There's fun in Ireland

How do you start off a 2nd day Victorian shoot? We started by rearranging the furniture and Myke did some twist in the costumes Jhun & Malotte wore for their shoot.


In prenup and wedding portraiture, there will always be similar shots done for couples but I still try to think of other creative poses whenever I can.


Malotte and Jhun were a very quiet couple. They preferred an indoor shoot instead of doing an outdoor pictorial where other people might watch.


At the end of their session, I requested if Jhun can try on a wig (both Jhun and I are "mentally challenged on top" as we had a discussions about minoxidil & propecia while doing the shoot). Jhun faithfully obliged as he was transformed into a "Gaston"... bagay naman pala macho long hair, and they had more laughs during the pictorial. Who says we can't break the rules and have some fun shots also?


They can sure bring back the fun when they go back go Ireland.

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This maybe my last blog for now. R&D is done, new gadgets have been bought, new prenup props and themes have been identified and we're all set to shoot December away...

No, this is not a scene from a play

No, they are not actors from a play. They are real life couples Cheche & Tantan doing the premier of our very first Victorian Theme prenup taken yesterday afternoon.


Cheche & Tantan just arrived from UK and they selected a Victorian theme, fitting for a European couple.


A classic classy fashion style Victorian theme we made.


This is a sneak peek. Wedding season has arrived, couples are doing their prenup and wedding season begins on Dec 1.

The challenge, how to do a consecutive 2nd day Victorian shoot for Jhun and Malotte, this time from Ireland.

Victorian Prenup, Victorian Wedding - Adventist Style

Many couples wish to do a victorian style prenup. The first batch of clients who approached me and wanted one were Liza & Karla, who were both married last October (they were married just days apart from each other).

Karla had many options for her prenup but eventually we had a very successful magazine style condo shoot. [Karla's blog entry generated the most number of comments from her friends and admirers.]


Liza pursued a Victorian style prenup and a Victorian style wedding. Her entourage were all in red w/ matching pendants. She is also a fashion designer and she designed some of the gowns worn by her relatives.

They wanted me to join in their Victorian outdoor prenup shoot last June, which was shot by Sir Robert Lester who also did the main photography, but I was in the US doing Chie's wedding.


A gallery was setup in the reception area showing prenup photos by Sir Robert.


I also documented the AVP Victorian version as it was being shown.

There are NO wedding rings in an Adventist wedding, what they had was the English tradition of enchanging roses.


It was also my "duty" to capture those touching moments during the ceremony where I saw their parents and relatives silently holding back tears as Liza & Jay were making their vows to one another.

I finished their album layout early this week before the start of the killer December season.

I also had the opportunity to direct my own version of Victorian style prenups this week in a 2-day back-to-back Victorian shoot (the next entry).

Buko Stylized

I change the frontdoor pic of my main website whenever I feel like it.
I created, designed and maintain the website myself so I am free to do as I please anytime.


My current "favorite" is this stylized version of Lara & Tim's pic. Lara, a creative director from a well-known advertising firm, thinks that the best photos are accidents and I definitely agree with her in this photojourn shot translated into fine-art.

(Click on the photo to see the larger version or visit www.renegaviola.com for the published pic.)

TNL Forever

Tim & Lara - the 2nd day of East Meets West weddings in Tagaytay.


Tim & Lara were very lucky to have great weather...it rained the days before and after their wedding day. Schedule went well as planned so we had enough time in the daylight to do their pictorials.


"TNL 4EVER" is the special license plate on their mini cooper bridal car.
(Click on each image to see a larger version)


We took some more pictorials near the chapel in Canyon Woods (which looks a lot like the Chapel on a Hill also in Tagaytay).



These are just some sneak peeks. (Same number of shots as w/ Karla and Ed to be fair) :)



They had a very special modern tinikiling dance during their reception. The photojourn story will be published later on in my main website.

Yes Virginia, there are fine portraits from your photojournalist.

Karla & Ed - Lara & Tim, 2 back-to-back British-Pinay weddings done on Tagaytay in two consecutive days. I am the main photographer on these weddings and had the privilege to do some fine portraiture.


It was already dark & after the reception when we had portraits done for Karla & Ed in Josephine's Tagaytay.


These are some of the portraiture shots we did, a product of my recent r&d w/ lighting and portraiture shots.


Some wedding rings shot. (I also did a version for Lara & Tim when there was still daylight so we had a different look and feel.)



This one was overlooking the city lights of faraway metro manila.


I like doing dramatic lighting w/ lots of shadows whenever possible. The Christmas lights served as a good background for this final preview shot.


Click on each image to see a larger version.

Portraits alone don't tell much about their wedding day and I will come up w/ the complete photojourn story in due time. Heck I already have a title, "The Loveliest Wedding Vow, Woray Woray Brit".

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I also received an email today from Lara who just got back from their honeymoon in Brazil. We have a special arrangment and I am asking her if I can also post some of their East Meets West wedding in Canyon Woods.

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This week, I've also purchased more gadgets to beef up my r&d. All this and more for this season of the new renegaviola alternative photography.

Gina Ang - A Shoot w/ John Mateos Ong

Gina Ang got my friend Jong as her main photographer. She also "saw" something in my site that is why she decided to get me as a guest photographer. Jong is always a fun photographer to work with.


