Change The Way You See Happiness

What makes a person happy?  I'm sure the most common reply that you will hear is that being with their loved ones, family and friends makes them happy.  Or maybe for some, you will hear materialistic responses like chocolates, flowers, shoes, bags among others were the things that will make them happy.  There is nothing wrong with that.  Anything that will make them feel good inside or anybody who can make them smile can be factors that makes a person happy.  But happiness is not limited to the material things that you like nor the people that surrounds and loves you.  There are little things that can bring happiness into your life.  Those things that will make you change the way you see happiness.

I'd like to share some of the few shallow things that makes me happy.  

Sunset - I just love sunsets.  Whenever there's a chance, I try to take a picture of it whether on the streets, on the beach or even when I'm inside the car.  I get a little frustrated when I am not able to capture the beauty of the sunset as seen by my naked eyes.  But nevertheless, I get fascinated on the outcome of my pictures even just using a mobile phone.  This is happiness.

Boracay Sunset

Sunset in Thailand

Sunset in Bolinao, Pangasinan

Capturing sunset in a moving car

Nasugbu, Batangas Sunset

BGC, Taguig Sunset

Sunset in Bantayan Island, Cebu

Capturing sunset again while inside the car

Photography - No, I am not into photography but I love taking pictures!  I do not have plans of making or shifting a career out of photography though.  I do, however, do a little research on how to take nice shot or what cameras (or even mobile phones) can best suite my personality and love for photography.  I took mostly nature shots and night shots. I know my pictures are just basic but when I get some compliments on it, it already makes me feel happy.  This is happiness.

Tinuy-an Falls

Siquijor

Apo Island

Malaysia

Enchanted River

Event in Circuit Makati

Nemo in Moalboal, Cebu

Batangas restaurant

Instax taken in Mactan, Cebu

My cute niece

Artwork in a restaurant in Boracay

Golden fields in Mariveles, Bataan

Fireworks show

Fireworks show

Kabiang Tunnel

Instax capture of our wedding

BGC street at night

Boracay Sail

Blogging - Eversince high school, I already love to write.  I even tried to take up Journalism in college but I ended up in an Engineering course.  My passion for writing has not ended until I put up this blog last January 2011 just to share to the world my thoughts and experiences mostly about my travels.  It really makes me happy when people find my blog useful.  This is happiness.

You see, there are really more than just family, friends, love ones, and material things that can make a person happy.  With our fast-paced and stressful life to some, one can discover various things that can change the way they see happiness.  Even the smallest things can change the way you see everything.  Just like Huawei's new mobile phone, the Huawei P9.  With its cool camera features, it will feel like you have a camera with a smartphone attached.  This will change the way you see mobile photography.  Huawei P9's camera is co-engineered with Leica, one of the world's most respected names in the photography industry.  It has dual lenses at the back where one lens shoots exclusively black and white while when both lenses are used, a DSLR-style shallow depth of field can be produced.  This can definitely change the way you see mobile photography.  It is a mobile phone but with features similar to DSLR when taking photos.  With its 2 lens camera, you can set the depth of field of your shots which has the same effect as changing aperture of a DSLR.  Result, photos will be high quality and users will be able to take amazing monochrome, slo-mo, colored, light painting photos among others.

Living in this world could take you to a lot of challenges and experiences.  But seeing life in a different perspective can make living worth it, so enjoy every bit of it.  Live life to the fullest!

Same Day Edit (SDE) or Onsite Photo by Efjay de Leon Photography

I honestly did not know that there is such thing as SDE photo or Onsite Photo.  I am only familiar with the usual SDE video.  But since onsite photo is part of my wedding photographer, Efjay De Leon's package, we availed it.  It is similar as onsite video only it is in still photo.  All the important and memorable photos during our wedding, from preparations to the reception were chosen and compiled to make an onsite photo.

Sharing below our onsite photo done by Efjay de Leon and his team.

You may also want to visit my blog post on our prenup AVP and SDE video.

Below are the details of my suppliers:

Church: Transfiguration of Christ Parish, Antipolo
Reception: Le Blanc Exclusive Resort, Antipolo
Photographer: Efjay de Leon
Videographer: Daryl John Santos
HMUA: Leah Pechuanging

Happy wedding preps!

