I Shoot Pinoy
I Shoot Pinoy
I had a hard time figuring out what slogan and ad to make for this January. After brainstorming, I thought that I include someone who is in the news. Who is it? PACMAN, Manny Pacquiao, of course. Most Pilipino (usually spelled with an ‘f’ but I prefer it this way) in the Bay Area are still awestruck with his last fight, he is still big bad ass news. With this in mind, I included his name in my add to grab attention and I hope it works. Check out my add below. If you have a better slogan (”I shoot pinoy”) let me know. Perhaps I can use it instead.
Filipino photographer advertising
Wedding Photographer – Monterey
Getting Ready Shots at Hyatt Regency – Monterey
The final day has come for Steve and Janet’s wedding in Monterey. As you remember, I photographed their engagement session last June.
It was an hour drive from San Jose to get to Monterey. This was my last wedding for the season. What else can I ask for when the party is taking place in one of the most beautiful area in California. Not only that, the ceremony was located in a historically church - Mission San Carlos (if you want to long offical name: San Carlos Borromeo de Carmel Mission). I call it Montery Mission or Carmel Mission.
I arrived early to meet the bride, Janet, at her Hyatt-Regency Hotel in Monterey. As soon as I got there, I started photographing her and her sister, niece, and mother. I’m pretty happy with the outcome of the photographs. I tried to shoot candid during the getting ready and formal wedding portraiture of the bride after she was all done. I used my 5d and my favorite 35mmL with flash for fill. Here are some shots.
Hyatt Regency wedding venue
Ceremony: San Carlos Borromeo de Carmel Mission
When I was hired by Steve and Janet, I was super excited to photograph their wedding since the ceremony was going to take place at the Carmel Mission. An awesome, very ornate old mission church from the 1797 era. Many tourist comes here and I’ve been here three times as a tourist myself. Most of the mission grounds are actually a private school run by the church but most people just come to see the church and the historical buildings nearby. The founding person, Father Serra, lies buried under the altar.
I thought that I should get some photographs of the bride and groom by the beach since we where just minutes away. Unfortunately, we barely missed the sun so you just see the reddish hue that is seen in the background.
Reception: Grand Ballroom at Hyatt Regency – Monterey
The party was ON. Janet and Steves’ relatives and friends are out to celebrate and have fun. The music was just right for the for their guests. I myself was jumping to the beat and wanted to parteee but I have a job to do. Food was great and the staff was very pleasant. I learned from Steve that he used to work here long time ago and most of the servers are his buddies.
It was trully a blast to photograph Steve and Janet’s wedding. Thanks both for hiring me. You guys are awesome.
Here are some more sample of their wedding photography.
San Jose Photographer – Wedding and Portrait
Wedding Album Design – San Jose
Wedding Photographer – San Jose
I finally finished an album design that is way overdue. Thankfully, the mother of the bride is pretty much saying to not rush it since she wants something really nice to have for a memento of her daughter’s wedding. It took me awhile to do it since I am often not satisfied with the first or second drafts. Also, I put it aside and come back to it when I’m all refreshed.
This Filipino wedding was photograph sometime this year in Monterey, California.
I just want to add that Monterey is just a fabulous city to not only have a place of venue to celebrate your anniversary or wedding but also to visit.
This will be a 12×12 luxury album that the mother wants to purchase for her daughter, for herself, and her family back home in the Philippines (3 total albums). Please enjoy the slideshow.
San Jose Photographer – Wedding and Portraits
Filipino Photographer – Cherrie and Frederick
Filipino Photographer – Cherrie and Frederick
I have recently photograph Cherrie and Frederick’s wedding. It was a nice wedding and it went smoothly for them. I, on the other hand, got a big scratch on my face from the limo grab handle. As I was getting out of the limo, I grab the handle to pull myself out when it came off and hit me in the face! Luckily, it was superficial and I did not get KO. It is still healing but I’m crossing my fingers that it will not leave a bad scar. I just can’t believe a limo company that doesn’t check their cars for repairs before going on on a gig. Imagine if it was the bride or groom with a big scratch on her or his face, it would have ruined their day! Anyways, I got the occasional look from the guest since it was bleeding a little bit. Good thing the rest of the day went well. Awesome Disc Jockey / MC was by Dan Kennedy of Elite Entertainment and videography by Eric Misa of M Touch Production.
