Our super sweet and very smart, little King, Lance Ocean just turned five! =) He has grown to be a really witty and talkative boy and loves asking tough questions that even mommy and daddy sometimes don't know the answer to! hahaha =) 

We're saying hi from fabulous Singapore where we're celebrating Lance's birthday with of course little Lana Oasis =) It's the first time that all four of us are out for a vacation this far and this long and it's the most crazy and fun time. hahaha =)

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 =)

Before the crazy December month kicks in, I'd just like to share something that I thought was fairly amusing. These were photos of me during a recent wedding coverage we had. Needless to say I was enjoying myself a lot in one of our couple's speeches (Zerline's to be specific). It's just amazing to see and realize how blessed I am to be able to do what I love doing and still be rewarded with the pure joy of witnessing every love story unfold. =) 

I am very grateful with the life I have... with all the true friends that surround me, with the unbelievably awesome people that I work with in and out of the industry, with the nicest, most gorgeous couples, and with my beautiful family. I appreciate each and every minute of it. =)

Merry Christmas in advance everyone =)

Lions, as we all know it, are the huge and fearsome predators that rule the jungle. The Lyons, whose workshop I attended last month, are equally huge but awesome wedding photographers that should rule the world! ok, maybe not the world, but they are huge and they are viciously good. While I would be awed to see lions up-close, it's nothing compared to being up-close with the lyons, Amelia and Justin, as a participant in their wedding photography workshop (The Lyon Shop), where they share everything, and that means everything, that they know in creating out-of-this-world-beautfiul photographs. 

The workshop was intense. There are slots for only 15 attendees (I begged to be #16 when the schedule fell right smack on my US trip) to ensure maximum exposure, focus, and fun! =) An unbelievably packed experience all in one heck of a day in the stunning Laguna Beach. Best part of it? Everyone agreed with Justin to give the free copy of the TRA 2: The Revenge to the person who travelled the farthest, and the only one that will beat a person from the Philippines is someone from Papua New Guinea. hahaha =) Of course I have photos to share as evidence =) Enjoy. Neat! handmade materials with the Lyon brand ;) Amelia, all set to shoot with her fave lens, the 35mm ;) Final reminders before we headed off... ... to this beautiful location outside for the first shoot. See Justin's vintage Canon strap? Looks circa '67 and it's totally kick-ass Workshopmates Nice angle of Amelia's nice angle See Amelia in this photo? This was the moment she shot her fave shot of the entire day ;) And apparently, Justin just shot his fave shot as well =) yeahbaby! lunchtime! Shoot # 2 Showing the correct exposure for a shot with an off-cam lighting... ... expose for the sky =) Oh and a nice dinner at Las Brisas to wrap everything up. =)

Yes it was a movie 17 years ago. But who would have thought I'll be able to sensibly use it for blog title? hahaha. Well, last tuesday, I flew to Seattle to spend just the whole day there and then flew back to Oakland the same evening - thus I was Sleepless in Seattle. hahaha. It was a very exciting trip to plan. I had reasons to fly to a city that have fascinated me for such a long time yet have not had the chance to visit. This time I had important opportunities to. Primarily I would have a meeting with my partners from Blackrapid, those very cool people who make the R-straps, and will be meeting them in person for the first time. Also, I'll be able to see my great old buddy from college, Melai =) Everything seemed perfect, and what I had was more than that. Check out the photos below to experience Seattle with me. hahaha. I would like to thanks Ron, Tyler, Taylor, Lilian and the rest of the Blackrapid crew for giving me such a warm welcome and for making me part of Studio R for that day. hahaha. Watch out for a lot of awesome things coming-up from Blackrapid, I surely can't wait. Big thanks also to Melai and her husband Frank for being such wonderful hosts. I miss being in Seattle even though I was there for only such a short amount of time. =( But I do get a feeling that sometime soon, I'll have my first Seattle Wedding! woohoo! Studio R was rockin! they had everything there. From an upside down bike, up to a full band set-up and a hammock! Didn't I tell you we had fun? =) Blackrapid is sexy... ok maybe not us, but blackrapid is! hahaha. L-R: Ron, Tyler, and Oly. Ron said he'll blow this photo up and put it in one of the walls in the studio. Of course I made sure I check out the distribution and packing area to make sure that they get my orders out right away. hahaha. after that, Ron and Taylor helped me cool down by taking me around Freemont (which is such a charmingly bizzare place that is known by many things and one of them is this rocket) and downtown Seattle. Where can you find a bridge with a huge troll under it? Creepy. hahaha Mad Pants is one of things to watch out from Ron Henry, I don't think I can say yet but it sure is going to be stellar ;) Here are some shots of Ron's boat house... I didn't think inventors were cool enough to live in such a place. hahaha. but seriously, Ron is way better than how his Rstrap videos depict him to be. hahaha! Fremont Bridge The Space Needle - which I've always thought was Key Arena. Pike's Place - that place I always see in photos inside Seattle Best Coffee shops. Of course, I'm a starbucks fan! hahaha. What tells you that it is the very first starbucks? boobs! check out the logo and if you see them, they are the first ones =) hahaha. For the second time that day, I went to Pike's Place, this time with Melai... ... and this time for some drinks... ... and delicious clam chowder and surf n' turf! yay! here is us, and out the window is a gorgeous view of the water =) I must have a photo in front of the very first starbucks and the boobies. hahaha (although some say the store not exactly in this place btu a bit farther) This was the scene on my flight back... it was calling me back! hahaha.