Raissa Gorospe Photography

Pool Fun

2011-08-20T23:10:00.003+02:00

Robert Capa said "If your pictures aren't good enough, you aren't close enough." Getting in the pool with a non-weatherproof/waterproof camera just to get close might be a little nuts, then again, who can resist kids as cute as these?

Andrés, Caroline, Daniel (and Brooke), that was fun! Thanx for having me there!

Welcome To The World, Amanda Marie!

2011-07-15T17:19:00.004+02:00

Just a quick birth announcement... Albert and Angie, my brother and sister-in-law, have a new baby! Amanda Marie, named after her two grandmas (Amanda for Angie's mom and Marie from Marissa, our mom) was born on the 12th of July at 10:53p.m. PDT weighing 7 lbs. 12 oz.

Preciosa!

with Kuya (older brother) Andrew...

Congrats, A&A! Lots of besos y abrazos para los sobrinos from la tía!

From My Window...

2011-04-28T14:08:00.003+02:00

Van Gogh always painted the scene outside his window, it didn't matter where he was - be it in a mental institution or his childhood home. Well, lucky him, 'cause save from the windows I photographed a while back, there's really nothing remotely interesting with the view from MY apartment. Geez, I can't even tell if the guy in the building across the street is cute because there's a huge tree blocking the view. Actually, I can't even tell if it's a guy, HA! Ok, I digress...
One afternoon though, I was lucky enough to stumble upon this...

Needless to say, I made a mad dash for the camera...
Have a colorful Thursday, everyone!

43

2011-03-28T13:08:00.009+02:00

If you are someone who normally/occasionally checks out this blog or had looked at this blog before, especially late last year, you would already know that five months ago, my Mama went home to Heaven. Today would have been her and my dad's 43rd wedding anniversary. Well, I know Papa still considers it to be, so let me rephrase my previous statement. Today IS my parents' 43rd wedding anniversary, and in honor of that I thought I'd share with you some photos from last summer, their last time together in Madrid.

Happy times... In front of Puerta del Sol...

This next one was taken on Mama's birthday...

Chillaxin' in Parque del Retiro...

Another one in Retiro...

Maybe I will share with you the album I custom-designed for them some other time. But in the meantime I just want to say that while it's still hard for me to look at my Mama's photos, I will always, always be thankful that I had the chance to capture these images. I will cherish them forever.

おはよう (Ohayoo), Japan

2011-03-09T08:00:00.011+01:00

(Photographer's Note: Due to unavoidable circumstances, this post was not published last year as initially planned. Apologies to K&M...)

Japan... a land of contrasts, where modern and tradition co-exist with seamless ease, where people bow in greeting while toting the latest technology in their pockets, where you might see a kimono-clad person walking side-by-side someone in avant-garde, almost anime-like fashion. And so, if Japan is a land of contrasts, then my friend, Kyoko, is the quintessential Japanese. She is traditional in the sense that she has high regard for custom, possesses an incredible work ethic that the Japanese are famous for and is a stickler for proper social etiquette (in Japan anyway... Hey, no PDA in front of the parents!), but quite unconventional in her choices in life. Kyoko took Shakespeare/English lit in college, had previously lived and studied in Spain, worked in a Brazilian bank (where she learned a bit of Portuguese too), and is now married to a Peruvian named Miguel.

A common tomodachi (friend) introduced Kyoko and Miguel at a small gathering. Miguel said that he was pleasantly shocked by the fact that not only could this pretty Japonesa speak Spanish, but also that she does it really well, and that she's able to utter those palabrotas (swearwords) as well as any Spanish-speaking person here, there and everywhere could, must have impressed him (and endeared her to him) ‘cause he never let her out of his sight after that meeting. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Kyoko wanted Miguel to experience Spain, so they used the few vacation days that their busy working sked would allow. They were able to squeeze in a super-short photo session with me and we chose Plaza de Oriente for the shoot. After an encounter with some very persistent Chinese people doing massages (Miguel wanted to get a massage, and he did, Kyoko didn’t but relented after being pulled to a chair by the Chino) and having a brief spat about being charged way too much, we happily snapped some photos…

Doomo arigatoo gozaimasu, Kyoko & Miguel - That’s one of the five things I remember from Japanese class ;-P - for the amazing albeit short time we got to spend together. See you back in Madrid soon!

