At Sweet Blessings Weddings, I work with each couple to find the right combination of services to fit your needs.We understand that many couples are new to the wedding process, or simply don’t have the time with other demands pulling at you. I offer a full production service or a la carte, from helping you to chose a stunning, memorable San Francisco location, creating vows with your unique love story and traditions, and develop a unique photo and video package to memorialize your special day.

We know the market is filled with planners, ministers, photographers, videographers so Sweet Blessings Weddings offers a personalized service to help create the most memorable event for your guests, but mostly for you both – a timeless keepsake of an event and unique photos that will serve as more than a coffee table bookend, with a video  that will be a reminder, a celebration, of what brought you both together to marry in the first place.

I can offer the same service to eloping couples who may have less time for planning, yet still want a unique wedding service and keepsake photos and video capturing your wedding day. If you want a full service package, I can work with you to find the location, create digital email and web materials, and help in creating your vows. Mention that you saw the offer here and I will throw in a 10% discount on the first invoice.

Have a look at our wedding photo information and samples. http://www.catherineherrera.com/

Since Christy pointed out to me that I managed to publish my entire post about Brandon’s wedding without any pictures of the happy couple, I figured I’d better pull it together and get some photos up.

Unfortunately, I only had my point and shoot with me that night and didn’t get any great photos, but here are some of the better ones:

I look at a meeting with a potential client as an educational experience. My job is to educate them on the importance of capturing their memories and their job is to educate me on what is most important to them regarding their event photography. But, every once in a while I’ll have someone ask me “Why can’t my uncle Bob take my wedding or mitzvah photos, he has a big camera?” This is a clear signal that they have no clue what the photographic craft is all about. They think that a ‘big’ camera – whatever that means – makes a professional photographer. They couldn’t be more wrong. It’s not the camera, it’s the LIGHTING! I can do the same with a $500 camera as with a $5000 camera. Yeah, the pro camera has more features and is more rugged, but take any given camera, set up the shutter speed, ISO and aperture identically to each other and the photo will be the same. A professional brings knowledge to the craft. Knowledge of lighting, exposure & composition and how all 3 work in unison to create images that look 3 dimensional rather than flat. And, I’ll give you a clue to our craft – direct lighting, however it is used, is flat out wrong. Whether it is shot through an umbrella/diffuser, raised up on a bracket, or bounced off a white card taped to the on camera strobe,  it’s wrong. It’s still direct lighting. Direct lighting is flat lighting. It kills the shadows. If you don’t save/create some shadows on the faces, you won’t get any depth to the photos. People will look 2 dimensional.  Just take a look at the most famous portrait photos in history. Think about it – we take a 3D subject and print a 2D representation of it on paper. I want a 3D subject to look 3D, regardless of how it’s printed! The attached 2 minute video clip of a mitzvah I did back in August shows that in order to achieve this look, you don’t need a studio with perfectly controlled lighting! You can still do it on location in a ballroom with people moving and dancing. Let’s see uncle Bob make his photos look like these! Big camera or not. done

A picture is worth a thousand words…so, I’ll only say a few here. Let’s face it, really great photographers are stinkin’ expensive. Don’t get me wrong, I completely understand why – one of the main things is that your pictures are really the only thing you get to take with you to remember your perfect day. But, if you’re trying to cut back, don’t you dare even think about those horrible little disposable cameras!! Here’s a great alternative:

Hire a fabulous photographer to capture your Ceremony and your detail shots. You’ll pay them way less because you’re asking them to commit to almost a third of the time.

NOW, for your reception and to capture your guest pictures:  Make your own Photo Booth!

Here’s what you need:

Rent a camera and a tripod

Set up a background. You can rent backdrops, hang a sheet, hang ribbons, hang christmas lights, hang flowers from ribbon, you could even hang cute pictures of the bride and groom - just have something fun for people to stand in front of.

Get a friend to be in charge of the camera and to *focus and *click!

Your guests will have a blast and you’ll save a ton of mulah!

Here are some recent pictures from a photo booth that my darling friends Michelle and Steven did at my best friend Josh’s stylish Birthday Bash! (Beware, craziness ensued!)

