What a great way to cap off the year 2011..
A great weather; a cool groom with a calm and collected bride.

Here’s Miguel and Cindy’s wedding story. Enjoy!

What is your most unforgettable wedding moment?
Cindy: I clearly do not remember alot, alot of things because of how nervous I was, but one thing that I know that I won’t ever forget was that unforgettable moment when the doors opened and said in my head “This is it, we’re both here” and loved seeing the look of Miguel.
Miguel: When we both turned around up on the altar and the pastor presented us as the new Rodriguez family.

What do you like most about your wedding?
Cindy: I loved how Miguel surprised me with the video he had in the limo (that of course I cried too), I did want our wedding to be about us and focus on our love and he did that and I am thankful that he did.
Miguel: I liked everything and enjoyed every part of our day.

What thoughts were running through your mind during the preps/ wedding march..etc..
Cindy: I had a lot going on through my mind that day, worrying that things weren’t going to get done and being left undone, but after a while I just said “okay Cindy you have to just relax and enjoy your day, and let everyone else worry about getting things done. I also kept saying how blessed I am to have found someone and to be forming our new little family.
Miguel: I was VERY nervous, excited, happy, and felt really blessed.

Anything you want to say about your wedding.
Cindy: A month away from our wedding I was already scheduled to pick up my dress, when I arrived at the store, they had taken off with all dresses, including mine. I never got a call from them (till this day). I was devasted, mad, I mean all the emotions you could think about being negative, because they had taken off with my dream dress. I just kept thinking that I wouldn’t find any other dress to top my first one, and prayed for a miracle.I was very happy with my second dress. I LOVE lace and I wanted that incorporated in our wedding, so we did some DIY things like our lace vases, and flower arrangements. I hope everyone enjoyed our day because we enjoyed everyone’s presence there that day.

Ps. Cindy, that gown is gorgeous! Best wishes and Congratulations to you and Miguel!

Thanks again Mark Gonzales for second shooting!

We are very excited to post this blog since it is the first time that we have incorporated the couple’s perspective about their wedding. We thought it would be more meaningful and would add more impact to their wedding photos.
It is after all, their wedding story.

What is your most unforgettable wedding moment?

The most unforgettable moment is right when they open the door to the church and walking down the aisle and seeing all the guests and Don.  It is definitely mixed emotions of excitement, relief (that the stresses of wedding planning is over) and of course, nervousness.  And as a couple, the exchange of rings and when we said I do. =)

What do you like most about your wedding?

We absolutely had lots of fun at our reception!  We just loved how it turned out, the set-up and most of all the energy that the guests had.  We were concerned that guests would be too shy to dance so we decided to do a “last dance” which is our surprise choreographed performance to kinda get the party started but it looked like they’ve already started even before our performance! We had fun performing our dance (we’re obviously not dancers LOL), we think it showed how fun and silly we are as a couple. ;p

What thoughts were running through your mind during the preparations/ wedding march..etc..

I woke up early that day and I just couldn’t believe that the day is finally here.  I am a worrier so I was nervous about a lot of things.  But I kept telling myself that if things don’t go as planned, it is now beyond my control.  I was just calming myself the whole time, trying to clear bad thoughts, remembering to “walk slowly” and to put “flower over flower” (how to hold bouquet) and just focusing on walking down that aisle towards Don, coz I know that once we are together, everything will be fine.  -

Anything you want to say about your wedding.

We did a lot of last minute DIYs. The candy buffet was one of them, the ceremony programs, the escort cards, place cards, menu and table numbers. Also the favors we had to put together, my parents were bringing them from the Philippines. Don and I worked together to get all of these done, so it definitely felt good when we saw our DIYs done. We felt proud of ourselves.

We’ve always wanted a fun wedding, the kind where guests are dancing and kicking’ off their shoes.  We wanted guests to remember our wedding as the one where they had a heck of a good time!  And we think that the guests enjoyed the night, coz we sure did!!!

A lovely couple who wanted to have fun, who wanted their guests to have fun; and they did. Congratulations and Best Wishes again Don and Nina!

Thanks a million Mark Gonzales and Rodney Singzon for second shooting!

Carla

How lucky, celebrating one’s birthday on one’s wedding day, is it?
Be sure to ask for a pair of gifts in the years to come for a wedding anniversary/birthday presents Kat.

What do i love about this wedding?
Tons! but first on the list is Kat’s smile.
She has this very sincere smile which just made her more radiant and youthful-looking. I felt like smiling and giggling with her when I browsed the photos.

She did the graphic design of the invites; using the guests’ thumbprints to create balloons on the canvass which served as the ‘guest book’ is a neat artistic idea.
The Eiffel Tower placecard holders were lovely as well.

Our best wishes Remil and Kat as you embark on a new life together in San Francisco.
Thanks again Mark G. for second shooting.

Carla

They just officially said their I Do’s a few hours ago.. and we missed it.:(

We wish we were there at your wedding.
We are so happy for you Coco and Ches for finding love, taking ‘home’ the love and deciding to let love grow. Congratulations and Best Wishes!
I was so teary eyed when I went over your engagement photos… Can’t believe it’s been roughly six months since we took these photos in San Francisco. We really miss you guys and we hope to see you soon!

Carla

Crystal Marquis has a special place in our hearts. We have nothing but good words for Art (DJ/Coordinator) and Crystal Marquis.
What I love about this wedding is Nancy’s general attitude.. She was enjoying her wedding day. Maybe she’s good at hiding the usual jitteriness that brides are usually faced with, or she’s used to being the object of attention (Nancy is a teacher) but she was calm, her smiles were genuine and she just looked like she was having the time of her life.
Congratulations and Best Wishes Esteban and Nancy!
Thanks Mark G. for second shooting.