Gran Via this morning...

2011-01-17T21:15:00.002+01:00

was cold and somber, with this thick fog that would not lift... The Torre de Madrid, normally a commanding presence right smack where Gran Via ends and calle Princesa begins, was nowhere in sight. It was the exact image of how I feel at the moment - melancholy, uncertain of what's to come. How about you, reader? Have you ever come upon a scene or seen/taken a photograph that reflected how you felt at that very moment?

New Year

2011-01-01T01:11:00.005+01:00

... is about fresh starts, clean slates, new beginnings. It is about the road not yet taken. It is about continuing journeys and making new ones. May your new year be as happy, exciting and promising as you imagined it to be. Just make sure to be ready for those rainy days too... And as they say in that 1993 bob-sled movie - "Cool Runnings, Peace Be The Journey!" Feliz 2011!

photo by Andrew

2010-12-31T16:59:00.005+01:00

I want to end the year with a different photo, so I thought I'd share this one...

My nephew Andrew, whenever asked what he wants to be when he grows up, answers "I want to be a grown-up". Yes, folks... He doesn't say he wants to be a doctor or an architect or a fireman. Not even a profession involving cars and trucks, given his love for them. Of course, he's barely five years old. But that's what he wants: to be a grown-up. Now, if only grown men would have the same aspirations, huh?

But once in a while, when he sees my camera, he eagerly asks if he can hold it and take a picture. Or should I say, pictures. He doesn't do that a lot with point-and-shoots. He likes the massive beast that I call my "office". Anyway, this photo was taken by Andrew with my camera... Hey, who knows if we have a future grown-up photographer in the works? ;-P

Note: Crocs are his favorite footwear... We have a photo of last year's Crocs too.

Images From My Mama's Last Two Days...

2010-11-07T13:30:00.003+01:00

My Mama went to Heaven on October 30th. My Papa, sister Aline, brother Albert, nephew Andrew and I were there as she drew her last breath at exactly 12:25 p.m., marking the end of a brief but painful struggle with cancer.

She was diagnosed with a very aggressive type of colon cancer which had already metastasized to the liver (90% of which was affected). We were told that based on findings, she might have been carrying the disease for about two years now although it didn't manifest until a couple of months prior to her passing. She and my dad even visited me in Spain over the summer and aside from the aches and pains and other things that one would associate with aging, there was no clear indication that she was sick. We had a great time together. Little did we know that there was this dark cloud looming over us.

She had surgery on October 14th but the surgeon (who happened to be my uncle - my mom's cousin) found that it was already inoperable. The tumor in the colon was already attached to the pelvic floor and that the liver was already riddled with lesions. She was administered her first and only round of immunotherapy (a type of chemo) on October 19th. Unfortunately, her body didn't respond to the treatment. By October 24th, we were told that we were looking at one to two weeks and to prepare ourselves with what was to come. To know that a loved one is terminally ill is already heartbreaking. To be told that you have such little time with them is indescribable. To have to choose her casket even before she died was something that I never imagined doing, I wanted to run out of the funeral home when we got there. The day before her she passed, we started saying our goodbyes.

Even in pain, she was still a "mama"... She would ask us if we had already eaten or would tell us to get some food when she knew that we still hadn't. She would share her popsicles and ice creams with us. She would tell us to get some sleep. She would ask "pagod ka na?"/"are you tired?", worrying about my comfort, as she leaned against me during those times when she wanted to sit by the side of the bed after lying on her back for a long time. She said she'd cook my favorite food and some molo soup when she got better. She would notice the tiny stains on Papa's shirt (that he got from cooking meals). She even worried about the expenses at the hospital. A "mama" 'til the very end...