You guys might remember Adriana from the photos I took at her shower. Well last night her and her fiance Chris were officially married. It was a beautiful affair and I was so honored to take all the photos.

All in all I got 1,776 shots (800 being good quality) so now I’ve begun the wonder process of editing. Well after a whole Saturday afternoon I’ve edited 15 shots into 44 with various effects, so here is a little sneak peek of some of my favorites

The beautiful Allure dress

A bouquet of roses

her dad and brother sported some cool shades to escort us

"We're going to the chapel and we're gonna get married..."

I feel like this belongs in a magazine... lol

end of the night snuggle

wrapped in tulle

The first kiss: I love their expressions right before their first kiss as husband and wife

Stay tuned for a link to the full album And I can’t resist a self-serving plug If you have any occasion you’d like me to shoot you can just contact me via any of the sidebar methods.

Did you know there are actually three types of photography? Formal, or posed photography, was the first to develop with the advent of the camera. Photographers had to capture a scene by leaving their shutter open for a certain period of time, forcing the subjects to sit as still as possible. Here is an example of a posed photograph. Notice the use of ambient light. I posed this bride in the opening of her front door in order to use the available sunlight for the image.

The use of available light.

The second type of photography is candid, or unposed. This is when the subjects are generally aware a person is photographing them. Candids happen most often at parties like weddings, bar mitzvahs, and family reunions. And this is when I most often receive the question, “Uncle Bob has a state-of-the-art camera, why shouldn’t we just ask him to shoot the event?” Without formal training, novices don’t generally understand the full capabilities of their camera or gear. When a photograph doesn’t come out right, novices don’t know why, nor do they understand how to either adjust the camera’s setting, the scene, or their positioning to execute the shot perfectly. Notice the lighting in this candid image -

Even with the use of strobes, the skin should look 'normal'.

Notice the use of shadows to create 'depth' to the image.

The last kind of photography and the one that you’ll often see utilized in modern advertising is long lens photojournalism. This is when the subjects are far away and are generally unaware they are being photographed. Even though the subjects may be unaware of the camera, the photographer himself is still charged with the responsibility of capturing balance and composition. This involves perfect timing when dealing with moving subjects, and more importantly, knowing where to stand and which fields people need to move into to garner the ideal lighting for the shot.

Regardless of which type of photography you choose, you really need to engage someone who knows equipment, lighting, and angles, and who has an eye for human interaction and behavior. Without a terrific base shot, a photograph cannot be salvaged in the work room. Those photo correction programs are not miracle workers. You can correct stray hairs or adjust an image’s contrast, but you can’t recreate the composition of a photograph. A good photographer will create a perfect trifecta by utilizing all three methods of photography to provide his clients with a stunning recreation of their event.

What photographic style do you favor? Check out your favorite shots and drop me a line. I’d love to hear about what catches your eye!

The use of a 'long' lens allows some very natural captures

A long lens allowed me to capture Dad dancing with his 5 year old girl.

Dave and Melodie had a full day of fun for their wedding in beautiful September.  From the pre-wedding preparations/”games” that the bridesmaids provided for the groomsmen as part of their tradition, to the ceremony at Assumption Catholic Parish, to the formals at the Royal Alberta Museum, to the tea pouring ceremony/game-filled reception/dance at Sutton Place Hotel downtown, it was a day of non-stop shooting for Shawn and I!

Thanks for the laughs and the memories, Dave and Melodie…Enjoy your pics!

–

Melanie

Elliott and Shirees had a beautiful and warm sunny day wedding on August 29th.  Their ceremony took place at Southside Pentecostal Assembly.  For their “formals” we wanted to try a unique location, so we went to Concordia Lutheran College, where Shirees goes to school.  There are so many “typical” locations in Edmonton, and it’s fun to do something different. 

Congrats on your wedding!

