why are we happy?

Rochelle & Gilbert - Lucena City PH

Our first client in the Philippines, after 6 long years of being busy with weddings in the states, now here is my beloved hometown again. Yes I must admit our country is poor but definitely not sad. I chose to shoot this couples engagement in a not so "elegant" location. I want people to see what is the reality, not the tall buildings in our commercial district, not the air conditioned shopping malls, but the real people, the real Pilipinas instead. I am so amused how happy the kids are whenever they see a camera, smiles that are priceless, smiles that no toys can give them.

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aesthetics on wedding

Natalie & Paul - Jersey City NJ

Why is the brides veil flying? I really cannot remember if this is a set-up (someone throw it on the air) or the wind blew her veil. But nonetheless it looks sweet. We always tell the couple if they have time to shoot outside so we can have an outdoor photos, this one in Liberty State Park, sun is setting down, all lovely photos. Lets do it again !!!

the groom's car

Riezl & Joel - Ossining NY

Someone shouted "Look what happened to Joel's car!" I was thinking someone broke into the groom's car, when we rushed outside this is what we got.

to photograph a photographer

Jen & Jonathan - Manahawkin NJ

Jonathan Oler is a professional freelance photographer (www.olerphoto.com) from Philadelphia. He shoots for Dr. Phil Magazine, Cathay Pacific and Philly Style to name a few. Our group was very honored to cover his wedding with his Filipina wife. A cold, windy , pre-winter saturday, everything turned out great, heck! all beach weddings are great.

a relaxed wedding

Theresa & Jonathan - Warren NJ

This is the most relaxed wedding we've covered. The bride was alone in her house with just the make-up artist. All her family came later from the shopping mall where their make-up was done, so our shoot went smoothly. It was raining on their wedding day but all things went alright. Another nice & teary SDE for our group.

end of season

Vivienne & Arnold - Bayonne NJ

After a crazy October (2-4 weddings per week), our group is proud to say that again, we outdid ourselves. We are very proud of everything that happened in this recent crazy wedding season. We always look for something different, something that will challenge our craft. Here is our latest offering, SDE (same-day-edit) Wedding Video. Seeing the reaction of the couple watching the video on the actual day with awe, is more than enough to rest our tired feet & mind.

Goo-Goo Dolls
"Before It's Too Late"
Transformers OST

paint with light

PNE & KAMIKAZEE - Jersey City NJ

I've been with these guys twice, very hardworking and funny band. This shot was taken prior to their prayer, they always pray before a performance and that is really something different with the image they have. Buhawi, the bass player was at the back stage waiting for his band mates. A light coming from an exit door is side lighting him and I stole this shot.

Check out more concert pix here:
http://www.mpwmediagroup.com/

Under Pressure

Mae & John - Metuchen NJ

It's been a long time since I felt this awkward feeling, it feels like you're going through an exam or job interview, you don't know if you're gonna pass, you do not know if they'll give you a job. I feel cold, I don't feel hungry, my head is spinning, almost a throw-up feeling. Same with SDE (same-day-edit) wedding video, will I make it? will they like it? We even misspelled our own name.

"STOLEN" - Dashboard Confessional

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Mae & John - Same Day Edit

wear your suit

Theresa & Jonathan - Ringwood NJ

How many times in a year are you wearing your beloved suit? Maybe 5 times the most (except if you go to work in a suit), weddings, applying for a job. From now on whenever I feel good I will wear my suit. "You're going to like the way you look. I guarantee it." - Men's Wearhouse

parang barkada

Karla & Rod - West Orange NJ

It was a a very muggy day, we started early morning, the ceremony is 9:30 am. At the hotel there is a bunch of blue bags prepared by the bride for the vendors, inside is like a SURVIVAL KIT, water, energy bars and other finger foods. The bride prepared that for us so we'll have enough energy to cover her wedding the whole day. Im like a kid opening a gift, but I didn't find any Snickers, that would be yummy :-). A very thoughtful gesture, maraming salamat po from MPW group!!

too young?

