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.
Julia and Aaron needed headshots for work, but not stuffy ones — so I pulled them aside at the end of their Landfill Shoot.
We walked to an area between the water, parked cars, and large shipping containers (seriously!) where there was diffused light. The light was so pretty there that I widened my scope to include the kids.
These relaxed headshots are more like relaxed portraits. Ahhhhh…
For more information about taking headshots, you can read A Change Is Coming and How Your Subject Feels.
Or if you just want a LAUGH, you can read about doing headshots of my Worst Client!
When you think graffiti, landfill, broken toys, old bottles, and rusty abandoned bikes, “This would be a great location for a family photoshoot” isn’t usually what comes to mind.
It did for Julia and Aaron though, and I’m so thankful for that! Add bright sun and strong winds to all of this, and you get a hefty challenge that made me excited to dive into.
This little nook is a place Julia and Aaron visit with their furbaby, Georgia, who loves to explore the bend of a hidden path or dip into the bay. It is where David finds cool sticks and climbs trees with his dad. It’s where Samara collects wildflowers and draws patterns in the dirt.
Just like life, Art is how you interpret it.
The location was nature’s playground and a haven for modern art created with everyday items. The sun was a warm blanket on an otherwise cold day. The family treated their shoot like a regular weekend day, and that allowed for sweet organic moments to unfold. ❤️
When Jeff found out they were having a baby girl, his heart melted. He had always wanted a girl! ❤️
So their first photoshoot with their new baby girl was in a flower garden while mommy Louisa and baby Kate wore pink and Jeff and Jacob wore blue. It was symbolic and colorful, both perfectly fitting for their location and meaning.
Why the name, Pink Peonies? They’re my favorite flowers. I saw them at the garden and did a muffled squeal as to not totally embarrass myself — haha. Well, that and the fact that Louisa and Kate looked like flowers in the garden with their pink outfits!
