Archive for 2009

Boracay Engagement Shoot: Sam and Meileen

December 5th, 2009

Its December and for wedding photographers it signifies the start of  peak-wedding season. Our studio’s sched is crazy to say the least with lots of consecutive-days shooting. What a great way to start my December with an out-of-town shoot in Iloilo. I just arrived in our hotel, Iloilo Midtown Hotel,  and we’ve been so blessed [...]
 

Its December and for wedding photographers it signifies the start of  peak-wedding season. Our studio’s sched is crazy to say the least with lots of consecutive-days shooting. What a great way to start my December with an out-of-town shoot in Iloilo. I just arrived in our hotel, Iloilo Midtown Hotel,  and we’ve been so blessed to be pampered by our couple. From constant email updates before our trip, being picked-up at the airport, scrumptous chinese food at the hotel for lunch and providing us with WIFI connection. We are really flattered how Meileen, our bride,  went out of her way to really make our stay as comfortable as possible.

We were greeted by the bride herself – the hotel is owned by the bride by the way.We’re really excited to shoot their wedding tomorrow but before that I’d just like to share Sam and Meileen’s engagement shoot we did last July in Boracay. I wanted to share this sooner but Meileen asked me to hold this blog post so she can surprise her friends in Iloilo. We shot the two the day before our mentor’s wedding, John Mateos Ong, last July 2.  Meileen’s make-up was done by fab make-up artist, Madge Lejano.

We went to Alta Vista Resort for our first set. I love the place as it offers a stylish location to shoot Sam and Meileen. We started by the pool area.

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Then we moved to the function areas beside the pool.

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Off to the beach, that why we’re in Boracay ey!

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sunset shots to cap a lovely day of shooting a super nice couple!

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Tomorrow’s gona be a blast as I’m shooting with  Gracielle and Tiqui. Now time for a much needed power nap…

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The Day After : Dan and Colleen

November 12th, 2009

Day After sessions have become popular especially for destination weddings since couples want to make the most of their location. Also, sometimes with the time constraints during  wedding day, we cannot fit shooting at all the locations. This was the case for Dan and Collen and so the next day we set out to shoot [...]
 

Day After sessions have become popular especially for destination weddings since couples want to make the most of their location. Also, sometimes with the time constraints during  wedding day, we cannot fit shooting at all the locations. This was the case for Dan and Collen and so the next day we set out to shoot more at Pagudpud. We rose up early and set out to explore the resort’s coast line and we had an amazing time. To my future couple’s that I’ll be shooting, I do encourage you to consider  having a Day After session.  It doesn’t  have to be strictly the next day after the wedding, we can even do it weeks or months after.

We started at the resort and I saw lovely grees all around. I decided to start here in order to create different sceneries for the two and not just be limited to the colors of the beach.

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Then off to the beach! When we got there, no sun was in sight and it was cloudy. But as I placed them along the beach, the sun for a brief moment broke out of the clouds and provide me an oppurtunity to capture it sidelighting the couple which created more warmth and drama for this shot.

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As Jayjay can attest, I tried Jerry Ghionis’ “Pinch” technique. See for yourself what Dan “pinched”, very effective and fun!

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There was also a  rocky area that offered different textures which evoked a different mood.

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I always set out to capture couples when they are not looking at the camera or when they think that I’m not shooting them. Most of the times I get a rich variety of natural emotions from them when I just step back and let them do their thing.

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It was really a blessing that the weather was perfect during and aftert Dan and Colleen’s wedding. A contrast the night before when they told me it was raining so hard the night before their wedding. We finished the day with scenes from a perfect sky. God’s hand was truly at work that day!

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Dan and Colleen’s Pagudpud Wedding

November 10th, 2009

Dan works full-time for Gawad Kalinga (GK) and Junie and I  had a chance to serve with him during the  2007 GK Bayani Challenge. So when Dan asked me to shoot his wedding, I did not hesitate to blessed this wonderful couple and thankfully my schedule was still open. Dan and Colleen’s love story is [...]
 

Dan works full-time for Gawad Kalinga (GK) and Junie and I  had a chance to serve with him during the  2007 GK Bayani Challenge. So when Dan asked me to shoot his wedding, I did not hesitate to blessed this wonderful couple and thankfully my schedule was still open.

