Last month, the Hothouse worksop made its third stop in the Middle East. After successful runs in Kuwait and in Doha, the workshop added Dubai to the celebrated list of cities from that part of the world. Amazingly, Dubai is similar to Metrophoto in many ways than one for being very modern, stylish, cosmopolitan, and ambitious. So I really embraced it and in return it has energized and inspired me completely.

But what really puts these all together and make it an experience that captures the deepest part of your heart and your soul are the people. Wonderful people that I’ve either met for the first time or previous friends I had a chance to reconnect with, just made it extraordinary. And before I go on further, I would really like to thank my metrophoto couple Roan and Tom Miles for making this happen. I’m truly grateful for Roan’s credence in me and in her determination in making this happen – a true-blooded Metrophoto bride :) More than that, the hospitality the generosity, and the friendship that they showed me will take me a lifetime to give back.

Talking about ‘making it happen’, Hothouse Dubai happened in awesome fashion. Held inside the modern and stylish Towers Rotana hotel, the place wasn’t only packed, it was spirited al throughout – a stark contrast from the mood outside during the day as most of the people were in observance of the Ramadan. We were blessed with a line-up of participants that was diverse (we had Lebanese, Indian, and German nationalities mixed-in with the Pinoys) and yet collectively engaged and full of fun.

Once again, thanks to Tom and Roan and the rest of the organizers and volunteers for making Hothouse Dubai a success, thank you Harry Cruz for being the familiar face and making things easier, thanks also to Tony and Yara for being such forbearing and yet beautiful models, to Ellaine for making sure the models always looked good, to daze for the wonderful outfits, and of course to all the attendees who allowed themselves to be metrofied. I’m forever thankful. :)

Check out the photos below. Those with the H logo are courtesy of Harry Cruz.

Didn’t I mention they were very animated? hahaha!

There you go :)

Thanks to this guy below, we were able to shoot at the rooftop of the hotel! He was awesome ;)

Metrophoto couple Tom and Roan :)

Sooo happy ;)

Here are the official photos from the shoot of Tony and Yara :)

A couple of weeks back, the hottest, most travelled, and most creditable wedding photography workshop hit the capital city of Doha in Qatar. Two years have been removed from the last time I visited the place and man do they develop in a rush. It felt great to be back and have the opportunity to hold Metrophoto’s hothouse workshop organized by Chai Bautista of Chaiful Ideas together with the brilliant people of Team Creation in Doha.

The lecture and the initial part of the shoot were held at the 5-star, totally splendid Sharq hotel. The room we had boasts of a making of a boardroom for the royalty of the country (plush interior, state-of-the-art equipment, gourmet snacks, and framed impressions of the royal family – I guess that was the key giveaway) and it was packed! There were some people that had to sit on the floor – well I think that was because loved the intricate carpet design.

One of the highlights of the workshop was our shoot at Zekreet! There, preserved and unique rock formations provided a magnificent backdrop for the second part of the shoot and totally gave the barren desert feel warranted by being in the middle east.

There are too many people to acknowledge and thank for making the workshop a sure-fire success but most of them goes to Chai, whose great aspirations, taste, and the commitment to bring only the best allowed Hothouse to happen in Doha despite the seemingly impossible tasks. And to everyone else in Team Creation, Nur, Angel, Fame, AL, Pete, Bobby, Billy, cousin Jerome, Roger and Mommy Eds and Dennis for the wonderful wedding gowns, to the countless sponsors (see the poster below), and of course the awesome batch of participants that included people who flew in from Dubai and Kuwait and even one the loveliest Metrophoto Bride, Roan – thanks for an experience that will be impossible to forget.

Join us as we relive Hothouse Doha all over again :) And for those who want to experience the Hothouse workshop, Dubai is next on July 27 and 28. Check details here.

Our haute and hot couple, Angel and Fame. Dont be fooled by the names, they are not a lesbian couple.

The hotel had a lot of arabic details that were new and very interesting for me.

The fabulous gowns were provided by Doha’s top Filipino designer Ed Ocampo.

Remember that desert I was talking about? Yep, these are the photos from Zekreet :)

Day one lecture photo.

Love those Hothouse Doha shirts.

On the right is Rico. He is the reason, I had to translate all my workshop jokes to English. LOL

It was scorching HOT! I swear I could curse right now remembering how hot is was.

Mommy Eds and his team (excluding the buff guy on the right, that’s Allan).

It was the worst time of the day to shoot outdoor but I guess for a workshop that’s a good opportunity. I cannot just say to all of them to wait for the afternoon light. hehehe.

