrives early, and utilized every minute of our photo shoot. We took our photos in Fisherman's Wharf, a ridiculously crowded tourist destination, but the composition of our photos made it look like we were the only people there. Thai was able to navigate us all over the city to get amazing shots! And how did the photos turn out? Amazing! It is so hard to pick a favorite because each shot is unique and captures our love of each other and our favorite city. He thoughtfully composes each shot, ensures we were at the correct angle and has impeccable artistic talent. It felt like we were spending the day with an old friend! Our friends and family have loved all of our photos and we cannot wait to keep booking Thai. read more

See all

Alive by Shooting was a totally new photography experience than I am typically used to. I used Thai first for my professional business headshots for my entire team at work, and then for some event photography, then some family photo shoots and even dog-modeling shoots. He truly does it all! Thai has a genuine sense of humor that sets you at ease- like a model-whisperer...but with jokes. And clearly, as his website shows, he produces incredible photos with tons of personality that capture the moment better than we even remembered. SO glad he's in Honolulu now. read more

We took pregnancy photos with Thai and loved our experience working with him. From the first moment, Thai put us at ease with his calm demeanor and sense of humor. Unless you're a model, getting photographed can feel pretty awkward, but Thai made it feel totally natural, fun, and like a special experience in itself. The photos turned out beautifully; Thai managed to capture us authentically, while also making us look our best. We're so grateful to have such gorgeous photos from this pivotal moment in our lives. We hope to work with Thai on future occasions and would recommend him enthusiastically to others. read more

Thai is truly amazing and talented at what he does. He has a great eye for composition and story telling through his photography. Thai took photos for my little family of 4. As anyone knows, photo sessions with kids can be quite challenging. Thai was great at making my kids feel comfortable, getting their attention, and putting them at ease. The whole process was straightforward and fun! He was very responsive and also delivered the photos in a timely matter. We were incredibly blown away at the images and impressed at what he was able to capture. They were all so beautiful and the personalities of each family member really showed through. We will definitely cherish these images forever. If you want someone who is professional, easy going, talented, and works with integrity, I would highly recommend Thai. read more

Thai does incredible work. He captures natural beauty and doesn't over-edit. Some good photographers will do so much post-processing that their pictures are lovely but unnatural-looking. Thai lets the scene speak for itself. His pictures are crisp, clean and natural because he sets them up well and takes the time to understand the dynamics of his subjects. He is definitely a patient observer, which I think is why his pictures look great. He is kind, focused, and provides direction but not too much. I've worked with Thai twice now, once for outdoor family photos and a second time for professional headshots. I'm so happy with the way all of the pictures turned out, for both occasions. read more

My wife and I hired Thai to take my courthouse wedding photos. At first I was a little nervous to trust someone with capturing such a sacred and intimate event, especially knowing that my family would not be able to attend, we wanted to make sure our photos could work as memories for us to share. This was a huge ask and I'm so very glad we found Thai. He fit in seamlessly. In fact, he *added* to the intimacy of the experience with his calm but confident presence. By making us feel at ease and playful in front of the camera, he also helped my wife and I feel less nervous during our ceremony. Who can say that about a photographer! We choose Thai because his documentary style images represented the feeling of realness and authenticity we wanted. The final proofs were incredible and so much more beautiful (but REAL) than we ever could have expected. What we loved most about the session itself was of course the resulting photographs. Our second favorite part was that Thai made our photoshoot time together fun, whimsical and romantic. We didn't expect to roam the courthouse and try on 'different settings' as the backdrop of our wedding photos, but he was adventurous and empowering. He helped bring out our inner divas! We had such a blast in front of the camera with him. He made us feel important and special, and that is a true gift. On top of it all, Thai delivered our final photos quickly so we were able to share the occasion soon after the event itself! I'd recommend Thai with every cell in my body. He's talented, professional, fun to be around, and will most definitely help you create the memories you deserve. read more

See all

I couldnt be happier with the way my photo shoot turned out. I got exactly what I was looking for. The process whent smoothly and the pictures came out great! read more

Thai did an absolutely fantastic job with our wedding photos. We were a little worried because the day of our wedding we woke up and it was really foggy, but the photos came out GREAT. He particularly did a great job with the action shots and with capturing emotion. Literally the best photos we've ever had done. Thai was extremely easy to work with and really took the time to get to know us and what we were looking for. We got the photos within a week. Would recommend to anyone looking for a great wedding photographer. read more

Alive by Shooting - Session Photography Near Me

See all

Thai and his crew did our wedding photography five years ago and we have been incredibly happy with the results. We were really impressed with his professionalism, flexibility, and his light hearted approach to our big day. The pictures were phenomenal. I don't consider myself photogenic, but he managed to make our wedding photos really special and something we enjoy looking at on a regular basis. Shortly after our wedding day he sent us a couple DVD's of all our pictures. Our family loved getting digital copies. I would (and have!) recommended him to my friends for their weddings. He is a great guy and a remarkably talented photographer. read more

Thai is a an amazing photographer and the kindest professional! He took photos of my baby daughter when she was only 2 months old. He was so friendly and considerate during the shoot! He put both me and my baby at ease. Thai took many flattering photos that really captured my daughters luminous spirit. The photos turned out amazing! I made a photo book from them and my daughter loves seeing her pictures in the book! Thai got me the photos so quickly! I would recommend Thai to anyone who wants beautiful photos from a true professional. read more

Thai is a gifted photographer. He makes you feel comfortable and at ease. Thai knows how to capture your best self.