Dan and Colleen’s love story is one of the most unique I’ve encountered. Although they both belong to our community, Single’s for Christ, they only knew each other from a distance. Eventually, Dan found the courage to reach out and talk to Colleen through Facebook and they started talking a lot online. Eventually their friendship blossomed and within a month’s time of getting to know each other, they became engaged. Talk about fast! but I guess when you meet “the one” that God has prepared for you, time does not really matter. As of today, they’re my couple with the quickest engagement.

What got me also excited was the fact that Dan told me that their wedding will be at Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte, as it was their dream to have a destination wedding. If you knew Dan’s situation, it would be sort of a challenge. Being a full-time worker for Gawad Kalinga is not the most financially rewarding career and it takes a special breed of people, who believe in such a worthy cause and at the same time  passionate about serving God. But I am a witness of how God blesses his faithful servants like Dan and the fact that I am able to capture their wedding day is a testimony of how God provides for his children as Dan and Colleen received so much help from everyone in order for their dream wedding to push through.

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Ilocos Norte is one of the most scenic places to go to in the Philippines. Particularly, the town of Pagudpud has been recognized by many as one of the best beaches in the country. After the reception, we headed to the Bangui windmills area, another town close by Pagudpud and we decided that this would be the perfect place to shoot their portraits. Here are some of my favorite takes from that day….

Collen looking very lovely here…

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Dan all smiles, you can just see how happy he is here.

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The windmills are simply just awesome to look and provides a great backdrop for the couple.

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Its all about the drama :)

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I believe this shot created a feeling of “I’m lost in a deserted island”

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Earth, Water and Sky.

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Surreal and Dreamy.

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I’ll say it again great lighting + location = awesomeness

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I’ll leave you with a silhouette to end a romantic day of shooting. Congratulations Dan and Collen!

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Writing for Manila Standard

November 1st, 2009

Before I started photography I’ve always thought about going into writing for a magazine or some type of media but never seriously pursued it. However, an opportunity to write came up last September when Sir Jong (our mentor John Mateos Ong) received an email from Vic Sollorano, associate editor of Manila Standard. He asked sir [...]
 

Before I started photography I’ve always thought about going into writing for a magazine or some type of media but never seriously pursued it. However, an opportunity to write came up last September when Sir Jong (our mentor John Mateos Ong) received an email from Vic Sollorano, associate editor of Manila Standard. He asked sir Jong who was interested from our studio to write for their biweekly Photography section.

Sir Jong then asked us and I told him I wanted to give it try and sent my photographer profile to Sir Vic and he eventually took me in. Writing about Photography is a great way for me to give back the glory to God and share the valuable lessons I’ve learned from Sir Jong and my fellow photographers at Imagine Nation to people who share our passion for this craft. Being able to shoot for a living has been such a blessing from God and to be able to write what you love doing is another gift I am grateful to God for.

Yesterday my first ever article came out. My first topic was about off-camera flash for outdoor portraits….expect more articles to come every 2 weeks.

God bless!

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On A Mission…

September 21st, 2009

Leaving today for a cool destination, more details when I return this wednesday…


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Leaving today for a cool destination, more details when I return this wednesday…

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Groove is in the Heart : Cyril and Ferdine

September 21st, 2009

This has got to be one of my favorite Before I Do Sessions this year.  From the ancestral home of Cyril and the clothes they planned and wore (along with my help)…everything gave out a retro vibe. In line with the whole theme, I decided to make the images look old school. Cyril and Ferdine [...]
 

This has got to be one of my favorite Before I Do Sessions this year.  From the ancestral home of Cyril and the clothes they planned and wore (along with my help)…everything gave out a retro vibe. In line with the whole theme, I decided to make the images look old school. Cyril and Ferdine were so game to try out anything which made this a one of kind groovy shoot!

A homage to Cyril’s grandparent’s. Did I mention this ancestral was periodic 60′s-70′s architecture that’s why I suggested to them that they wear clothes similar to that era.

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We started a one of the 4 living room areas, this was one big house.

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As we entered the house we were greeted by this cool fountain so we just had to shoot there.

