My name is Annie Tao. I am a photographer based in the San Francisco Bay Area. I specialize in lifestyle photography where you get to play, hang out, and be yourself. I capture the moments, real emotions and stories that occur during our time together. Check here often or subscribe to my blog (RSS feed) to see what I am up to or get creative inspiration. Thanks for visiting! 
I scoured through thousands of my client photos and pondered my philosophy on photographing people. What I realized was that my philosophy was incredibly simple.
Looking at all these gorgeous faces and families, my heart melts a little. I hope you’ll enjoy it. ~annie
Want to see more? Yippeee… here’s a video on why you should choose Lifestyle Photography.
I think one of the greatest gifts is creating a memory with someone you love, and a bonus would be to have a photoshoot that captures it! ❤️ Rashmi believes this too (SQUEEEE!) so she scheduled a shoot as a gift for her photography-enthusiast, family-loving husband.
It may not have been that big of a surprise to Sat since their very first shoot with me in 2008 was also a gift. I still remember hiding at a park while Rashmi brought Sat and their then-toddler son on a walk towards a stranger (that’s me — haha) that led to some fond memories.
It is obvious to anyone who knows Sat that his family is his Everything, and having boys he can play sports with as well as climb cliffsides and trees with is like a kid-at-heart’s dream come true. Add to that, he and Rashmi have raised boys who are loving and caring, so there are always sweet moments of closeness.
I feel so honored to get to photograph this special family throughout the last 11 years!
When you and your spouse are both turning the big 5-0 AND it’s your 20 year wedding anniversary AAAAND you adopted your first puppy, you have a Day-in-the-Life Photoshoot to capture your life as it is right now.
It’s a way to celebrate as well as commemorate a big year!
We started in Peter and Jenny’s kitchen with making shakes, cutting flowers, and playing with their pup. It was a scorching hot afternoon, so the fruit shakes and watermelon smoothies were refreshing. They played a frisbee game in the backyard with made-up obstacles, which is how most of Peter’s games are played – heehee. And as part of their anniversary milestone, they flipped through their wedding album where the kids giggled at how young their parents looked. Afterwards, they went on a hike, a beloved activity they do as a family and ended the day with a game of basketball.
The 4-hour shoot was truly a slice of their life at age 50 with sporty teen children and young puppy, and it was an honor to capture it all.
Interested in seeing another Day in the Life session? YES! Okay, here are a few more: Chris & Sinead, The S Family, Larry & Juana.
[I don't shoot a lot of DITL, though I love them, so be warned that you'll see a big evolution of my editing style with these 3 blog post links, which spans 10 years! The way I shoot and visual imagery I prefer have stayed the same.]
Let me know what you think of DITL shoots! Do you see the value of them or do you think it’s better to have several shorter shoots instead?
Lawrence and I told the doctor not to reveal the gender of our third baby when I was pregnant… but I already knew it was a girl. Or maybe it was because I prayed and prayed and hoped for one. SO BAD.
So when my third and last baby entered the World, and my doctor held her up and announced “It’s a girl” like what I’ve seen in movies my entire life, I cried. I cried the ugly cry, but no one, including myself, really cared at that point. I had a healthy, pink, perfect baby girl! She arrived 3 weeks early, but based on her already squishy baby face and body, you’d never know that.
I was so happy and loved her so much from that very second. When she was only 2 months old, we had regular moments where we’d lock gazes, giggle together, exchange smiles… and when she was an older baby, we ‘sang’ together in her quiet nursery before she’d sleep.
It is now nine years later, and Avie is still that person who makes me smile just by looking at her face. She still follows me around like the cutest shadow and thinks her mommy is the best, most important person ever. She makes sure I know this from her love notes and drawings whenever there is a piece of paper or foggy mirror. She is my own personal ray of sunshine, and I feel incredibly blessed.
Happy 9th birthday, Avie.
