Finally, one of the most anticipated engagement sessions I’ve done this year is live. I’ve been waiting for this moment to finally share these photos. I’m happy to share these extraordinary photos that looks ordinary for those who live in that particular side of the world. I featured a travelogue months ago to serve as a teaser for this e-session.

It’s always a challenge to make something extraordinary considering different factors – - – location, weather, the couple itself and the concept. But this one is more than that, the biggest of them all is how to communicate with these people around you, considering that they play a very vital role to achieve the things you wish to do. But beyond the challenges, you will end up smiling at the photos especially when you recall the things that you have to do just to achieve them.

Love is like that, there’s always a challenge to keep the love in the right track, and after many years of undergoing pain and happiness, you will end up reminiscing those moments with your one and only love.

So, here it is, the photos that comes with challenge, pain and sacrifices – - – but at the end, we end up viewing them with tears and laughter. I hope you do too.

I’m sure you’ve noticed the vintage suitcase with the Eiffel Tower, so here’s a little explanation of its relevance. Vietnam was once a French colony, thus, one of the tourism highlights of Vietnam is the French architecture and culinary influence. On the other hand, Paris is known as the City of Life and Love. This engagement session, aside from the purpose of doing an extraordinary shoot, was basically a celebration of love – - – a love that dwells with dreams and hope. Someday the couple wish to celebrate their love in Paris.

**If you wish to see more, you can visit this link to watch high definition slideshow.
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Jhel+Jen are actually based in Rome, Italy and we are so lucky to be chosen as their wedding photographer. Aside from the fact that my wife and I got to travel to that very romantic place for free, My dream of doing a shoot came true unexpectedly. Jen emailed me just this May inquiring about our services. After all the hardship that we went through in acquiring visa and arranging necessary things to make this possible, we are finally doing it in Italy.

Aside from their wedding photos, which I already featured here. This engagement session is another much anticipated blockbuster. Personally, this engagement session is something special. It’s been a dream of doing a shoot with the round hay, which you can’t find in our tropical country. This is something that made me realized that I really love my job after seeing Jen cried while watching the slideshow during the wedding reception.

So Fellas, Enjoy the Love under the Tuscan Sun.

I would like to describe this engagement session as a typical American country side road trip than a well-planned shoot. And I would say that’s the best part – - – being spontaneous. Our trip started from Northridge in Los Angeles going to Santa Barbara & Solvang. Santa Barbara which rings a bell, is home to many rich American celebrities and famous retirees. Solvang, on the other hand, is described as the Danish City in the US. Both places are no stranger to the couple. In fact their extraordinary love story started here.

This is the gallery where Rod said ” I’d like to know you more ”









































Our Road Trip would not be possible without Goldie’s help. { Goldie, the couple’s gold corolla }

Barely two years in the wedding industry but our mileage reach as far as the most extravagant continent in the world.

Truly Europe is one of our dream destinations but we never expected that It will be this soon.

Thanks to the people who keep us dreaming and always inspire us to reach them.

we are open for engagement sessions, post-wedding shoot, maternity shoot and anything related to photography & wedding.

email us for rates and availability.

Recently,we featured Marty+Ellen, an all-Australian couple from Brisbane. It was truly a blast doing a series of Extraordinary E-Sessions in the Land Down Under. Now, I wish to share another international couple. Tan+Nicole got married last year, they really wanted me to shoot their wedding in Singapore and Burma. Yes, you got it right, two weddings in two countries. Tan is a Singapore while Nicole is from Burma. Unfortunately, I was in the US during those dates for shoot as well. But it didn’t stop them hoping that one day they will have an extraordinary session with us.

Just last month, I got an email from Nicole, asking for my availability. Just in time for my e-session series in Singapore, we finally got the chance to do it for their first year anniversary.

If you were able to follow my flickr and previous facebook account, Nicole is a familiar face. She’s actually my model for my first few gigs in Singapore and even the face who graced my portraiture workshop dubbed as Statement in Singapore last year. No wonder Tan fell in love with her.

They wanted a casual and relaxed shoot. I believe the best place to do it is Singapore’s Universal Studios.

So here it is, Tan+Nicole Extraordinary Love Session.

Enjoy!

Thank you so much Tan+Nicole.

So here it is, our first post after the ExtraOZdinary E-Session. I would like to start it by featuring an all-Aussie couple, shot in Brisbane.

Marty+Ellen is just an ordinary couple when you see them, they are both music lovers. In fact, Marty is a vocalist of a local band. Like Brisbane, they look plain but there’s a lot of things to be discovered. We had the best time shooting Marty and Ellen. They’re adorable and the camera loves them. Marty is an actor on his own, no wonder his friends and especially Ellen call him Bloomydepp { A cross-breed of Orlando Bloom & Johnny Depp, what do you think? }, Ellen, on the other hand is equally gorgeous.

Enjoy mate!

Another Australia Extraordinary E-session will be featured soon.

I was fortunate to be chosen as the official photographer of this wonderful couple, Erwin+Zeny. They love life and its surprises. They prioritize happiness over fancy things. They value one’s creativity and trust someone’s extraordinary eye. No wonder during our brainstorming about their e-session, they embraced my idea of doing it in Saigon. A place which is really a stranger to many, a place often associated with war and poverty. They asked me why Saigon? Honestly, It’s because of curiosity, nothing else. I am not even sure what and where to shoot. What I only had in mind is that Vietnam was once a French Colony, so I assumed that there’s a lot of interesting location to shoot with its French-influenced architecture and design.