The following photos were taken during the last two days of my dear Mama's life.

October 28th: We set up the computer so she could Skype with family in the Philippines...

Her sister Carrie and niece Kitkat on Skype...

The tag that the nurses scanned whenever they had to take her vital signs, get her blood sugar reading, administer pain medication, etc.

October 29th: Asleep... She started sleeping a lot as her state declined...

with my Papa...

Me holding her hand...

Mama and Aline...

with her youngest, Albert...

one and only grandson, Andrew, kissing Mama...

with her younger brother, Tito Butch...

Tito Butch and sister-in-law Tita Minda saying a prayer...

I miss you already... But I know that from your special place in God's house right now, you know that you were, and will forever be, loved.

********************

On behalf of my family, I would like to thank our friends and relatives for the prayers and show of support, love and concern. Many thanks to Tito Butch, Tita Minda and the rest of their family for taking care of us while we were in Virginia; to Fr. Gaudi for the spiritual guidance and the help with coordinating with the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C.; to the Singleton Funeral Home for their services and for making the arrangements for her transport back to the Philippines; to the Filipinos in Virginia who came to the small viewing we had and to Tita Daisy and Tita Marissa for the food they prepared for our small gathering after the viewing. To all the doctors (Dr. Mario Stefanini, Drs. Joseph and Daisy Claustro, Dr. William Hunter and the rest), nurses, nurse aides, respiratory technicians and other medical staff assigned to my Mama at Clinch Valley Medical Center, our heartfelt gratitude for the care you gave her (and us) during her stay at the hospital.

Kyoko y Miguel: Sneak Peek

2010-10-01T19:00:00.000+02:00

Una de las fotos que hice de Kyoko y Miguel durante su mini-sesión fotográfica en Madrid...

More Mandy

2010-07-29T22:00:00.004+02:00

Mason and Melissa traveled thousands of miles (don't ask me how many, I suck at math, hahaha!) to be with family here in Spain and to do a pregnancy session and I was the lucky photographer chosen to shoot it. And lucky was I indeed! It was a one-of-a-kind session with this one-of-a-kind couple and the resulting photos prove that. Just so you know, the first half of our shoot consisted of some unconventional maternity photos and I'm really happy with what we were able to produce (you don't get to see them here on the blog though, sorry, but I've been given clearance to include them in my portfolio for potential clients of pregnancy shoots to see... Thanx, M & M!). For this type of session to happen again is probably like waiting for the Halley's Comet to make an appearance, hahaha! Well, hopefully not! So, without further ado, here are more photos from the Mandy Maternity shoot (from the 2nd half of the session) as promised...

Yes, it's a boy!

Melissa wanted a photo of Mason's booties on her belly...

Here's a long shot of the "hearts on the belly" photo that was in the sneak peek...

Then, we headed out to the embalse for more photos! We found this natural trellis in the wooded area nearby...

Can you spell "g-o-r-g-e-o-u-s"? Soon-to-be mommy Melissa by the water...

Baby M's mom and dad have perfected (if I may borrow the word coined on ANTM, a show that the three of us are guilty of watching, hahaha!), the "smize". No "dreck" faces here, people (again, from ANTM)! ;-)

A kiss for Baby M...

Ah, those tender moments...

And last but not the least, what comes to mind when you see a pregnant lady, a man and a bench?

This is the Mandy couple's "Notting Hill" moment (love that movie!). M & M, click on the photo to enlarge, zoom in and look for your surprise (and of course, if you change your mind about it, I can always re-do that part)...

Mason and Melissa, we all know there is no shortage of photographers in the States but still you traveled so many miles and placed in my hands your trust to capture the photographs of this first pregnancy. Thank you so much, I truly appreciate it! Best of luck to you both and I hope I get to meet Baby M in the near future... (",)

Belly Beautiful

2010-07-14T05:05:00.006+02:00

Photographers are often faced with certain restrictions when doing their jobs. One time at an event, a client said not to take photos of certain guests because they were not well-dressed. Strange request indeed, but oh-so-true. I've also received the occasional wagging of a finger when some people don't want to have their pictures taken. I even had someone say "no" to moving some furniture. But that's part of the job and we learn to make things work for us. Well, I knew Melissa and Mason wanted some "revealing" pregnancy photographs, so I was pretty stoked already... But on the day of the session, hearing Dr. Mandy suggest to his wife that shedding her clothes will show off her belly more, I knew I had hit the jackpot of maternity photo shoots!