Our Prenup Session

I previously posted on my blog on some tips in planning your prenup or e-session shoot.  I learned a lot about planning on this prenup shoot which I initially thought is no longer needed.  But I'm glad we did it as we were able to know better on how our photographer works.  Besides, it is included in the package so why not avail it :)

It was 1st week of October, barely 1 and half month to go before our wedding, when we had our prenup shoot.  We chose Microtel in MOA since I want to have a sunset captured.  Microtel was the cheapest hotel I inquired near Manila Bay (where sunset is awesome) and with less or no requirement for photo shoot.  My (then) fiance and I decided to stay overnight in Microtel and as guests, we are free to use their roof top with pool and sunset view, even for a photo shoot.

Efjay suggested to us what clothes, accessories and props to bring.  Basically there's not much props, just pizza which we ordered at SM Mall of Asia, very convenient.

My hair and make up artist, Ms. Leah Pechuanging, was one of my first choice since she is based in Antipolo and she was also the one who did our hair during my brother's wedding last 2014.  Glad she was available on our prenup shoot though it was quite a last minute schedule.

I love my hair and make up.  Ms. Leah was very diligent in ensuring I look fresh all througout the session.  I also had several hair styles which I also like.  Unfortunately, the hairstylist won't be the one who will do my hair on my wedding day.  But I trust Ms. Leah that she will provide an equally creative hair stylist.

Sharing with you Our Prenup Session AVP.  I hope you will like it. :)

You may check the FB page of my hair and make up artist and photographer below.

Efjay De Leon (photographer) - https://www.facebook.com/fjdeleonphotography/?fref=nf
Leah Pechuanging (hair and make up artist) - https://www.facebook.com/makeupbyEYAH/?pnref=story

To know more about how I got Efjay as my wedding photographer, read my blog post about it here.

Happy wedding preps! 

My Wedding Photographer: Efjay De Leon

One of the hardest part in wedding planning and preparation is looking for a good and trusted photographer that is within your budget.  Our initial budget is only Php 60,000 that includes videographer, album, SDE, and prenup.  Too small?  Well, I'm not so sure since I haven't been married before.  Good thing, there's the ever reliable GirlTalk forum where cheap wedding photo and video suppliers is one of the major topics under Weddings and Engagement.  I listed down all their recommended photo and video suppliers and I tried to check out their profile and sample works, one by one.

Searching for a photographer, I really don't have any idea what to look for or what type of shots that my (then) fiance and I wanted.  But for videographer, we somehow have specific shots that we want and do not want to see.  For the videos we initially watched, they all seem the same.  Same concept, same flow.  Even for some of the well known photographers out there, their videos were not consistently have that wow factor.  So we had a hard time looking for which one will suit us or maybe which could assist us in coming up with nice ideas for a nice photo and video.

One of the famous photo/video supplier mentioned in GirlTalk is God's Grace Productions.  Their works were ok and from the posts in the forum, one of the owners, Ms. Raiza, is very kind and easy to talk to.  So we decided to set a meeting with her.  That was about 5 months away before our wedding day.  Yes, we were already rushing that time and God's Grace was the first photo/video supplier we met.  The meeting went well.  We were somehow decided to get their package and luckily, even if they were already famous in GirlTalk, they are still available on our wedding day.  A few days after the meeting, Ms. Raiza had another meeting with a client who incidentally have the same wedding day as us.  Unfortunately, she has to give the slot to the other client since they were able to give downpayment fast.  I told Ms. Raiza that I can also send downpayment the same day just to reserve them but it will be right after I finish my meetings and errands at work.  Well, the other client went ahead of me so we were "bumped" off.  Ms. Raiza was apologetic but it wasn't really her fault.  She's just in demand that's why clients are racing to get their services .  Because Ms. Raiza was really kind, she recommended other photographers to me, one of them was Efjay De Leon.

I was glad to have met Efjay.  I like his works as it was mainly natural, candid photos.  It took us about a month before we personally met him.  Actually, we met other photo/video suppliers prior and my (then) fiance thought that we will already get them.  Something tells me that they were not "the one" yet that's why I insisted in scheduling a meeting with Efjay.  This supplier I was talking about (I will no longer mention the company name), it was their account executive whom we met and discuss our requirements.  For me, it would be best to meet with the photographer or videographer personally so that in an instant they will have an idea on what shots you really want.  And since I had initial conversations with Efjay, the photographer, I did not have second thoughts of scheduling a meeting with him.  Besides, he has full of ideas which was really helpful.