–

Melanie

I first met Dan at a networking event about 6 months ago and we’ve since become friends. He told me he and his wife were expecting their first child in February and would like some pregnancy photos. I’ve never really done that kind of photography, but I was willing to try, if he and Katie were. Although I feel I have a pretty good grasp and knowledge of lighting, each genre of the photographic arts has its own nuances, and maternity photos are no different. I spent the next few months reading and visiting websites of photographers all over the world for inspiration on lighting, posing, camera angles and so on. By looking at many other photogs work, a pattern of the best began to emerge. I studied those lighting and posing patterns and committed them to memory. When Dan and Katie finally came over, I had everything ready to go. Since I’d never done this before, I was nervous as hell. The same feelings I had on my first wedding and my first mitzvah. Luckily, they were very cooperative and just had a good time. So did I! I’m really pleased with how the photos turned out. Here’s a little clip of the session. Tell me what you think. I’d love to hear! done

Due to the overwhelming popularity of my Top 20 worst wedding photos, people have been inundating me with requests to create another list. I mean, there certainly had to be more insane wedding photos out there, right?  Well, believe it or not, there actually was!  Enjoy!

The 20 Worser Wedding Photos

#19 – Busted Again.
Ok. No idea what grandpa is doing in the bushes, but I’m sure it’s something creepy.  Great shot there Mr. Kodak.

#17 – Spiked Punch
No one found out the punch was spiked until it was way too late.

#16 – Collectively Ticked
This was not a wedding that came with the parents blessing.  “But I LOVE him Momma!”  followed by the thought, “Maybe Momma is right.” followed by her parents thinking, “She has to learn from her mistakes. Let her go, Mabel.”

and for those saying that this is not the bride, here’s a ceremony shot;

Not sure what to even say about this photo.  Does she not feel a draft? The guy to her right is whispering to his wife, “I promise I’m not looking, but you have to see this.”

Yes folks, it’s the top 10. The worst of the worst. Proceed.

“Yeah, yeah, I do, now please run or death will do us part!”  or maybe it was, “You can’t make me stop marrying your daughter. Yeah? You and what army?”  I got a million of ‘em for this staged shot.

She’s got that look that says “Oh no you didn’t!”.

#4 – I See Dead People
I’m going to assume that she’s happy that there are many witnesses at this point.

And here we are folks!

The winner of the worst wedding photo award.

#1 – Southern Limo

They couldn’t afford a limo, but they still arrived in style.  The bride has got to be thrilled.

And there you have it. The 20 worst wedding photos I could find.  All photos were obtained from Google Images and a lot of digging.  Hopefully when you go to hire your wedding photographers or other wedding vendors, you’ll make sure that you do your homework. Do you have ones to share that I didn’t post here? Post them!

thanks to Sam, we do have some photos showing the 2nd half of the wedding!! =P

goodness, it just seems that this wedding stuff is never-ending, first from Sam, and then photos from the SG wedding are arriving in the post next week!

anyways, please click here to check out the awesome photos! =)

Hiring a Wedding Photographer – 10 Tips For Getting the Best From Your Photographer
By Alex Kilbee

Tip 1 – It’s the biggest day of your life, don’t rely on ‘Uncle Bob’ to take your photos.

You may be lucky and have Yervant as your uncle, but most of us don’t have the worlds’ best wedding photographer as our uncle.

When looking for a photographer to capture your wedding, ask them what sort of equipment they will use – do they have backup equipment – do they have professional insurance? Price can be a factor for many brides, but try not to skimp on your photography budget. After all, you only get one chance to have your wedding photographed. If you choose a photographer based purely on price, then you may be disappointed in the results. Especially if this ‘budget’ photographer doesn’t use professional gear, then you pictures will look like Uncle Bob took them.

You deserve the best images possible – hire a pro who knows what they are doing, so you can relax.

Tip 2 – Engagement Sessions.

Many people ask me – ‘what is an engagement session?’

Well, it’s become a trend in the last few years for brides and grooms to have a fun session with just the photographer at some point before their wedding. Not only does this produce some wonderful images of the couple in a ‘non-wedding’ environment, but it gives you a chance to get a feel for how your photographer will operate on the day.

By knowing what to expect, you’ll be more relaxed and able to enjoy your wedding.

Tip 3 – Timings.

You’d be surprised how many couples don’t know how long their ceremony will last. How long will it take to get to the reception from the church, what time will the receiving line start, how long will the brides hair and make-up take to be done.

