I’ll be shooting my first-ever destination wedding and it’ll be in Berlin, Germany! Wahoo!!!

I’ll be out of the studio/country from June 30 to July 14; so I will not be able to return phone calls and have limited access to my email. But, if you have booking inquiries, please feel free to use the contact form on my EMAIL ME page and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.

Image(s): New & Return Clients. (One beautiful bride. Three awesome couples. Three adorable newborns.)

This last photo almost made me cry! [For this wedding, I was a second shooter for Michelle Young of Endearing Studios.]

DISCLAIMER: This may not be a true representation of this country, but it is here as seen through my lens.

The Philippines. I’ve seen images of this country here and there, in magazines, on TV, etc. But, to see it with your own naked eyes is a totally different story. I don’t even know how I feel about my 14-day trip to this country; I can’t really explain it. Am I happy? Am I sad? Am I enlightened? I just don’t know. But, here is what I do know:

In the USA, I live in my air-conditioned home and drive around in a nice SUV. I drive to Starbucks whenever I please, drop $10 at nearly every visit, or sometimes two visits in one day, as if it’s chump change. And, it was to me, as always. But, $10 (or p500) is a whole lot more on the other side of the world. It means providing a nice hot meal to an entire family of six or more members, and even clean water, too.

I watched as a young boy, no older than 7yo, mount a pile of garbage looking for his next meal (in the middle of the night) as I rode by. I saw an entire family of six huddled over a tiny pot while traffic moved past them as they continued to “live” in the middle of a two-way street. And, I saw children playing in dirty brown water just inches away from a mass of garbage that nearly covers this man-made river. I’ve seen so much in 14 days to last me a lifetime. Sadly, I barely broke the surface.

Despite their less fortunate living conditions, my new cousins and aunties/uncles never once complained. They ensured that I remained on vacation by preparing my daily meals, cleaning afterward, doing my laundry by hand, etc. I was never allowed to pick up a dirty water glass because I was “on vacation.” I’ve never felt so useless in my entire life. At the same time, I’ve never felt so cared for and loved. Usually, one can tell when one is being smooched, but that was clearly not the case with my new family. They observed me as much as I did them. I ask myself, What do I have to complain about? I have it pretty damn easy in the USA. My bad days will never compare to what my family in PI face every single day. Again, what do I have to complain about living the American dream? Nothing. And neither do you.

NOTE: All shots were taken with my Canon 5D and 50mm f/1.8 lens (90% was shot behind car windows), formatted by Poladroid.net.
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Finally, I get to put a stamp on my passport! Woot! Woot!

I’ll be out of the studio/country from April 24 to May 13; so I will not be able to return phone calls and have limited access to my email. But, if you have booking inquiries, please feel free to use the contact form on my EMAIL ME page and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.

Image(s): New & Return Clients. (All in the month of April alone! Wowzer!!!)

I was recently asked this question: Why photography?

I am so in love with photography that I dream it; I wake up because I want to do something photography-related. I guess that’s why I have insomnia most nights! I have loved photography since a child, even more so when I discovered my uncle’s old Canon SLR lying around the house just collecting dust. Apparently, no one knew how to use it so the money spent on that camera was a bit remorseful. But, I bought some film and made great use of that camera on my own!

My love affair with photography sizzled down when my family told me it was a waste of time and that I would never make any “real” money in that foolish profession. I should be a business major instead. So, I went about with school then one job after the next since it was “the right thing to do.” But, I was never happy, and I was completely lost as to who I really was or destined to be. Two years ago, I finally managed to get myself a Canon Rebel XTi; all $1300 later, I started my photography business with it. I shot whoever wanted to spare me their time and reimbursed them with my best efforts. I got better with more and more practice. Now, I’m happier than I’ve ever been. Yes, I still have a lot more to learn and grow, yet I feel deep inside with all my being that this is really me, who I am … a photographer.

Image(s): Mother & Child