This is the last shoot I did before we made the big jump from 2013 to 2014! The last time I shot the Tagos for their annual family portrait was two years ago with my good friend and fabulous photog Kat Banay, and I didn't realize how much I missed shooting this family until the afternoon of this shoot, when I saw how great they looked. They even brought Yoda, their newest puppy!
The Tagos know how to take portraits, and they should! They've been doing this since R and R were still dating and now with a cute little boy in tow, their annual photo sessions are as lively as ever.
Six frames!
And thank you for a house full of people I love. Amen.
-Terri Guillemets
One word: FUN! That's the Diaz family for you. When I met them I was treated to inside jokes and playful banter that immediately made me feel at ease even though it was my first time to meet them. J, a former schoolmate from high school, told me that they want portraits done since the family does not together too often, with some working abroad and J and her family living the city while the in-laws live a few hours away. As I was shooting them I was reminded of how my own family desperately needed to get itself at least one proper family portrait! This is one good-looking family, and it doesn't take a lot of persuasion for them to stand and pose, and pose well, I might add!
I loved shooting them, loved being in the middle of all that pleasant energy. It was not hard to see that this family enjoys being with each other, and that is such a great thing to witness. Family is where we laugh and jump and be silly and no one would think that it's weird because everyone's doing the same thing! And the love... it was as palpable as the rays of sunlight that was making my camera go bonkers as I followed this family around. You feel it, when you are in a place where there is love, and joy and peace. This family may not be the perfect family, but you can feel love when you are with them. And that is the most beautiful thing.
Our house is filled with smoke and I can hear the screech of firecrackers in the distance. I took the photo above from the window, a few minutes before the clock struck 12, before we made the big switch from 2013 to 2014. The dogs are tulala, especially Pip who is having his first New Year in Dumaguete. But all is well, I am here with family, and blessed with all the good things that make my heart fat and full. This year has been filled with so much happiness, lessons learned, new experiences, joy, sadness, light and love. I hope you are looking back at the year that was with joyful eyes too.
You were great, 2013!
A big HELLO to you, 2014!!!
Yesterday, I got to meet a super cool and super 'kalog' family and they were a blast to photograph. Although I seldom shoot family portraits I figured it's time I do it since it is usually fun plus I will get to meet more people during each shoot. When Jella, a former schoolmate of mine messaged me to ask if I could do their portrait, I jumped at the chance. And boy, was I glad I did! The moment I met them I knew the afternoon was going to be full of laughs and silliness and everything that comes with a family that loves to goof around. Here's one frame from yesterday's shoot :)
Happy Thursday!!!
It's always a different kind of happy when it's Christmas. Perhaps it's the thought of getting together, of having an excuse to be together and just spend time as a family... Christmas is an extended weekend of sorts, with some gift giving thrown in. I love Christmas because it is a time when looking back is mandatory, so we can reflect on how blessed we have been for the past year, for new additions to families, new memories made, stronger ties forged. I love Christmas which is why I took out our mini Christmas tree and started to deck the halls like I really meant it. Pepito even joined in on the fun (Ok, the dog was coerced into displaying a good amount of Christmas cheer for the camera, but he does look cute, LOL!).
Merry Christmas everyone!
I got an early Christmas gift from Kat, a photographer/graphic designer friend of mine currently based in SG: a new domain name! Couldn't quite believe my ears when she told me that she got me this as an early Christmas gift. With her help, I jumped from a Blogspot subdomain user to having a domain name of my own. I have always wanted to get a domain name of my own, but domains and htmls and the mention of codes and lines of code freak me out and give me a serious case of the hives, so I stayed away. Perhaps this is the Universe's way of telling me that it is finally time to get a domain of my own, and Kat was the person to prod me into taking that important step.
Soooooooooo, welcome to www.joselleamahit.com!!! (still can't believe that I now have a .com after my name. If there's such a thing as a hundred degrees higher than super stoked, that's where I am right now, LOL!)
The holidays is gearing up to be a great one for me, I can feel it! Thanks Kat for such an amazing, wonderful and super thoughtful gift!