i am bald. i am jasondeg.

Wedding Preps Series #1: I'm engaged! What's next?

2011-01-23T10:12:00.000-08:00

Note | Caveat | aka Fine Print:

This series aims to be of help to Soon-to-Weds who are in the process of preparing for their wedding. This is by no means an endorsement of any supplier, service or product, and as such will be kept as objective as possible.

Why take advice from a photographer?

My approach to wedding photography is often one of observation rather than direction, simply because I believe that a wedding is a naturally happy occasion and that happy moments will happen naturally without the need for me to step in and make things happen. Observation is a necessary skill in our craft. In this process of observation, I've picked up a few things over the years. This is what I hope to share with those who could use it.

Thanks and enjoy - jason

#1: I'm engaged! What's next?

OK, so you finally did it. After months or years or even decades of waiting, he (or she?) finally popped the question. And without batting an eyelash, you accepted! You grab your phone, call your family and friends and tell them the good news. A quick status change, 84 likes and 56 comments later, reality catches up with you and quickly brings you back to earth with a stark realization:

I'm engaged! What's next?

Not to worry, statistics are on your side. Research shows that over 99% of couples who got married went through some sort of preparation stage. The minority who didn't most likely got married in Vegas. This preparation stage is crucial because it is where you set the theme or mood of your wedding, and where the details to suit the chosen theme are ~~debated on~~ discussed.

It is also at this stage that you get to know more about the person you're about to marry. You'll find out more about what's really important to him (her) and to yourself as well. It's also a good indication of how you'll handle similar situations in your married life. As you discuss your plans, it's good to list down things according to priority (In case you're on the Forbes 500, you can skip to the next paragraph), such as:

Wishlist - things that would be great to have, time and logistics permitting
Must haves - "We must have _____, or you can just go get married by yourself"
Not haves - the flipside of item #2

Among the very first things to settle is the date of your wedding. In fact, for some couples, this aspect takes precedence over all the other aspects of the wedding. Some go for dates that are easy to remember, such as 08-08-08; others go for their anniversary, albeit for the same reason. Some go for a date that falls within a season, such as Christmas. Whatever the reason, keep in mind practical things to consider. For example, it would be highly impractical for accountants to get married during tax season. Chances are time and resources would be split between attending to work and the wedding details. Also, if you're planning a wedding in the months of December or January, it would be wise to prepare a year before or earlier, as churches and reception venues tend to get booked heavily for these months.

Next on the list of things to settle are the twin matters of the church and the reception venue. Both are related since you need to come up with a church and reception that are near each other and you need timeslots that make sense for your plans and for your guests. While there are some couples who purposely get married at a certain time of a certain day because they believe it's auspicious, the majority will schedule the wedding and reception within a few hours of each other, both for their convenience and that of their guests.

The capacity of both the church and venue are also things that need to be considered. In doing so, have a rough number of your guests in mind and shortlist the places that can fit your guests comfortably. As is the case in big weddings (500 guests and above), most of your guests might only be around during the reception, so your church needn't be that big. Also, check if your reception venue can accommodate more than the estimated number of guests, in case there are last minute additions.

Another aspect to be decided on is the time of the wedding. A morning wedding would mean that the couple will begin their day as dawn breaks, as bridal preparations usually begin 5 hours before the actual wedding. A morning wedding would also usually mean a breakfast or lunch reception, giving the couple plenty of time to entertain their guests both during and after the reception.

Some couples opt to get married in the early afternoon for a variety of reasons. One could be that an afternoon wedding affords them a more leisurely pace in getting ready. Another would be that an afternoon wedding would be done in time for the sunset, which makes for great photo opportunities. Yet another would be that an afternoon wedding leads to a dinner reception, considered by some as more formal or fitting for a wedding. In the end, both have their merits and disadvantages. It's simply a matter of personal preferences and deciding which time best suits your plans.

You might want to sit down and discuss how involved your families will be in your planning. While some parents leave the details entirely to the discretion of the Soon-to-Weds, some will want to have a say. Parents, for example, might discourage you from a having a destination wedding since Lolo and Lola might have a hard time traveling long distances. It might be a good idea at this point to discuss and agree on how independent or interdependent you want to go with your planning.

Preparing for a wedding has gone a long way from just choosing a date and showing up at the altar. This is why some couples choose to get professional help this early. Yes, I mean getting a wedding coordinator and no, I don't mean involving your psychiatrist in your planning. Ideally, having the former helping you with your plans will prevent a visit to the latter at some point in the preparations.

Wedding coordination also comes in different forms. Some couples choose to go Full Monty, involving their coordinators with the planning, venue and other details. Some go for On-the-Day coordination, since it is on your wedding day that you will need help the most. Full coordination costs more of course, but it is a big help when the couple has little time to attend to the details themselves, or if they are based in another country and need someone to do the legwork for them. OTD coordination, however, is a good alternative if the couple is working on a tight budget and they have time to attend the details themselves.

A good coordinator can also guide you in your choice of suppliers, as they would know who are reliable and who should be avoided at all costs, and this is something you can readily ask your coordinator regardless of the type of coordination you require. Chosen properly, your coordinator can be your best friend during this stage and a Godsend on your wedding day.