Melissa and Mason are, to date, two of the most open-minded people I've had the privilege and pleasure of working with. I suppose it's the combination of their personalities (easy-going and uninhibited) and professions (they are, after all, a doctor and nurse duo) that made them want to have some unconventional photos taken. Whatever the case may be, one thing was certain - They clearly wanted to showcase the gorgeous belly that carries Baby M!

Well, unfortunately for you, dear blog visitors, the more intimate photos are reserved for the couple's eyes only (and perhaps a select few of their families and friends). Still, the following images are not your run-of-the-mill, roll-the-shirt-up-to-show-the-bump, let's-wrap-you-up-in-a-sheet kind... Hey, that's not really their (and my) style! ;-P

So, are you ready for some LOVELINESS?

Decisions, decisions... I like them both, so you get to see the two versions!

There's nothing sexier than wearing your husband's shirt, ladies!

USA and Spain meet the Philippines as this lovely lady who was born in the States and raised in Spain uses a mantón de Manila as cover-up...

A canvas print of a section of Gustav Klimt's Three Ages of Woman is seen in the background... Quite appropriate for Melissa's condition, don't you think?

Beautiful people... Need I say more?

So, folks, this is the first installment from this maternity shoot. A second part to follow soon! Keep your eyes peeled... (",)

Mandy Maternity: Sneak Peek

2010-06-25T18:33:00.008+02:00

Man! Normally, I post ONE foto for sneak peeks, but in this case, I couldn't decide which to choose... Well, it's my blog so I can break my own rules, right? (",)

I ♥ this photo shoot!

The bump "peeking" from behind a tree...

The lovely parents-to-be, Mason & Melissa...

I hope you like this sampling from your shoot, guys. Meantime, Tanti Auguri on your upcoming birthday, Mason! Enjoy your first trip to Roma, Melissa!

Turnbough Kids' Summer Shoot (Part 1)

2010-06-22T12:30:00.013+02:00

Well now, who knew kids preferred the playground? Ha! Mom Brooke wanted some photos of her kiddos among the wildflowers, but guess what? They weren’t too crazy about the grassy lot! There were swings and slides nearby and they wanted to go there instead. The boys did fine, but little Miss Curlilocks didn’t want to be anywhere near the prickly thingies. And then, dark clouds came rolling in and thunderclaps threatened rain. Alas, things didn’t go as planned (so we headed home for some much-needed brownies, hahaha!). But still, cuteness is cuteness no matter what your mood is, agree or disagree?

Andrés, 1-2-3, blow!

Caroline sat in the prickly grass for two seconds before crying...

Daniel aka Mr. Curious...

Brooke's mom, Debbi (Mimi to the grandkids), was in Spain for a visit...

Miss Curlilocks in her own backyard minutes before the rain came... She was happy there!

Well, hopefully this is just Part 1 and another to come soon! (",)

Happy Birthday, Leng!

2010-06-18T14:11:00.008+02:00

I was hoping to take/post another image for this entry, but the weather here has not been cooperating. So in the meantime, this will have to do... Happy birthday, sis! (",)

Aline at her favorite spot in Madrid

Rania: Sneak Peek

2010-05-27T02:00:00.003+02:00

Rania, en su vestido de comunión... No pude decidir cuál me gustaba más - la versión en color o en blanco y negro, así que subí las dos. Y vosotros, ¿qué opináis? (",)

Flower Power & an Hommage to Three Great Painters

2010-05-19T01:19:00.011+02:00

Hola there! It’s been a while since my last post. I've been quite moody lately (loads of things on my mind), I’ve also been occupied with obligations that needed to be fulfilled. The blasted weather didn’t help (yeah, blame it on the weather). It had been really crappy, rainy and cold, the kind that makes you just want to crawl under the covers, and stay there! But yay, por fin, the sun has decided to come out of its hiatus, hallelujah! So anyway, to those who are wondering and even to those who don't really care, I’m still alive, people!

