Back-to-back championships, buy-one-take-ones, dual-cores, cotton buds (what?) etc. There are just things that are so much better when they come in twos. So was one of my tagaytay weekend back-to-backs with two super gorgeous Veluz gowns - both in my favorite birdcage veil. Woohoo ;) 

Last post I shared Toper and Mei's dream-come-true wedding. And just hours after that, we witnessed Glenn and Charlyn's very intimate Christian wedding in Splendido Tagaytay. The mood was very relaxed and yet everything was heartfelt. =) Enjoy the photos.

The most interesting part of Toper and Mei's wedding story came after the reception when we were all just chatting waiting or the DVDs to render. The couple were telling us, still every bit fascinated, how happy they are that their wedding came out to be a dream-come-true. From, ahem, the photographers up to all the details and venues (ok I had to put me first of course. hahaha). But of all those things, the most moving story is the story of her gown (one look and you'd know whose masterpiece it is). 

Since Toper and Mei didn't really put a big budget for their wedding, and although Veluz Reyes is her dream gown designer, Mei thought that even with her best efforts, she would only wind-up with a 10,000 pesos budget for a wedding gown and that a friend of a friend or a friend of the family will only be the one to make it for her. To make things more difficult, that "friend of a friend" was traveling a lot and was hard to get a hold with and time was running out. Then just out of her continued amazement with Veluz, Mei sent Toper the link of their site just for him to look at it and see what are the inspirations that she wants for a gown. Toper has been in Japan for a couple of years already he himself loved the gown designs in the site. He thought that there was no price to the experience of her bride-to-be to wear a gown which in itself is priceless. So, as we all see it, the rest is a wedding love story. =) 

Enjoy the photos =)

The video below by THE Jason Magbanua was the one that capped the successful I-M-30 series of events that marked both my 30th birthday and the second anniversary of Metrophoto. There is this new website by Intothedarkroom which is not only more organized and looked cleaner but also allows us to showcase our work in a way that visitors will appreciate with ease and allure. There is the successful Hothouse series where Metrophoto gave a free workshop to aspiring wedding photographers as our way of paying-it-forward. There is the 30-photographers, 30-portraits project where 30 of the most respected and closest photographers who have influenced me in one way or another, made their own take of me through a single portrait. There was the I-M-30 party where all of my closest friends and family in-and-out of the industry celebrated this significant turning point and where these were exhibited. 

And of course there is this video of metrophoto by Jason Magbanua - there was no other option on who will do the AVP of the brand. While Jason is considered the best in the industry it was also important to note that I thought, style-wise, his stunning products will suit and compliment what I wanted to highlight about Metrophoto. The video is perfect! =) We had little time to create everything. All I had was an idea that in itself was not even organized to make things a tiny bit easier. Jason had to shoot me while I shoot an e-session and a wedding and then put them all together to create a "moving" video (as how I describe it, I didn't want a rockstar-type video where I looked too dressed-up, salient and cocky) without me saying a single word. I was excited but at the same time I wasn't really sure Jason will be able to pull through because I myself was having a hard time putting into exact words what I like. But I guess that's why he's a genius.

For the e-session out-takes we only had one opportunity, it was Ramon and Zerline's shoot in Ateneo. The concept of the shoot was simple which was nice because it will be more of the couple and my interaction that will be highlighted than anything else. To make me look good (or should I say fresh), Madge Lejano dropped by straight from Cebu to provide minor styling for me and of course offer moral support. hahaha. Jason and his team (Kuya Pat, Elson, and videographer Marvi de Guzman of Cinemaworks) captured the clips and drank cheap but very cold and tasty eighto'clock orange juice. =) Check out some photographs from that day here. 

The wedding clips were more difficult to shoot. The only chance we have was on Tristan and Angelica's wedding where Jason is also their videographer - I could have easily been in their onsite AVP. hahaha. But for the purpose of my shoot, Marvi and Ian Cruz were there. Ian is responsible in capturing awesome clips that Bob Nicolas use for his onsite AVPs. Incidentally, Madge Lejano was also the Make-up artist in the wedding so my touch-ups were easy. hahaha. We shot some clips outside the reception venue where Jason had a cameo (can you guess which scene?).

Click on the numerous links in the texts above for more details and photos. And enjoy photos below from the I-M-30 party, wonderfully and beautifully coordinated by details diva Ernest Pascual. =)  

Teta Canada-Lazo was my gorgeous emcee for the evening =)

The best cake of all by non other than Judy Uson =)

Here are my pretty girls =)

and my baby boy =) >

again, to everyone who took part in all of our endeavors the last few months, huge or small, me and my family are deeply grateful =)

This wedding of Tristan and Angelica is special for a lot of reasons. Yes, it had to wait two months before being posted in the blog but it's all for a good great excuse. =) Tristan and Angelica are dear friends of mine - Angelica and my wife's bond goes back to high school. This was also the first time that my little girl, Lana, is going to be a flower girl - daddy's most excited of course. =) This was also the wedding where world renown artist Jason Magbanua will shoot me while at work for Metrophoto's avp (that super amazing video you see up there that we just put? yep, that's exactly it). We thought that it would be just appropriate to feature the wedding just as we are launching the video =) 

Thanks to Tristan and Angelica for letting us use their wedding for the video material =) Enjoy the photos and see that beautiful detail on the amazing Veluz gown? watch out for more when we shoot Tristan and Angelica's aftershoot in China early next year! woohoo! =)

Before the crazy December month kicks in, I'd just like to share something that I thought was fairly amusing. These were photos of me during a recent wedding coverage we had. Needless to say I was enjoying myself a lot in one of our couple's speeches (Zerline's to be specific). It's just amazing to see and realize how blessed I am to be able to do what I love doing and still be rewarded with the pure joy of witnessing every love story unfold. =) 

I am very grateful with the life I have... with all the true friends that surround me, with the unbelievably awesome people that I work with in and out of the industry, with the nicest, most gorgeous couples, and with my beautiful family. I appreciate each and every minute of it. =)

Merry Christmas in advance everyone =)