Portfolio Update

Some of my favorite pics can now be seen in my recently updated portfolio.
I probably will change a pic or two when I feel like it. :)

Btw, all are 100% real brides.

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Jul 10 - update

Some people (including my kids) think that I just cut and pasted (pinatong sina) Mike and Sheila on the beautiful landscape scene I titled "Leap of Faith" (above photo). We really went to Red Rock in Las Vegas for this shoot and the places where we shot were really an easy walk (not even an easy climb).

Here is raw shot showing Sheila standing on the opposite end of the cliff. It's really just a stone's throw away from Mike.


And yet another one w/c reminds me of Lion King. :)


Whenever I can find the time, I plan to complete this take and present the entire set.

Whenever 2 or 3 are Gathered...

On my second day at the Venetian Hotel, I went down to the Grand Canal Shoppes to take a walk, I didn't want to bring my camera anymore since I just want to relax and roam around.

It was a Saturday and I saw a couple who just got married and are about to board the Gondola for a ride. I hurriedly went back to my room, w/c is about a 5-minute walk (one-way) to get my camera and shoot them riding that special white gondola especially reserved for newly married couples (the black one is for ordinary tourists).


But when I came back I already missed their ride and just saw them lovingly kissing each other. The groom kept kissing the bride awhile back, he must be really in love w/ his bride.

Luckily I waited awhile and saw another couple in the act of having their wedding ceremony held on top of the bridge.


And then another couple who are about to ride the white gondola to get married.


I didn't see this couple bring along some friends with them, but they did get a pastor and their videographer to ride the gondola while they were exchanging vows.


And having their first kiss there too (as the tourists watch, some even clapping
their hands and offering a congratulatory remark).


The great challenge now is for me to have the luck as well as the timing to take the three brides together, with me unobtrusively taking the shots.


I guess lady luck favors photojournalists like me. :)

The Venetian is my favorite spot in Vegas, because whether it's very hot outside or already dark at night, it's always the same cloudy cool skies inside this timeless place.

Whenver two or three brides are gathered together, it must Saturday at the Grand Canal Shoppes of The Venetian in Las Vegas!

[Please click on any of the photos to get a larger view.]

Livin' La Viva Las Vegas, Part 4 - At Play

"Sports" - Late night tennis at the clubhouse, golfing, basketball, billiards, pingpong...just some of the sports I've experienced here in Vegas. I never played tennis before but Terence hired a pro to teach us some basic moves.

"Food & Dining" - A whole lot of fancy restaurants. Terence always orders us 'Blue Label', his favorite drink, a $38 shot, the kind that President Erap drinks so that when I get to Manila, I can say that I drank what Erap drinks. :)

"Casino" - My first time in the casino, beginner's luck brought me $100 in the slot machine. Second time though, I ended up losing $50 in baccarat. No more gambling for me.

...sorry, no pics since this is 'at play' & not 'at work' right?

Ok probably just a few ones...

Erap's Johnny Walker Blue Label (not Black, not Red, but the 25-year old Blue]


My generous hosts, Terence and his wife Che


My Lion's Share at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino (the machine ran out of coins so I had to wait for a refill to get my prize winnings)


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2-Days at The Venetian Hotel


This weekend, I just spent 2 nights at the Venetian Hotel courtesy of Che (Terence's wife, farthest left, together w/ Cha her sister-in-law and Sussette, the nanny of her kids). They have one of the largest and plushest suites on the strip, and this extravagantly furnished Italianate costs $400 a night (we got it for FREE :)


This is what our room looks like (again I was sharing the room w/ Mike, my housemate in Rhodes Ranch).


This suite is double the size of an ordinary room, complete w/ a living room area and an office table for meeting guests & business associates. Further down are the two beds.

The girls dropped us in the hotel and wanted to see how the room looks like. They had fun posing inside the room as Mike, a former policeman 'directs' them to do some sexy posing.



Living the Las Vegas lifestyle is truly a life-changing experience for me. It's not just all fun & games though, and it got me thinking and reflecting on future possibilities & challenges.

Next, wedding couples at the Venetian...

Karen, Chrystal & Keyleigh

Yesterday, I took some family portraiture of Karen (one of Terence's associates), her daughter Chrystal, and baby Keyleigh, the 4 month old baby of Chrystal.


It's not easy to take baby pics but luckily I was able to capture some nice shots of Keyleigh.



Am still in Las Vegas 'til Jun 23 since I couldn't book an earlier flight.

Chrystal, I have posted more pics in my support site for you and Karen to see. :)

Livin' la Viva Las Vegas, Part 3 - Prenups Galore

1am, 4am, 3am, this is my typical sleeping hours during my first week in vegas - you work hard, you play hard (mostly work hard).