In the next post, I'll delve more into the services that coordinators can do for their couples, how to choose a coordinator and what types of coordinators to avoid. For now, bask in the glow of your newfound status and work on those lists. Those will come in handy when you discuss your plans with your family and your coordinator.

Photo by Erron Ocampo

'Til next time! Bald Man out!

Janus and May Lynn 01.08.11

2011-01-18T09:28:00.000-08:00

Early Morning Weddings, what can I say? A double check of your gear before you sleep knowing you won't have time in the morning only to make a mental checklist as you're trying to sleep, getting up when your brain tells you not to, and shooting conditions that stretch your ISO limit. But when you have a couple as nice as Janus and Lyn, it makes the effort more than worth it.

Both civil engineers based in Brisbane, Australia, both Janus and May went home a few weeks before their wedding to celebrate the holidays with their family and finalize things for their big day. We were supposed to meet up for their prenup, but between their preparations and my wedding schedule last December, we couldn't find a common time. Maybe we could do a post-nup the next time I find myself in the Land Down Under!

It was also a welcome treat that I was working with friends, both new and old. Shooting with me for the first time as second cam was the talented and uber-fun Shayla Sanchez! Jesy was a busy bee when we got to Hotel Celeste, making sure that May looked her best. Marcy and Team Cecilio Abad are always a joy to work with, and the sight of a bride in her CA gown is always something to behold. Then there's the husband-and-wife team of Jez of Jezreel Digital and Dindi of DNDC Events, both of whom I had the pleasure of working with for the first time.

May gets Jesyfied!

Beauty knows no age

No peeking!

Glowing as every bride should be

The groom looking sharp in his Cecilio Abad suit

One of Manila's most photogenic altars

Happily Married!


May's father and sister and Janus' parents join the happy couple

Having a moment...

... and another ...

... and another

To Janus and May, thank you for making us a part of your special day! I'm excited for you guys knowing that God has many wonderful plans in store for you. Congratulations again and God bless you always!

Hotel Celeste | National Shrine of the Sacred Heart | North Forbes Pavilion

Photography by Jason de Guzman and Shayla Sanchez for Imagine Nation Photography

Videography by Jezreel Digital

Wedding Couture by Cecilio Abad

Bridal Make-up by Jesy Alto

Coordination by Dindi and DNDC Events

Ton and Terri 01.03.11

2011-01-05T10:02:00.000-08:00

There's just something about firsts. In this case, this is my first wedding for the year 2011. And what makes it more special is that both the bride and groom are good friends of mine.

Ton and Terri were my chaptermates in Singles for Christ, which is also where they met. Terri is a preschool teacher while Ton or "sir Mark" in his corporate environment is in the telecoms industry. Both of them have devoted themselves to serving the underprivileged kids in Gawad Kalinga and it was in this setting that each of them got to know the other more.I remember first finding out that they were seeing each other during the preparations of my own wedding some 18 months ago, and when I found out that they were engaged, I remarked to Terri that time flew so fast and that here they were, about to start their own journey. God is good indeed!

Ton and Terri Frial

Everyone in the Wong household was in high spirits as Terri, an only daughter, was getting ready for her big day. I just loved how her family pitched in and made sure that the bride was having a grand time. Whenever you have a bride who's in the moment and not distracted by the details of the wedding, you know you're in for a great shoot. Kudos to Len and Junie of Amaris Events for making sure the day went without a hitch. Great job as always, guys!

To Ton and Terri, it was a fun-filled day which I will not soon forget, and I'd like to say thank you for allowing us to be a part of your special day. Your friendship has blessed me and I pray that each day will bring you closer to each other as you discover God's awesome plan for you both. Enjoy, guys! The ride's just beginning!

Photography by Jason de Guzman, Carlo Cecilio and Hyds Valencia for Imagine Nation Photography
OnSite Slideshow on Vimeo by Jason de Guzman

Video by Wang Videography
Coordination by Amaris Events (Love you guys!)
Make up by Tatin Young and Mela Jimenez (Proud of you, Mela!)
Hair by Tony Dusich
Bridal Preps: Bride's home
Church: Christ the King, Greenmeadows
Reception: Rigodon Ballroom, Manila Peninsula Hotel

More than enough reasons to smile

Terri's lovely gown complemented her classic updo for a vintage glam look


The bride in Tatin Young's expert hands

Timeless

Lovin' the light

Almost there

This is it!

A father's pride

Grand view

Hitched!

Enjoying the moment

Looking forward

With a little help from our friends

Off to the ride of a lifetime

Catch the rest of the photos here:

I am back :D

2011-01-03T09:54:00.000-08:00

OK, I'll admit it. I've been remiss in posting shots from my weddings. Between adjusting to married life and raising the cutest daughter I could ask for, time just wasn't on my side. But it's a new year, right? So I've made a resolution to do better this year in updating my blog. And so I apologize to those who regularly check my blog, just in case...

To both of you, thanks for not giving up :D

Well, it's a good time to get this blog back in shape because I just had an awesome shoot for my good friends Ton and Terri Frial. Both of them are from my community Singles for Christ, and I've had the pleasure and privilege of serving with them during my singlehood. And it gives me an immense amount of joy to be a witness as they finally realize their dreams.

More photos in my next entry. For now, I just wanted to say with joy and excitement:

i am bald. i am jasondeg. i am back.