There’s so much to say and there’s so much to love about this wedding…
First of all, I wanted to be at Matt and Shabnam’s wedding, I loved their engagement photos. I was excited to meet them personally.
I’ve always been partial to jewish weddings because i find the wedding rituals fascinating.. I love how the whole family is involved in the process…the chants, the seemingly endless dancing were a feast to the senses. The celebration lasted beyond midnight..we were literally on our toes for more than 12 hours (kinda like some days in the icu when i have a very toxic patient) tiring, but no complains there..an unexplainable sense of satisfaction is felt at the end:)

I can’t help but love these two…in the few hours that i’ve interacted with them, and i know that’s not enough,
i’ ve seen mutual respect and admiration for each other.. Keep the love burnin’ matt and shaby.

My first time to shoot alongside Vince and Mark. You were fun to hang around with, Mark! Thank you!

Carla

130 acres of Malibu Wine Country, 4 venues. I’ve been to one, “The Oaks” and I was awed. On Aneese and Jana’s it was the “Garden Patio”, and I was still wonderstruck.

We planned on doing a “Ferris Wheel” shot way before the wedding day, when we got there, a photoshoot was being done by Sony. Determined to get the Ferris wheel shot, I gathered my nerve and approached the crew, I got a “no”. Persistent, I begged for a quick shot and after a bit of explaining to their photographer who probably empathized at Aneese and Jana who were waiting in the background, he relented.

It was so much fun, I got a kick with the thought of having interrupted a shoot with a wonderful set to get creative with. I pushed it some more and asked to shoot on their vintage “Jeep”, the photographer was so kind he didn’t hesitate.

Aneese and Jana even got a free ride on the Ferris wheel. I think it is a wonderful experience riding a Ferris wheel on one’s wedding day. The rains didn’t even dampen things.

Congratulations Aneese and Jana!
Thanks to Reynar for second shooting.

Vince

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I actually had a good time during the photo selection process.. I loved that tim and tina prepared a lot of props to be used in the session. Loved the pinwheels, the balloons and the bike .Bonelli park was perfect.the lake and the trees were gorgeous! The ‘bike set’ is my favorite coz they looked like they were having the time of their lives-young and carefree!:)

Congratulations on the engagement!
Carla

It was my first time to be in the Culver City Hotel. Oozing with old Hollywood charm and mystery…it was the perfect backdrop for Melissa’s prep shots. I just recently learned that in 1997, it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places ; where Wizard of Oz and Gone with Wind were filmed in 1939.

Melissa was radiant on her off-shoulder Vera Wang gown. She looked fabulous!

I enjoyed the photo session with Glenn and his groomsmen. Nothing beats a bond formed out of growing up as classmates and friends during the childhood years. Their camaraderie certainly helped achieve an easy and fun photo session.

Congratulations Glenn and Melissa!
Thanks to Mark G, for second shooting.
Vince

James and Dalene planned to elope in Las Vegas. They decided otherwise and thought it was best to share their happiest moment with friends and family.
I’m glad that they decided to go through with the wedding. They really pulled it off given the few months of preparation.

I love the details and props that they prepared to make their wedding more ‘personal’. Their invites were made to look like luxury cruise tickets, which was a very nice touch. Dalene looked elegant on her wedding dress and her stunning Valentino shoes showed off a quirky nature. “Teddy,” their ever supportive dog, was adorable on his tux. To spice up the ceremony procession, the bridesmaids did ballet leaps and pirouettes. At the end of the night after the Yacht has docked, everyone capped the evening off with a late night grub on a food truck.

Congratulations James and Dalene!

Thanks to Remedy Medina for second shooting, it was nice working with you again!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Vince

A common friend introduced me to Addar; that is why it was easy to establish a rapport with her and the rest of the wedding party. With a Vera Wang gown adding to her bubbly personality, she just sparkled! She was surely having the time of her life at her wedding.

Thanks again Mark for second-shooting. Congratulations and Best Wishes Marlon and Addar!

Vince

I’m glad we did this session even if it was a couple of weeks before their wedding. We even had their guestbook ready in time. “Teddy” was a wonderful addition to photos, he was always ready to please James and Dalene which I thought was so cute. It was my first time to do an engagement shoot at Santa Monica. Every time I see an engagement photo done there online, I always thought when is it gonna be my turn? I finally got my turn and I wasn’t disappointed. I didn’t expect the lighting on the rowboats to be tricky, but it was, and it was a sweet surprise.

This is my third try on LACMA, again my thoughts driving there is how am I gonna outdo my last one? I also went for a backlit look but this time I crossed the street and swung out my telephoto which allowed me to go for a compressed background and straighter lines. A slight change from my previous try, now I’m not sure which one is my favorite.

This coming two weeks will be dedicated to editing and processing 3 weddings, stay tuned!

Vince

What is there to love about Kevin and Brittney’s wedding? Everything!
I love the location!
Rancho Camulos is a national historic museum located a few miles from where we live. Never visited this place until a week before the wedding for an ocular. It felt like stepping into a time capsule and being transported back to the 1850′s. Most things and structures are honest to goodness vintage. It is said to be one of the inspirations for a best selling novel Ramona; written in 1884 by Helen Hunt Jackson.

I think that Kevin and Brittney gave justice to their theme by incorporating diy decors , used and worn-out bits and pieces to make everything look vintage. I love her mantilla style veil …so classic and lovely. And who doesn’t love the book ‘A thousand ways to please a husband’? that is surely old school, and I love it!:)

To every other little bride Who has a “Bob” to please,
And says she’s tried and tried and tried
To cook with skill and ease.
And cant! — we offer here as guide Bettinas Recipes!
To her whose “Bob” is prone to wear
A sad and hungry look,
Because the maid he thought so fair
Is — well — she just cant cook!
To her we say : do not despair;
Just try Bettina’s Book!
-Dedication “A Thousand Ways To Please a Husband”

All the best Kevin and Brittney. May you share many happy dinners on rainy nights!

Carla

Thanks to Mark G for doing an awesome job second shooting for Vince!

It means a lot already when couples come back after a wedding or an engagement to share a few words of appreciation for a ‘job that is loved coz they think it is well done’. Such words acknowledge our purpose and add substance to our existence (for drama’s sake):) For us, that’s more than enough. But when other bloggers who share the same passion for love, wedding and everything in between recognize our efforts through our images, it’s beyond wonderful.

