Oly Ruiz

Thea and Pierre | An El Nido Pre-wedding Shoot

It’s been several years since I last visited El Nido. Since then, there is an obvious influx of developments that made what was a very ordinary town, more bustling and should I say, festive. Not to mention the establishment of new and exciting hotels aside from the accustomed, albeit very exclusive, Ayala-owned ones. Thea and Pierre chose this place for their pre-wedding shoot not only because they wanted a unique and beautiful location for their photos but this is also where Pierre proposed to Thea. In fact, it was such a great coincidence that we shot our first (and my favourite) set, exactly in front of the spot where he proposed – I had no idea when I chose the spot and it was such a nice surprise. I hope that you enjoy the photos as we were able to create frames not typical of what you’ll find in Palawan, they are still very much El Nido but with an incredible twist. Be sure to view the BTS video below as well. Thanks to Thea and Pierre for not settling for the ordinary and in making all our vision a reality. You guys are awesome. [shareprints gallery_id=”53751″ gallery_type=”masonry” gallery_position=”pos_center” gallery_width=”width_100″ image_size=”medium” image_padding=”5″ theme=”dark” image_hover=”zoomin” lightbox_type=”slide” comments=”true” sharing=”true”]

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Irene and JB | A Kenya Pre-Wedding Special (Part 1 of 2)

“Where is your dream destination?” I get asked this question by my couples all the time. Usually, it is simply out of curiosity. But Irene was different; she sought the answer and intended to really make it happen. The result? One of the most amazing we’ve ever done. Answering her was not easy. Over the years, I have been so fortunate to shoot in the most beautiful locations in the world, many of which were at the top of my shoot list: Machu Picchu, Salar de Uyuni, Cappadocia, Porto, Cape Town, Ethiopia, and Morocco. Irene, JB, and I share a passion for wildlife. After several discussions, we decided that we would shoot their pre-wedding in Kenya, given its majestic safaris and its rich culture. We all knew that not only would the pre-wedding shoot be amazing, but the overall experience as well. We set out on a 10-day trip that was so much more than what we expected and hoped for. From the national parks of Mount Kenya and Lake Nakuru to the most amazing private reserve of Segera in Laikipa, every location was a luxury. I really must say thank you to Irene and JB for making this experience unbelievably grand on multiple levels. We had everything at our disposal for this Kenya pre-wedding shoot – manpower, vehicles, the best accommodation and food. It was a photographer’s dream. Given all of that, imagine the pressure I felt to deliver! Despite the preparations and the resources, there were still many things […]

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Bea and Norby | A Paris Pre-wedding Shoot

There is no place in the world quite like Paris. It’s magical, it’s outstanding, and it’s the quintessential place to love and fall in love. People who have been there get obsessed about the city, and you know what’s amazing? This is true even for people who have not been there. You see it for the first time and it doesn’t matter if you are there or it’s a in movie or a photograph, it would always be love at first sight. This is why the recent fire in the Cathedral of Notre Dame struck so many hearts. It’s was either you’ve been there and you feel so sorry for the tragedy to happen or you haven’t been there yet and now there is no more chance to see to such a historic treasure. I love Paris and I felt a bit of regret that I have never been inside Notre Dame. I took it for granted and now it will never be the same. But I do find solace in the shoots I’ve had, even if they are just outside this magnificent structure. In as recent as a few months back, we had the great opportunity of shooting a different take of the cathedral by doing a night shoot. I almost never got to share these photos, but sometimes, events happen that make you appreciate these things even more. So prepare to, once again, fall in love with the city of love with these beautiful photos of Bea and […]

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A City of Dreams and Manila Cathedral Wedding | Nikki and Jeff

I’ve heard it said – and I guess you’ve heard it too – that people come into our lives for a reason. I’ve always been certain that this is true. Some are meant to stay for a short time but some are meant to stay forever. On today’s feature, I share how Nikki and Jeff proclaim to the world that they were meant to do just that, stay with each other forever. We were a witness to this love during the time we shot their amazing prenup in Batanes several months back (click here to their amazing photos). We have grown really close since, including their families, and have nothing but love for these two amazing individuals. People come and go and just like Nikki is to Jeff, and vice-versa, some will stay forever. With us clients also come and go, and with Nikki and Jeff we also have proof that there will be some that will stay forever, maybe not physically but as friends and, particularly with Nikki, as a testament of a true blue #metrophotobride. ___________________ Suppliers: Photo: Oly Ruiz Make-up Pong Niu Gown: Michael Leyva Coordination: Rita Neri Event Planners Video: Kristopher King Caldera Flowers and Styling: Jo Claravall Reception: City of Dreams Manila Emcee: Max Tiu [shareprints gallery_id=”63544″ gallery_type=”masonry” gallery_position=”pos_center” gallery_width=”width_100″ image_size=”medium” image_padding=”5″ theme=”dark” image_hover=”zoomin” lightbox_type=”slide” comments=”true” sharing=”true”]

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Elaine and Chad | Hokkaido Pre-wedding Photographer