Nes ♥ Trina: An Engagement

2010-05-17T05:24:00.000-07:00

Our dear friends Nes and Trina have decided to tie the knot! Of course, we were only too happy to hear the great news! And so, one afternoon, Master Photographer Carlo Cecilio and I got together with the Soon-to-Weds for some portrait fun in the sun!

Thanks to Mela Jimenez for an awesome job of making Trina look her best! Thanks also to Junie for being a gracious host and to Raphy Concepcion for patiently illuminating every scene!

To Nes and Trina, you guys rock! So excited for you both!

My new slideshow

2009-12-04T23:19:00.000-08:00

It took me a while, but finally, my new slideshow is done. What a journey! It's awesome to think how many special moments I've witnessed and captured. God is good indeed!

Here it is... enjoy :D

i am bald. i am jasondeg. from Jason de Guzman on Vimeo.

Stepping UP: Carlo+Cathy

2009-12-04T16:31:00.000-08:00

The morning light was simply wonderful when I met up with Carlo and Cathy for their prenup shoot. They came with their A-game, and all I had to do was click away...

Take note of Cathy's fashion bib, designed and executed by her. Artist in the house!

Looks like a cover to me. If they do decide to switch professions and form a band, they have something ready for their first album :D

Thanks, Carlo and Cathy! Now on to the big day!

Shot with Paul Bonin Vargas. Assisted by the missus, who went along to go jogging but ended up styling the shoot instead :D

Win a Full Wedding Photography Coverage Package by an Imagine Nation Master Photographer

2009-09-04T07:04:00.000-07:00

Getting married? Let your IMAGINE NATION run wild…

Here is an exciting way to tie the knot. Four blessed couples can get the chance to have a full wedding photography coverage by one of the top Master/ Senior Photographers of Imagine Nation all for free!!!

Contest Starts on Sept 7.

The catch?

Imagine Nation is getting a whole new look in its web hub and you're invited to witness it.

Simply, follow us daily from September 7 onwards in imaginenationphoto.com and answer our trivia for the next 7 days. We will reveal where to send the answers on Sept 14. First 4 emails with the correct answers is our winner!

Get a load of memories… Be part of the Imagine Nation Experience.

www.imaginenationphoto.com

Rules:
1. To win, be one of the 1st four couples to email the right answers to us (address will be given on the 8th day). Winners will be determined through the system time in their email & order the email was received.
2. Questions will be posted everyday in the www.imaginenationphoto.com splash page.
3. Answers may be obtained by browsing through our website including our photographers.
4. The winners will get labor only package of one of Imagine Nation’s Master photographers (John Mateos Ong, Jayjay Lucas, Carlo Cecilo or Jason de Guzman) plus a back-up photographer. Photographers will be assigned to winners via draw lots.
5. Should master photographer be already booked, winner may swap photographer with the other winners (if they agree) or pick any senior photographer of her choice who is free on her wedding day.
6. Packages are non-transferrable & subject to availability of the photographer. Wedding date must at the latest be no later than November 30, 2010. Once booked, contract may not be rebooked.
7. By joining in this contest, Winner agrees to provide Lunch for a team of 5 pax & guest meals during reception & payment of necessary church permits. Transportation charges apply for out of town weddings as follows: Cavite P3,500, Tagaytay P5,000 & Baguio P12,000 + accommodation & food.
8. Winners may upgrade to include album by adding P20,000 or 2 cam edited video by adding P20,000.
9. Close friends or relatives of any member of Imagine Nation are excluded from winning in this contest.

Wed on the Fourth of July!!!

2009-08-03T22:07:00.000-07:00

WARNING: This is one LONG post. Consider yourself warned :D

Wow, it's been more than a month since that eventful day in July, and I am still overwhelmed with everything that has happened. It's not so much the what, but it's the how that grabs me. BLESSED is truly an understatement, since for the life of me, I could not have planned everything to make sure that things happened the way they did. The weather, the sunset, the food, the dancing, everything just worked. But that's the thing with God, He gives not because we deserved it, but simply because He can. God is truly good!!!

And so, let me tell the story of our wedding day through the lenses of the talented people of Imagine Nation:

Our airbrushed sneakers. Mine were courtesy of Loi's sister Yoh. Way cool!

My suit by THE Cecilio Abad

Getting ready for the big day

Opening Loi's surprise for me. Awww... :D

Loi's bridal bouquet made of cymbidiums from Tita Lulu Sotto of L. Carlos, beautifully arranged by Tita Gina de Guzman of Seawind

Loi's bridal gown, again made by no less than award-winning designer and good friend Cecilio Abad

Loi reading through the scrapbook of small mementos we collected while having her hair done by ace stylist Raymond Ko

Little did she know that I had a surprise of my own :p

Time for the gorgeous and talented Jesy Alto to weave her colorful artistry

Swapping one ring for another

Look at the weather! Simply amazing!!!

The two special ladies in my life

The men in my life

Being ourselves

All made up

With uber-talented couple and dear friends Erron Ocampo and Jesy Alto. Love you both!!!

Loi's family... and now mine :D

A sight to behold

Checking out the bouquet

Loving the shoes

Time to leave for the church

This is it! Walking to the tune of "I wanna wake up with you" by Boris Gardiner. Loi and I agreed to choose each other's wedding march and to keep it secret from one another.