Thanks to A Thousand Threads for featuring Matt + Nicole’s Wedding
Thanks to Destination Brides for doing a double feature on Epa + Mai’s and Matt + Nicole’s Wedding

I actually begged vince to assist him in this wedding since I heard so much about them. (remember their e- sesh last april?).
We love Lance and Jaime coz they are passionate about a lot of things and they take pride in doing most things their way (well most things wedding- related, that I can say):)
The invites looked pretty and thoughtful!

We love them coz they are one of our sweetest couples..so accommodating, generous and so into each other. I am still amazed at how they regard each other with a sense of something close to reverence?

Keep the love burning Lance and Jaime!
Carla

PS. Thanks for giving our Jacob some fluffy company.

I had so much fun doing their engagement session and I really looked  forward to this wedding.  It was a classic ‘boy meets girl’ scenario; ‘hi’s and hello’s’ exchanged at the elevator (they work for different employers in the same building) which eventually progressed into a relationship and culminated into this wedding.

Congratulations you guys! Thanks to Mark G for assisting and second shooting.

Vince

*Most of the time, love works in simple, predictable yet enduring ways.;)- Carla

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After more than 50+ plus weddings this is my very first ever local wedding. Although Santa Clarita is part of Los Angeles county, it is somehow detached in a sense that it is situated on the top edge of the map. Nearby places that come to mind only include San Fernando Valley and Palmdale.
Setting up a meeting with Allen and Laura was a breeze. I guess now I know how it feels to book a local wedding. The wedding was at Blessed Kateri, the very same church my family goes to; where my youngest son Jacob was baptized. It was an awesome experience covering a wedding ceremony in a church I go to every Sunday.

The wedding was very relaxed and smooth flowing. Reynar, our second shooter, who by the way is also local, thought that it was one of the best weddings he had been to.
I love the presence of kids at their wedding. There were lots of them and were always smile- ready.

As the day ended, I felt like I still possessed the same energy that got me going at the start of the day. Valencia Country Club is a mere 5mins drive from my home.:) I’m so looking forward to more local weddings.

Congratulations Allen and Laura!

Vince

Our first wedding after our vacation, I still had a touch of jetlag but the fun I had was a better remedy than a can of Redbull!

Nicole’s attention to detail is shown in the many aspects that made their wedding fun and special. I remember her call a few months ago when she explained over the phone some of her wedding ideas. The ‘I do’ stick-ons on the soles of her shoes was indeed, a sweet touch.

She looked gorgeous on her Vera Wang gown and the addition of a black sash on her waist and accessories during the reception gave it a different yet fun look.

Other wedding details that i liked include the ‘Mr and Mrs’ banner; the dessert station which boasted of mouth-watering sweets; the photobooth and the use of sparklers for their grand exit.

I was awed by Calamigos Ranch, it was picture perfect. There were little touches that made my job as a photographer a lot easier. There’s so much more to explore. I’m looking forward to November when I’ll be covering another wedding in this venue.

Thanks again to Reynar Jacinto for second shooting. Congratulations Matt and Nicole!

Vince

One of the highlights of our month-long summer vacation in the Philippines is a side trip to Vietnam and Cambodia.

If there is one place in Southeast Asia that I’d gladly visit again, it would be Vietnam. There’s so many places especially in the northern region waiting to be explored.

It was nice to travel here without the kids, we were able to do a lot of things that we probably won’t dare do with the little ones around. Food was great yet affordable. Transportation was not an issue as there are a lot of options: renting a regular bicycle, motorbike and taking the bus or a metered taxi. Lodging was clean and cheap. Shopping! Shopping was great. I could spend a couple of days in Ben Thanh Market in Ho Chi Minh City looking for bargains. To sum it up:

I love Vietnam!

We went to Cambodia by bus: from Ho Chi Minh City to Pnom Penh and Siem Reap. Travel time which includes a 45 minutes stopover at the Vietnam-Cambodia border is approximately 14 hours.

Cambodia’s countryside reminds me so much of my hometown in the southern part of the Philippines, in Maguindanao.

Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, is certainly worth revisiting with the kids when they are much older.

Carla

While planning for the trip, the first thing that popped right out of my mind is what lenses would I bring? I thought that with all the walking and commute, carrying my primes and telephoto would be like covering a wedding everyday for a week. Thus my decision to bring one zoom and nothing more, I brought my flash but didn’t get to use it and was mostly left in the hostels.

There were a few times I wish I had my 70-200 for people shots and my 1.4/1.2′s for those really low light situations. But most of the time I was happy with the zoom I brought and my back and shoulders were really happy about it too. One of the reasons, I thoroughly enjoyed the trip, ‘shooting light‘.

As a sidenote, I’ve added a new Google +1 Button opposite the facebook like. Feel free to experiment and give it a go.

Vince

I can’t believe it’s been a month since my sister’s wedding and I look back with a lot of thoughts.
It was nice to see family and friends once again..it certainly made it easier to get in touch with the ‘long lost ones’…I wish I had more time to spend with them during the wedding and I wish Vince had more chance to enjoy being part of the celebration as well, and not merely the main person covering the event.
Small sacrifices just for my little sister who was inspired to go for a themed wedding.
It was a mix of different periods..Regency, Victorian, and Marie Antoinette.. (methinks poring over my Barbara Cartland’s historical novels during her teens made quite an impression on her) Oh well, a lady is entitled to dream and realize her ‘dream wedding’;)
…but I truly think, ‘sisterhood’ aside that she was a beautiful and radiant bride.
I loved her dress! The white plumes that adorned her gown and headpiece were a nice touch, achieving that ‘period’ look.
Epa, Mr Dashing was the perfect groom- attentive, witty and fun.
I have said it in person, and im saying it again: Epa, you are perfect for my sister. I am very happy you have each other.
Congratulations and Best Wishes Epa and Mai, hope to see nephews and nieces soon!
Carla

Thanks Jun Fontilla, Carlo Gonzales and Stephen Padlan for helping us cover the wedding.