All these things (and more) should be thought about and planned for when thinking about your wedding. Sit down with all your suppliers and find out how long it will take to complete each stage of your wedding day. That way you’ll know how long you can have for the photographs.

Once you have all the timings, add 10 minutes to each and you won’t end up running around trying to catch up on the day. After the ceremony, this is less important, but it is vital for lead up.

Less rushing about = more enjoyment.

Tip 4 – Weather.

You can’t control the weather on your wedding day, but you can make some general assumptions. Take into consideration the season, many people when they plan their wedding in the summer forget what time it gets dark in the winter. By having the ceremony at, say, 4pm, then all the images after wards will be in the dark -if you wanted to be outdoors.

A professional photographer is capable of producing excellent images, even in challenging conditions. Don’t worry if the weather is inclement on your wedding day. Some of the most memorable wedding images I’ve produced have been in less that romantic weather conditions.

Tip 5 – Children.

Kids make cute wedding pictures – they are great! However, do be realistic in your expectations of what sort of behavior you will get from them.

Most kids love being photographed, but they can be a little shy at first when they see the camera. If you have kids, try to introduce them to the photographer before the wedding so they get a chance to know them.

Tip 6 – Scrapbook.

I make a point of telling all my bridal couples to keep a scrapbook of wedding images that they love. While you hire a wedding photographer on the merits of their work, your photographer should also produce images that YOU want. Let them know if there were images in their portfolio you didn’t like, but also let them know what images they have shown you that you do like.

Having a scrapbook of favorite images helps the photographer give you what you want.

Tip 7 – Details.

Everyone remembers the big moments from your wedding day, but the story is in the details. Make sure your photographer can also show you examples of detail shots from various weddings. In a wedding album, detail shots are the glue that holds the star images together to bring the whole story of your wedding to life.

Tip 8 – Recommendations.

Nothing speaks louder about a photographer’s ability than their testimonials. What have other brides and grooms had to say about your photographer?

I keep an extensive collection of recommendations from previous clients to help prospective couples be assured that I am actually capable of producing outstanding images AND being pleasant to be around (the two don’t always go hand in hand).

Tip 9 – See a full wedding.

You’d be surprised how many people are out there who will quite happily steal others work and pass it off as their own. If you see a photographer with only a few, admittedly outstanding, images on-line and a price that’s too good to be true – it probably it.

You should always ask to see a full wedding, not just an album, but the FULL wedding. That way you can gauge the constancy level of your photographer. There is no point in hiring someone based on 5 great images if they are only capable of creating 5 great images per wedding and the rest are duds.

Tip 10 – Get along with your photographer.

Probably the most important.

If you don’t gel with your photographer when you meet with them to discuss booking them (and you did meet them in person right?), then don’t book them – no matter how talented they are, or tempting the price. The number one most important, utterly non negotiable factor influencing the quality of your wedding photos is you. If you feel uncomfortable with your wedding photographer, this will show in your faces, no matter how talented the photographer is.

Choose a photographer not only on talent, but how you get along with them.

A bride mentioned to me the other day that out of all the suppliers for her wedding, the photographer feels most like a guest. They are there around you all the time, they mingle with your guests, they aren’t hidden behind a kitchen door, they are working from the first moment of your day till almost the last. If you wouldn’t have them as a guest at your wedding, then don’t hire them as your wedding photographer.

Alex Kilbee is a wedding photographer who has been shooting weddings both in South Africa and his native England for 10 years. He is currently working as a Suffolk photographer.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alex_Kilbee

A perfect wedding isn’t only beautiful, it’s personal. It’s got carefully selected details that are meaningful to you and your fianc้.  Here are some very simple ways to add your own subtle, unique touches to your ceremony and reception:
 