Just a few more minutes 'til her grand entrance

One last look

Playing Loi's wedding march, the theme song from "Love Affair" by Ennio Morricone

A sight I've waited for my entire life

Walking down the aisle

Hellooooow Beautiful!!!

Enjoying Fr. Placer's homily

At the altar

The happy couple

Sealing the deal

Having a moment

View from the aisles

Our entourage

Dear friends from the Jaycees

Dancing our way out to the tune of
"Can't take my eyes off you"

Silly happy :D

Having cocktails by the beach

Sunset photos

While our guests were at the beach, we slipped off
to Discovery Shores for a quick portrait session with sir Jong

... and Erron

Only God can make a backdrop like this

or this

or this

With newlyweds and cool couple
John Mateos Ong and Monique Lopez-Ong

The only way to do a Boracay wedding entrance...
Masterful poi work by our dear friend Raphy

We wanted our guests to have the best wedding cake we know of,
and Alex Franco was gracious enough to make it for us

Let's play "How well do you know"

Praying for our guests

Busting out all the moves for our first dance
choreographed by Raphy

My crack at the poi routine

After all these years, I still have it in me :D

Super-coordinator and choreographer par excellence
Christine Ong-Te leading the group dance

... while the rest happily follow

Two of the best coordinators in the industry, bar none,
Christine Ong-Te and Amanda Tirol with her daughter Sasha

Judging from the look on sir Jo's face, it is officially...

Party time!!!

A special shout-out to those who lent their talents, listened to our wedding plans and helped us turn those plan into reality. God could not have chosen better messengers of His blessings than you guys:

John Mateos Ong, Erron Ocampo and our Imagine Nation family for our photo and video coverage - Sir Jong, thank you for taking me in and making me part of the team. You were the one who opened the doors for me in this industry we all love, and for that alone, I can never thank you enough. Your love for God is something we all strive for, and we are blessed to have you as our mentor, brother and friend. To Erron and the crazy peeps of Imagine Nation, you guys inspire us no end, and your friendship has touched our lives deeply. May you all touch more couples with your talents and love for God.

Special special mention goes to the Imagine Nation Prenup Dream Team! You guys ROCK :D

Cecilio Abad, for my suit and Loi's bridal gown - Tito Cecil, your talent knows no bounds. We never dreamed that we would be wearing your creations to our wedding, but God knew our prayers and He chose to answer them through your skillful hands. You and your team are a joy to work with, and we know that this is only the start of even greater things to come.

Jesy Alto and Raymond Ko for Loi's make up and hair - Jes, it is always a blast working with you, since you make everything look so effortless. More than this, your friendship is something we treasure, and we are excited to see just how far you will go in the years to come. Raymond, the energy and fun you brought to our wedding was a welcome treat, and your talent is at par with the best in the industry. Looking forward to having more weddings with you!

Karen Marek-Atendido for my sisters' make up - Karen, you are always a refreshing sight, both in and out of our weddings together. Your beauty, both without but more so within, is evidence of God's grace in your life. The talents you share with your couples are your way of sharing Jesus with others, and for this, we honor and admire you.

Jomel Razon for the hair and make-up of Loi's bridesmaids and relatives - Jomel, you have been a dear, dear friend to Loi and myself through all these years, and it is such a blessing to have you with us on our wedding day. Looking forward to sharing more milestones with you

Alex and Rosan Franco - The first time I tried one of your cakes, I knew that it was the cake I wanted to have at my wedding. Thank you for working with us to make that dream a reality. All our guests were raving about your cake, and they have every reason to do so! Simply the best!

Our Tita Lulu Sotto of L. Carlos Florists for our floral arrangements - Tita, thank you for your generosity and kindness. Your arrangements really added color and beauty to our wedding day. Loi loved her bouquet, just as you said she would! And I can see why!

Raphy Concepcion, for helping us with our first dance, and for the fire poi grand entrance - Bro, thank you for sharing your talents with us! Your routine was simply awesome, and everyone enjoyed watching it, including us!

Paolo Ella of Volvo Philippines for the design of our souvenir labels and Save the Date cards - Dude, your creativity is surpassed only by your patience, and if for this alone, we will always be grateful. Thanks for being a friend!

Ms. Edel Aquino of Dolmar Press Inc, Arby Andaya and Sam Lopez of Bighead - Your combined efforts in making our Save the Date cards and Passport Invitations are much-appreciated! Your fresh ideas and inputs made them uniquely and unmistakably ours!

Bel Surla of Savon La Belle for our "smooth" giveaways and wedding cord - Your ideas and suggestions came at just the right time! Thanks for being an angel!

And of course, Amanda Tirol of Boracay Weddings, for putting together all our crazy ideas and putting them all into one GREAT day - Mands, you were there when this whole Boracay idea started, and we are so blessed to have had you on board from Day 1. Your patience, candor and friendship were all more than we could ever ask for. Thanks so much for being our coordinator when you felt you needed to be one, and our friend when we needed you to be one.