The last wedding in June before we head out of the country for a much anticipated vacation. A couple of weddings in the family these coming days. A cousin’s wedding where I’ll be part of the groomsmen, an exciting thing since the pressure is off to cover important wedding details:) and Carla’s sister’s wedding which I will be covering mostly on my own since Carla is part of the wedding party. What vacation?:)

On an another note, what a nice way to end the spring season- having fun at Greg and Debra’s wedding. There were so many moments and scenes to capture. The flowers were colorful, the music was great and everyone looked like they were having fun. Seeing people gather in a circle while dancing the hora was an experience I never get tired of.

Congratulations and Best Wishes Greg and Debra!
Just a couple of tidbits, Debbie designed her wedding gown and Greg is a photographer as well as most of the groomsmen. Go visit his site, xrez.com

Thanks again Nik Esguerra for second shooting.
-Vince

Can’t say I did not, but I had a great time during the photo selection. I love the colors! There’s radiance, freshness and candidness which I absolutely love. I think it was a beautiful wedding.
-Carla

I have known and worked with Rina for more than 5 years now….during the early days (during break time) we talked about, wondered and prayed? for The Man of Her Dreams. I think any woman who believes in love and marriage, at one point in her life dreams about the man that she will eventually fall in love with.
I remember telling her, just pray for him…and he will come..
After a few years, and maybe a few prayers? she finally found him, he sought her , and or they found each other…not just around the corner…but in another floor at work which is the most unexpected place).
That is just the beginning.
It was wonderful being privy to Rina’s earlier dreams and wishes.
It was amazing seeing their love develop and grow.
It was surreal witnessing and covering the day when they have professed their love for each other
( when one of her wishes came true).

Congratulations and Best Wishes John and Rina!

Carla

Even though I have covered weddings at Crystal Marquis several times, I am still fascinated how each and every wedding I’ve done there is unique. I guess every wedding has its own personality and it is exuded by the bride and groom as well as their guests.

One thing different was how Gabby setup her hair and makeup in a salon. I’ve never done that before. The salon was truly a beautiful setting.

I always love outdoor ceremonies, there is always this feeling of lightness and airiness. I’m glad Reynar and I were there to witness it.

Vince

Erik and Fashion are one of the nicest couples i have worked with.
They were very accommodating and easy to work with even during their engagement session.

Carla, while going through the photo selection process dubbed their wedding, “a fireman gets married, one beautiful spring afternoon”
she added:
“For Erik is a fireman and they had plenty of firemen in uniform and in tuxedos as guests (with a matching firetruck) how nice!”

and it was a perfect spring afternoon…with just the right amount of clouds hovering above .
the flowergirl and the ring bearer looked like they stepped out from one of Shakespeare’s romantic plays, how lovely!”

I would dub their wedding: “The day the Angels and Dodgers Unite”;)

Bey Chua second shot and assisted on this event, thanks Bey!

the one part of their wedding that tugged at my heartstrings is the father and daughter dance. I don’t know if it is  because i am overly sentimental…or because the ‘silence’ was too palpable to be ignored..as if heavy with emotions and unspoken words. Breaking the silence as Tiffany danced with her dad was
 Heartland’s 
“but I loved her first, I held her first
And a place in my heart will always be hers
From the first breath she breathed
When she first smiled at me
I knew the love of a father runs deep”

Aside from the heartwarming dance, there were many little touches that i appreciated at their wedding. I loved their wedding’s eclectic theme..utilizing this theme to make use of and highlight their newly purchased house.I love that their friends and family helped a lot in decorating and preparing for this important event ..I loved  the smell of lemongrass- scented candles …everything was bathed in the glow of lanterns and tiny flickering lights strung in the surrounding trees. The tiffany blue ribbons adorned with flowers and crystals at the tips looked pretty as well; and how can i forget their first husband and wife dance with Tom singing along :
…..and it’s you and me and all other people
and I don’t know why, I can’t keep my eyes off of you….
 it was wonderful and we wish them all the best .

Carla

A somewhat unlikely pair ..this is how I can probably describe my first impression of the couple. Genevieve was detail oriented and she was on top of every situation. Evan, was amiable and focused. When I saw them genuinely having fun preparing for and during their wedding, that’s when i realized how perfect they were for each other. Ive seen the fun while they prepared for the ‘little last minute details and decors’ that made their wedding ‘their own’…and i have seen the happiness they have genuinely expressed and shared with friends and family during the reception.

Thanks to Nik Esguerra for helping and second shooting.

I usually find engagement photo sessions tedious requiring extra preparation, ‘staging’ with the couple acting out a concept or a theme, making it less natural and lacking in spontaneity, in my opinion. I was surprised that I thoroughly enjoyed going through Matthew and Shabnam’s photos during the selection process. Enjoyed, like I can’t help but grin during the entire selection process . I don’t know if it was because I was reminded of Twilight’s Edward and Bella while they were running around and having fun in the woods and that i find Matthew Edward-cute (can I say that here?) LOL! or because they looked so at ease and so in love with each other. Seriously, I realized that an engagement photo session is fun and meaningful when it shows the dynamics of the loving relationship. I think that is what it’s all about and that’s exactly what they did:)

Carla

The Automobile Driving Museum just a few miles away from LAX was the perfect location for Glen and Melissa’s engagement session. Glenn, who is studying to complete his PhD in Neuroscience is fond of classic cars. Melissa, who is into Law had the perfect smile and get up to complement the vintage-antique-classic look of the automobile museum.

I had mixed emotions at the start, excitement and some apprehensions regarding light set-up/time limit.
Bringing and utilizing my auxiliary lighting equipment has it advantages and drawbacks. It certainly is useful for situations wherein available light is not as ideal, though it hampers mobility. I think it is worth the ‘small inconvenience’ more so that it enhances the existing ambient light and to some extent render a different look from the usual stuff that I do.