It has always been a dream to shoot in Hokkaido and for some reason, it has eluded us for many years. We have had the chance to go as far and as remote was Chile and Bolivia, before early this year, we finally had a crack to shoot at Japan’s northernmost main island. Hokkaido didn’t disappoint, it was pristine, it was unique, and it was wonderful. I had the time of my life shooting Elaine and Chad together with some of the best people one can travel with. It was just an experience that was truly worth all the wait. ______________ Enjoy the photos. Suppliers: Photo: Oly Ruiz Make-up: Paul Nebres Styling: Adrianne Concepts [shareprints gallery_id=”71215″ gallery_type=”masonry” gallery_position=”pos_center” gallery_width=”width_100″ image_size=”medium” image_padding=”5″ theme=”dark” image_hover=”zoomin” lightbox_type=”slide” comments=”true” sharing=”true”]

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Siargao Prenup Photographer | Maebel and David (part 1)

I have always been an avid traveler. My work has taken me to different places I had never thought I could go to growing up. But I also believe that no matter how many times I go to these different locations, I will always find something new and fascinating sites to shoot at. With Siargao having a lot to offer, you can go far by visiting the place. You will definitely see so many interesting things on the island. You can walk or drive for a few minutes and your eyes will never fail to meet a mix of unique and amazing spots. The island is so alive that almost every week there are new restaurants to try or new places to hang out. Siargao is one of the most interesting and captivating places to have a photoshoot, whether just for vacation or for a pre-wedding shoot. It is an island that you’ll keep coming back to. I would like to thank David and Maebel for choosing Metrophoto Siargao. And just like my other clients, they pushed me to think outside the box and make the experience something new and one-of-a-kind for them. They made this whole shoot fun and beautiful. Enjoy! ________________ Suppliers: Photo: Oly Ruiz Make-up: Janice thebeautyfairy Styling: Aireen [shareprints gallery_id=”77578″ gallery_type=”masonry” gallery_position=”pos_center” gallery_width=”width_100″ image_size=”medium” image_padding=”5″ theme=”dark” image_hover=”zoomin” lightbox_type=”slide” comments=”true” sharing=”true”]

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Gaile and Steven | An Intimate Wedding Photographer

Some weddings are so beautiful; I wonder if my skills are even necessary for the event to have great photographs. I feel that anyone with a decent camera could just ‘click away’ and create endless frames of magic. As silly as that may sound, there is substance to such a thought if the wedding is the kind that Gaile and Steven had. I met these two early this year, and with the way the world has been recently, I wasn’t sure that their wedding would be celebrated as scheduled. But it did, and it did so in a fashion that’s almost unaltered by the pandemic. As if there was just no way that their wedding destiny will not be fulfilled – no matter the perspective no and matter the timing. It’s really about Gaile and Steven – these two are about elegance, humility, and love. So if you aspire to experience how to take great photographs, find a wedding as beautiful as today’s feature and snap away. Enjoy the photos. ____________ Suppliers: Photo: Oly Ruiz Make up: MKQua Hairstyling: Aries Manal Planning: COTEevnts Gown: White Label Bridal Host: JC Alelis Video: Studio King [shareprints gallery_id=”85697″ gallery_type=”masonry” gallery_position=”pos_center” gallery_width=”width_100″ image_size=”medium” image_padding=”5″ theme=”dark” image_hover=”zoomin” lightbox_type=”slide” comments=”true” sharing=”true”]

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Dianne and Elvin | A Subic Pre-wedding Photographer

Expectations were set very high for the prenup shoot of Dianne and Elvin; what was meant to be a destination shoot in Tokyo ended up being moved from April 2020 again and again until this no longer became a viable option for the couple. Dianne and Elvin eventually saw this setback in location to be a sign of some sort, signaling them to instead shift their focus to finding the backdrop in the Philippines that perfectly captured their proud Filipino heritage. Then came the silver lining: the opportunity to shoot their prenup on the beautiful grounds of Las Casas, Bataan. As a big fan of charming, Mediterranean seaside towns (ala By The Sea with Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt), it was definitely momentous for me to be handed the chance to create dramatic seaside shots that would highlight the fervent nature of the love and intimacy between Dianne and Elvin. On the luscious grounds of Las Casas, we found several excellent spots to take photos of the beautiful couple, but I wanted to go the extra mile to make up for the fact that Japan was canceled. Upon surveying Las Casas, a yacht parked several kilometers away on a secluded island caught my eye; I saw this seemingly forgotten spot as an opportunity to take intriguing shots of Dianne and Elvin as if they had been living on this island all their lives. Taking the alluring portraits of Dianne and Elvin on and around the yacht’s perimeter gorgeously rendered some […]

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Gen and Keith | Antonio’s Tagaytay Wedding Photographer

Up until her wedding day, I can say that of all the brides that I haven’t met in person yet, Gen was the closest to me. I can attribute it to our long negotiation process (she wants a lot of things), her great personality (she knows what she wants), or the fact that the pandemic required constant communication because of all the uncertainty (something she didn’t want). Contrary to Keith, who I had met numerous times before in the many weddings where he was a groomsman or a family of the couple. One can just imagine that first ‘hello’ with Gen during her wedding preparations when I immediately told her how beautiful she was in person and an immediate response from her of ‘charot ka Oly, sinasabi mo yan sa lahat ng brides mo’. With my honest compliment turned down, I thought I needed more than the truth to get her in the groove. But G for Gen is also G for groove; she was immediately in the element to be photographed – knowing what was being asked of her and taking things further with ideas of her own, yes, bride/creative director. The rest of the day happened similar to how it started, with beauty, banter, and bountiful emotions that make sharing this feature such an honor. There was at least ten other couples present in this wedding who I’ve shot before. Thus it also felt more like a prelude to Mblazoned in addition to feeling so at home. Thank […]

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