To this day, we are still overwhelmed at just how many people set aside their time to be with us in Boracay. We are humbled and grateful with everything you have shared with us, from your presence to your presents, your time and talents, your love and support, your smiles, laughter and most especially, your prayers. God has blessed us beyond measure, from all the answered prayers, to the way things unfolded, to the love we felt from everyone who came. There are no words to describe how grateful we are, and so we lift all of you up in prayer that God may bless you abundantly for your kindness.

Here's to an exciting journey ahead! Looking forward to sharing more milestones with all of you :D

The Journey of a Lifetime

2009-06-30T14:48:00.000-07:00

All my bags are packed,
I'm ready to go...

off to The Journey of a Lifetime

So kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you'll wait for me
Hold me like you'll never let me go...

It's all going down this weekend!
Boracay, here I come!

LIFE: The Classic Collection

2009-05-27T10:00:00.000-07:00

When I got started in photography, I started to build a library of resources that I hoped would help me reach my goals as a shooter, or if not, at least point me in the right direction. I remembered one of the books I read a lot as a kid, a hardbound, special edition book of photographs by LIFE magazine. We had a copy at home, but through the years and two address changes, this copy could no longer be located . I recall searching for a copy at National a few years back, but the cost was a few thousand pesos above my budget, so it remained elusive.

I remember being captivated not only by the images but by the stories behind them. Subjects varied greatly in theme, from images of war to the launch of Apollo XI to a photo of a dog, cat and mouse who think nothing of being in the same photo. Some are in color and others in monotone, but all were considered classics by the venerable editors of LIFE. And that is a statement in itself, considering that in the magazine's print lifespan of over a century (the last issue was printed on April 20, 2007, and now only exists in online form), the editors must have seen literally millions of photographs, either from staff photographers, freelance shooters or reader submissions.

Tonight, I found myself in National for some supplies, and while paying for my purchases, I found an updated version displayed at the counter, this time with loose prints that you can take out of the book and frame. I immediately checked out the price, and this time, it was a lot more affordable. I thought about it for all of 3 seconds before I decided on buying it. To sweeten the deal, one of the security guards is an old friend of mine and he generously offered to extend his employees' discount to my purchase. To quote the famous line from Jerry Maguire: "You had me at hello".

And so, as soon as I got home, I opened the book and rediscovered old memories. But more than that, it taught me a couple of lessons which I hope will filter into my shooting philosophy. Before the era of ISO 1600 and 11fps, of Kelvin settings and wireless flash, these masters were already making classics. Browsing through the myriad selection, I found a common element: All the photos told a story. And this is what I hope to apply in the future. More than perfect exposure or razor-sharp focus, it was the story that made these photos classics.

It is both the privilege and responsibility of a photographer to be able to freeze time and capture a moment to be enjoyed and relived by those who choose to view his photographs. Long after lenses have been stored and memory cards have been emptied, it is the memory of what happened that will live on through the photographs that have been taken. This is the single most valuable lesson I take with me from the newest addition to my library.

To the editors and contributors of LIFE, thank you for showing us the way.

For this, I am truly thankful. And forever changed.

Legally in love - Elmer and Gie's Onsite Slideshow

2009-05-16T12:33:00.000-07:00

It's always a blast covering the weddings of dear friends. In the case of Elmer and Gie, what makes it sweeter is that early on, we were in on the planning, as the couple would ask us for inputs on their wedding preps. Now that it's over, I look back and see clearly how God has led them to this most special day in their lives.

Photos to follow shortly, but for now, here's their onsite slideshow:

Elmer and Gie's Onsite Slideshow from Jason de Guzman on Vimeo.
Photos by Carlo Cecilio, Hyds "I.Q." Valencia and Jason de Guzman, for Imagine Nation.

The Bald and the Beautiful - The Jason and Loi Prenup

2009-05-10T13:27:00.000-07:00

What do you get when you have:

1 engaged couple +
6 cool friends who happen to be kick@ss photographers +
1 uber-talented make-up artist +
1 super friendly friend +
4 sets worth of clothes +
5 Nikon DSLRs and a slew of lenses +
2 Lumix HD cams +
2 borrowed vehicles +
3 boats +
1 awesome God
-----------------------------------------------------
1 totally unforgettable day!

There seems to be some truth to the adage "It's not what you know, it's who you know". And we couldn't have been more blessed to have friends who were kind enough to lend us their talents for our prenup. And so, one fine day in March, we traveled 200+ kilometers to the sandy shores of Anawangin off the coast of Zambales for a day like none before it.

Starting off slow...

Getting warmer ...

Totally HOT!!!

Time for our next set

Love the look...

This is actually how we were when we first saw each other.
She saw stars while I ... you get the point.

Love this set!

Timeless...

The spy who loved me...

To Erron and Jesy, Carlo and Junie, Jayjay, Hyds, Gracielle and Tiqui, what can we say? We literally could not have done it without you! Well, maybe just a little, but it wouldn't have been remotely as fun!

Of course, many thanks to sir Jong and Imagine Nation for the support and encouragement, without which we wouldn't be the photographers, nope, the people we are today.

Tiqui deserves special mention for conquering her "love" for all things wet. Love ya Tiqs! I knew Loi was a looker (of course! I have taste 'no!), but I honestly was blown away after Jesy's capable hands and Erron's styling. Awesome job, you two! Jayjay and Hyds were all over the place, making the Lumix seem like full-blown HD cams. Woot! Carlo and Junie were Heaven-sent, and I honestly would do the same for them when ... let's not get ahead of ourselves. And for the record, none, and I mean NONE of this would have been possible without ILLUMINATION by Gracielle Hernandez.

