We scour the ends of the known world to find unique places to shoot. Sometimes they require a flight or two (or five) to get to and yet sometimes they require much much less. What captured me the most in this photo shoot with Monica and Giordan is the character of the location which was surprisingly just a few hours away from Manila. Why is it fascinating? It’s like any grubby town on one side and then like the mini Skocjan Caves in Slovenia on the other.

Monica and Giordan brought us to a unique outdoorsy location for their pre-wedding shoot, the Malangaan Cave. The cave is nestled in Sitio Tukod in Brgy. Pulo, San Rafael, Bulacan that features a canyon-like crevice and a nearby spring. The couple personally picked out the location and I liked how it looked extraordinary when it is just located to a province that’s closest to Manila. Monica and Giordan love to hike (when they get the time) and they discovered this gem. The place allowed for many of our signature ‘climbing shots’ and we simply indulged. They rocked the shoot (pun intended!) like the place is all too familiar for them. Special thanks Jeff Galang for styling the shoot and Mickey See for Monica’s make-up.

We maximized the secluded area also by having a mini-boudoir photo shoot with Monica. Instead of doing it at a common hotel room, Monica did not hesitate to do her photo shoot there. She was like a beautiful sprite just enjoying her tropical sojourn. I bet word got out fast throughout the village. Lol!

While the place is really nice, it was quite challenged as the location does not have other choices for a good setting – the rocks to come in many forms but they are still well, rocks. We got a little resourceful; we pulled our sleeves up and got an improvised salvabida where the couple graced the calm (but dreary) waters of the spring at the end of the cave.

I loved this photo shoot, the travel time was not too long and it didn’t need a plane ticket to get to such a simple cave that turned out as if it was an out-of-the-country location. And to the couple, Monica and Giordan, my deepest thanks for trusting me on this adventurous shoot. Enjoy the photos and let us bring you to a visual layover in no place else but Bulacan.