•Write your own wedding vows. It doesn’t have to read like poetry; the important thing is that it comes from your own heart. Print it out on an index card and keep it handy during the ceremony.
•Compile a CD with songs that symbolize your relationship or how it evolved. Play this during your reception or even burn a copy and distribute as souvenirs. Insert a small piece of paper explaining why you chose those songs.
•Instead of tossing your bouquet, present it to your mother (or a dear friend or mentor) during your reception. You can also have an additional bouquet made for your groom to present his mother at the same time.
•Guests often have free time on their hands during their reception. In the center of the table, place several pens and small pieces of paper in a pretty basket. Ask them to write their wishes, prayers, or advice for you and your fianc้. Compile in a scrapbook.
•Most wedding reception programs revolve around the couple: friends give speeches. Do something for the guests. Make a video of you and your fianc้ talking about the people who’ve taught you what true love means. Mention friends who’ve demonstrated real loyalty, or family members who made great sacrifices for you. Intersperse your video with their photos. This is your chance to say thank you to all of them.
•If you have a close friend or family member who passed away, make him or her part of the occasion by inserting a small photo in your bouquet, or lighting a tribute candle at the church ceremony.
•If you have ethnic roots, incorporate a marriage ritual from your culture into your ceremony or perform it during your reception. 
•Wear an heirloom. For example, you can use your grandmother’s veil, or wear a locket that belongs to your mother. This is an excellent way of creating a sense of continuity between generations, celebrating your own family even as you go on to begin your own.
•Prepare an audio-video presentation that will be played during the last dance of the bride with the father. This can be just a simple montage of childhood photos. A guaranteed tear-jerker! 
•If you have kids, help them feel like they’re part of the new family by asking them to stand next to you as you say your vows.
•Add little elements that say something about your relationship as a couple. For example, if you’re giving away picture frames, insert a poem that you wrote or a copy of your wedding vows. If you met at a beach (and would rather not have a beach-themed wedding) incorporate shells into your table centerpiece.

Haven’t been to my blog in nearly a month and wordpress has gone and changed the look.  Oy vay. My apologies! I don’t think I could even begin to explain my absence. Oh wait, here’s my overview of MMMMMOOOVEMBERRRRRR!

CHECK OUT   Day 1 – 30 &  Day 31 – 61

MOVEMBER Day 62 – 90

First off, to all you peeps that grew a mustache for prostate cancer – much love to you!! Growing that facial hair on account of a good cause should not go unmentioned!! *I did not grow a mustache for the event, but appreciate those who did.

Nov. 1- Fear of H1N1 instilled in all of us. Broski was sick and I still hugged him!!! Bitch slapped that H1N1 in the face. I’m tough. I might also be afraid of intimacy. The fear of intimacy is in the top ten most common fears folks. You are not alone!

Nov. 2- I am alarmed about the topic of obesity. My sister and I thought mini sugar donuts and beer was a good choice after volleyball. Noooo sir. I started working out tonight. It’s been over two weeks since my 10km run. I don’t have an excuse.

Nov. 3- Fear of not delivering. I might have stretched the truth in delivering a certain something and then it got lost in the mail. I would not accept failure so I did everything in my power to produce! I did, but will NEVER AGAIN use FedEx!!!!

Nov. 4- I held a snake. A very small one but nonetheless it was a snake. Pet man was very friendly. It was his new ‘baby’… MMMMAGINE I ever bought a snake and called it my ‘baby’. Pet names aren’t cool. No pun intended.

Nov. 5- Again, scared to share my work. Shared what my friend and I had been working on for so long for a charity event in Toronto. The ladies assured us, they loved it. The Darling Home For Kids’ A Night In New York! raised $120,000 NOT BAD, NOT BAD AT ALL! Huge thanks to all that supported the event!

Nov. 6- I tried cottage cheese. That shit is disgusting, but I wouldn’t have known I still hate it unless I tried, so I did. Yuck.

Nov. 7- Scared of barn animals. Not sure if this is the hygiene factor or the size or maybe actually liking them and then fitting the stereotype of small town kids, but I fear barn animals, so I went down to the Royal Winter Fair with my grandparents and LOVED IT! Horse jumping is probably the coolest sport, ever! I love it! Cows are amazing. They even get their hair ‘did’- yes, with BLOW DRYERS!!! It’s some serious business showing your cows. I saw the best of the best and loved it.

Nov. 8- Shared the wedding photos I took last month with the happy new couple. We sat together on the couch, me playing monkey in the middle as we looked through all the photos. Karen and Dave, I’m forever in debt to you for building my confidence, and being so reassuring that I could do it. Sharing your day meant a lot to me and I’m glad I was the person able to capture your memories on film.