It was little windy and the umbrella needed good propping, good thing Nik was there to assist and shoot with me. Thanks Nik!

Vince

Our first stop was their church, where Matt and Leah are actively involved. Matt is a part time musician. I got the chance to hear him play the piano while I was setting up. All I can say is that he is truly gifted. He has done some music work for tv and has been contemplating on doing it full time. We then headed off to this quaint cafe; a few minutes walk from church. This was where they first met.

Lastly, we went to catch the sunset at Odyssey.

Vince

I’ve been to Manhattan beach several times, and have always limited my visits to the touristy beach-side. We first went to a trail near Manhattan beach. The trail had good patches of shade where we started to shoot portraits.
I would never guess the presence of a trail beside a beach.
When Jeanette was a kid, her dad used to bring her to these places.
I guess finding nice, never been seen places is one of the perks of engagement sessions .

We then headed off to the houses near a sandy shore where we planned on doing an “under a pier shoot”. Seeing from afar that the Manhattan beach pier is made of concrete, we proceeded to go to the ‘much farther’ log-made pier.While passing by the concrete-made pier, we were enthralled by the play of light passing through the pier columns. Straight out the camera I was seeing light rays like I was in a Cathedral. Given that the pier was little bit unsightly, the light more than made up for it. Made it even beautiful. At least from my point of view.

Vince

One trivia about the couple, the day they are getting married is exactly the same day they got their keys to their house last year. Hence it was but natural for us to start our engagement session in there.

Lance is an “all-around-guy”. He’s into motorcycles, cars, cooking, plays the upright bass and is in a band. As the day went on and the sun a little less harsh we headed to San Juan Capistrano.

I love their “old town”, It was a photographer’s paradise, anywhere I looked, I saw possibilities. I would liken it to driving in a huge parking lot where there’s a lot of empty slots. Choosing where to park was the harder part.

Thanks to Bey Chua for assisting and second shooting.

Vince

It was a rainy Sunday. It was raining non-stop and so hard in Southern California, it was a little bit scary. The rain did not stop Ryan and April from getting married, heck (they waited eight years for this!) nor did it dampen the spirits of their family and friends in celebrating with them their union.
It was also exciting for me since I assisted Vince here, after our second child, my task was limited to the ‘all- important’ photo selection.
Wish I could do this more often.
Congratulations again Ryan and April!

Carla

Carl Sandburg once quoted :
“A baby is God’s opinion that life should go on.”
and I think that there is nothing more amazing than seeing a cute baby bump ‘transformed’ into an adorable bundle of joy that he is. Life goes on, and it is sweet:)

Carla
see Leslie’s maternity session that we recently did here.

An e-session in church grounds? I thought, now that is something different. Something to look forward to.

The church played an important role in their relationship, it’s where they first met 6yrs ago. As we moved from one area to another, Tiffany and Tom described how each area was special. From the front pew where they stayed during worship, to the industrial looking ceiling and the rooftop which they used as filming locations for the church’s various programs. They were part of the church’s film crew, so we had access.

We used their Arri and KinoFlo lighting equipment as props. They were even kind enough to let me use them along with my lighting equipment giving the photos personal significance. See you in May.

Thanks to Nik Esguerra for assisting and second-shooting.

Vince

Erik is a fireman and I can feel that he is really dedicated to his job. So it is not surprising that LAFD Museum is one of their choices as a setting for their engagement photos. Having almost unrestricted access to the museum was just a photographer’s dream. The staff were just awesome, almost everyone approached, greeted and congratulated them.

Our next stop was Rancho Palos Verdes. What a beautiful place. Erik told me that the Golf Course was the only Trump property that was open to the public. It was a weekday and it was not too crowded, we capped off our day watching the sun set.

Vince

What a wonderful wedding! Wafa is Christian Palestinian and Amitesh is Indian/Hindu. Two regions steep in wedding tradition. They decided to mix the traditions and I was just in awe observing how things played out. Having two ceremonies is certainly interesting. Music during reception was fun. It was combination of both, and it was fascinating to see everyone, regardless of culture, trying to dance to both types of music.

I am certain they got the best of both worlds.

Vince

PS. I’ve installed facebook connect for comments. Right now, from what I’ve heard, anonymous comments are not working due to a bug on facebook’s side. I will restore old comments once they get it fixed. For now, comments can only be done if you are logged-in on your facebook account. Remember to “uncheck” the checkbox if you don’t want your comment posted on your profile.

I started the new year doing something refreshing; a pregnancy photo shoot. The last time I did this was with Carla. I will always remember that we almost didn’t do it. At the last stage of pregnancy, you’ve got a lot of things in mind and taking the time to do this could easily become the least among your priorities. Now, whenever I get a glimpse of the photos we did, I feel glad we took the time to do it.

This is Leslie and Peter’s ‘first pregnancy’ and I hope that they will feel as glad as I did when they see the photos.
Vince

I initially found it challenging to cover Mark and Jeanine’s wedding as their venues were places I have covered before. The challenge is always to cover the events with the goal of capturing unique and meaningful images.

The ‘challenge’ is easily overcome when the couple and the guests are having a great time.. i just ‘click’ away….as the case was with Mark and Jeanine’s wedding at the Chapel of Roses and Crystal Marquis.

I have to commend them for a successful wedding despite Mark’s frequent trips abroad during the planning phase. This somehow reminded me of my situation with Carla while we were planning our own wedding.

Congratulations and best wishes!

My thanks to Melissa Enriquez for covering the event with me.

It was nice to be back shooting at Westin Pasadena.

Pacific Asia Museum is just across the street and it was terrific! It was just the right size for the wedding. It was quaint and it has a lot of personality and angles. Anywhere I point, the background seems to be just right.

Congratulations Juan and Gaby!

Thanks to Rodney Singzon for second shooting.