Well, now being spring and all, I’ve been seeing a lot of flower pictures on blogs and Facebook, so I reckon I should post some too, right? But “Raissa-style”, of course! Which is what, exactly? I don't know... Crazy, unusual and sometimes a bit of a mess, I guess, albeit a hot mess, hehehe! ;-P

These fotos remind me of certain things that I've seen in the paintings of Van Gogh, Monet and Degas. So it is only appropriate that this post be an hommage to them. Let me be clear though... I don't profess to be an art expert, OK? Just in case someone feels the need to bash my "observations"... So, here they are, flowers by moi...

In 2007, my sister and I were fortunate enough to see a collection at the Thyssen Bornemisza showcasing the paintings Van Gogh made during the last 70 days of his life. The thing that made a huge impression on me was the intensity of his brush strokes, like he was in an hurry. Perhaps he knew he was on a deadline of some sort... Well, the first two images here remind me of that intensity. They also make me think of the swirls he used in Starry Night (which I have yet to see!).

flowers4VanGogh1

flowers4VanGogh2

In what seems like a gazillion years ago (six really, but it seems like forever already), I sat across one of Monet's waterlilies paintings at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC and I stared at it for, well, I don't really know how long. I wasn't analyzing it, I just sat there and stared. You would have to be a serious dumbbell not to know that Monet's use of colors is amazing, and let me tell you... I was mesmerized. Anyway, while these are obviously not waterlilies, the colors in this foto remind me of that brilliant work of art that I couldn't take my eyes off...

flowers4Monet

Tutu! Doesn't this image look like tutu 2 Ü? It does to me! So of course, Degas and his ballerinas come to mind when I look at this...

flowers4Degas

Well, there you have it! That's my take on flower power in this merry/moody month of May... If anyone's interested in prints, let me know. I hope you're all having a great spring season! (",)

Four decades and two years ago..

2010-03-28T19:00:00.010+02:00

Each couple has their own tale to tell. For my parents, considering the times they were in (the 60s) and their backgrounds and upbringings, it was almost unlikely that they would even have a story today. My father, Manolo, was from the province while my mother, Marissa, was a city girl. He was poor; she came from an upper middle-class (some would even say rich) family. Their families, oddly enough, knew each other. Papa wanted to go to law school in Manila, so he traveled to the city and was given lodgings at my maternal grandparents’ house. He paid his dues by helping out around the house - cleaning, cooking and whatever else that needed to be done...

He'd had 30 girlfriends already before they met; she had yet to have a boyfriend. Needless to say, he stopped looking when he met her. She was his 31^stand last, as he still fondly says when he recounts that story; he was her first. As expected, Lola Claudia and Lolo Luis ("lola" and "lolo" mean grandmother and grandfather in Tagalog) disapproved of the relationship. As with all their children, they wanted Mama to marry into a family of equal or higher standing. So what did my parents do? They eloped. They got married twice, in fact. First in a civil ceremony and a couple of months later in a small and simple church wedding on this very day, 42 years ago. And thus began a journey of a lifetime…

Mama and Papa, Happy 42^nd Wedding Anniversary and more to come! I’m glad (and I’m sure my siblings feel the same way) that God made your different worlds meet. Thank you for your love, caring and generosity. I love you!

Sneak Peek: Nagrampa Silver Wedding Anniversary

2010-02-27T14:30:00.002+01:00

A photo of my friends, Yette & Jun, taken at their renewal of vows on the occasion of their silver wedding anniversary.

Una foto de mis amigos, Yette y Jun, en la celebración del aniversario de su boda de plata.

To a special guy on this special day...