Just after arriving in Vegas, I spend the next night taking the first prenup session of Sheila & Mike. Here is the first series of our nights together. This is both work and play for me, since I was touring the spots while at the same time shooting them... what a nice job I have. :)

Title: The Proposal


The Venetian - Gondola Pics

Although I went to Venice, Italy 2 years ago, I've long wanted to see the Las Vegas version, with the ceiling painted to look like a morning sky and the street complete with a flowing river w/ gondolas & everything. I've watched how The Venetian Hotel Resort Casino was made in the National Geographic's MegaStructures episode, but never thought I would personally visit this place.

Title: Two Couples




The Plaza

We also took some shots in the plaza, which is still inside the hotel...


I like to mix posed shots w/ some candid ones. The couple to the left seems to be looking at Sheila & Mike but actually they are looking at a computer screen which is hidden from the camera's view.


Street Scene - Night Lights

After Italy, we went outside on the famous Las Vegas strip. Here we went to 'Paris'...

Title: Lover's Lane




Title: Las Vegas Street Light on a Full Moon


Again some mixture of candid w/ posed shots, this time, Stomp Out Loud sign w/ the guys at the back who seems to be stomping on the stairs


A commercial like picture below highlighting the engagement ring in a romantic fashion.


And a black & white rendering which reminds me of a classic movie...


The last pic below is my favorite. I was able to capture Sheila's best angle on this one.


I am not stingy when it comes to engagement pictorials, especially when it's a mixture of a tour & a shoot of Las Vegas (or any state for that matter). We also had another session outdoors in the Red Rock Canyons and then another one planned for today.


My next post will probably be when I come back to Manila already. I shall return to Las Vegas this November for Sheila & Mike's wedding.

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June 11 - Still stuck in las vegas for some time, couldn't get a flight ticket back to Manila. :) :(

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Livin' la Viva Las Vegas, Part 2 - At Work

This is the other house where we hold office.

We have a conference room where I met Kimmi, one of our corporate clients. I took her portrait here and then went to her sauna (below) for some more shots to be used in her company's brochure.



The office also has some gym equipments and a very nice swimming pool (with a fountain & a jacuzzi) although I never got to use them. :(



Of course, I also have another office room all to myself. Kinda empty though since I will be flying back to Manila by end of this week.


So for US-based couples wishing to have an engagement pictorial or wedding coverage in Las Vegas, Chicago, California, New York/New Jersey or elsewhere, my representative office (under Terence's Phil Fortune Group) is:

Rene Gaviola Alternative Photography
US Representative Office:
9 Chateau Whistler
Las Vegas, Nevada 89148
1-(702)-951-5738
1-(877)-627-2497 (toll free)

Next week, I will be back in Manila and installing my new international number too so you can call directly to contact me.

1-(702)-430-8722

Your international wedding photographer is gearing up for bigger things to come.

Next, Part 3 - Sheila & Mike's Prenup Sneak Peek

Livin' la Viva Las Vegas, Part 1 - At Home

I currently stay in Rhodes Ranch Country Club, a golf club and residential community. I was curious and checked the appraisal value of my address and saw that it is currently at $750k, according to my friend, that's still a low appraisal.

This is a view once you get inside the house, it's basically an empty house which will later be turned into our studio.


A view from the opposite end, the stairs lead to the bedrooms.


I have the room all to myself and my mess. There's only two of us in the house, Mike who is working for my associate, Terence.


Aside from the staff house (or should I say mansion) where I am staying, Terence also has another one that he uses for his office, and another one where he & his family used to stay, and another one where he recently transferred, and another one... and another one...all in Rhodes Ranch.



Terence chanced upon my site and was happy with what he saw. We are now doing some business together.

Next, Part 2 - At Work...

Part 3 - Life in CA, Golfing in Pebble Beach

Not everyone gets to play in Poppy Hills Golf Course in Pebble Beach California but we accompanied Uncle Nestor's youngest son Kyle for his golf tournament there.

Uncle gives some last-minute pointers to his son as cousin Kim looks on. Kyle likes to tease and call Kim his "Number No. 1 Fan."


The three shooters, Sir Lito, me and Uncle Nestor w/ their long guns. When people see us together, bystanders often ask, who is the star around here?


And the real shooters take their shot at the tee.


Kyle is very good w/ his long game. He also performed an excellent approach on this one. The ball will land very near the hole.


His short game also showed his skills in putting.


At the end of the last hole, No. 1 fan was waiting to lay his hand & congratulate him :)


Mister Kyle was way ahead of his groupmates in terms of scoring. He placed 4th overall in the tournament. The thing is Kyle was sick the other day and Tita Mitzi even asked on the morning of the tournament if he would rather rest instead. Am sure that next time, he will land on the top 3 as with his previous tournament plays. Nice job Tiger Gwapo, the son of Nestor Photo Gwapo. :)

For my final shot, we all know who is going to do a birdie on this hole.


... next stop, my Las Vegas home & lifestyle!