Hairstyling= Raymond Ko

The fulfillment of being in the field of service is not only because of the mastery of your craft, or being the best that you can be, but mostly because of the lives that you touch along the way while doing what you love to do.

It is most fulfilling when gratitude is shared to one another. And this is what this project is all about—a retrospect of what has been and an inaugural of the forthcoming.

Thank you so so much for my lovely brides, Fatima Ong-Calsado,  Joyce Lara-Tioleco,  Gerlyn Martinez-Ortiz, Myrna Reaport-Yao and Therese Vertido-Lim for lending me your faces, for your time and trusting me all over again for this shoot.

A collage of photos of the lovely ladies on their actual wedding day. :

Model Jem Austria

Shot on location at Beehive Vintage Shop, Cubao Expo

SURPRISE, JOEL! hope you like it! Thanks so much for your kindness.

Hairstyling= Raymond Ko

Our dear friend, fashion designer Jean Avellanosa- Dee of Unbridaled, asked me and Erron if we could do her the grand favor of shooting her bridal designs for her fashion week portfolio.  Since Jean or “Jaja” as we fondly call her, is a good friend of ours and the concept of her collection, “Identity” is a good one, we agreed to do the shoot wholeheartedly. How could we resist? ( and of course, we also selfishly thought that a concept and a photoshoot like this would be a great add also to our own portfolios. hahaha!)

Now,  May I proudly present, Jean Avellanosa- Dee of Unbridalled, “Identity” collection.

IDENTITY

Gowns and story by Jean Avellanosa-Dee

SPRING

Spring is by nature, a happy person. She loves everything about nature- flowers, trees, birds chirping and the likes. She is feminine yet adventurous. She’s very happy being with people. Others percieve her as happy go lucky person, with a pure heart and sometimes naive. Almost anyone who meets her is immediately attracted to her glowing aura and effortless beauty.

SERENITY

Serenity is a model of virtue. You will often see her in one corner, reading books, solving puzzles or simply observing the happenings around her. She speaks with a soft but clear voice, always compassionate and sincere in every gesture. Though she spends most of her time by herself,  when you get the chance to be with her, you will find about her inner quirks. She always finds a way to make you laugh with her wholesome antics.  If you need cheering up, Serenity is the person to be with. Surely, she can easily take away the frown from your face.

BLOSSOM

At first, you might find Blossom to be very childish. Her taste and mannerism may be more of a debutante than a woman, but that’s what makes her stand out of the crowd.  She is not afraid to show the world who she really is. Adventure is her middle name. She has lots of friends, loves all things pink, pretty and cute! She is always young at heart, and will always have a good time wherever she may go.

SENIORITA

Seniorita is the melting pot of influences. She is a metaphor to the experience of the Filipina’s colonial past. Thought she is a pure Filipina, she has been conquered and influenced several times. First by the Spaniards, next by the American and lastly by the Japanese. Seniorita is a combination of all of these 4 cultures.

SOPHIS

is a woman of strong character. She is assertive and always tries to get things done her way. If you don’t know her, you may perceive her as very demanding and tough. But if you are lucky to be one of her close friends, you will realize that she is loving and caring. She is the provider, the bread winner of the family.  She is not much of a party goer. Her passion is always keeping her busy with work and new learnings. She uses her power to provide and protect her loved ones. She is the modern day super woman.

NOVIAS

Novias is a woman who secretly wants nothing but attention.  She loves to stand out from the crowd effortlessly. She is a born drama queen. She knows how to manipulate people with her charm and beauty. She can get what she wants, and when she wants it without having the need to exert any effort to get it. She enjoy pampering herself and enjoys all the luxurious comforts of the world.

CHANEL

Chanel is a little bit of every woman. She is practical in her choices- every decision is backed up by a good reason.  She is partially conservative in her choices and personal preferences, yet she is somewhat experimental. She will find a way to make things work- according to the rules and according to her needs. Though she might be more cerebral than emotional, she is a romantic.  She cleans up very well, and always see to it that she looks attractive and admirable during occasions she considers important. Because everything in her life is well- thought, she always arrives with the best decisions and always get the best things for herself.

CAMILLE

is quiet but unpredictable. She wears a facade of a typical simple woman who does her usual womanly duties very well, yet she is really more than what she seems. Behind her discreet personality is a woman full of fun and unexpected surprises.

Photography= Erron Ocampo Photography

Hairstyling= Raymond Ko

and my much much gratitude to all my models, who are in their most beautiful in their own skin, Marie, Jem, Farrah, Iya, Beng and Phoebe.

Again, this project would not have been possible without all of your kind efforts and support.

Lately, I’ve been doing intensive research about skin care products.  In my search for the best quick fixes to make the skin in it’s most possible best in minutes before make up for my brides and clients, I stumbled upon Philosophy microdelivery peel.

It’s radiant, baby-smooth skin in less than 10 minutes. Seriously.

It doesn’t exactly “peel” ( you know, the diamond peel or the extraderm type of peel where the skin literally peels like it’s sunburned) but it most definitely sloughs away a thin layer, leaving the skin soft and smooth. I tried it on myself, and also let my dear fiance try it. Our skin types are polar opposites. I have sensitive, dry and tight skin and as for him, he has oily skin with prominent pores. When we used this wonder 10-minute-quick-fix-product, both of us had soft, smooth, radiant skin. We were  amazed by the results!