Cherrie and Frederick was married at Saint Victor Church in San Jose. Their reception was at Freedom Hall and Gardens in Santa Clara.
Please enjoy the wedding photos.
Children Photographers – What Should My Child Wear For Portraits?
What Should My Children Wear For Portrait Photography?
There are many answers to that question, the most basic of which, is something comfortable! Babies and young children are antsy enough without us forcing them to wear something itchy, tight, unwieldy or hot. Besides comfort, there are many other things to consider when dressing your little angels for portraits.
- The Birthday Suit-Newborns and babies have gorgeous skin, and nothing shows off that natural, innocent creature like nakedness. An added bonus for slightly older babies, is that eyes tend to stand out more when they are not overpowered by clothing, and, let’s face it, some of us tend to make our babies look silly in outfits that either don’t fit, or that look more like costumes than clothing.
- Mostly White Clothing-This is a popular look for baby and children portraits. All white clothing gives a clean and natural look to the images, and is a great way to create a classic portrait that captures the purity of childhood. This is a common choice for family portraits, as well. White clothing works great for outdoor photos as well as in-studio portraits with a white backdrop.
- Bold Colors-Don’t be afraid to put your baby or child in bold colors or prints. Although we generally wouldn’t recommend a bright print for an adult (or newborns,) vivid colors on young children will result in a playful, lively portrait, especially primary colors like red, blue, and green. (Take a chance with yellow only if you know it is flattering against your child’s skin color.) Bright colors really pop against the greens of nature, so consider a meadow or woodsy area for your photos.
- Avoid Stripes-Stripes can wind up looking distorted in the final image, and, like bright prints, can be a distraction from the subject.
- Layering clothing can be a stylish effect.
- Multiple Children or Family Portrait Photography – Here is where it becomes important to avoid prints. Typically, you don’t want loud, distracting clothing in a portrait since it tends to lead the eyes away from the subject. It’s nice, in a multi-person or family photo, to try and coordinate clothing so that colors and styles complement one another. For instance, you don’t want one child wearing wintry clothing and the other in shorts and t-shirt, or one wearing a nice dress and the other wearing ratty-old tennis shoes. Choosing clothes with same or similar colors unifies the picture and keeps the focus on the persons in the picture.
- Accessories and Props-Finally, I’ve done some adorable portraits of children wearing hats, tiaras, scarves, fairy wings, even tutus. If your child wears his Superman cape everyday, maybe you should let him wear it in a few pictures. Why not? You want pictures that capture that your little guy really is, right? Besides, he may be much more willing to take other non-cape pictures afterwards. Props can be great addition, too, so consider bringing your child’s favorite book, stuffed animal or toy.
Be sure to discuss your expectations with your San Francisco photographer before you hire him or her. It’s important to make sure you are both on the same page, and he or she can share additional tips that have worked well for the location you’ve chosen.
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Contac Me: Family Photographers
Text by: Christie Stockstill (professional photographer in Austin, Texas)
Traditional Filipino Wedding
Getting Married – The Traditional Filipino Way
A traditional wedding held in the Philippines is a venue that we all take advantage of to pay the most influential people in our lives utmost respect and value. This custom, usually staged by beautiful flower arrangements, decadent food, and elegant clothing, makes it absurdly difficult for to-be-wed couples to limit their number of guests as they tend to give every single person they look up to a role in their weddings – the beginning of another chapter in their lives.
