Prenuptial shoot: Aleng & Topher

I knew this couple thru Pinoyexchange last January 2009. From then on, they've been part of our usual weekend/holiday escapes. We have travelled, got drunk, sang, ate, watched movies together. So when I was asked to shoot their prenuptial, I didn't think twice in saying Yes. Knowing the couple personally makes it easier to take their pictures. And I wasn't wrong... all my CF cards went full from this shoot and I had a terrible difficulty in deciding which photos to post. So, here are some of them. These are my top favorites. Please see my flickr account (http://www.flickr.com/photos/irobot773) to view the rest of the pictures:

A Fall Engagement & Wedding (Aim & Acy)

As the leaves start to fall and so is the temperature…

I was asked last week by Acy (a former co-worker from PwC) to help her with their STD* by taking some good pictures of her and Aim – “Kailangan lang namin ng matinong pictures…” – that’s how she worded it, hehe. To take advantage of the remaining days of Fall season and before the snow starts pouring, we scheduled it in the weekend after.

We were so glad that we were able to pull this off despite the changing forecast of that day’s (October 24, 2009) weather. It was raining in the morning and then it stopped late afternoon (thankfully!). It was a bit cold but sunny…so overall, the temp was manageable (which by the way, is something you should really be thankful for if you are in Chicago).

So, here are some of the pictures we were able to produce that day. Just like any other couple, Aim (the Groom) was a bit apprehensive about his smile (“Is my smile corny?” – this made us laugh!) and was reserved in the early part of the shoot, but later on was able to show his amusing behavior. Acy (the Bride) on the other hand was very willing to strike a pose whenever, wherever. By the way, we were also thankful of Aim’s ability to understand a little bit of Tagalog and sign language… hahaha!

*For those unfamiliar with the wedding preparation terms, STD stands for “Save the Date” cards that are distributed to the prospective guests months before the actual wedding.

Aim & Acy
October 15, 2010
Caleruega

PRENUPTIAL SHOOT: Rico & Emtee_Part 2

It's been a while since I last post pictures I have taken. What's new?!? For the past few days, I've been kicking my ass off to this night shifting arrangement. Thank God, for this coming week, I won't be on night shift. The client is on vacation...yipeeee!

And It's also been ages since I tried a prenuptial shoot. Well, here's another one...still with the same subject...but different location. Here are few of my favorite shots:











Blogger seems to be having problem in uploading...so I was not able to post much pictures. You can take a look for some more in my multiply site: http://lvillanera.multiply.com

Rico and Emtee are co-w@wies (hindi wowowee ha, Rico?). This is the 2nd time of holding prenup for them. The first time was held @ Burj Al Arab open beach, while this one was held @ Dubai Festival City. Before we started the shoot, we ate breakfast @ Ikea. While I used my Canon 400D, my hubby on the other hand used my old Sony DSC-H2. My hubby (Randy) has his own set of shots..which are also good, I should say. I will post my hubby's shots if time permits...medyo nagloloko talaga tong blogger. During the prenup shoot, Rico was having colds...and at the end of the day, guess what? After eating in Nando's for lunch, we were all sneezing na! hahaha... Right now, Randy has colds, Emtee has colds, and I have cough! hahahaha...talagang iba ako, ganun?! Supposed to be, after DFC, we would proceed to Madinat Jumeirah...but since Rico's colds was getting worse, we decided to call it a day @ 3pm.

It's really nice to hold prenups like this. Aside from the fact that I enjoy taking pictures, we are also having some bonding moments...to Rico and Emtee, Congratulations and Best Wishes...and of course, since I am a w@wie: HAPPY PREPS!!!

P.S. We already moved to a new place...a week ago! I'm no longer a jumeirah jane...but now a certified BUR DUBAI migrant! yey...I really love our new place...It's a 2-bedroom flat with hall which was converted to a "room" ...so that makes it 3-bedroom flat na. The other 2 rooms are occupied by the main tenant while Randy & I happily occupied one room! Yey, no more "attitude problems" to bear with roommates! hahahaha...