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A nice staircase to shoot…

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Time to go outside the house which offered rich greenery and the afternoon golden sunlight…

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KENYO: The Album Cover Shoot

September 15th, 2009

This was my first album cover project and I shot their group and individual portraits at our studio last May. Finally! after months preparation, their new album is now out in the market.  The CD’s concept, design and layout. was done by my friend Michelle De Guzman who did such an awesome work! Here’s the [...]
 

This was my first album cover project and I shot their group and individual portraits at our studio last May. Finally! after months preparation, their new album is now out in the market.  The CD’s concept, design and layout. was done by my friend Michelle De Guzman who did such an awesome work!

Here’s the Front Cover

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Some Pages from the Inside

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and the back cover…

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Presenting Kenyo’s Crew

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Mcoy Fundales – Vocals, Guitars (btw, he used to part of Orange and Lemons – remember the Pinoy Big Brother Song?)

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Ace del Mundo – Guitars

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Ariz Villalon – Drums

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Cleng Ocampo – Guitars

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JM del Mundo – Bass Guitars

If you’d like to know more about them check out Kenyo’s Facebook Page. Congratulations guys!

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Experience The New Imagine Nation Website

September 4th, 2009

After the countdown, it’s finally here!  Our new home on the web! visit us at www.imaginenationphoto.com
 

After the countdown, it’s finally here!  Our new home on the web! visit us at www.imaginenationphoto.com

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WIN AN IMAGINE NATION MASTER PHOTOGRAPHER TO SHOOT YOUR WEDDING!

September 4th, 2009

Imagine Nation is getting a new look on its home on the web and we’re inviting everyone to experience it! Contest Starts on Sept 7. Getting married? Here is an exciting way to tie-the-knot. Four (4) lucky couples can get the chance to have a full wedding photography coverage by one of the top Master/ [...]
 

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Imagine Nation is getting a new look on its home on the web and we’re inviting everyone to experience it!

Contest Starts on Sept 7.

Getting married? Here is an exciting way to tie-the-knot. Four (4) lucky couples can get the chance to have a full wedding photography coverage by one of the top Master/ Senior Photographers of Imagine Nation all for FREEEEE!!!

The Catch?

Simply, follow us daily from September 7 onwards at www.imaginenationphoto.com and answer our trivia for the next 7 days. We will reveal where to send the answers on Sept 14. First 4 emails with the correct answers wins!

Get a load of memories… Be part of the Imagine Nation Experience!!!

Notes:

1. To win, be one of the 1st four couples to email the right answers to us (address will be given on the 8th day). Winners will be determined through the system time in their email & order the email was received.

2. Questions will be posted everyday in the www.imaginenationphoto.com splash page.

3. Answers may be obtained by browsing through our website including our photographers.

4. The winners will get labor only package of one of Imagine Nation’s Master photographers (John Mateos Ong, Jayjay Lucas, Carlo Cecilo or Jason de Guzman) plus a back-up photographer.

4. Photographers will be assigned to winners via draw lots. Should master photographer be already booked, winner may swap photographer with the other winners (if they agree) or pick any senior photographer of her choice who is free on her wedding day.

5. Packages are non-transferrable & subject to availability of the photographer. Wedding date must at the latest be no later than November 30, 2010. Once booked, contract may not be rebooked.

6. By joining in this contest, Winner agrees to provide Lunch for a team of 5 pax & guest meals during reception & payment of necessary church permits. Transportation charges apply for out of town weddings as follows: Cavite P3,500, Tagaytay P5,000 & Baguio P12,000 + accommodation & food.

7. Winners may upgrade to include album by adding P20,000 or 2 cam edited video by adding P20,000.

8. Close friends or relatives of any member of Imagine Nation are excluded from winning in this contest.

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The WHY???

September 4th, 2009

As we reach the end of our countdown, let us show you the reason why imagine nation studio exists www.imaginenationphoto.com . Hang on tonight as we unveil a new look to the Imagine Nation Website!!! Also, See you tomorrow and  Sunday at the Wedding Expo at The Forum PICC, look for the ImagineNation Photography booth!
 

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As we reach the end of our countdown, let us show you the reason why imagine nation studio exists www.imaginenationphoto.com . Hang on tonight as we unveil a new look to the Imagine Nation Website!!!

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Also, See you tomorrow and  Sunday at the Wedding Expo at The Forum PICC, look for the ImagineNation Photography booth!

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