Nov. 9- Holy Jeeze, scared to kill the earth! Green I am, but I have so much to learn about the earth and green happenings. Read a fantastic article in Reader’s Dijest about a woman who has gone above and beyond your wildest dreams in a quest to save the earth. Ignorance is bliss and unfortunately this life lesson is becoming crystal clear with each piece of information I gather and the older I get. I’m scared for the fate of my our future! It’s our moral challenge of our age; to save the earth. Easy to ignore, but simple action can change this fate. A change in your diet alone can cut about ½ of what’s needed to avoid the worst effects of global warming. No, you don’t need to become a hippie vegan; simply cut back on meat consumption. It’ll do wonders for your health too. Just an added bonus.

Nov. 10- Paranormal Activity. Demons scare me.

Nov. 11- Back to trying to teach myself guitar after a short five month break. Scared of the failure I suppose? I’m at a loss with this one and why I’m always so scared to get back at it. Maybe just worried I’ll damage my family’s hearing.

Nov. 12- Fear of putting a pen to paper. DO NOT ASK ME WHY. I’m pretty sure this goes back to fear of failure. Regardless, the fear is there and I did all that I could in my physical power to sit at my desk and not allow myself to move from my desk until I started what a literary agent told me I should ‘most definitely pursue.’ Sometimes my own stupidity/fears really shock me, amaze me, and piss me off.

Nov. 13- Scared to think outside the box. Inspired by David Hall to pursue what I think is meaningful and beautiful. Art is important, so embrace it! Seriously though, check it out HERE.

Call me ultra lame but I made the next few days about trying new foods or foods I’m sure I hate… Before this experiment I was sure the only things in the world I don’t like are anchovies and olives. NEWS FLASH – there is some nasty ass shit out there to be tried. Enjoy.

Nov. 14- Black liquorice… Still REVOLTING to me. That taste is simply god awful!

Nov. 15- Seaweed stew from some little Korean joint in the city. No thank you ever again. Apparently I hate a lot of foods. Still wouldn’t dare call myself a picky eater. Trying these foods I think proves that.

Nov. 16- Pickled eggs from my local Denningers. I just had a gag reflex thinking about it again. I kept it down, but just barely.

Nov. 17- This may sound ridiculous, but jello. My dad has always hated jello because of its consistency. Well, that has now rubbed off on me, so to rev up this challenge I found jello/tofu pie. This is what I’m told is in it; 3 oz. box of jello- any flavour, 1 box silken tofu (firm), 1 graham cracker crust (reduced fat). Do not accept this if it is offered to you. I’m just dumb and sought out tofu jello as I don’t eat meat. I mean that jello ham salad they have at the grocery store would’ve been perfect but we don’t live in a perfect world so I did what I could.

Nov. 18- I had had enough of this food business at this point so I decided today would be the last. I looked up weird food combinations that people like. Well, turns out a lot of people believe grilled cheese sandwiches paired with dill pickles on them are delicious. Also, people seem to believe peanut butter sandwiches mixed with anything/everything disgusting under the sun are just divine… I chose the grilled cheese and pickles combo. Hardly worthy of a gag-like reflex the pickled eggs gave me, but definitely not how I will be eating my future grilled cheese sandwiches.

Nov. 19- Worked at the gallery tonight for an opening reception where you get to meet the artists. I’m always scared to tell the artists when their art really means something to me, but with courage on my side for the evening, I spoke to one artist about his work and let him know how inspiring it was. He was extremely gracious and very thankful I shared my sentiments with him.

Nov. 20- Home alone over night. I’ve been living with quite a few roommates for a very long time so to be thrown a night on my own was really scary. Believe me, you hear every creek! Yes, I’m well aware at this point what a pussy I am.

Nov. 21- Tonight I learned a lot of hard life lessons. Life lessons can suck. The worst part is that you’ve usually heard them before and you already know the life lesson, but until you learn them firsthand, you’re screwed and susceptible. Tonight I faced the fear of trying to please everyone and failing miserably. C’est la vie and it won’t happen again. Sometimes you gotta look out for numero uno!