2010-02-14T19:30:00.005+01:00

Last year I met a special guy – definitely cute, super sweet, really charming, incredibly smart and to make things even extra special, he was born on Hearts’ Day. The first time I ever laid eyes on him, he was in a white T-shirt, gray shorts and Crocs… Yes, yellow-green Crocs! With head slight bowed, he stuck his tongue out – something he apparently does when he gets shy. He had been told about me though, and when he said my name, the dimples came out. “Tita Raissa!”, he exclaimed, followed by a big hug and kiss. I thought it would take a while before he warmed up to me, but we were fast friends. So yes, one Sunday in November last year, I met my dear nephew, Andrew Manuel, for the first time.

You see, when I left the Philippines in 2006 to go back to school in Spain, Andrew was still in his mommy’s belly. I was only able to return to Manila last year after receiving my residencia. So, during the first 3 years of my nephew’s life, I only saw snippets of it through the stories I was told and the pictures and videos I was shown. This little guy went through a lot even before he was born. My sister-in-law was hospitalized five months into her pregnancy because of some complications and had to remain there ‘til she gave birth to Andrew at 28 weeks. They said he was just about the length of a half-liter soda bottle. His first few weeks were spent in the sterile confines of an incubator in the preemie nursery. Then at barely 5 months old, his parents found out he was suffering from Hirschsprung disease and had to have a major surgery, which thank God was carried out successfully. Now he is doing amazingly well.

Andrew is a lively and talkative kid. He didn't speak right away though, even the common Mama or Dada. Zero, zip, nada. Now there's no stopping him from talking! He sings his A-B-Cs always followed by Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, and just about any song you teach him. Taught by his Papa (grandpa) Manuel of an oldies Eddie Fisher song, he can sing the line "Oh, my Papa" in correct tune. And with feelings! His teacher says he has a vocabulary of a five-year old. His class was recently taught the pledge of allegiance of the United States. Now, every time he’s on the phone or on Skype, he recites the entire thing to anyone who’s listening!

Andrew loves just about any type of vehicle and to him, they’re not just plain old “bus” or “car” or “truck”. This boy is a dictionary when it comes to those things. He can tell you or even CORRECT you should you get it wrong (and he actually did that to his teacher once) which is a bulldozer or a backhoe. Hello! Backhoe? Do 3 or 4-year old kids know that, or even adults, for that matter? But what floored me was the fact that when he sees the real thing, he can tell you the maker just by looking at the logo… Yup, Caterpillar, Mercedes, Volkswagen, Mitsubishi… You name it, he knows it!

I tried to teach him a few Spanish words, like “what’s red in Spanish?” to which he would say“rojo” or the sentences “Me llamo Andrew. Tengo 3 años”. He learned them after just a few tries. I would say “muy bien” whenever he got it right. The funny thing was, he started adding MUY BIEN to the sentences too!

Quite an inquisitive boy, Andrew likes to ask the question, "What's that mean?" A LOT. This is usually followed by, "Why?" and more whys.

Don't call him baby. He doesn't like this B-word. He'll tell you the correct B-words to use by blurting out, "I'M NOT A BABY. I'M A BIG BOY!"

Of course, I took photos of him... Here are some of them:

His favorite footwear...

Being shy...

He insisted there was a "telescope" at the tower... ;-P

He likes to make faces...

Praying... "Mama Mary, please buy me toys at S.M.!" He made that up!

In a fit of giggles... One of my favorite photos...

There are miracles in life. Andrew is one. Bless this child...

Happy 4th Birthday, dearest Andong!!!

And Happy Hearts’ Day to all!

Scarlet & Paul: Sneak Peek

2010-01-25T00:00:00.007+01:00

Here's one for the lovely couple, Scarlet and Paul, taken at the Global City in Taguig, Philippines.

Aquí tenemos una foto de la pareja hermosa, Scarlet y Paul, tomada en la Global City en Taguig, Filipinas.

Sneak Peek: Tan family

2010-01-19T15:48:00.000+01:00

The Tan family at the Tagaytay Highlands, Philippines.

