New Birth

" Subject . Background . Lighting . Digital . Practice . Tell Stories . Exposure Compensation . Custom White Balance . Oraganize . Fill the Frame . Sneaker Zoom . Move Around . Different Angle . Be Patient . Color Correction . Histogram . Recompose . Content Aware . Workflow . Sunset is Richer . Overexpose vs Underexpose . Bracket . Image Adjustment . Practice again. More Practice "

After attending my first photography workshop, I felt like there was a lot of information to digest, yet I was enjoying so much that my heart feels like it's ready to explode --- now I am brace to tell the world of my own story...

Photography + me is REBORN.

Happy Birthday to my love in photography!

More photos HERE... few of my faves and would appreciate if you can give me a feedback {i am open for any constructive criticism} or even by simply giving me a thumbs up or down by hovering your mouse to an open photo.

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Will follow up another blog entry of Digital Days Photo Workshop that I and hubby just attended in details.

Raise our Glass for Year 2011

As I keep saying it every year, I don't do new years resolution well... I would like to put it up as wishes and goals for the coming year.

I would like to enjoy and wish not to feel worn out as an RN helping mommies deliver their babies safely... I solely would like to keep loving what i love doing --- I am happy for where I am now, I would be happier if i get to work during daytime *day shift please come by sometime soon*

To get deeper into my other love - working behind the lens... it could be acquiring broad knowledge combined with a serious application to the said attachment.

For my family to stay healthy, contented, and always in high spirits.

More family reunions, travels, and simply some extra time catching up with relatives and friends all over the world.

And for God Almighty to carry on pouring His utmost love and blessings with the added bonus of continual guidance for me and my family in this sometimes unbalance world.

Here's wishing you all a blissful and joyous safe New Year!!!

On the Holiday: Farewell 2010 Welcome 2011

It's been a big adjustment 2010 for all of us.

Since we moved here in southern Cali city of SD the end of 2009... A lot effort were poured mostly on work adaptation, locale setting orientation, and getting to know new and true friends.

With the holiday season in the air, I felt like we are always on the run... thankfully i got all the cards/gifts mailed and send out on time. And now i thought my family can enjoy the festivities in passive pace with the coming holiday events with my Ate L off school for couple of weeks for the winter holiday --- but of course NO, my little M and now ate L is sick combined with the awful weather in supposedly sunny side of Cali, rain had been pouring hard flooding some area in SD... so here we are end up being glued at home.

With all the fleeting griping we are still truly grateful for year 2010... It did brought us different lessons to learn and looking at life differently.
We welcome year 2011 with utmost positive vibes: looking forward for more quality family bonding time together, bountiful blessings, and absolutely good health --- and with this have said I would like to share those wishes to my dear family and friends all over the world.

Here's wishing you a Blessed Christmas and Peaceful New Year from our home to yours!

Marry Me ...

Marriage is a partnership in which each inspire the other, and brings fruition to both of you.

Millicent Carey McIntosh

'Thank you Nee for the inspiration...'

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May every hour of everyday be blessed with a shining gift of joy, a dream to share together, a memory that's forever, a promise that the best is yet to come.

Happy 8th Wedding Anniversary Honekoy!

♥ Love you so much ♥

Eight years after

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Photos above courtesy of Decisive Moments of Mel Cortez... enhanced by yours truly (Life+Style Photography).

Take Turns

It's been a hectic weeks...

Getting ready for lots of holidays and events before this 2010 ends: one down [halloween], few more to go --- thanksgiving, christmas, new year, class reunions, anniversaries, etc, etc, etc. Non-stop bookings and the calendar is full of reminders [hopeful it will take place in a timely manner].

For now, let me share you Ate L and mines 'Shoot You Shoot Me' episode... our bonding moment other than theme parks, chuckie cheeses, and/or shopping ♥


Ate L's Turn


Shoot You Shoot Me --- is one strategy that Life+Style Photography encorporates, especially when it comes to children as a subject. We all know at this age, they don't have enough patience to hold a shoot and pose in front of a camera. So, this i use as a bargaining technique, i/the photographer will pose and let you/child be behind the lens, and there after i do the same with you --- basically taking turns ... for me, photos comes out much fun.

An Affair to Remember at 50

*** Turn your audio on to add more spark and spice in this entry...

Take a little bit of me and a little bit of you
Add a several decades {5 to be exact} and all that we've been through

2 cups of loyalty generously sprinkled with trust
A pinch of forgiveness and laughter is a must

Blend a smile, a kiss and holding each others hands
Add this all together between a woman and a man

Stir in two hearts sprinkled with adoration
Stir it all together and you get a good foundation... For Love ♥


Recipe for Love
by Amy Oxford


For Tatay 'dad' and Nanay 'mom' on your 50th Wedding Anniversary

It’s love that makes a house a home and warms it through and through.
It’s love that keeps a family close in all they plan and do.
Thank you Nanay and Tatay, for the wonderful example of your love and marriage.

More years of happiness and 'kulitan' together...

Happy Golden Anniversary!!!