A huge THANK YOU, everyone! We HEART you!

On the Edge - Day 1

2009-04-29T09:18:00.000-07:00

Today was Day 1 of the workshop I enrolled in under Kristine Soguilon. Our objective today was to capture random stuff on the streets and see if we could make it into something worth printing. I don't know if I was able to comply, but I did enjoy the PP work I learned today. Here's my output from Day 1:

We were asked to choose 5 images that we are to present on Day 2. I couldn't help myself and choose 6. Sabihin ko na lang na mabuti na yung sobra, haha :D

Why I decided to become a baldhead

2009-04-27T21:43:00.000-07:00

'Nuff said. Now you know.

Ticket Both

2009-04-15T18:57:00.000-07:00

This one was spotted in Kalibo on our way to Boracay last year. It was posted at a, uhmm, ticket booth for shuttles to Caticlan. Actually, it might still be there :D

Come to think of it, the sign is actually quite smart, hitting 2 meanings at once. It can be read as 1) Dito ang bilihan ng ticket
2) Dito bumibili ng ticket

Or maybe they meant both :D

Kebab Marley

2009-04-11T09:11:00.000-07:00

Spotted on the way to my last photo assignment:

Leave it to us Pinoys to come up with the craziest business names :D

Amazing Race - The jasondeg and Loi prenup teaser

2009-04-04T14:53:00.000-07:00

Jason and Loi AVP teaser from jayjay lucas on Vimeo.

Elmer and Gie's Prenup On-site

2009-04-01T07:22:00.000-07:00

OK, so we finished shooting Elmer and Gie's prenup mid-morning of Sunday. By this time, their families were eagerly anticipating the outcome of all the wardrobe changes, make-up sessions and mysterious trips to unknown destinations. Instead of just showing them the photos, we decided to do one better and came up with an on-site, which personally is a first for me, since I normally only do on-sites for weddings. But we had such a great time with them that we thought the on-site was the least that we could do.

Here's what came out of our weekend. Photos taken by Carlo Cecilio, Gen Poe and myself:

Elmer and Gie's prenup slideshow from Jason de Guzman on Vimeo.

Elmer and Gie's Punta Fuego Prenup weekend

2009-03-31T11:58:00.000-07:00

In my previous post, I mentioned how I love my job as a photographer. Things get all the more sweeter when the subjects happen to be good friends of ours

Carlo, Gen and I were with Elmer and Gie over the weekend in Punta Fuego. I consider them my contemporaries in SFC since we've been in the same household for a good number of years, and back then, wedding plans and suppliers and deposits were not even part of our conversation. This time around though, things were different since we found ourselves in pretty much the same situation, with them getting hitched just a few months ahead of us.

Got there Friday night after escaping most of the Friday rush hour traffic. After settling down, we went over the sets we were planning to do and matched clothes for those sets and set a timeline. It was past midnight when we called it a day, since we decided to get an early start if we were to shoot all the sets we planned.

Set One was dubbed the Marina Set, but while we were on our way to the Marina, we chanced upon a cool stairway crossing a small hill and we couldn't help but stop and shoot off a few frames.

We finally got to the Marina and having warmed up after that impromptu set, we were simply clicking away as Elmer and Gie just enjoyed the sea and sun (not to mention the several millions' worth of boats surrounding us). Special thanks to Benz Rana of W@W for the nice umbrella! Not only are you kept cool, but you look cool too

We then went to Fuego Point for what Carlo calls The Grand Canyon Set:

It was lunchtime by the time we were done so it was time to head back to the house for nourishment and to prepare for our next set. After lunch, we shot off a few frames before heading out to our next destination

Played a bit with my TS lens, which I all but gave up in trying to learn, had it not been for good friends Oly Ruiz of MetroPhoto and Erron Ocampo showing me how to use it. We headed out back (yes, the beach was just at the back of the house) where we shot what I call our Wuthering Heights Set but Gen insists on calling the Hihintayin Kita sa Langit Set (she's a big Richard Gomez fan)

Fearing the sun might set on us too quickly, we decided to forego the "Basa sa Dagat" set and headed out instead to a nearby cove for our Sunset Set, but not before shooting what Carlo calls our Out of Africa Set

Time for the sunset:

It was time for dinner, but instead of heading home, we decided to go to town and reward ourselves with a local favorite and one of the town's treasures, Aling Celing's Halo-halo. What a way to cap off 4 sets! We couldn't resist dinner though as Elmer's mom prepared prawns and liempo. Did I say that I love my job?

It was time for our last set of the day, Formals! We were teasing Elmer and Gie that it was getting late, they might not make it to the Prom anymore, but it didn't seem that they cared, so here's what we got:

Whew, what a day! The rest of the evening was spent just catching up and viewing what we were able to get that day. Good thing we decided to stay over since we had one more set in mind, but that would have to wait until the morning.