Nov. 22- Applied to Axe Canada. Now, this is a fear for many reasons. 1.You really have to put yourself out there. 2.Some see it as immoral… I say to them, it is what you make it! 3.I had to share a terribly embarrassing video where I pimp myself out (that’s putting it mildly) with co-workers because I’m not as tech savvy as I’d like to believe. This video is also being shared with complete strangers. Amazing.

Nov. 23- This whole challenge has brought out how much I worry about what other people think of me. Well thankfully a friend of mine pointed out that often times it’s your friendly self who is the most judgmental and I have to agree. Don’t get me wrong, there will be times in life that others will judge you, but more often than not you think someone is judging you when it’s just you being the only idiot judging yourself. Wow, have you lost me yet? Now conscious of this tidbit I felt a bit more empowered as I enter the last leg of my challenge. Scary thought swallowing the fact that I might be the biggest obstacle in my own life.

Nov. 24- I’m scared to death of losing a loved one. Life’s precious, don’t ever take it for granted, and realize how lucky you are to have your health. Matt went into the hospital today to prepare for his bone marrow transplant. He is fearless! I didn’t ignore today – instead took special note of how scared I am but also to note how fragile we all are. We’re not invincible and that’s a frightening fact.

Nov. 25- Homichlophobia: Fear of fog. I promised my sister I would help her paint today and although terrified of driving in the fog, I faced that blanket of fog head on. I don’t drive often and the last time I drove in fog I wrapped my car around a pole so this was kind of a big deal for me. I must really love my sister!

Nov. 26- Fear of objects flying at my head. I went to the batting cages. Pretty sure the last time I held a baseball bat was when I played T-ball, so you can imagine how good I was; obviously not embarrassing but definitely not good. We started slow and worked our way up. I think I tried to improve too quickly because I really couldn’t keep up. Meh, faced the fear of embarrassing myself and also having objects fly at my head.

Nov. 27- Apparently a lot of people are frightened when it comes to crossing bridges. By no means am I trying to lessen this fear, but it’s not one I have ever even considered. Today I decided to test myself and head down to what I thought would be considered a cool bridge. There’s this massive tree that lies across Bronte Creek where I run and I’ve seen people fish from there or use it to cross the creek. Mind you this creek is pretty big and at this time of year the water’s pretty strong! Turns out it was a bit nerve-racking. So, to all you people who think you’re fearless and hardcore: I once thought that, but once you start testing yourself, turns out we’re not so badass after all, or at least as badass as we’d like to think.

Nov. 28- I may have applied to another ridiculous job that requires me really putting myself out there; whether or not I actually want these jobs as much as I want to test myself is still up for debate.

Nov. 29- Another photo shoot ladies and gents. Although you’re behind the camera as a photographer, you are center stage for the people you’re photographing and that is the part that scares the shit out of me. They may or may not have huge expectations but I know how high my expectations are so I really do psych myself out. Again, damn it, I’m in my own way! Still did it so I’m counting it as a fear faced. It is getting easier, promise.

Nov. 30- LAST TEN DAYS! Coming Soon!!!! Tomorrow, actually, because tomorrow is the last day. Where the hell have the last 100 days gone?? Can’t wait to recap the highlights!

Check back because you WON’T want to miss the last 10!!

Much love to anyone who cared enough to follow parts of this adventure, all of it, really whatever part you may have played, I am so appreciative and have had such a blast!! Thank you. xo mkr

Philippine Weddings are known for their deep tradition. This is mostly because the Philippines is a melting pot of cultures. On top of this, it can be seen that Philippine weddings are colorful and rich in story and context.

All the photos are property of their respective owners. They are taken in their respective locations. Much respect and admiration to their owners and photographers.