We have used Alive by Shooting for the past 2 years for our holiday card and family photo sessions! I have two small boys (who were 4 and 1 this past holiday season) so there was nothing easy about the photo shoot. Thai was such a good sport and captured some magical moments of our family craziness. He did all the silly faces and tricks to get the kids to smile and laugh. He was also great on helping to choose a location (I love showcasing SF as our backdrop as opposed to an indoor photo shoot) and best time of day for light and crowds. He's very responsive and was super quick in getting the photos back to us. I was sure we didn't get a good shot of my cranky 1-year-old and I was so excited to see there were several adorable shots! Alive by Shooting would be great for anyone looking for photos because if they can handle our rambunctious family they can handle it all! read more

Within the last ten years or so I have used Thai Chu with Alive by Shooting for several photography needs. As a business owner I called on his services for event photos to use for marketing purposes, headshots for myself and employees, and gorgeous shots of my dance students in studio, on location in a wooded area and on the streets of San Francisco. I also set up numerous opportunities for my clients to do individual photo shoots with Thai for which we were never disappointed. Just today a client posted a photo Thai took from years back of her daughter while wishing her a happy birthday on Facebook. It is still to this day her favorite photo of her daughter. In addition to photography at my dance studio, Thai also took my engagement and wedding photos. Being someone who almost always hates photos of myself, and a husband who never smiles for photos, I was naturally nervous for the outcome. As usual, Thai made us feel relaxed and we not only had a great time shooting, but the photos were absolutely stunning. I could not recommend this company more. I plan to use Thai for my photography needs for years to come. read more

I've had the opportunity to work with Thai for a total of two photoshoots. The first one was a solo shoot we did for my website. I was really nervous about taking pictures on my own but, Thai was extremely warm and welcoming throughout the entire experience. Prior to us shooting, we had a couple of phone meetings to discuss the look and feel for the shoot. He was really inquisitive, creative, and extremely genuine and professional in his approach. During the shoot, all my nerves went away. I had so much fun during the shoot and this was mainly because Thai has such an open spirit and direct approach. He demonstrates a good balance between knowing how to lead and direct a shoot with purpose yet he also creates a sense of comfort and confidence for those he works with. His direction mixed with his ability to offer fun and laughter allowed me to open up. The photos he took were radiant! I was so thankful that he was able to not only meet my expectations but instead exceed them. After my solo shoot, Thai also captured me and my colleagues for our podcast. Once again, I was blown away by his gift for photography. His ability to capture, our joy, strength, and overall flavor as a podcast really made a lasting impression on my entire team. He is listed as my official photographer for all creative and personal projects going forward. Not only is his creative style and flawless look something to note, but he also has a great work ethic. I know he balances between managing multiple projects yet, his turn around time for delivering photos is awesome! I would definitely recommend him to anyone who is looking for great photos and an overall amazing experience. =) read more

See all

Thai is A MASTER. He has an eye for bright photography that brings the subjects to life. We loved working with him, he's incredibly flexible and is happy to lead the shoot or take a back seat as needed to ensure you get what you want. We're so glad he was able to capture our special event. read more

We have worked with Alive By Shooting for many events, for several years now. We are a network of schools in the Bay Area, and Thai has been our photographer for our high school graduations for at least 6 years now. He also works with us for headshots for all of our employees once a year, and he also shoots our annual gala. He captures all of these very different events beautifully. In our organization, we value community and we love to celebrate our people, both students and staff. I absolutely love having a "go-to photographer," who I know will deliver gorgeous photographs that document our special events and truly capture our community. One of my favorite things about working with Thai is that he provides the photos REALLY quickly, meaning that we get to share them quickly with our community. Another one of my favorite things about working with Thai is...well...THAI! He has a warm and caring spirit that infuses his work and he is a delight to work with. We highly recommend Alive By Shooting to anyone who wants beautiful pictures, either for professional, promotional or personal use. I also follow his social media pages and have seen his work for families, weddings, travel, pets (!), and more: he is an artist! read more

Thai shot our wedding and was absolutely wonderful. During the couple shoot he guided us and put us at ease so we didn't at all feel nervous. During the ceremony and festivities themselves Thai captured both the scope of the wedding as well as the more intimate moments. His photography is stunning and we are so grateful that we will remember this day as he photographed it. read more

Thai photographed my grandma and her four grandkids (including me) in a family photoshoot at my grandma's house. Thai worked really well with the group, organizing the session to make sure we got all the different combinations of people and poses that we wanted. I have always liked Thai's photos of spectacular nature vistas, and he worked well with our normal family home space since that was most comfortable for my grandma. We got access to the photos electronically out a week later, and could download them, post them online, and order as many as we wanted. read more