After a good night's rest, Elmer and Gie were all set for what we left out from the day before, Gen's Basa sa Dagat set (I'd much rather call it the From Here to Eternity set):

We had such a blast that weekend, thanks to the generosity and kindness of Elmer and Gie and their families. More than the shots we got, we were able to spend time with good friends in a great setting, and witness for ourselves why they make such a great couple.

Mad props to Gie's personal stylist Ronnie, who made sure the couple looks their best for every set and was a joy to work with. To Carlo and Gen, great job, guys! Awesome shooting with you as always. To Elmer and Gie, you guys rock! Can't wait to see you march down that aisle :D

A Thousand Miles...

2009-03-31T09:49:00.000-07:00

Or so it seems.

Been all around Luzon this past week. Last Monday, we headed to Zambales for my fiancee's prenup (she had a starring role while I played supporting cast). It literally was a 24 hour prenup as we hit the road at 3am and got back to Manila at 3am the next day. Good thing we had such great company and that made all the difference in making the trip a memorable one. It is officially SUMMER!!!

Come Thursday, I went to Baliuag and San Rafael in Bulacan then Pampanga then Alabang, all in one day, for some personal matters I had to attend to. Barely 24 hours later, I was on the road again, this time with Carlo and Gen, for the Punta Fuego prenup of our good friends Elmer and Gie. We were so awestruck by the house we were staying in that it took about 3 seconds for us to decide that we were staying an extra day. What came out of that weekend is easily one of my best prenup shoots, mostly because Elmer and Gie were so game. Watch out for more photos in a future post.

Less than 24 hours later, I was on the road again, this time headed for a school in Pangasinan where we were to shoot some students for an upcoming TVC. Easily the longest of the drives I made in the past week, I checked my odometer and the trip was about 450 km! Good thing we had some downtime during the day after the shoot before heading home.

Adding up all that mileage comes up to about a thousand kilometers (which makes for a more accurate but less romantic title)! Not my normal week by any means, but I'm really glad to have been out and on the road as much as I was this past week. It gave me a chance to see more of this beautiful country of ours and meet more people. The kids we shot in Pangasinan were especially nice and I'd welcome the chance to work with them again.

Whew! What a week! I love my job! Thanks God!

Cecilio Abad is W@W's 2008 Supplier of the Year!!!

2009-03-20T10:11:00.000-07:00

Congratulations, Cecil! A well-deserved award for a truly talented and kind-hearted person :D

Photos from the first W@W Videofest

2009-02-09T23:31:00.000-08:00

W@W, or Weddings at Work kicked off their 10th year Anniversary festivities with a Videofest featuring 5 of the country's top videographers, who graciously lent their time, skills and talents to tell their take on how W@W started and grew to what it is today.

From its humble beginnings as a helpsite for newlyweds, it has now grown to the premiere reference point when planning a Pinoy wedding, with over 4,000 member-couples who pitch in their ideas to help current soon-to-weds with their preparations. It has also helped countless suppliers reach their market, most of whom grew their businesses alongside W@W. Through the years, one thing has remained constant: the passion and love which founders John and Benz Rana have put into W@W. Surely, better things are yet to come, all for the benefit of those who have decided to tie the knot.

It was a fun evening, but not without some hitches. Nonetheless, nothing could detract from the fact that John and Benz put their 110% in preparing for this event, along with the 5 featured videographers for the evening. Friends and fellow suppliers came dressed to the Nines to celebrate with W@W's First Couple and watch what videographers Phoeben Teocson, Bob Nicolas, Shierdan Pamintuan, Threelogy and Jason Magbanua came up with. No one went home disappointed as all the videos were excellently made and showed the history of W@W and where it has gone in 10 years. Bravo to all the videographers! You guys rock!

Again, congratulations to John and Benz for pulling off the videofest with style and panache! We'll be celebrating with you guys 10 years from now, for I'm sure W@W will be even bigger and better by then.

And now, the photos...

Isang Daan, Chapter 3

2009-01-24T09:10:00.000-08:00

Ready for the ride (November 12, 2007) - taken during the prenup of my good friends Jong and El. Both full-time workers for Gawad Kalinga, they were featured in The Philippine Star, and this was the photo they used.

Calling it a day (Novermber 22, 2007)

In bloom (December 9, 2007)

Teamwork (December 9, 2007)

Into the future (December 15, 2007)

May I? (December 15, 2007)

Buds (December 17, 2007)

Read the Main Entry here.

Isang Daan, Chapter 2

2009-01-23T10:04:00.000-08:00

Transformation (September 1, 2007)

The next step (September 1, 2007) - one of my favorite stairs shots

Preacher in blue jeans (September 19, 2007) - I love Bo's preaching and I was blessed to shoot some portraits of him for Kerygma.

On bended knees (September 28, 2007)

Bvlgari (October 28, 2007) - love these rings. They belong to my cousin BTW.

His and hers (November 10, 2007) - my first Bora wedding!

Paradise found (November 10, 2007) - I liked this so much that I chose this for my business card. I still like it today.

All together now (November 10, 2007)

Read the Main Entry here.

Isang Daan, Chapter 1

2009-01-23T01:36:00.000-08:00

All systems go (February 10, 2007)

Two of a kind (March 18, 2007)

Don't forget (April 28, 2007)

Buddy and Tin (June 23, 2007) - one of my most charming couples, they are now into wedding photography as well.