Fast-forward, the day we set for their e-session came. Our schedule started with a delayed flight from Davao to Manila, due to Typhoon Falcon hitting Metro. We even cancelled our flight from Manila to Saigon because we might not even reach the scheduled time. But we’re fortunate enough to got in, just a few minutes when we arrived in Manila.


Finally, we arrived in Saigon {now officially known as Ho Chi Mihn City, Vietnam’s Capital City} safe and sound. We checked in at LeLe hotel in Pham Ngu Lao at District 1, where tourist flock for cheap but nice rooms, and various travel and tour packages varying from tours within Vietnam to tours going up to Cambodia, Thailand and China.

We started our day with a breakfast buffet. And to truly feel the Vietnamese air, a garlic French bread, eggs and some spring rolls {not in the photo} would do.

Ladies and Gentlemen, let me take you to Saigon and its neighboring cities and towns.

District 1 is the best location to stay in Saigon.

Ben Tahn Market is where you can find good bargains for souvenirs, dried food and fruits, lacquer wares and of course, the counterfeited items.



{Above} A Vietnamese Mangosteen vendor selling it for 10,000 VND for a kilo. That’s cheap!
{Below} Notre Dame Cathedral – A gigantic manifestation of French influence.


Just parallel to the Notre Dame Church, is another Saigon landmark – - – The Postal Office, which until now is operational – - – the old school way.


Noticed this signature suitcase? Find out more about this on Win+Zen’s exclusive blogpost.



Vietnam is famous for delicious food. Try Pho24 {51% owned by our very own Jollibee Food Corp.}, a quick-serve resto sprawling all-over Vietnam. When you are in Pham Ngu Lao, don’t miss New Pearl Cafe & Resto, cheap but fabulously prepared food varying from Western to authentic asian flavors.

Good Morning Can Tho! The city that lies in the Mekong Delta, where the famous floating market can be found. It took us 4 hours to get there from Saigon, but the long bus ride was all worth it. Be sure to be there before 6AM to see how Vietnamese do the trading on top of the water.

The Mekong Delta (Vietnamese: đồng bằng sông Cửu Long “Nine Dragon river delta”) is the region in southwestern Vietnam where the Mekong River approaches and empties into the sea through a network of distributaries. The Mekong delta region encompasses a large portion of southeastern Vietnam of 39,000 square kilometres (15,000 sq mi).The size of the area covered by water depends on the season.

The Mekong Delta has recently been dubbed as a ‘biological treasure trove’. Over 10,000 new species have been discovered in previously unexplored areas of Mekong Delta, including a species of rat thought to be extinct.

A floating market is a market where merchandise is sold from boats. Originating in times and places where water transport played an important role in daily life, most floating markets operating today mainly serve as tourist attractions, and are chiefly found in Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam.


Six hours on a private car, clueless but excited to see what Mui Ne can offer.

Mui Ne (Mũi Né) is a coastal resort town in the Binh Tuan Province of Southest Vietnam. The town is close to the city of Phan Thiet. Tourism has transformed Mui Ne into a resort destination since 1995, when many visited to view the total solar eclipse of October 24, 1995. Mui Ne has many resorts on the beach, as well as restaurants, bars and cafes.

{Below} The Yellow Sand Dunes



The best part of every tour for us is when you get to know the people’s way of living to further understand their culture and behavior. I must say the Fishing Village was one of the unglamorous scenes I’ve seen, but Its one of the best.









Thap Poshanu Cham Tower or simply Poshanu Tower was our last stop before going back to Saigon. When you’re there, It seems like you are also in Cambodia.

I started this post with an airport scene and let me close it with another airport scene.

Truly my Vietnam experience was the most tiring so far but one of the best. Vietnam has a lot of things to be explored. I will surely go back for more maybe it for shoot or pleasure or maybe for both.

Watch out for Win+Zen E-Session photos soon.

Thank you so much to Win+Zen for this wonderful experience. I am so blessed to have clients like you who truly respect my craft. I am super excited to cover your big day soon. I love you both. =)

Enjoy everyone!

Ricky as far as I know him is conservative in a lot of ways, he is always determined and focused, that is why I would consider him successful amidst his young age. Chin, Ricky’s bride, is much like him. But they are fun to be with and easy to deal.

The challenge for this particular shoot is how would I create an extraordinary set, with a local destination as the backdrop. I always wish my photos to look edgy and different. Going an extra mile to push Ricky wear a not-so-ordinary combination of jacket, vest, pants and shoes is really worth it. He was so conscious on the earlier part of the shoot that he might look ” baduy ” but with my persuasion and persistence,we’re able to play around with the idea and made it extra special.

Enjoy Davao everyone as we’ll take you an extra mile. =)

Thanks to the following people who helped us materialize this shoot
HMUA & Stylist: Osckie Selma / Emi-Alexander Englis | The wonderful people of Hijo Plantation + Banana Beach

If you are invited to Ricky+Chin’s wedding, make sure to grab that chance to see more of this set.