Now this is the afternoon light. It’s as majestic as the location! :)

That’s me up there, I was looking for Bear Gylls. LOL.

Don’t be mistaken, we didn’t change models.

That’s Jerome below left, thank him and Pete for most of the Behind-the-scenes shots of the workshop :)

With Jerome is Sarah, our beautiful sponsor from Red Bull. Yes, we had two gorgeous women carrying ice-cold Reb Bull for everyone while we were shooting. :)

Doha is METROFIED! Yet again :)

Huge thanks again to Nur (we love those pink pants and shorts) and Chai for making my stay in Doha extra special :)

Forget about the end of the world this December. Before that, an unprecedented and the ultimate wedding photography workshop + seminar in Asia is about to take place. Wiki School Pedia presents this 3-day event in Bali, Indonesia on August 13-15, 2012. Of course, I will be there as a major speaker and will hold a series of classes – Metrophoto style. :) Click the here for details on how to take part and click here for more about the Metroman! :)

This year has been the biggest yet for Metrophoto and that goes for my Hothouse Workshop series as well. We had very successful workshops here in Manila and then in London, Kuwait, and New York. It was an unimaginable feat but like a lot of our successes, with a lot of hardwork, prayers, and the genuine desire to fulfill the Metrophoto experience, we have done it in record time and fashion.

As we announce the final Hothouse schedule of the year and prepare for bigger things for 2012, we want to feature the photos from Hothouse in New York last August. We were overwhelmed by the response as all slots were booked right away and we had attendees as far off as Washington DC and Florida. My huge thanks to Sachi Villareal and Bryan Geonzon for organizing the entire workshop that turned-out awesome in each and every way. This is New York, baby; and to be able to conquer it this way was incredible.

So without further ado, let us take you throughout the Hothouse New York experience. And if you want to be part of the next Metrophoto Hothouse experience, click here for the details of the upcoming Hothouse 7 in Manila.

Lecture part was held in midtown manhattan. Here I’m definitely not singing to them while I describe Metrophoto’s one-of-a-kind wedding albums. That guy behind me is Metrophoto mainstay, Noel Dasmarinas.

Participant introductions. It was an all-filipino, all-men group.

Thanks to Sachi for these behind-the-scenes photos including this close-up of my favorite shoes :)

And this is not one of my dance moves, I have better ones than this.

Brad from D.C. – he’s the reason everyone must speak in English. lol :)

After a delicious lobster lunch, off we go to the shoot in Manhattan’s Meat Packing District. We literally packed the place.

High note :)

This is how you shoot birds – Metrophoto style. hehehe.

It was actually this shot. :)

And this is how you shoot walls – Metrophoto style.

It was actually this shot. :)

Debrief after the shoot. See my face? It was still THAT intense around that time.

I LOVE MOUNTAIN DEW! :)

Here are the official photos from the workshop. First of Winnie and Daniel.

And then of Megan :)

New York City is Metrofied.

The Metrophoto Hothouse Series, which is an intensive wedding photography workshop, has been one of the most successful workshops from the Philippines and we have travelled around the world to share our story and craft. Last July, the hothouse workshop invaded Kuwait – not literally, dictators to that not photographers. hahaha.

We wanted go hold the workshop earlier in the year to avoid the excessive heat but due to schedule conflicts, we had to go right in the middle of summer. But even with the idea of more than 100F heat, I was really excited, the Pindot Group of Photographers was the most prestigious in Kuwait and I was sure I was up for an awesome time :) Check out the photos below and experience Kuwait in a very short time but in the Metrophoto way.

Since the idea of having the workshop in Kuwait has long been discussed and has been moved several times already because of schedule complications, the tag line “the kuWAIT is over” was perfect :)

Here I am upon arrival at the Kuwait International Airport – feeling famous! hahaha. With the Pindot Execom

And guess what else greeted me when I arrived? Mr. Sandstorm

We needed facemasks to stay outside, I really think they looked cool. This photo below on our way to some Mid-eastern dinner :)

Shisha/Hookah or whatever it is, was enjoyable after a 12-hour flight and definitely a good warm-up for the workshop the next day.

Workshop was held in Holiday Inn Hotel and we were packed :) Check out photos from the lecture and behind-the-scenes shots below courtesy of Jeb, Brehn, and Emil :)

And of course, the workshop photos :) We wanted to shoot more and longer outside but the sandstorm just wouldn’t let us

Had a blast in Kuwait. My 1.5-day stay sure wasn’t enough especially in the company of great people

And just this month, that group shot above was used in the feature for the Arab Times newspaper. Great great write-up by Maxy Santiago. :) How epic is that article title right? :)