Website: https://vivi-wyngaarden.squarespace.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vivi.wyngaarden/
Vivi Wyngaarden was born in Orange County, California, and has called Silverado Canyon home for the past 38 years.
Her photography career began with a strong focus on real estate photography, where she combined the beauty of canyon landscapes with the unique character of local homes. Determined to refine her skills, Vivi immersed herself in photography education, taking every class she could find to continually improve her craft.
Photography has been a passion of hers since her early teens. That lifelong enthusiasm is reflected in her diverse body of work, from capturing the natural beauty of Silverado Canyon to photographing the beaches, lakes, and streams throughout Orange County. She is also drawn to night photography and frequently explores desert landscapes in search of dramatic celestial scenes.
Working from a fully equipped home studio, Vivi enjoys creating imaginative and artistic images, including water-drop photography and creative food photography. Her work reflects both technical skill and a deep appreciation for the beauty and wonder found in everyday moments.
You photograph such a wide range of subjects: landscapes, animals, food, real estate, drone work, night skies, and more. How would you describe your photography style, and what ties all of those different subjects together for you?
I've been told that professional photographers should focus on one specialty. While I chose real estate and aerial photography as my primary business, I've never been interested in putting creativity in a box. My love of landscape photography influences everything I shoot.
Whether I'm photographing a home, a mountain vista, or a Highland cow, I'm always looking for beauty, light, and a connection to the environment. Those influences carry through all of my work and help create images with a sense of place.
You’re based in Silverado, California. How has living in or around canyon country influenced the way you see light, nature, wildlife, and local landscapes?
Absolutely! After living in Silverado for 38 years, I have developed a deep appreciation for this beautiful area. I began my photography journey by shooting homes for local real estate agents, which naturally led me to capture the stunning hills, vibrant flowers, and incredible wildlife that surround us every day.
Your website includes everything from oceans and water to bridges, paths, animals, kitchen art, and star trails. When you’re deciding what to photograph, are you usually planning a specific image, or are you more often responding to what catches your eye in the moment?
Most of my photography sessions are carefully planned. I research the best locations, the ideal lighting conditions, and the perfect time of day—or night—to capture the image I envision. I also look into practical details like parking and scout out potential shooting positions ahead of time.
Because I’m mindful of equipment theft, I don’t carry my camera gear with me everywhere. As a result, it’s rare that I capture images spontaneously. Most of my photographs are the result of preparation, patience, and being in the right place at the right time.
You describe night photography as one of your favorite types of photography. What draws you to photographing full moons, star trails, and darker spaces where there is little ambient light?
Capturing star trails is one of my favorite types of photography. I usually head to Trona or Joshua Tree National Park for their dark skies and incredible nightscapes.
When a Supermoon is on the calendar, you'll often find me closer to home in Black Star Canyon or Silverado Canyon, camera ready to capture the moon as it rises above the hills.
You also offer drone photography and are FAA drone certified. How has working from the air changed the way you compose an image or think about familiar landscapes and properties?
Obtaining my FAA certification is one of my proudest accomplishments. I work with commercial brokers, capturing aerial images of large distribution centers, office buildings, shopping malls, and business complexes. Aerial photography allows me to showcase a property's proximity to freeways, retail centers, and other key amenities. Working in the air is both exciting and rewarding—I truly love to fly.
Your real estate photography ethos mentions combining landscapes with the beauty of a home. How do you balance the practical needs of a client with your artistic eye as a photographer?
That's a great question. As I mentioned, I naturally combine my love of landscape photography with my real estate and aerial work. I often use flowers, trees, and shrubs in the foreground, allowing the home to sit naturally within the landscape. For aerial sessions, I frequently incorporate Saddleback Mountain to showcase the beauty of our local surroundings.
This year, I took full advantage of the rare snowfall and captured numerous photos and videos of our local mountains covered in snow. One of my favorite images features the snow capped mountains framed by palm trees in the foreground—a uniquely Southern California scene that beautifully highlights the contrast between our coastal climate and mountain landscapes.
Your animal photography includes studio pet sessions as well as outdoor animal imagery. What do you enjoy most about photographing animals, and how do you approach capturing their personality or spirit?
My most successful dog portrait sessions usually involve handlers or owners who have invested time in training their dogs. That said, I once photographed a puppy who, after an hour of posing and playing, fell asleep right in the middle of the session. Of course, I kept shooting!
I have also photographed foster kittens, which can be quite a challenge. I use toys and a string attached to a pole to capture their attention and encourage them to look toward the camera. These sessions require a bit of patience, but they are always rewarding and a lot of fun.
You have a section called “Kitchen Art,” which feels playful and colorful compared with more traditional landscape work. What inspired that series, and what makes an image feel right for a kitchen or home environment?
During the COVID shutdown, my business came to a screeching halt. To stay creative, I developed my Kitchen Art Series. I dropped marshmallows into carefully staged scenes, experimented with paint and milk, and submerged fruit in a fish aquarium to create the illusion of smoke. I even set up a water drop photography station in my studio.
Water drop photography was especially challenging. It required patience, precision, and hundreds of images before I captured one that was just right. Looking back, that period pushed me to experiment, learn new techniques, and find creative inspiration in unexpected places.
When you’re preparing an image to become a physical print, what changes for you creatively? Are there details, colors, textures, or moods that you pay closer attention to when you know the piece will be displayed on a wall?
Cropping is one of the biggest challenges when preparing images for print. Determining what is marketable and which photographs people will want in larger or smaller sizes often comes down to experience. In many cases, it has been a process of trial and error.
I especially love seeing my work printed on metal—it is my favorite medium by far. The vibrant colors, incredible detail, and high-definition finish really bring an image to life. Clients love the way the colors pop and the impact these prints have when displayed.
You show your work locally and offer themed calendars, including Ireland, Canyon, and Historic & Iconic Places. What do you hope people feel when they take one of your prints or calendars home?
I’ve been creating and selling calendars for the past seven years. It all started with the Canyon Calendar, and over time it has become something many people look forward to each year. In fact, I’ve considered stopping a few times, but I genuinely believe it would disappoint many of my canyon friends and neighbors who have made it part of their annual tradition.
I later created the Historic Calendar for those who no longer live in the canyon—or who live outside the Silverado and Modjeska communities—but still enjoy images of California’s iconic places and landmarks. This year, I introduced the Ireland Calendar, inspired by the beauty and charm of the Emerald Isle.
On average, I sell about 200 calendars each year, and I’m grateful for the continued support from people who enjoy my photography and look forward to seeing each new collection.
