Today, our adorable little Lana Oasis turns three. She fills our everyday with sweet kisses (and hugs like on the photo above), witty and cute questions, some sunshine and a lot of whining - irresistible ones. hahaha =) She also calls everyone Bolok when she tries to be funny or when she's trying to annoy someone - especially her Kuya Lance. hahaha! 

Happy Birthday Lana bolok! =) We love you so much =)

  hahaha! I like this one below. it's one of my fave bride poses that Lana surprisingly knows how to do. That's what she gets by sitting on daddy's lap while daddy is working =) 

Then she starts to get annoyed. hahaha. It's a classic face with a classic phrase "You're bad!, I don't like you!" hahaha. 

With her Kuya Lance =)

This September, I'll be collaborating with master wedding photographer Dino Lara for a one-of-a-kind photoshoot experience. Dubbed as "Experience The Yin Yang/The Yin Yang Experience" this rare spectacle will feature two very unique but awesome styles in wedding engagement shoots. Dino's mastery when it comes to natural moments and B&W images will truly compliment Metrophoto's colorful and creative posing and shooting style - it's going to be a feast for the senses, a true Yin-Yang experience. 

To even take this opportunity even further to the next level, famed wedding make-up artist and stylist Madge Lejano will be part of the team and will provide her own expertise to all the shoots. 

There is now more to look forward to in Singapore this September aside from the Formula 1 race =) hahaha. =) 

There will be 6 slots (3 left) available from September 14-16 at 55,000 each. And it will include a 30-page 10x10 album of the whole experience

Right on the heel of the recent success of Hothouse America comes the third installation of the Hothouse Workshop Series, Hothouse Rizal. And this one was the most intense yet - two entire days with the most awesome thirty-five participants (yes, treinta y cinco) with nothing but pure metrofication! yeah! hahaha. 

Set in the elegant and laid back thunderbird hotel and casino resort in Angono Rizal, the workshop not only featured Metrophoto but the other top brands in the Philippine wedding industry as well. Top-notch designer Veluz Reyes provided the wedding gown for the shoot along with Teddy Manuel (wild flower-inspired bouquet) and Madge Lejano (make-up and styling). It was a feast for the eyes. 

Again, I would like to extend my deepest gratification to all those who made the Hothouse workshops not only possible but such a kick-ass success. The outpouring support from both friends, family, and followers (who are now my new found friends) is hugely humbling =) We got participants who flew in from all parts of the country to be Metrofied - from CDO, Davao, Bohol, and Cebu. =)

With such a big hit, it would be easy to assume that it doesn't get any better than this. But like with anything Metrophoto, it always gets better (and more fab!). Hahaha! We're in the middle of redesigning the next edition of Hothouse. It will be something that's unprecedented and unheard of in photography workshops. It will be like Hothouse on steroids! hahaha =) While it won't be happening until at least after several months, please do frequent the site (especially those metrofyees who failed to make the list) for teasers and official announcements. See you in Poro! =)

  This is Jerremy, a metrophoto groom and currently the only hothouse two-timer! =) The boys are out! From Cebu =) Team Davao! Team Metrophoto! =) As a bonus, Madge Lejano provided a short talk on the importance of make-up in creating kick-ass photographs. Tanja Winheim was the beautiful metrophoto bride for the workshop =) Teddy Manuel named his wild and elegant bouquet after me. Oliexotica! love love it! =) Looks like a scene from CSI! CSI Rizal! hahaha. My trusted and talented #2, Francis Yllana, proved further his varying skills by modeling for us. =) Metrofied!

Click here for details. Click here to join.

Hothouse in the Philippines on July 3-4 still have a few slots remaining. Please click here to join.

The video below by THE Jason Magbanua was the one that capped the successful I-M-30 series of events that marked both my 30th birthday and the second anniversary of Metrophoto. There is this new website by Intothedarkroom which is not only more organized and looked cleaner but also allows us to showcase our work in a way that visitors will appreciate with ease and allure. There is the successful Hothouse series where Metrophoto gave a free workshop to aspiring wedding photographers as our way of paying-it-forward. There is the 30-photographers, 30-portraits project where 30 of the most respected and closest photographers who have influenced me in one way or another, made their own take of me through a single portrait. There was the I-M-30 party where all of my closest friends and family in-and-out of the industry celebrated this significant turning point and where these were exhibited. 

And of course there is this video of metrophoto by Jason Magbanua - there was no other option on who will do the AVP of the brand. While Jason is considered the best in the industry it was also important to note that I thought, style-wise, his stunning products will suit and compliment what I wanted to highlight about Metrophoto. The video is perfect! =) We had little time to create everything. All I had was an idea that in itself was not even organized to make things a tiny bit easier. Jason had to shoot me while I shoot an e-session and a wedding and then put them all together to create a "moving" video (as how I describe it, I didn't want a rockstar-type video where I looked too dressed-up, salient and cocky) without me saying a single word. I was excited but at the same time I wasn't really sure Jason will be able to pull through because I myself was having a hard time putting into exact words what I like. But I guess that's why he's a genius.

For the e-session out-takes we only had one opportunity, it was Ramon and Zerline's shoot in Ateneo. The concept of the shoot was simple which was nice because it will be more of the couple and my interaction that will be highlighted than anything else. To make me look good (or should I say fresh), Madge Lejano dropped by straight from Cebu to provide minor styling for me and of course offer moral support. hahaha. Jason and his team (Kuya Pat, Elson, and videographer Marvi de Guzman of Cinemaworks) captured the clips and drank cheap but very cold and tasty eighto'clock orange juice. =) Check out some photographs from that day here. 

The wedding clips were more difficult to shoot. The only chance we have was on Tristan and Angelica's wedding where Jason is also their videographer - I could have easily been in their onsite AVP. hahaha. But for the purpose of my shoot, Marvi and Ian Cruz were there. Ian is responsible in capturing awesome clips that Bob Nicolas use for his onsite AVPs. Incidentally, Madge Lejano was also the Make-up artist in the wedding so my touch-ups were easy. hahaha. We shot some clips outside the reception venue where Jason had a cameo (can you guess which scene?).

Click on the numerous links in the texts above for more details and photos. And enjoy photos below from the I-M-30 party, wonderfully and beautifully coordinated by details diva Ernest Pascual. =)  

Teta Canada-Lazo was my gorgeous emcee for the evening =)

The best cake of all by non other than Judy Uson =)

Here are my pretty girls =)

and my baby boy =) >

again, to everyone who took part in all of our endeavors the last few months, huge or small, me and my family are deeply grateful =)