1. RedSheep Weddings, 2. Dizon-Gloria Pre-Nup 033, 3. Opted out of Big Huge Labs 4. Francis & Angie, 5. Prenup, 6. Wedding Ring & Flower, 7. Seven Suites Hotel, Antipolo City, 8. WEDDING – Raul and Hannah, 9. Afternoon Stroll, 10. Bagacay Point Love Affair , 11. Wedding Fun, 12. RedSheep Weddings, 13. Another Wedding Ring, 14. Michael and Jacque, 15. Bridesmaids, 16. Wedding: Leroy & Suzette

Celebrate your wedding in places where the Philippines’ colors and culture can be seen. A view of the metropolis night sky perhaps? Or if you want it more romantic, a view of the night sky. The view of the metropolis lights and the night sky can be seen and marveled in the Seven Suites Hotel Observatory.

The Seven Suites Hotel Observatory is the first Hotel Observatory in the Philippines. They feature a telescope which lets you look at the stars. Located in Antipolo City, the Seven Suites Hotel is a prime wedding venue as it is very close to the city and it offers a view of the stunning metropolis at night.

I look for the beauty in every scene I capture on film. As a result, I am often in tune with and moved by people’s emotions. More often than not, I turn from “hired help” to “friend” with many of my clients as a result of that connection.

Just as brides-to-be look for the right fit from their service providers, so too, do service providers hope to get the warm and fuzzies from their clients. I once had someone describe getting the “cold and pricklies” from one of their clients who was uptight, anal, and quite inconsiderate. We’ve all experienced people like this in one situation or another, but it is hard when that divide exists between service professionals and their clients. That’s why I think it’s so important to be approachable and personable in my industry.

Recently my family went through some changes. I chronicled our journey and it’s joyful culmination through an online blog. Surprisingly, it was not my relatives who stepped forward in congratulations, it was my clients who reached out to us with warm wishes, kind thoughts, and celebration.

It is exciting in my profession to make such wonderful friends in my clients because when I understand their histories and their deep bonds with one another, I am able to capture and preserve moments for them that someone else might miss.

When you think of your community and the people you engage to help you make your celebration a success, it makes memories all the richer when your service people have a stake in your event and want to make it the best experience possible for everyone there.

I think that is why so much of my business is based on referrals. I am pleasant and friendly to everyone at my clients’ events without being obtrusive, because it’s important that their guests’ overall experience with everyone be a wonderful one. It is the ultimate compliment to not only have my clients re-engage my services for future events, but to see them stake their own reputation on my services by referring me to their circle of friends.

A lot of people look at service providers in one dimension or another—by cost, by quality, or from a convenience point of view. When is the last time you added to that a provider’s persona?

I’d invite you to weigh that “warm and fuzzy” factor next time you are shopping around for service providers for your event. Guests really do notice that added special touch pleasant providers bring, and clients appreciate the warm manner and congenial way we approach the event, handling it with the same care and attention to detail they themselves bring to that special gathering.

Here are some sample images from our new website. They are in the personal photo box folder.

I looked across the table and saw him.  Who was he?  I knew everybody, but I didn’t know him.  We met eyes, he dropped his gaze.   I went back to my doodling.   My cocky 8th grade head was too interested in my bobbley eyed smiley face than to make introductions.  Somehow from that moment on though, Kaephas was embedded into my life story.  I don’t really know how it evolved from that first awkward moment in 8th grade, but it did.  Both Mike and I have had the privilege of calling Kaephas our friend for well over half our lives. 

One day Kaephas brought Latara to a party.  Who was she?  I knew everybody in the room, but not her.  Repeat story above, but an awkward twenty something version.  We haven’t known her half of our lives yet, but she is already so important to us!  Kaephas and Latara have grown in their friendship and love.  We were so excited to share in this moment of life with them as all our stories are continually bound together.

I LOVE this picutre! 

I think Kaeph watched Zoolander to perfect his “sexy look”.  It worked.  Hot Kaeph, so hot.

Talk about a BEAUTIFUL bride.  Look at those eyes!

Ok, so maybe this was the real Zoolander look.  I actually think either Mike or Kaeph said that they needed a few “blue steel” looks.

Kaeph and Latara, we love you so much!!!  Thank you for so much for letting us capture your day!

we were booked as videographer for their wedding.. and we did so in flying colors. now since we have some DSLRs lying around, we decided to give them a gift they can’t refuse.

and these are what we have captured. used nikkor 50mm set to 1.8 all the way