Vince

]]> http://blog.vinceandcarla.com/weddings/preview-juan-gaby/feed/ 0 http://blog.vinceandcarla.com/weddings/the-neighborhood-church-palos-verdes-wedding-motohito-shizuka/ http://blog.vinceandcarla.com/weddings/the-neighborhood-church-palos-verdes-wedding-motohito-shizuka/#comments Wed, 08 Sep 2010 23:02:43 +0000 vcuares http://blog.vinceandcarla.com/?p=1272 #leftcontainerBox { float:left; position: fixed; top: 60%; left: 70px; } #leftcontainerBox .buttons { float:left; clear:both; margin:4px 4px 4px 4px; padding-bottom:2px; } #bottomcontainerBox { width: 50%; padding-top: 1px; } #bottomcontainerBox .buttons { float: left; margin: 4px 4px 4px 4px; } Rodney and I had an opportunity to cover a ceremony only wedding. Their only guests were their parents who came all the way from Japan. It was very intimate. The church was just the perfect setting, it was truly romantic.]]> #leftcontainerBox { float:left; position: fixed; top: 60%; left: 70px; } #leftcontainerBox .buttons { float:left; clear:both; margin:4px 4px 4px 4px; padding-bottom:2px; } #bottomcontainerBox { width: 50%; padding-top: 1px; } #bottomcontainerBox .buttons { float: left; margin: 4px 4px 4px 4px; }

Rodney and I had an opportunity to cover a ceremony only wedding. Their only guests were their parents who came all the way from Japan. It was very intimate. The church was just the perfect setting, it was truly romantic.

Singapore was an impromptu decision. Though they already had plans of getting married next year, they were not officially engaged. While we were on vacation in the Philippines this summer, Epa sent me a text message, inviting me to go to Singapore with them for a quick trip as he plans to propose to her.
Of course, I wanted to witness that; so we told Mai that we wanted to visit Singapore as well and we’ll take esession-like photos for ‘whatever’ since we do not get to see each other often.
(Mai is based in NZ, Epa in the Philippines and we live in the US.)
It felt different, prompting and guiding one’s sister through all the usual poses. When I did the selections of the photos, Vince wondered why I didn’t choose photos with actual lips-touching-lips kind of kissing.So I guess, that reveals my subconscious’ take on the situation. Don’t get me wrong, I am excited to see my sister get married to the one person she’s been with since college and Epa is a wonderful person. He is perfect for my equally wonderful sister. It’s just that, she is my baby sister.
So all along, Mai thought it was vacation with e-sessions…we went to the usual tourist spots.
Chinatown was our favorite as it was colorful and vibrant.
On the last part of the trip, Epa arranged to ‘meet up’ with friends at a cafe where he proposed
through customized fortune cookies.
Mai’s fortune asked a question: Will you marry me?
of course she said Yes!

I usually have a list of locations that I give our couples for potential places we could do an engagement session. However, nothing beats picking a location that is special between them.

Playa Vista is special for Eugene and Cassie. It’s like an oasis in Los Angeles, a place I could imagine myself living in. Being based far north in Valencia, its proximity to all things essential in LA got me really envious.

After Playa Vista, we headed to LA County Museum of Art. I did an engagement there a few years ago and so I thought I would do it differently this time and inject some off-camera flash flavor.

In a few days, our whole family, will be heading off the country for a much awaited vacation, it was nice to cap things off with them.

Vince

Michael and Jess, a couple that truly complement each other. They brought us all the way from Los Angeles and having spent a day being part of this special occasion was a pleasure.

I’m in awe of the place, it was a big contrast to the bustle of metropolitan LA. The sun was harsh but it was still cozy.

I couldn’t have orchestrated their “first look” any better, Jess planned it really well. It was like Romeo and Juliet, a moment that would make Carla easily cry. My thanks to Nik Esguerra for second shooting.

On a footnote, a facebook like button now appears specifically for each blog entry. It’s way down before the comment section. This got me fired-up and so I did a test. Excuse me for “liking” my own post. =)

Vince

I encourage costumes and props during engagement sessions. Here’s what they told me they’re bringing:

- A formal dress for a wedding: Oh I thought maybe it was something formal fit for a wedding guest.
- School uniforms: Oh, I thought they’re bringing school shirts since Savio works at USC and Grace studied at UCLA. That’s nice.

Then the day came, I caught a glimpse of Grace and WOW!… a wedding dress…a very beautiful one at that! She brought it from Hongkong and they told me she wasn’t using it on her wedding day. I was blown away, I always endeavor to capture something unique every-time I shoot and this surely makes it easy.

Then it was time for the uniforms. Once more, instead of the shirts they brought their highschool uniforms back from Hongkong. They were classmates thus the uniforms.

I had fun, as always. It was a bummer the library and classrooms were closed but the unexpected surprises and wonderful company made the whole afternoon enjoyable and worthwhile.

Vince

We didn’t think we’d be doing another baby shoot, until a friend from work approached us for her baby’s photos..Although a bit apprehensive for the shoot considering the experience we had with jacob like ‘accidents’ that required several diaper changes; mikaela was just irresistible..

And it wasn’t as difficult as we expected..For a first time mom, Giselle was the calmest and most patient..

Special thanks to lisa for helping us out.

Carla

Although we were already in photography when Isabella was born, we realized that we didn’t get any formal and stylized photo of her. An oversight, that we vowed not do again. It was always in the back of our minds, but we didn’t do the maternity photos up until two days before Carla’s scheduled c-section.

As for the newborn shoot, our target was to do it on his 2nd week so we can capture him sleeping in a fetal position. Jacob was almost on his third week when he took his photo, he was showing signs of slowly stretching out of it. The exercise, turned out harder than I imagined. You really need a lot of patience and I guess the skill to know a newborn’s temperament. A task that I couldn’t imagine doing again. I now have nothing but sincere admiration for photographers who do this for a living.

And yes, Jacob kept us busy the latter part of last year. We kinda went on a short hiatus. Now we have adjusted and with a renewed fervor to shoot weddings.

Looking back, I’m glad we did what we did for Jacob. We know he’s gonna treasure them when he grows as old as we are now.

