I wish I could say this shoot was as joyful as it looks. But because the petals weren’t falling the way we envisioned them to, I had to keep leaping with abandon over and over again until we realized we had to shoot the tossing of the petals separately. Separately is how we ended that day, too…with me wanting to toss something at Alfonse and let’s just say I wasn’t thinking rose petals.

As we wrap up almost 20 years of wedding photography work, it’s hard not to start from where it all began.  In 1993, Alfonse set in motion shooting weddings to make money to put towards a project called DREADS.  In 1999, the book was published by Artisan/Workman and that was also the same year we started to see one another. At the time, I was working at a yoga studio and he came by to drop off the first copy of the book to give to me.  I’ll never forget it as I still think it’s one of the grandest gestures I’ve ever received and also because he caused a slight raucous with the receptionist.  Apparently, he asked her to page me but his request was refused because he wanted her to announce that Yogi Berra was waiting for me.  I quit that job shortly after and two years into our relationship, we became team Alfonse Pagano Photography.

As we regroup, reorganize and redirect the focus of our studio, it’s almost as if we have to look back to where we began so we can forge ahead emboldened. In the next few weeks, be on the lookout for an impressive body of work, old and new that I am looking forward to featuring on our new blog.

So our first idea was to run a caption contest on Facebook and Skip won because his was the wittiest and the least cute out all the entries. His prize was to come to our studio for a photo session. All went well and he was even game when we used our rinky dink smoke machine for “special effects” while he posed with his guitar.

Unfortunately, our computer went on the fritz shortly after that shoot and we lost all the files. (By the way, all the files from your wedding are already backed-up, I swear…). Long story short, Skip was amenable to come to us again for a re-shoot and that is when we met his honey, Honi. We were more relaxed by then and even the photos we got seemed better than the first go around. We had no idea they were considering using our studio to shoot their wedding and despite Alfonse’s stellar gift of salesmanship, (insert sarcastic emoticon here) they hired him to cover their special day.  So, thank you Skip and Honi.

Oh, by the way, Skip’s winning caption was: “Social Net-WHAT? It’ll never fly!”

shoes courtesy of RUIA

Happy to report we have been adding new work to our product site. As Alfonse gets his fill for his shoe and foot fetish, I on the other hand struggle to get in them without scuffing them one bit. These shoes cost more than all the pairs I own put together! I needed a damn stool right next to my mark and for Alfonse to help me get my balance first. Just be glad you do not see the expression on my face but I must admit, I felt very sexy when I didn’t feel like I was about to keel over.

Reblogged from ironboundink blog:

I guess that tells you how important rice is to us Filipinos. I didn't appreciate knowing my dialect up until recently when I started thinking about all the words that were not easily translatable into English. A lot of what would come to mind had me laughing out loud by myself and led me to this place of unending curiosity about other languages and how it naturally reflects its culture and values.

Read more… 34 more words

Immediately I branded them “rodoinyoga” even though at the time it really would have been more apropos to name my company “rodontwannarealjob”.

I experienced a tiny bit of success with the cards but couldn’t go further.  In hindsight, I just needed to grow a little bit and trust a little more. Okay, okay… grow and trust a whole lot more.

This is my way of saying, I couldn’t have done this without the unwavering support from the following people…and yes, I am going to mention their names again: Shauna, Miss D, LaLa, Suz and Karla. So that’s how you do this…wow. That’s all for now, folks. Thanks.

Which brings me to the foreward that you wrote. I am so glad that you spoke on the natural aspects and beauty of black hair. I honestly had forgotten that my hair was beautiful, though I know the comment you were making was mainly to women. I understand that you were speaking as a feminist and lover of all things woman to include their hair. But my hair is beautiful too, right! I took your comment to have a universal appeal because something took root in me when I realized what I had in my possession. I felt liberated. I feel liberated. I have black hair.

I am always entertained when you speak on romance. The romancing from a locked person is something special. I can only imagine. I am still in that phase of curiosity however. I don’t know what locked hair feels like or any of its characteristics.I have never touched anyone’s locks or even asked. I am a virgin. I want to know what it is like to be loved as a dreadlocked man and to love as one.I want locks. My wife is on a natural journey as well so I may get a chance to make love to a woman with locks. I will keep my fingers crossed on that one!

Can I call you Alice? Thanks. Alice, I really appreciate you explaining the simplicity of maintaining your hair.  There is no magic potion or a wizard who will magically clean your hair. In essence you said stick to the basics and I appreciate that. Do what you have always done. You needed to say it though to get through to those who refuse to understand that locked hair is like anyone else’s hair in the sense that if you don’t wash it your hair will be unhealthy. But even though you told them to chill with the stereotypes they’ll persist. That’s no one’s fault but their own for not getting the message.

You said,”  After all, if this major mystery could be discovered right on top of one’s head…what other wonders might not be experienced in the Universe’s exuberant, inexhaustible store?” You were speaking of feeling good about going natural. There is a sense of empowerment by being natural, accepting you. Because I am a guy, this feeling only came when my afro started getting some length.. How could we have missed the happiness that is with us everyday, naturally? You were right to make a point to share your joy. I loved it when you said, ” ..it is not an exaggeration to say there is a way in which I was made happy forever..” I am warmed by your admittance of love for your natural hair.

I don’t know how you were vetted to write the foreword or who the other candidates were. But I am grateful that the stars in the universe aligned and you were picked as the writer for this book. You are a natural fit.

Natrodisiac

As the river flushed down the canal it passed me as I stood at the foot of the delta ,I daydreamed. My time there was as quiet as the clicks from my camera that captured a woman reading in the distance. The wind ruffled her pages and wrapped me like a blanket as I listened to the washing of the waves. The sun was in retreat for the time being, so the wind blew cool for once this summer. The invisible force of the book was like that, it moved me like the water over the Mississippi, effortlessly. The force was as powerful the tug boat that rowed by me without even a decibel of sound registering. We were all on one accord. We were all moving.

I would suggest the book to anyone. It is a diverse and beautiful book that is a great read and a wonderful find. It is a culturally affirming, socially on time and emotionally inspiring. I have enjoyed reading the book since the first day I had it. I have read some stories twice, even three times. It’s a book for our times. Enjoy.

Natrodisiac