During their wedding, Tommy preferred not to have any photo/video coverage of him preparing (in faraway Astoria Plaza since Gina was in Philippine Plaza), so I tried to makeup for his absence by tailing his movements from the church and up to the reception area (unobtrusively of course) since he was always busy talking to friends and well wishers on his cellphone as well as supervising the reception.


This was the night of typhoon "Paeng" and the winds got strong enough to topple one peg of the center tent. Luckily Jong's and Buddy's (Buddy Gancenia was doing the main video) boys were quick to help out stabilize the canopy while all the guests ran to safety.


The rest of the activities, which is the onsite photo & video presentations were done inside Coconut Palace. I guess Gina wanted to have a short, simple and elegant celebration (no bouquet/garter throwing, long speeches, toasts, etc.)


For the post wedding photo video, Gina commissioned me to work on and find music that is not too commercial, probably an instrumental that is somewhat similar to Chie's wedding. Here is the piece I made for her. We also shot everything in B&W to give a different texture, look & feel.

Gearing up for fashion prenups

[Another quick update] This morning, I just made an unscheduled visit to my stylist friend's apartment where we will be gearing up for some fashion/theme-based prenup pictorials.

I took shots of some items that are ready at hand. Here are some of the pics so
that prospective "prenuper's" can get an idea of what the place looks like and a
taste of some props available for the shoot.

[Text descriptions by Myke]

1) Victorian Theme


Couple on a modern Victorian treatment—Fashion forward approach. Poses and looks are the ones you normally see in fashion spreads like vogue. Expect brides to be in corset types wardrobe, frills, lace, brooches, Marie Antoinette hair types. The groom shall be in a French court coat, fedora hats and might don a masks ala Phantom of the Opera.
- perfect for couture, high fashion shoots


- victorian chairs, fabrics, peacock feathers, fedora hats, coats,
fabrics for dresses
- vanity mirrors, masks, wigs, etc.


2) White Theme. Romantic treatment of poses in dreamy like poses. Lots of white feathers as backdrop. Couples in white tops or just show the skin. White oversized pillows and hanging crystals. Prepare to dream. Prepare for romance on these shots.
- classic, white fabrics, white pillows, white feathers
- chandelier teardrops, lanterns, etc.



3) Filipiniana Theme. An ode to tradition. Turn of the century treatment. Perfect style for sepia finish images.
- barongs, red maria clara dress
- mirrors, chairs and vanity table, tableau
- wigs, hurricane lamps, etc.


4) ORIENTALIA. Celebrate Chinoiserie on this set—couple in mao- collared tops and jeans with backdrop of red lanterns. Share a cup of noodles in a playful pose or be serious ala MANO PO—possibilities abound.


5) MOROCCAN. Brides in Bindi and Grooms donning a kurta with a background of intricately woven beaded fabric. Celebrate a Moorish mood on this set.



*) Other themes by request (1 month notice/preparation)
CHOOSE FROM Harlequin, Formal Fashion Wear, Phantom of the Opera, Into-the woods………………….. Updates are on its way to more choices on themes.

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Like a typical TV studio, the place looks larger than life. This is Myke's humble abode. We will re-arrange the furnitures/studio setup so that it faces the back wall, clear the right corner (currently covered by the drapery) and do other stuff...



Btw, all shots were done w/ available light and some photoshop tweaking, I plan to add studio lighting in the actual shoot to create more drama as necessary.

We also plan to have a model pair pose before the actual bride and groom to give you more ideas.

One last thing to complete this setup is the makeup & hairstylist. You can plan to bring your own but instead of doing a trial makeup for your wedding, request for a fashion style makeup instead. I also plan talk to my "contact" to find out if he/she is willing to be part of my "fashion/lifestyle" team.

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I always try to keep the passion burning, aim for continuous improvement and offer personalized services to my clients.

Tips for my upcoming fashion style prenups

Am still alive and glad to be back in my blog. Was also surprised that Blogger now has a new version so I just converted to it.

Anyway, this afternoon, Nikon photographers were in The Tavern in Greenbelt for the relaunch of the new Nikon management in the Philippines.



Part of the launch was a model shoot out, there were a lot of photographers out there taking photos and given the space and flashes all blinking at the same time, it was very hard to get a decent photo.

Luckily, I went to the comfort room before the modeling event started and saw the girls just sitting there waiting for the show to start. So I had the opportunity to take some photos of this 'girls in waiting' and had this exclusive photo shoot all to myself (and Eric Dino who also discovered them there).



I am quickly posting this entry way ahead of my 'formal' wedding work to help my future brides who are contemplating on doing fashion style prenups this November.

Some tips:
1) Don't look at camera.
2) Don't always wear the same smile.
3) Emote.
4) Bring lots of accessories, hats or head gears if possible, jewelry, fancy earrings, etc.
5) Wear fashionable clothes (pretty obvious).



6) Styling, hair and makeup, is very important, more hairstyles the better.
7) More personas, different looks, different feelings.
8) As for the lighting, that's my job. In these photos, I used available light only.

Enough tips, looking at these photos already give you the idea.