Vince
PS. I did another newborn shoot for one of Carla’s friend. Armed with our previous experience, it was easier, but still arduous. Plus the fact we had two more people helping me compared to our duo when we were photographing Jacob.

Clark Estate, as an all-in-one venue, is simply awesome. I used to live near the city of Santa Fe and I didn’t even know it existed. The white walls and shape of the building, the outdoor reception, the cool weather, and the clear blue California sky made me feel as if I was in Santorini, Greece. Brandon and Sophia were exquisitely thorough, I wasn’t surprised they found this gem of a venue. A beautiful and enjoyable wedding we are privileged to be a part of. Congratulations you guys!

Thanks to Rodney for second shooting!

Israel and Jindra, who wouldn’t love ‘em, easy going – no drama. They were married in Las Vegas but it is fascinating to know that a recent string of events (both good and bad) inspired them to strengthen their bond through a Catholic marriage.

My thanks to Rodney Singzon for second shooting.

Finally we stood as witnesses to Dan & Jisun’s wedding. Jisun has a keen eye for detail. Everything went so smoothly, I couldn’t have it done better. It wasn’t so much of a surprise as I was witness to how she coordinated and prepared before the event. Dan is always amazingly cool, never rattled, always composed. A perfect pair.

My thanks to Rodney for second shooting.

Kogi truck on your driveway, how cool is that?

Password Hint: Street name of event location
Blog photos here and full gallery here.

It is nice to be back at the Castaway. The view had me in awe again, it was just that breath-taking. The ceremony started as the sun was setting, truly romantic. On a technical note however, it is challenging as it gets, the light is continuously changing. Hard but rewarding, as you are blessed with golden light.

Full gallery will follow.

Fabulous wedding! It was nicely warm – cooled by the ocean breeze. Tom and Leti perfectly complement each other, you can instantly feel the love between them. A constant reminder that I’m witnessing and documenting something truly special hence exponentially rewarding.

Thanks to Remedy for second shooting.

For places to shoot e-sessions, Southern California has a lot to offer. It is for this very reason, that it took us a while to shoot one within Sta Clarita, where we currently live.

Right within our “backyard” our first stop was the Saugus Cafe, which opened around 1890′s. Instead of meeting up in a coffee house somewhere, I thought why not do it there and sneak in a few photos. The diner offered a stark contrast to the usual sub-urban development sprawl within the Santa Clarita Valley (SCV). Staff were very friendly, so accommodating, we stayed there for quite some time. They even played mood music courtesy of their jukebox just for us.

Next is Mentryville, California’s first oil boom town. Now, its a basically a ghost town and a terrific place to shoot. Lot’s of possibilities, I can see myself going back again for few more occasions.

I had the pleasure to enjoy these places with Dan and Jisun. They were simply awesome! They were very willing to experiment with the poses. I can’t wait to shoot their wedding.

steve and tina’s wedding was one of a kind..ive heard of couple’s pets participating during the
wedding ceremony but i never thought id witness and be able to photograph one ..
it was so much fun.

we love how steve and tina alloted ample time for the photo session with them and their family…it gave

everyone a chance to relax and be at ease with their poses; it gave us time to be more creative.

and we thank our dear friend lot for the referral.

What a beautiful and gracious couple! It was unusually warm that day. A welcome weather that allowed us to take our time doing the outdoor photos. They were booked in the same hotel which took a little bit of juggling so they won’t see each other before the ceremony.

Overall, a fun and unforgettable wedding that I’m privileged to have been a part of.

Triplets + Twins = 1 Big Happy Family – Shot at Eli’s Home in Los Angeles.

Full gallery here and more blog photos of the family here. (password hint: street where Eli lives – starts with “a” – all lowercase)

We welcomed the new year with Alex + Michelle. What a great way to start the new year. Like almost everyone else, the holidays has taken its toll on our workload and only now that we are slowly catching up.

It’s nice to be back at Whittier, back at the splendid Crystal Marquis. A chance for me to re-explore the venue and challenge myself with new perspective and angles. A chance for me to benchmark our 5D mark II. I knew, lighting will be a challenge. The last time, we were literally pushing our good ‘ol 5D to its ISO limits. With the mark II, even though I’ve used it on weddings previous to this, I can now say from this experience that there is a marked noise improvement over its older sibling.

Crystal Marquis is full of history, it used to be a bank building. The owners kept the original floor and the art deco design intact. Our regards to the wonderful staff that we wholly recommend to anyone.

ed and jen’s wedding was our last wedding for 2008…i’ve always thought… what a nice way of ending the year….coming together to begin a new kind of life.

their wedding took place at a country club in camarillo…the spanish hills.

it was beautifully surrounded by valleys and mountains …although it was chilly, jen and ed thoughtfully provided guests with scarves for extra warmth.the great dining room was the perfect setting for ed and jen..elegant and cozy.

it was a memorable wedding.i liked the square table, its black and white theme; jen’s personal touches..the wedding photographs of her parents and grandparents and a photo of her own wedding imagined and drawn when she was 5…and the wedding cake that has a story that won’t be forgotten…

I drove 70miles down to Chino Hills from Valencia and frankly didn’t mind the travel time. Lester and Joy’s wedding was on a weekend and like most weddings travel has been always a breeze. The weather was awesome, California perfect. St Paul is exquisitely designed, very contemporary. Lighting was surprisingly nice and adequate. Thanks to the natural light coming from the ceiling. Sierra La Verne staff were fabulous and very helpful.

Everyone had a grand time which was apparent as everyone was brimming with emotion as the event was ending. We also had fun. We felt welcome. We felt home. Thanks to Lester + Joy + their friends and family.

Thanks to Alan for 2nd shooting. Visit the full gallery here.

i remember palisades park as a spot along santa monica beach which provides a spectacular view of the ocean and amazing sunsets..and it did not disappoint us during the wedding. the sunset was stunning, it was a little cool, it was just perfect.

david and charity are a fun couple.
I have never seen a bride dance as ‘wildly graceful’ as she did. David had a lot of good moves as well. They were an awesome sight.

congratulations again david and charity!

carla

see the full gallery here.

