There are destination weddings and then there are "reverse destination weddings" - something I just recently coined because of it's interesting set-up. The term sounds really intriguing and it might actually be useful, and it's exactly what happened to me in Mickey and Sheryll's wedding. 

Reverse destination wedding is when I'm out of the country for destination shoots for a certain period of time and then I had to fly back home (which is the Philippines of course) in the middle of it to cover a wedding and then fly back again to finish my schedule in that country. Pretty confusing when it's me that has to describe it, but I know you get it. hahaha =) 

So I was in Vegas for a conference and a shoot early March then I flew back to Manila for 3 days to cover Mickey and Sheryl's wedding and went back to Los Angeles to finish all my e-session schedule and cover Juju and Mary's wedding in Palos Verdes. =) Strange? hahaha. Pretty cool that that can even happen if you ask me =) It's like going home to just visit! =) Thanks to Mickey and Sheryll for the opportunity to cover their wonderful wedding and for coming with such a solid and super fun wedding crew (check out the behind-the-scenes shots at the bottom of the post). It made the 30-hour flights around the event more then worth it =)  

It was a wedding full of fun! =) Enjoy also these behind-the-scenes shots of the wonderful suppliers of Mickey and Sheryll =) Bong having the time of his life - I seriously forgot why. Veluz, getting ready oh yeah, this was why. =) hahaha. Jody with her gameface on Let's have some me-shots too of course. hahaha Bong, still laughing. hahaha

I never thought that I would shoot so often with such beautiful creatures to create my own Metrophoto Safari Series. But seriously, after shooting with Giraffes and Camels I thought I was done. But Mickey and Sheryll had other ideas. They chose a concept in a similar fashion and gave it their own unique elegance to it. =) So first it was around 6 giraffes, then 7 camels and this time it was 21 horses (reminds me of Greenday's song hahaha) - I'm wishing the next one won't be a herd of crocodiles! hahaha ( I only like them in my album covers). 

This post officially qualifies this blog to National Geographic's live blog feed updates. hahaha =)

One of the most unforgettable part of Jimmy and Lesley's wedding is that we had access to shoot in the presidential suites inside the Hyatt Hotel in Manila. Both rooms are of course lavish and the details are amazing. My favorite part is shooting the couple in a tub - and with such an awesome couple, it was totally fab! metrofied the entire suite. hahaha =) 

Enjoy the photos

Remember those camels I promised in my last post? =) Well, feast yourselves on them. hahaha. In this post you'll see camels probably more than you've seen your entire life =) As our shoot was set on the vast sand dunes of Doha Qatar, we commissioned the entire herd of camels available in the area to use for the shoot! Since we're doing something different, why not make the most out of it right? =) 

It was difficult dealing with creatures that can kill you easily with a stomp or drag you to death. Pretty misleading actually because they seem so nice and sweet even more with those super long eyelashes. hahaha! But Boogie and Josh got the hang of it really easy, in no time they were leading the camels like they were little puppies. hahaha =) 

Enjoy the photos and behind-the-scenes takes at the bottom, this may be a one-of-a-kind engagement session ever. =)

Below was the toughest shot of the day. I had to shoot on top of the camel which is scary already to start with. =) Well, I did get my most favorite shot of the day from it so it was well worth it =) Before we used them for the shoots, we got to try riding and enjoying the camels first of course. hehehe habibi! time to get on and get hot on top of the camels. hahaha operatiion, desert storm! =) hahaha

Part 2 of Boogie and Josh's E-session was shot in Suoq Waqif (I hope I remember it right). It's Doha's local market where you find everything! From the stingiest of smells to the trendiest of bars. It's a cultural heaven that probably the only thing missing are the camels (or maybe they're there too and I just missed it - but we'll get to those soon enough). 

We capped the day with some Shisha. =) yes, those things I pretend to enjoy sipping and smoking. It's the closest thing I can get to try to smoke a cigar - and it's apple flavored so I'm not complaining. hahaha =)  

If you want to see camels then go back tomorrow for the third and best part of this series =)

  Here are some shots with all of the people we had fun with while in Doha =)