It was mid August already when we met Efjay and Darly (videographer), only 3 months to go before our wedding.  Efjay suggested several videographers but I chose Daryl John Santos because of cheaper rate but acceptable videos (see our SDE videos here from Daryl). So both of them met us which I totally look forward to since we were meeting the actual photographer and videographer.  They were young, slightly new to the business but still professional.  They shared lots of ideas on how our wedding photos and videos can look great.  That was a plus point for me because (of course) it is our first time to get married so somehow what they shared gives us a picture on what to expect.  And because of this meeting, my (then) fiance and I was able to determine what particular shots we want to see in the photos.  They helped in bringing out our thoughts and ideas as well.      

Because the meeting went really well with casual conversations and lots of ideas and suggestions both from Efjay and Daryl, we did not have second thoughts of getting their services.  People from GirlTalk was right.  You will just feel it that you met the right photographer and videographer when you personally met them.  That's what I feel and my (then) fiance agrees with me.  

I will share in my next blog our prenup AVP and onsite or SDE photos.

You may get in touch with Efjay De Leon and Daryl John Santos from their FB pages.  By the way, Efjay is also doing freelance photos to God's Grace Productions.

Efjay De Leon (photographer) - https://www.facebook.com/fjdeleonphotography/?fref=nf
Daryl John Santos (videographer) - https://www.facebook.com/djphotographystudio/

Happy wedding preps! 

Same Day Edit (SDE) From Daryl John Santos Photography

I was very busy last year that I wasn't able to post and update my blog much.  It is simply because I got married late last year.

I just want to share with you my SDE or Same Day Edit done by my videographer, Daryl John Santos.

https://vimeo.com/149187263


If you enjoyed or liked our SDE and is getting married soon, I recommend Daryl John Santos.  He and his team, together with my photographer, Efjay De Leon, is very easy to deal with.  They're young and full of fresh ideas.  You will never get bored working with them.  The photos and videos they took always made us teary eyed everytime we viewed it.  It simply means that they were able to capture those special moments during a special event in our lives.

Follow and check their FB page for details.

Daryl John Santos (videographer) - https://www.facebook.com/djphotographystudio/

Efjay De Leon (photographer) - https://www.facebook.com/fjdeleonphotography/?fref=nf 

I'll try to blog more about my wedding suppliers soon :)  Happy preps to all soon to be brides!

Nikon Coolpix P300 sample shots

In reference to my blog about my new toy, here are some sample shots.  Mostly are set in auto scene detection.  Comments are welcome :)

Snake Island Panoramic View

Panoramic view of swimming pool at Microtel

Maximum optical zoom

Macro shot of hermit crab

Macro shot of Hello Kitty

Outdoor nigh shot

Outdoor night shot, no lights at all

Outdoor night shot

Sunrise at past 6am

Sunrise at past 6am

My toy also has features like scene retouch, editing of pictures with scene insertion (like fish eye), manual settings (for aperture and shutter speed), aperture mode, shutter mode, sepia, 360 degrees panoramic shots and many others.  I'm still learning picture tricks from my camera especially the manual settings.  I need to know how to make the background blur while focusing on the subject.  Would you know how?  I'm so lovin' my toy! :)

My New Toy

Remember my post about which camera to choose?  Well, I'm nearing to wanting to have Nikon Coolpix P300 among others.  I chose this camera since it works best in night shots or low lighting, which is one of the features I'm looking after.  After a long wait, I finally got my camera!  Night shots are really great with f1.8.  I tried taking pictures in my dark room (no lights at all) and still it captures a very well and very bright room!  Macro shots are also great.  I also love its panoramic shots, with choices of 180 degrees to 360 degrees.  Another feature that I love is that you can edit pictures in an instant, whether you want it to have more lighting, skin retouch or special effects (such as fish eye).  I'm still learning how to use each features.  I'm trying to find out how to make blurred background while the image/subject is very clear.  I guess this will be applicable in manual settings which this camera also offers.  I really am enjoying my new toy.  I'll post some sample shots soon so you can appreciate it :)