Erim & Jhoneil - Jersey City NJ
These guys look like fresh high school grads , but no their wedding will be in October. They are in their mid 20's and decided "it's time" after dating for nine years since high school.

the GPS story

Karla & Rod - Hillsborough NJ
Their first schedule for an engagement photo shoot was in Longwood Gardens in PA, the couple got lost and because they don't have a GPS, the plan was aborted. Schedule number 2, Duke's Farm in Hillsborough NJ, this time everybody got to the venue on time only to find out that you cannot shoot in their vicinity without prior reservation. But now we have a GPS to search for an alternative location and it pointed us to a nearby park. Yes it is worth your $200.

Can you go that far?

Rose & Noli - Bloomfield NJ
Seeing a couple excited for their wedding is natural, but seeing a couple this excited after 25 years of marriage is really something. They never had the wedding they wanted so after 25 years, and after all the years of being busy with their very well established Filipino store, this is the DAY.

the Guns N Roses effect

Daena & Champ - Short Hills NJ
Most of the couples getting married of course knows Guns N Roses (do the math, Guns N Roses = 1990's, marrying age = 30+/-). And what is the effect when the classic song "Sweet Child of Mine" plays on the dance floor?... the pictures will tell you what kind of riot this party is.

The Last Boy Scout

Mina & Norbert - Forth Worth TX
Rehearsal time, feels like crunch time, the lady in the church already told us "You are the photographers? No flash and you can only stay on the back during the ceremony"....."WHAT??".......Nothing we can do but abide by the rules of the church. Maybe because it is a historical landmark and they want to preserve it, along with the solemnity of the event. "Use what you have" my Scout Leader always told me. We did a lot of the artistic shots outdoors to compensate the average photos in the ceremony. The reception is at the Renaissance hotel in downtown Fortworth. One of the best hotels I've seen so far. We flew home to NJ early morning with smiles, watching the photos on our 2.5 inch LCD.

the fun of being single

Kaye & Clarence - Mastic Beach NY
A scorching saturday wedding in NY, this couple is from SFC (Singles For Christ) Long Island. Watching these guys party really reminds you of the fun of being single. Trying out the conrasty-film look on this edit.

The soundtrack used in this wedding MTV is from Alfa Garcia, a PINAY artist from Bergenfield NJ. I met her melodic voice when we covered the CAPA (Coalition of Asian Pacific American) Dinner Party in NYC.

pattern

Cherilyn & Patrick - Central Park NYC
Photography speaking, only few spots have great repeating pattern like this and Central Park in NYC has lots to offer, I love this shot.

excited to break the Norm

Tracy & Paul - Penns Landing PA
070707 is the date, and lucky indeed, only once do we get to shoot a wedding (more in Filipino weddings) where the bride and groom actually scheduled the photoshoot before the ceremony. It is a Filipino custom that the B&G are not allowed to see each other prior to the ceremony. Now we have a chance to do this in PA. Why are we excited? Picture this, the groom on his back not looking while the bride is approaching him, the bride will tap the grooms shoulder and that moment where they set their eyes at each other, that first time the groom sees his bride in that $2k dress, priceless. Oh I forgot ,we need to catch it on film (or digital camera should I say).

MPW will fly in 2008 - LITERALLY

We are currently planning on pushing the envelope for our video group.

1st - we will be acquiring additional new HD video cameras and camera stabilizer (eventually we need to train our crew in handling this device). These stabilizers will add more PROFESSIONAL-SMOOTH-TRACKING-FLYING shots

2nd - we will be offering a "SAME-DAY-EDIT" wedding video presentation as an option, this is an edited MTV of your actual wedding (preparation and ceremony) that will be shown "the same day" during the reception, for you and guests to watch.