By standard, Christian weddings follow the following order: the processional, hymn, greeting or opening prayer, Old Testament reading, Psalm, New Testament reading, Gospel, homily, vows and ring ceremony, the kiss, nuptial blessing, sign of peace, communion, Lord’s Prayer, blessing and dismissal of congregation, and recessional. Five elements not written above make Christian weddings in the Philippines distinct: the presence of ninongs (Pilipino term for Godfather) and ninangs (Filipino term for Godmother), coin, candle, veil, and cord ceremonies.
The principal sponsors or the ninongs and ninangs as we call them here in the Philippines are more often than not the couple’s aunts, uncles, and close family friends. They are chosen carefully as these figures are also expected to guide the couple in their married life. To show the couple’s appreciation, they hand their ninangs tokens that go anywhere between flower brooches to semi-precious jewelry. Cufflinks and money clips are popular thank you gifts for ninongs in the Philippines.
The arrhae or coins represent both Christ and his apostles and the promise of the groom to take care of his wife materially. The Pilipino priest or minister gives the groom the blessed arrhae who in turn hands it to his bride. The bride receives it by putting her hand above the groom’s then hands the arrhae back to him. The groom thereafter hands the arrhae to an acolyte.
The candle sponsors light the two candles standing beside the groom and bride. These sponsors are usually the couple’s parents or very close friends. Lighting the candles symbolize God’s presence in the couple’s union. This rite takes place either before the ceremony or before the readings.
The veil sponsors approach the altar as soon as the priest rings the bell. Pinning the veil over the groom and bride’s shoulders symbolizes the groom’s promise to take care of his bride from their wedding day forward. A cord made out of satin rope, strung flowers, or linked coins put into a figure of eight and placed over the veil covering the couple symbolizes infinite unity. Until after the Communion or the Sign of Peace, the veil and cord encloses the couple.
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Written by Timothy Spencer for Island Rose -Florist Philippines
5 Charming Wedding Venues In The San Francisco Bay Area
5 Charming Wedding Venues In The San Francisco Bay Area
So you’re thinking about your big day where you get to feel like a princess, walking down the aisle towards your prince charming, and a new life full of dreams to be realized. But wait a minute… Have you thought about where you want your dream wedding? Most couples who get engaged, give themselves a year or two to plan the wedding they desire. Because of this, wedding venues get booked up pretty quickly. So before you decide which shoes, which dress, which bridesmaid, you should start thinking about your wedding venue first. This will give you the liberty to book it as and when you plan on getting married. Wedding planners are very helpful for organizing not just the frilly wedding details, but also making the most of their contacts and sources to get you exactly what you desire. I have compiled a list of charming wedding venues in the San Francisco Bay area to give you some ideas on the setting and theme you can choose for your marriage ceremony.
The Conservatory Of Flowers
As a Wedding Planner, in my opinion, the Conservatory of Flowers is the most romantic wedding venue of them all. This venue is located in Golden Gate Park and can seat up to 200 inside and 300 people outside. This place would be the flowery setting a couple could enjoy for a beautiful summer wedding. Prefer a winter wedding? The building itself has sustained its charm for the past 130 years and holds a combination of tropical and aquatic plants, The flora and fauna add an exotic surrounding to your wedding reception. You can go even further by adding a tropical theme to your wedding itself.
Teatro ZinZanni
Want to spice things up? Plan a cabaret wedding at Teatro ZinZanni a cirque cabaret and dinner theater. This wedding venue can hold up to 285 guests and entertain guests with cabaret performances. This setting has an exciting old world luxurious feel to it, with velvet drapes, romantic lighting and unique performers to add to the celebration.
The Asian Art Museum
Want a backdrop of Asian grandeur to bestow your wedding day? Book the Asian Art Museum which can seat from 400 to 1200 guests. The enchanting history of China, Japan, India and South East Asia interwoven into your special day, will be perfect for having a traditional Asian wedding. Your wedding planner can help you decide an ethnic Asian cuisine to highlight the traditional aspects.