Griffith Observatory on a Sunday Morning. Refreshing. The thick fog was a challenge but was also something different. We had fun, can’t wait to cover their wedding this month. Thanks to Alvin for second shooting.

Vince

full gallery – now uploading – link will follow

james and bobbie

We had the pleasure of covering james and bobbie’s wedding two weeks ago during the socal wildfires.

a vital part of I5 connecting sta clarita valley to almost all of los angeles was closed. it took us 3hrs of travel through the packed route 126.

One nice thing about it is that it brought a dramatic tint to the sun.

We’re just glad we didnt miss their wedding. A special thanks to our photographer friend ‘katsi’ for saving us during the first minutes of the preparation.

view the full gallery here or press the cart button on the slideshow.

they had to change their venue a few weeks before the wedding. it must have been stressful.
so i’m all admiration for howie and jen for pulling off a very beautiful wedding at the historic park plaza hotel just across McArthur park.

the venue was great, lighting was awesome.
and they were fun…and kind… and sweet.
but nothing compares to the sweetness of this…

like a firefly
her spirit glows when she hears
voice of an angel

trade in bare tree limbs
and climb up these green mountains
love’s lush promises

inside my eyelids
indelible images
memories of you

i am not sure if this is an original haiku by howie as haikus were very much a part of their relationship (i learned)
and it was so sweet to see a version of it displayed at their wedding.

It was the weekend following Halloween. Castaway overlooks the city giving a spectacular view of the valley. The wedding started as the sun was setting which made it so romantic.

-Vince

Full gallery to follow.

when they said halloween wedding, it was really a halloween wedding.
i never got the chance to ask april why they were getting married on halloween;
i’m still wondering but one thing is for certain, they have a truly unique wedding to remember.

it was fun-filled and seeing ‘borat’ certainly made my halloween night!
kudos to april and miko for a successful wedding!

-carla

links to booth pics and wedding photos are at the bottom of this post.

We brought in studio lighting and printed more than 200 pics with photoshop edits on the fly. Booth print sample photo above left. Feel free to download photos but leave the photos un-retouched and logo intact. =) (right click -> open new window -> save image as)

- Vince

To see all booth photos click here. To see their wedding photos click here.

svgallery=mikoapril

i was not around during her 18th, but as i browsed the photos, i could not suppress a smile and a growing amazement at how younger people manage to sustain a seemingly endless source of energy and fun…
at her debut..she had three dress changes, learned several dance steps, and she looked like she had a grand time.
how wonderful the feeling must be; being 18 and all.
cheers to marie-leah. all the best as you embrace and conquer the world . happy 18th!

gallery now available here.

view the slideshow by clicking the photo after which check out their gallery.

Partial gallery now online click here. Password hint on gallery itself.

arnel and odette were gradeschool classmates who have not seen each other for the longest time ..the internet and a little help from the family helped bring them together in marriage. long distance relationship and the whole process of getting arnel relocated was not without difficulties . everything was set except for the groom to be who waited for his visa to get approved the last minute….it was all about uncertainty until 2 weeks before the wedding.

claudette was one of the most relaxed brides ive seen..or perhaps she was good at hiding tension behind her beautiful smile.

i cant forget what she said: ” i remember my first catholic communion with arnel”

how does one feel remembering how one’s first catholic communion was celebrated together with the person she’ll hold hands with at the altar?
they were prolly aged 7 or 8′s then.
it must have felt surreal.

arnel on the other hand was cool and composed. i think its because one of his greatest worries was overcome. he made it to the wedding!

how does one feel knowing that distance was not a hindrance; but a force to be reckoned with to add strength and value to a relationship?

it is during these times when i can’t help but be amazed at the power of the internet.. ..how it has bridged distance and reduced the difficulty of overcoming the absence of a ‘physical presence’ .

and im still amazed at how the internet helped them connect with loved ones in the philippines during the reception; there was real time/ live streaming of the wedding activities to arnel’s brother who couldn’t make it to the wedding.

family and friends were as supportive giving them encouragement, sharing their experiences with the hope of preparing them for the new life ahead.

arnel’s dad said:
“marriage is a commitment..it involves sacrifice..and the responsibility of keeping the love alive..”

what should one think ….of marriage? commitment? the sacrifices involved…and the challenge of keeping the love alive?
daunting?
i dont think it involves an easy path as with all marriages. but they have overcome so much, their love and small victories would strengthen the bond that they chose to forge.

ps. it was also arnel’s mom’s birthday…it was sweet to celebrate it at their wedding.

slideshow and full gallery to follow.

to view their slideshow click on above photo or below

All photos can be found on our client gallery

it was a saturday and los angeles was soaking wet with rain. i mentally uttered a prayer for the couples who would be getting married in LA …though umbrellas would be good wedding photo props.
so off we go to palm springs where we expected an unusually windy day…
windy is better than rainy, i decided.

i have never been to palm springs (where marilyn monroe was supposedly discovered)
unfortunately we didnt get the chance to sample and explore what it is famous for: shopping, spa resorts,outdoor fun and adventure.

nicole and rebecca got married at the Le Parker Méridien Palm Springs
rich in history, it used to be a private weekend retreat for the wealthy and the famous..it still reflects old hollywood with a modern twist. its architecture and design is mid century modern.. reminiscent of the 1940′s-1970′s era.

it was the perfect setting for nicole and rebecca…they were fun, spontaneous , admirably unconventional and rad!
(if i may borrow their favorite term)

a big toast to shorty and big daddy, who traveled a 100 plus miles away from LA’s once in a blue moon nasty weather to get hitched at the unusually windy palm springs! =)

to end, i quote one member of the family , in no exact terms he said:

“nicole and rebecca, while it has taken some of us several marriages and relationships to finally ‘settle down’, you are lucky to have found each other. always remember that no marriage is perfect as no one is perfect.”

- carla

wedding slideshow and gallery to follow