Contemporary Philippine Weddings | Joyce and Howell

I get asked often on how I’m able to create shots and concepts that are always fresh – something that people haven’t seen yet. How I’m able to make my couples do things that seem so difficult yet seem so awesome at the same time. There are so many answers to that question because there are so many things that must happen for a great shot to be possible. It’s not really easy to explain it but I’m ready to share one of this biggest factors that allows us to do this, time and time again. And depending on who you are, you may find it either surprising or annoying or both.

Let’s take this beautifully unique wedding of Joyce and Howell as a good example. I’m certain that before this, you haven’t seen a post-ceremony shoot of the couple together with their entourage inside the National Museum of the Philippines. Im certain because according to them, the very people who manage this landmark, it’s the first time that they allowed such a thing. There have been engagement sessions and other shoots that were permitted in certain parts (I have done that here also) but a full shoot with a pretty huge contingent, this was the first time. The fact alone that we were shooting in this place is unique already; add to that the style and variety of concepts that we execute and what you’ll get are shots that will make people take a second look – scene-stealing photographs as how our tagline goes.

Now the location and the shots are mostly my idea. But none of it would be possible if Howell Man is not ‘the man’. I gave him the suggestion to shoot in the National Museum after their ceremony and I just threw it out there thinking it may or may not happen. Honestly I was thinking that it may not happen given how strict they were during one of my engagement shoots there before. But lo and behold, Howell informed me a few days before the wedding that he got the permit to shoot. Yes, inside the National Museum and yes, with the whole entourage and yes, with a significant amount of time. I was excited of course, I knew I’d be able to do new things there. But what about the shots themselves? how about making them go and climb up and down? Sometimes I joke that it is mind control, but really if Howell had to make so much phone calls, a few visits, and a lot of persistence just to get a permit, wouldn’t be climbing a 4-foot wall a piece of cake? Well, yes it is.

So that’s the secret. It’s not me because that’s too obvious. I don’t do everything or make everything happen. It is really couples like Joyce and Howell – metrophoto ones, that make all these possible. Couples who are passionate about the best day of their lives being actually ‘the best’ day of their lives by making sure it is special and different from anyone else’s. With their appreciation in being set apart and their appreciation in making their memories even more fulfilling to look back to, we work together to make it happen. Sometimes all it takes is an open mind, and sometimes it takes something more like what Joyce and Howell did. In the end who else can claim that they had something that no one else had? Your guess is as good as mine. :)

Supplier Line-up:
Make-up: Pong Niu
Wedding Gown: Cecilio Abad
Videography: Derek Yee