Friday getaway!

Yesterday was one of our busiest days! We woke up @ 5am...arranged my gears...and voila! we went to Burj Al Arab open beach for my 1st prenup shoot! Since I started this photography hobby, this couple also started bugging me to shoot their prenup here in Dubai (though they already have prenup pics in Fujairah ... that's another LONG story). I was hesitant before, because what I only own that time is a "point-and-shoot" camera. I'm worried that I won't be able to capture the "thrilling" moments during the shoot.

But as what I have promised to them, I agreed to do their prenup since I already bought a DSLR cam. My hubby is in the learning stage of photography these days...I'm keeping my patience to teach him every single day...nung una, halos sumuko ako, kasi di nya ma-gets ang sinasabi ko, he hates reading technical terms kasi. Every night, I required him to practice using my old cam, so every night din kami nag-aaway...hehehe!

But oh boy! I was very happy...he was my back-up photographer yesterday during the prenup...his shots were sooo good! Ang tindi ng araw...there are some functionalities in my cam that I was not able to adjust...I was happy because I learned some more things about photography from this shoot. This might be basic to some pero pag nandun ka na sa shoot, a beginner might not be able to notice it or to remember adjusting it.

Another thing to be happy about is another proof of my blog description. Though you might have the right gear, if you won't be able to adjust it the proper way...it's nothing. It's better for you to use a plain camera having not much adjustable features. Just look at the shots of my hubby using my point-and-shoot camera:See...my hubby is doing good, right?!? Anyway, here are some of my shots. These pictures are unedited, pero dahil sobrang natuwa kami...(and may bago kaming natutunan sa photoshop), we're planning to edit the good shots...
I won't be posting much photos now...wait til we finish editing the shots.

Actually since I started this hobby, I promised myself that I won't be editing any of my shots. But then, after learning the capabilities of Photoshop and just recently, Aperture...I decided to change my policy...as long as I can edit my shots to somehow tickle my imagination, I will process these shots in different imaging renovations. This way, I can clearly communicate to the viewer what's in my mind...how I foresee the shot to be astonishing...and somehow to practice myself in giving "life" to dull moments captured.

Related to this, Randy & I attended the recently concluded "GulfPhotoPlus 2007" held at Knowledge Village. I booked myself & Randy a slot in the Apple & Canon Live. The lecture was great...I was able to learn the features of Aperture - a mac software for professional photographers...though I'm not a professional photog. Aside from that, I was able to meet "Mahryska" - one of the photographers here in Dubai that I look up to, naks!...nice meeting you! Since that was our first time to be in Knowledge Village, I did not let the opportunity pass to shoot & shoot...Let me just post the pictures on a new blog entry...my internet connection is sooo weak right now.

After our class in the gulfphotoplus, we proceeded to mall of emirates to again meet with rico & emtee (the couple we had prenup that morning)...and this time, to hit the gym and stretch our muscles, swim, and for the sauna & steam room! We went to Fitness First Plus in Uptown Midriff...wow! the place was sooo good. Emtee & I went swimming and also experienced the supposed-to-be-jacuzzi...then afterwards went to the steam room & sauna. While Randy & Rico did some weight lifts and some other exercise I'm not familiar of and then afterwards, joined us in the swimming pool...and steam room & sauna. The feeling was soo good & refreshing...it's been a long time since I last experienced that kind of feeling. We also had a great talk about the ups & downs of our lives...that's more interesting.

And oh...I was surprised...MAY "KAMISETA" NA PALA SA DUBAI?! Aba't syempre diko pinalampas yun...shopping ulet! Hay, I wish I could just live in the uptown and experience the priceless convenience living there!

We might go back there next weekend for our next prenup with Rico & Emtee ulet...practice, practice...hah! can't wait...

By the way, some of the pictures from the prenup are posted here: http://leivillanera.smugmug.com