The Great American Music Hall
If you want to dance the night away in your white dress, take a chance on the Great American Music Hall. This wedding venue has top notch sound and lighting equipment, so even the guests sitting on the back tables can hear the music crystal clear. This hall can hold up to 600 guests and has the potential to impress. Musical gods such as Billy Joel, Jerry Garcia and Santana have all graced this venue. A wedding would be the ideal musical celebration to create at this location.
San Francisco Design Center
Do you have an artistic flair? A wedding planner can help you create a one-of-a-kind bridal ceremony at the San Francisco Design Center. This wedding venue was built from a historical railway station and includes ornate chandeliers, luxurious reception facilities and 125,000 square feet of room for the large scale wedding you’ve always dreamed about.
So after reading this, think about the impression you want to make on your wedding day. Be smart and hire a wedding planner in the San Francisco Bay Area. As you know when planning a wedding, every penny counts. A wedding planner can get you the discount and affordable price you can work with. A wedding planner will be able to guide you and help you choose the right venue and create a breathtaking moment to remember.
Filipino Photographers homepage
Garden Wedding – Pulgas Water Temple
Lovelyn and Paul’s Garden Wedding at Pulgas Water Temple
Pulgas Water Temple is located in Redwood City, just south of San Francisco.
“San Francisco built Pulgas Water Temple as a monument to the engineering marvel that brought Hetch Hetchy water more than 160 miles across California from the Sierra Nevada Mountains to the Bay Area. The Hetch Hetchy Project had taken 24 years to build through the Great Depression at a cost of $102 million.” Click on the link to read more about it.
Pulgas Water Temple is not your usual garden but better. The water temple is made up of a number of fluted columns arranged in a circle, upon which a large stone masonry ring with the words “I give waters in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people “ [from Isaiah 43:20] are inscribed. There is a large tree-lined reflecting pool to the east.
The fantastic Bride and Groom were Lovelyn and Paul. Both lives in Daly City just south of San Francisco. Their reception was at the Hilton Hotel in the City of Burlingame. It was a long (ceremony and reception was 3 hours apart) but a wonderful wedding since it was a 12 hours of wedding photography coverage.
Enjoy the following samples of their wedding.
Getting Married - Contact me.
Family Portrait: Carissa & Kiana
Children Photography in San Jose with Carissa and Kiana
I was fortunate enough to photograph these two beautiful children of Connie. Kiana will be turning 7 and Carissa is 8. Both are very smart and adorable children. Connie is lucky to have such bright kids. Here are some of the photograph in Santana Row, San Jose, California.
Both Children were photograph in their natural play area. I made sure that it was fun / playful time while I took photographs of them. Since they are playing while I took pictures of them, it was not hard at all to get great photos of them. The upside of taking their pictures while they are playing is that there is no stress on the kids and ALL smiles are VERY natural. Only the last two photos the two children were posed to use for Kiana’s upcoming 7th birthday.
Hayes Mansion Wedding: Leah and Shane
Wedding at Dolce Hayes Mansion: Leah and Shane
Leah and Shane are the nicest couple I’ve met so far. They had their ceremony and reception at the only mansion in San Jose – Hayes Mansion which is operated by Dolce International.
“The Hayes Mansion is a hotel resort in San Jose, California, United States. It was originally constructed as a mansion and has been referred to as one of the finest examples of late 19th-century architecture in the Santa Clara Valley.
Originally the sprawling estate of the Hayes family, it replaced the family’s wooden Queen Anne style house that burned to the ground in 1899. The matriarch of the family, Mary Hayes Chynoweth, commissioned her architect in 1903, George Page, to build, if not a fireproof structure, one featuring the latest fire safety features of the day. This mansion was intended to provide a triple residence for Mrs. Chynoweth and the growing families of her two sons”
Here are some of their wedding photographs. Please enjoy.
Do you want to hire me for your wedding? Contact me.