Before I do (July 7, 2007)

Who's the star? (July 7, 2007)

Heat (August 8, 2007)

Read the Main Entry here.

Isang Daan - The First 100 Weddings

2009-01-22T09:23:00.000-08:00

Isang Daan.

A collection of photos from my first 100 weddings, it captures why I fell in love with wedding photography and how I see things from my viewfinder. There is nothing quite like the tension of a bride before her walk, the anticipation of a groom looking down the aisle, the joy and excitement of a first kiss, the relief of a couple when everything turns out well, and all the other mundane moments that make each wedding unique and special. It is my hope that through this collection, I can share with you a part of this merry mix of emotions.

There are also some photos that are not from weddings, but they are markers of my journey and growth in this thing I am so passionate about. They serve as pegs on where I have been and where my craft has brought me.

Isang Daan also translates to "One Way", for photography has truly been one way of showing how much God has blessed me with. More than just being a witness to all these, He has allowed me to be a part of lives of people whom I otherwise would not have met, brides and grooms I have prayed for and prayed with, families who have warmly welcomed me, couples who have gone from being clients to becoming friends. Calm Dawns and awesome Sunsets; intimate chapels and grandiose cathedrals; flowers in vibrant colors. Laughter. Tears. Love. Life.

To my Creator, I humbly offer these back to you, that all may know that Your Majesty knows no bounds. Yours is the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory, now and forever.

Happy Grateful!!!

2009-01-06T15:20:00.000-08:00

2008, what a year!

For the followers of my blog (yes, that's both of you), I'm sorry for not posting anything lately. Things got quite hectic towards year-end, both with my photography and my non-photography related life (I have one, ya know). So let me start 2009 with a Happy Grateful list, or the best things that happened to me in 2008. I'm bound to forget something, but hey, that's what the edit button is for, right?

So here's my Happy Grateful List '08 Edition:

- My 2 sisters and how well they're doing in whatever it is they're doing

- That no one in my family got seriously ill or hospitalized :D

- 61 weddings (including some very dear friends)

- TRIPS! I flew and traveled more in 2008 than I ever did in any other year, including:
> Kiangan, Ifugao (for a wedding)
> Bataan (for a wedding and a post-nup shoot in Mt. Samat)
> Tarlac (for the prenup of dear friends Pao and Bambi)
> San Pablo, Laguna (for a wedding)
> San Rafael, Bulacan (for a wedding)
> Clark Field, Pampanga (for prenups and a conference)
> Cebu (for a wedding)
> Kalibo (one for vacation and one for relief operations after Typhoon Frank)
> Boracay (2 weddings, a prenup and a vacation)
> Bacolod (for our anniversary and ...)
> Hong Kong (My first time in 10 years, and we got to go twice! Both for vacation, one of which was free. Thanks, Cebu Pacific!)
> Sydney, Australia (for the wedding of my dear friends Jez and Che, plus 2 prenups on the side. It was definitely soooo good to be back, despite the 10 deg C weather. The warmth of old friends kept me sane)

I love travelling :)

- NAIA's Terminal 3. It brings air travel to where it should be: convenient, modern, not crowded

- My probably-once-in-a-lifetime ride in the cockpit of an Airbus A320. Coming home from HK, I found out that the captain is a good friend from SFC. Mid-flight, he calls me from my seat and brings me to the cockpit, gives me the jumpseat where I stayed until we touched down and taxied to the gate. Uber cool!!!

- My Macbook Pro

- New photo gear (Clean ISO3200 images and true 16mm wideness. Yummy!) :)

- My extended families! Family friends, my SFC family, my Imagine Nation family, our wedding industry friends, as well as my couples who have now become my friends. Bless you all!

- The fact that I actually experienced an 08-08-08 day in my lifetime

- KIDS! Lots of my friends gave birth in '08. Congratulations to the new (and old) parents!

- New photo opportunities to expand my portfolio

- Our Wii

- Savings! I actually have savings!

- The fact that some of my photos were published, some in Town&Country, Metro Weddings and the 2009 W@W Calendar

- My 2nd billboard came out (not a picture of me though, just pictures that I took :p)

- I got to work more than once with wedding industry luminaries such as John Mateos Ong, Erron Ocampo, Madge Lejano, Jesy Alto and Steve Pagsanjan, Jason Magbanua, laugh-a-minute Threelogy, Randall of MangoRED, uber coordinator Christine Ong-Te, Boracay Princess Amanda Tirol, Karen Marek, ace stylist Teddy Manuel, supernice Benz Rana of W@W, top-notch designers Cecilio Abad and Veluz Reyes, among others

- I was able to shoot and rub elbows with Master Eddie Boy Escudero

- New food finds, both high-end and el cheapo. And friends with whom I can share them

- My phone (wasn't planning this, but my old phone died on me. Boo)

- My ex-girlfriend, who is now my fiancee. Yes, I got engaged last year (this is the "..." after my Bacolod entry. We were a few minutes from touching down in Manila, so who knows where I actually proposed. It could well have been over Laguna Bay or Alabang Town Center) :D

- All the other things, big and small, that are either too mundane or too personal to write down, but nonetheless made 2008 what it was: GREAT!

Wishing everyone (yep, that's both of you again) an even greater 2009!

Thanks, God! You are AWESOME!