I would definitely recommend Alive by Shooting. My kids' photos came quick. The quality is great. The best part are the pictures were taken without a big fuss from the kids. Natural shots while the kids were playing at the local park. My photos are still hanging in my house. Thai is great with kids and my kids think of him every now and then and it has been so many years. Highly recommend! read more

We are so in love with our photos! We had 2 sessions with Thai so far and plan to go with him in the future. The sessions were fun and he made us feel very comfortable being in front of the camera. What I love about the photos is that they capture so much emotion, especially in the candid pictures. He was also very creative in using different poses and props. He's meticulous and careful with his set up. He captured each person in the best angles and made the pictures look awesome. Thai highlighted the best aspects of the photos with his editing, and I was surprised how many cute pictures he got of my son who was not cooperating with the session. I also appreciate that we quickly received the photos just a few days after the shoot, and they are available for print in the future. I would highly recommend him to all my friends and family for family events, weddings, and for any celebrations really. As an aside, he is also great with landscape and travel photos. He has a very unique eye in capturing the beauty of each culture and its people. His photos are just stunning! read more

Thai took our engagement photos and did an amazing job - well crafted and really interesting and creative shots! This was our first time having professional photos taken and Thai made it a comfortable and even fun experience. He put together a great mix of candid and portrait style shots. We were really impressed with his creativity, professionalism, and quick response time. Would have loved to have him as our wedding photographer but we moved across the country. read more

Thai has done photos for us for our wedding, birthdays, vacation/travel, headshots/portrait, and family/baby photos (for holiday cards, albums, etc.) -- pretty much everything! His photos are always fantastic, and he especially has a knack for capturing amazing candids. He has an eye for shots that are both unique and genuine. People always comment on the photos we have from him, and the photos we've displayed of his are truly some of the most beautiful things we own. Can't recommend highly enough! read more

Thai photographed our nonprofit's annual fundraiser and did a fantastic job capturing the theme and emotions at the event. He took a variety of photos including action shots of our "dance party" at the end of the fundraiser, and they all turned out fantastic! Thai is extremely easy to work with, very professional, and got our photos to us quickly. I would highly recommend Thai to anyone looking for a photographer. read more

Thai did a mama-son shoot with me and my 9-month old. He was so easy to work with, made it feel like a fun play date that we were just happening to take pictures during. I loved the finish project, so natural and he has a skill for really capturing the emotion. I would highly recommend Thai and Alive by Shooting to capture your family memories. When I look back on the photos I feel like I am transported to that special moment. Thank you Thai! read more

Thai is the ONLY photographer we use- he's the best! He's photographed all of our major life events and he never disappoints. We have done a family photo shoot every year with him since we had our first daughter (in addition to doing our engagement and wedding photos prior). He is mellow, easygoing, and tailors each session to whatever our vision is. Don't have any ideas? He's got you covered. Have very specific ideas about what you want? He's cool with that too. He's got a natural eye for photo composition within natural settings and doesn't need anything to be "posed" in order to get some amazing shots. He always manages to capture our family perfectly. He also edits the photos beautifully. Talent aside, Thai is just an all around good person and super easy to work with. I don't hesitate to recommend him for any photography needs you might have! read more

Thai's photos are amazing! He has a talent for capturing the unique beauty in every situation. Landscape, wedding, family, and pet photos always look great. You won't be disappointed! read more

I had Thai come to our home to do some business headshots for my daughter and husband and also some family photos of the whole family. I cannot say more enthusiastically how impressed I was with Thai from the moment he walked into the door. He is so personable and made all of us feel immediately at ease. He suggested verbal prompts for us to talk to each other throughout the shoot and the result made us easily connect with each other. The photos were exceptional and each and every one of the was a "favorite" I was delighted at the speed at which Thai returned the phots to us and we will order many to accommodate everyone's favorites. I thought his price was so very reasonable and his quality was exceptional I will gladly recommend him to all my friends and acquaintances. I hope he will use my name as a personal reference anytime. We are already talking about having him come back later in the year to do some Christmas photos. If anyone is looking for quality and fair pricing, Thai at Alive by Shooting is the one to contact. He gave me a permanent capture of the family I love so well, and, for that, I will be eternally grateful to him. read more

What can we say about Thai... He's a part of the family! Thai has been there to capture our most precious moments throughout our life - our engagement photos, wedding, daughter's first birthday, newborn photos, photo gifts for family, holiday pics, anything you can think of - Thai was there. He seamlessly captures your story and the moments you wish you could keep locked up forever. For our wedding, Thai sat us down and got to know what our vision was and how we could capture it in the moment. Our photos were amazing! For holiday photos, we simply met at a location we liked and he snapped some shots. Which was perfect. We did newborn photos in our home. Shooting with Thai isn't awkward because he makes you feel comfortable. If you need him to lead, he will. Follow, he will. Even when you think the photos won't be any good (toddlers that won't smile, puppies that won't listen, etc), he somehow produces incredible work. He has a natural eye for getting great shots regardless of the situation. He's a true professional with a kind heart - hard to find. We HIGHLY recommend!! read more