We love you,
Doy, Cindy, Ate L, and Baby M

My Own

I had the opportunity to photograph a great mother of soon to be five. Her motherly instinct drove her to freeze the moment, knowing that she and her husband decided this will be their last.

Yes, it's all about her this time --- "Me, My body, and My pregnancy"... Being a woman, simple yet sweet and loving, "S" as a doting mother and a loving wife just want these milestone be seized and captured for her to hold in a lifetime.

... now, is that too much to ask?

Thank you "S" for allowing me to be part of these wonderful journey of your family... for the ideas, for the patience, and for just being valiant and carefree.
I truly enjoyed the shoot... despite the heat ♥

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Couple more photos HERE.
{promised mommy "S" be the first to glimpse the rest of the shots... will post more once she reviewed the photos}

Sneak Up

A big surprise awaits...

Surprises comes in big and small packages, but no matter what sizes it may come you cannot help feeling that sense of excitement coming around.

Watch out... coming soon... *tick-tock-tick-tock*

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Photos taken in Belmont Park Mission Beach San Siego.

Foul

How i wish people can appreciate life better...

In this world, i believe it isn't just money that makes the world go round... I know how it feels like when you are trying to stretch your paycheck to survive. Born and raised in a third world country, i was not an exception. But seeing these people getting upset because of monetary reason, premeditate useless sickening escalating emotions to your dear ones, that in itself is not fair and not worth it... If they only knew how lucky they are.

Pardon me, I know i sound despicable... just let me be for today.

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An elderly in Balboa Park simply try to earn hard money, yet still live simply, happy, and contented.

Black or White

We had a quick visit with the famous Balboa Park here in San Diego.


It's a huge park feauturing mostly historical museums and it's collections from art to science, it has everything... of course i have to get into their photography locale.

They feature oldies rock n roll bands and singers that day we visited like the beatles, elvis presley, etc. What i noticed mostly on that wall was a presentation of black and whites portraits. It dawn on me that you don't need to have photoshop to capture a real creation that communicates to the senses and minds... Of course i get the idea of different processing but what I mean is, portraits doesn't need to be always flawless at all to be beautiful --- although, i would like my own self portrait smooth, spotless, and immaculate *big laugh*. I am not sure why i appreciated it so much, those rigid lines in their faces {maybe because the photos were all blown up, not sure}. The expression is absolutely phenomenal even without a smile in those faces. I guess that is what you call a true work of art.

On Being Grateful

We have a lot to be thankful for, and we should continue to be appreciative... being so makes your life more meaningful.

Family gathering truly constitute a light feeling of hominess...

Couple of weekend back was spent with the T/G family, celebrating Tita C and Cousin F's birthdays --- mother and daughter tandem. Day after that {Monday} spent with the V family at Lego Water Park... it was nephew D's 6th birthday.

Even if those times were cut short due to work schedules, it was fun catching up.

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Good friend couple M and P of This is IT Photography pays us a visit and stayed in our humble home. Even if their primary purpose coming down in SD was to cover a wedding event, the non-working times spent with us were full of craziness and laughter. True great friends when put together = awesomeness!!!... "We miss you guys... the girls woke up that evening you left looking for you by the way".

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Was able to spent father's day as one family... for hubby and my set up, working full time opposite days, spending a "day off" together is surely a big deal.

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I am glad I am back using our kitchen ... new dishwasher baby. We seldom use our dishwasher anyway, but when it broke down i felt the importance of it especially those days that i have piled up dishes and no time to manually wash them.

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I am back photographing... and it feels good.

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What are you guys thankful for?

Always There...

I know you will always hear my rumbling and bear my blaring
I know you will always stand by us even if the world is against
I know you will think about us every moment
I know you will be troubled without your precious angels
I know you will always adore and be there for us
And being said all of the above, we want you to know that we love you so much...

This message is for the father of my adorable princesses and for my patient & loving husband.

Happy Father's Day Daddy D!

Buzzy Mee

Lots of stories to catch up... more photos to show... too little time.
Missed to browse and read my favorite blog entries... will attempt to regain such task once available downtime is in hand.

Summer is definitely keeping my family and I busy.
Different version of the photo here.

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Getting tan at Children's Pool Lajolla Cove still here in San Diego California

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Summer feel in my ears... music playing by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole "Over the Rainbow What a Wonderful World".

School Ender Fun

Another school year had ended... but holds a lot of beautiful memories...

Even if Ate L didn't get to start the beginning of school year in Chaparral Elementary she still manage to gain new sets of great friends and adjusted pretty well with the new school environment. Needless to say, she truly enjoyed her Kindergarten year with Mrs S and plan to return this upcoming school year.

I have to admit I've never been an active parent in Ate L's class, and I sincerely apologize --- our family being new in town, a full time mother and employee our schedule was and still isn't easy. But with the year ender school activity --- Park Fun, I finally did manage to participate and was very glad to be there. In addition to that, I got lucky to capture the moments of fun with the kids.

Mommies enjoyed and had fun too...

It is indeed a memory that my daughter will absolutely cherish.

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Photos above are just few of the shots taken from the said event... more photos posted here...
{to daddies and mommies --- please check your emails for site is password protected}.