I also noticed that it balanced out the PH of my skin, as my skin have much higher PH than normal (you’ll know when your skin PH is high or acidic than normal when make up does not register the colors that it’s supposed to be. The pigments react on your skin, hence changing the color of your make up, making it darker or appear ashy or makes colors go funky). After I used this product, I tested on putting on make up and checked how the make up will register. I was really pleased with the results. The make up glided on my skin much more smoothly and the colors were much radiant– It somewhat activated that certain “glow”.

We only used it once though, as we experienced this product as a sampler only. But it is recommended that you use it once or twice a week to get the real optimum results.  Apparently, this product has received tons of raves from beauty junkies all over the world.  Professional make up artists internationally use the cotton pads version of this, which I now also use on my clients before applying make up. The cotton pads version is much handier and easier for make up artists to use, but the scrub and activator combo still delivers much better.

This product applies to all skin types.  I recommend all bride to be’s to give this baby a shot. Use it the night before or better yet, on the day of the wedding before make up and watch the make up sit beautifully on your skin. Make up looks more radiant and more beautiful on naturally glowing and smooth skin.  As most professional make up artists say: beautiful skin= beautiful make up. This product is definitely a big helping hand in achieving that on the spot, quick and easy.

P.S.

Philosophy is available at Beauty Bar.

Just for fun. An impromptu photoshoot.

One helluva trip+great friends= a whole lot of fun!!!!

6 photographers, 1 Tagalog-tongue-tied fil-am girlfriend of a photographer, 1 very game couple all cooped up together in almost 24 hours in a road trip to Anawangin beach.

Starting of the day very early, grabbing some grub is a must for the much anticipated fun-filled day.

Trivia: This is a big deal for Tiqui. ( Top Photo, 2nd from the left) She is a Thalassophobic.  She faces this fear out of love, faith in God and for the friendship. Yay, Tiqui!!!

(Thalassophobia – An excessive fear, or dread, of seas or oceans or other large bodies of water. thalassophobic Someone who has an excessive fear of seas or oceans or other large bodies of water.)

Here’s our couple, enjoying the ride on the way to the beach,  ala Don and Doña  style.

Jay Jay in his natural state.

Gracielle: “Balang araw, magiging moment ko rin yung ganyan!”

We’re rockin’ the W@W umbrella!

Anong nangyari, Carlo?!?!?! Hahahahahaha!!!!!

And this is how Imagine Nation photographers work it.

The Groom-to-be.

There’s no pail….

Tiqui, challenging her fear. And there she goes…….

It’s all about us: The Crew.

“All passengers bound to Manila  is now boarding on boat Rizelle Arja. Please keep all limbs and body parts inside the vehicle….”- Loi

Heading out to our next location….

The final set.

Check out the AVP teaser Jay Jay made!

Jason and Loi AVP teaser from jayjay lucas on Vimeo.

Watch out for the Prenup photos, to be posted soon!

So After my first ever bridal fair at the Wedding Expo 2009, I finally got the time and the materials to post here at my blog finally, again.

Below are the photos of my ad campaign project for the year, Defining Distinction. I would like to send all my love and gratitude to all the people who have helped and supported me to make this project possible.

Joel Escober for the gowns

Veluz Reyes for the accessories and for the vintage Pitoy Moreno gown

The big boys of Threelogy Digital Video (Jon, CJ and Bong) for lending me your video equipment and the talent of your girls.

Jenn Piñon and Rose Santiago of Threelogy Digital Video for the filming and editing.

John Mateos Ong for the support and lending the lights for the photo shoot.

Iya Consengco, Jacqueline San Juan, Dindi De Leon, Maureen Brennan and Sarah Gaugler for lending me your faces.

Raymond Ko and Fau for the hairstyling.

And of course, to my inspiration, Erron Ocampo of Imagine Nation Beyond for the photography.

Thank you so much for the time, effort and support!

Edsa Shang Rila Hotel

These photos were taken during Alexis’ and Meann’s wedding preps. Meann’s been wanting to have a boudoir session, as a surprise to her hubby to be and to show off her slim downed physique which she worked hard for. Im quite proud of these photos, because I was not only her make up artist for the short photo session we had, but also her photographer. When I asked Meann if I could post her boudoir pics, I was so happy that she said I could post anything I want! wee!!! Thank you so much Meann, for trust and the experience!

In lomo by Erron Ocampo of Imagine Nation Beyond:

Karl excitedly awaits for his bride

the aisle at Elizalde

this is it…

the kiss that seals the deal

newlyweds M+K!

the next day after the wedding it was so bright and sunny, it’s almost sadistic to leave and go home

Ernest was an early bird or may I say fish in the waters. This is post swim.

Johnoy, M+K’s awesome musician for their wedding (who took all of us by storm) was practicing his song for his next wedding gig…

…while we chilled and enjoyed our breaksfast after our morning swim.

our bada bong ride!

personal photo ops in the bada bong. Erron was the photograher, my dear beau just took a photo of himself!

Ernest Pascual

Jennifer Pinon

Chinkie Agregado

Steve Pagsanjan

off for a shower after lunch to prepare to go home…

When we were about to leave for our transfers, we came across the happy newly weds donning matching “bride” and “groom” hats and “just married” flip flops! Hindi sila super happy noh?

the color artistry at the beach

final photo op with the blissfully happy couple before heading back…

super bitin naman….

might as well make the flight home count and strike a pose!

For more of M+K’s wedding, here are the related posts:

Imagine Nation Beyond by Erron Ocampo for more photos

Threelogy for their actual SDE

Jill Lejano for the official photos from one of two of M+K’s official photographer

M+K for more stories about their wedding

W@W

Dino Lara

CONGRATULATIONS M+K! ALL OF US ARE SOOOO HAPPY FOR THE BOTH OF YOU! All of us had a blast at your wedding!