Bella: 1st birthday party

June 5, 2010
Makati Park and Garden

When we got to the venue, the tarp bearing the name of Bella and there were just blue and white balloons all over. I actually had to call Mommy Lheng (the family was just on their way) to make sure I was in the right place. When the set-up was completed, it all finally made sense. And I loved the theme that they chose.

Mommy Lheng and Daddy Ian are two of the nicest clients I've ever had.  Most of the guests came late so the party started late as well. As soon as they arrived though, Ian offered Pie and me brownies.  I understand that clients usually have a thousand things on their mind during their party, so I really appreciate little gestures like that.:)

Below are a few photos from the party...


Loved the cake and cupcakes with yellow duckie toppers!


Some details.


As I said, there were just the blue and white balloons when we got there, and I thought it was an odd color theme to use for a baby girl's party.  But as soon as these rubber duckies were put in place, everything just came together.  And I thought it was a cute theme!




The lovely balloons were by Yanple, by the way.


Here Lheng and birthday girl Bella.


The kids.





I have to admit I forgot the hosts name.:D But he was a great magician!





The birthday family.

Bella enjoying her spaghetti.

Candle-blowing.

After the party, I asked the family for a very short pictorial outside while there was still a bit of sunlight.

My favorite.:)

Gaby: Kiddie portrait session

Gaby is such a tall girl that it was very easy to forget she was just turning two when we did this pictorial. Mommy Vicky told me that Gaby is the first grandchild in the family, so everyone wanted to help out during the pictorial.  And I could see how everybody doted on Gaby.:)

Unfortunately, Gaby's dad wasn't able to join us, but I hear he's a 6-footer, which explains this cutie's height!

We did the shoot at UP last May, just about a week before Gaby turned two.  We had amazing light, and Mommy Vicky prepared pretty outfits and cute props, so even though Gaby wasn't really in the mood, we still were able to capture great photos.:)






I love this one.:)

Isn't she pretty?

Lining up her toys.

Playing peek-a-boo!





Vicky brought along cupcakes and a number 2 candle. I loved it! Gaby also loved the cupcakes!:D And she kept wanting to blow the candle over and over. I didn't mind though. It just meant more chances for me to take the shots.








I think this one's cute. That's Vicky holding the cupcake.:)

We didn't get a lot of photos with her 2nd outfit because Gaby was just about ready to go back to sleep by then.

Gaby wondering why we made her stand next to the fire hydrant.:D

The beginning...

Exactly five years ago today, I spent my first day of "retirement". I don't really have any memory of what I did that day, but I do remember my last day at work vividly. On 14 October 2005, I cleared out my desk and walked out of the office building with a box of my personal things. Yeah, pretty much like in the movies.

I get asked a lot how I became a photographer. I always give the short answer: I've always loved photography and decided to do it full-time when I got tired of my day job. Although that's true, it was actually way more complicated than that.

I guess it started over a year before I resigned. Something happened. Something in me changed. Some might refer to it as a quarter-life crisis--I don't know. All I know was that I didn't like where I was at that point in my life. I knew I was doing great in my job but I also knew I didn't want to be there anymore. And yes, I did what every one does at some point--I blamed anything and everything around me for my unhappiness. I blamed my boss, my colleagues, the boss of my boss, Pete's boss; I blamed the harsh flourescent lighting in the office, the sub-zero temperatures in the factory; I blamed my high school education; I blamed my college education; and of course, I blamed my parents.:P

I wanted to get out of my job, but the problem was that I didn't know where I wanted to go, either. Pete and I spent hours discussing possible career paths for me. I even took a month-long leave just to figure out what I really wanted to do. I spent weeks researching, reading books...I wrote down detailed descriptions of my dream jobs on a yellow ruled pad (which I still have somewhere in my parents' house.). I don't remember most of what those yellow sheets contain anymore but I do remember that one of my dream jobs was to take over Samantha Brown's job! Hahaha.

Anyway, I wish I could remember the exact day when I decided I wanted to be a professional photographer.  I really can't.  I went through my old blog and I never mentioned it.  Although I never went anywhere without a camera at that time, I guess I never seriously considered doing it professionally until later on.  Looking back though, I can't imagine what made Pete go along with my plan to quit my job (hence, lose my steady income) and to spend almost a hundred thousand pesos on photography gear in the span of a few months. 

I must have been really convincing (or looked really desperate).  Or he must have really had great faith in me.