Here is a sample from THREELOGY (one of the top wedding video productions in the Philippines) featuring the wedding of our friend-photographer Sachi Villareal. Notice the first flying shot, with the couple on the front door of the church, watch how the camera approached the couple smoothly.

taste the TASSA

Lisa & John - Jersey City NJ
Wedding is a cultural thing so when MPW group first experienced the music called "Tassa", we are asking "what is this techo-drum-beating stuff?" But wow it is very energetic, the floor waving with bodies dancing, this is a wedding in NJ right? not Ibiza. This music is dominant among West Indies people (Lisa is pinay), their rich culture really shows with Tassa.

1st MTV for MPW group

BLEUD - Jersey City NJ
It's been a couple of years now (2003) since we professionally started shooting weddings. Thankfully we got to know some people in the local music scene who gave us the chance to participate in making an MTV for the band BLEUD. Exciting but very exhausting, now I know why movies cost gazillion bux. We shot all day in Jersey City for this MTV, for each 5-10 second scene we need 3-5 takes and will take away your artistic breath. But still a new experience for us and we want to do it again. Thank you to Ted Reyes, Arnold DeRama (my neighbor in Pagbilao,Quezon), Richard Saguirre of HAPPY ANALOGUES, Sheryl Garcia and the rest of BLEUD Band.

MABUHAY ANG PINOY!!

SUPPORT FIL-AM MUSIC!!

HD is COMING!! like how the CD killed the CASSETTE TAPE (then iPOD kills the CD)

If you don't own a High Definition TV (HDTV), I think it is time to buy one (or wait 'til BLACK FRIDAY), you are missing a lot-- lots and lots of pixels. But this is a clear warning, once you go HD you'll never get back to SD (standard definition, your regular bulky TV). How clear is HD? Watch UGLY BETTY on HD and you will realize that VANESSA WILLIAMS is not that pretty and UGLY BETTY herself is not ugly. HD is too clear that you will see every blemish on anyone's face on the screen, BOTOX will now be benefited because of HD. Check the HD vs SD difference here.

Now wedding videos are going HD. Watch a sampler here.

We do currently have an HD camera but need to add one more for a cinematic two-angle shooting. Sony FX7 currently is $2,495 at B&H. One big problem with HD WEDDINGS right now is how much will you watch it for? HD-DVD players will cost you around $500 and Sony Blu-Ray is battling for dominance with Toshiba's HD-DVD. Shoot in HD then maybe enjoy it later, next year?

how much?

Milynn & Warren - Long Island NY
Added to the cost of today's wedding is the RING, not the movie, that TIFANNY ring. I'm a guy and do not care about any jewelry but I bet you, for the girls it is a big thing. It is a crowning glory that they want to be proud of wearing.

celebrity pa rin!!

BAMBOO & PNE - Ashbury Park NJ / Long Island NY
We were tasked to cover PAROKYA NI EDGAR & BAMBOO concert here in their eastcoast tour. I'm thinking "maybe they do not have that celebrity status they enjoy in the Phil. compared here". Wow it is not the case, still they are celebrities with groupies, fans screaming to death, girls pa-cute, bodyguards & all those stuff you see on TV. But hey, I managed to get them sign the photos I took from the concert, maybe I can sell it on ebay for 100 bux each.

YEEHAW!! we are flying to TEXAS

Mina & Norbert - Forth Worth TX
A first for My Pinoy Wedding Group of Photographers, we will be shooting a wedding in Forthworth Texas. Is it hot there? Do Texans have a real cowboy accent? Is it easy to cross the border to Mexico?

how good is Anne Geddes??

Iana Gabrielle Maningas - Ramsey NJ
Then you think taking good photos of babies are easy, a big NO!! I tried it with our 2nd born, it is a pain, they cry, they drool, they can't follow instructions from the photographer. I've seen how Anne Geddes does her job, she is not only a photographer but more of a super nanny/ child psychologist all in one. More of The baby layout here.

is it wedding photography... fashion photography?

Shiela and Vince - Ozone Park NY
It is your wedding day, you want to look good, but you're the regular Jane, should I pose? should I smile? Or let the photographer do his work and don't bother me ala-PURE PHOTO-JOURNALISTS style?