The month of September was planned to be a special one for Metrophoto. We had a lot of acitvities to celebrate metrophoto's 2nd year of continued success and my 30th birthday (yes, 30 is the new 18! hahaha). While we were able to successfully hold all the events that we planned, even more successfully than we actually envisoined, it was unfortunate that another event, this one of a calamity, struck Metro Manila and put everyone and everytihng on a stand still. Together with the rest of the country, we dropped whatever it is that we were up to and conspire in an effort to aid vicitms and put everyone back on their feet. It was a truly inspiring moment for the Philippines where unity overcame adversity.

Now that most things are going back to normal, we begin updating you guys again on all the things that kept us occupied the few weeks. I know I owe a lot of you blogposts after blogposts of the wonderful weddings that we were a part of especially now that we are transferring to this awesomely new and stylish website designed by intothedarkroom. I'll be higilighting more of about ITDR and their amazing products in the posts to come. 

Starting today, I'll be blogging straight everyday until we officially launch this site to everyone next week, filled with new and exciting posts of beautiful weddings and exciting happenings and content that will maximize your visiting and viewing experience. So please allow us to take you to the journey of endless imagery or wonderful weddings only at here mymetrophoto.com 

I begin my feature with Bill and Aileen's wedding. Bill is a great buddy of mine from Intel before and this was an extra special event for me to cover as I was also part of their entourage as secondary sponsor. It was nerve-wracking to march down the aisle knowing that I'm not shooting for that duration of my march. hahaha. Im a control freak! Thus right after I got to my seat, I immediately went back outside in time to shoot Aileen as she prepares for her bridal entrance. =) 

I'm absolutely happy for Bill and Aileen, their love and relaitonship was ideal and while it took them 10 years, it's such a joy to see them take the next step and finally tie the knot. =)

Jack and Olivia are happily and successfully married for 10 years already. Yes, they look young to be married for that long, but I guess being in love always has its rewards - aside from, of course, getting a lot of love. hahaha! =)

As part of their celebration, they asked metrophoto to shoot their anniversary photosession no place else than where their love started and flourished, during their college days at the University of California in Berkeley. 

They will have a formal celebration in Hongkong, where Olivia is a lawyer and Jack is a finance manager, this December. Meanwhile, enjoy the photos =)

Napa Valley has eluded me for quite a while. I've had several couples before already planned a shoot there but somehow, it always changes last minute. But obviously, not this time. Not this time because Jerome and Maris live a few miles from where the vineyards are, not this time because Jerome and Maris are avid wine fans, and definitely not this time because Jerome and Maris braved the midday sun, the dirt, and the seemingly inadequate time we had (1.5 hours) for the shoot. =) 

I've always been very thankful for all the super nice couples that I get to photograph, and these two are no different, in fact they are even on the top bunch. =) Jerome is funny and warm and Maris is sweet and pleasing. They are beautiful inside and out and it shows in all their photos =)

Welcome to blowhole bay. It was love at first sight when I saw this place while scouting for a good location for our Hawaii aftershoot with Abe and Jane. My requirement is really something intense and awesome, and you don't get more intense when you see those powerful waves wallop the beautiful rocks in the area. It was mind-blowing (maybe that's why thay call it Blowhole? hahaha) and when I found out that most of its areas are accessible if your subjects are willing and are troopers, I knew it was it. =) 

Well I counldn't commend Jane and Abe enough for this shoot. Abe has been sick for a couple of days already but found enough energy to have the shoot AND still look good. They definitely made their Hawaii honeymoon and Metrophoto's first shoot there truly superawesome ;) 

Enjoy the photos =)

You might remember Ollie and Tina from a shoot we had in Resida Point a year back. It has gone to be an annual photoshoot and this year, Ollie 

wanted to shoot in San Diego where they are now both based. But aside from that, Ollie saw the shoot as the perfect time to surprise Tina with his 

proposal AND have photo coverage of it because essentially, I was actually shooting them. 

The idea was that Ollie will have the ring (that one that he hid inside the computer CPU so no one can see it) with him during the shoot and as they

warm-up with the shots and poses, I will have Tina pose where she will have to turn around. I'll signal Ollie and he then kneels and proposes. Guess

what? It happened exactly that way. =) 

This is Metrophoto's very first proposal coverage and it was such a heartfelt and awesome experience to see one of my bestest buddy proposing and

having to see and capture all the love that they both share. =) With us during the shoot was our very good friends Juvy and Matt and of course my

family, Nina and Lance =) 

Enjoy the photos and relive the moment when Ollie finally proves to everyone that he's a man. hahaha! =) There is a video too, shot by Juvy posted 

at the bottom of this topic =)

We started out with a few poses. Slowly, I'm making Tina turn around.

Here are successive shots of Tina's expression as she turns around and sees Ollie kneeling down with a ring.

Before saying anything, she walks away. Tina: "oh my god!!!!"

Tina here finally looking back again at Ollie after almost walking away totally because of too much surprise. =) hahaha

Here are all of those in a different angle =) Great shots sweetie =)

It's a YES!

Tina: Is this a real diamond? hahaha

the rock! =)

Here's Juvy taking her own shot of the ring =)

YES! I'm a real man! hahaha

Ollie: Finally man! We did it. And there goes my 3-month salary. hahaha

Still cant believe it.

Of course we went on with the shoot of the now engaged couple. =)