La familia Tan en Tagaytay Highlands, Filipinas.

Feliz 2010

2010-01-17T17:48:00.005+01:00

Hello, everyone! Sorry for the absence of posts lately. I was in the Philippines to visit my family and friends during the holidays and I just got back here. It's been quite a challenge adjusting to the change in temperature and getting over jet lag. Anyway, I just wanted to let you all know that I'm back in Madrid. Give me a ring if you have any events or sessions in mind you want photographed. Meantime, Happy 2010 to all!

¡Hola! Siento no haber puesto ninguna entrada últimamente. Estuve en Filipinas durante las Navidades y acabo de llegar a Madrid. Ha sido bastante difícil acostumbrarme al cambio de temperatura y recuperarme del "jet lag". En fin, ya estoy aquí, así que si necesitáis una fotógrafa para un evento o estáis pensando en hacer una sesión un día de estos, dadme un toque o mandadme un correo electrónico. ¡Feliz 2010 a todos!

Andrew Manuel: Sneak Peek

2009-12-09T18:42:00.006+01:00

My nephew/Mi sobrino, Andrew Manuel...

Happy 1st Birthday!

2009-11-28T07:00:00.001+01:00

A year ago, fraternal twins Caroline and Daniel, entered not only the lives of their families but mine as well and I must say, it's been quite a joyride ever since: from meeting and holding them for the first time at the hospital when they were born and shooting their first official portraits at nine days old (check out the first 3 baby photos on this link) 'til now that they're eating solid food, walking or crawling really, really fast, making baby talk and just simply getting to watch them develop their own personalities... I'm so glad I get to be a part of their lives and I happily declare myself an unofficial aunt to these two adorable children and their equally adorable older brother, Andrés.

Here are the birthday portraits chosen by their mom and dad for this post...

When Daniel laughs, he really LAUGHS! You can almost hear the laughter in this photo...

Sweet Miss Caroline and one of her pensive looks... Charming!

Thanks once again, Brooke and Matthew, for letting me document this milestone in the lives of your kids.

Maligayang Kaarawan (Happy Birthday, Feliz Cumpleaños) Caroline at Daniel! (",)

Mabuhay!

2009-11-23T04:25:00.002+01:00

Hey there, RGP blog friends! I just wanted to announce that I'm here in Manila on vacation and for those of you interested, I'm available to do photo sessions. Just email me or send me an SMS at (0917) 600-8393. Thanx! (",)

Mischa Claire's Christening

2009-10-09T09:09:00.007+02:00

Events like christenings, communions and if you're lucky enough, weddings, happen only once in a lifetime. So it's so cool when people invest in a custom-made album containing beautiful photographs from that special day. After all, after the cake has been eaten, the clothes and shoes have been kept in a box most likely never to be worn again, and the giveaways have been, well, given away, that album is the only thing that we can go back to time and time again. This is precisely what Mischa Claire's parents decided to do for their daughter's joint christening and first birthday celebrations. Check out some of the photos from that day...

The outfits (MC had two sets)...

The giveaways, invites and baptismal card...

The baptismal rite...

with Mama and Papa...

Guests at the dinner reception...

Checkin' out her cake...

Mario, Rachelle and Mischa, thanx for choosing me as your photographer on this momentous occasion. All the best to your family! (",)

One for Mischa Claire

2009-10-05T03:03:00.006+02:00

A photo of Mischa Claire being baptized...

Una foto del bautizo de Mischa Claire...

Why I am a photographer today

2009-09-15T05:48:00.006+02:00

My parents (Manolo & Marissa) during their Madrid visit in 2008...

This may come as a surprise to my father, but he plays a significant role in why I am a photographer today. I believe I got my love for photography from him. You see, we both love photographs. We love being in them, looking at them, taking them. We both like to organize our photos in albums. I dabbled in scrapbooking before I went into photography full time while Papa is still at it. If he isn’t working on some legal matter, you’ll find him in his tiny workroom, pasting pictures on scrapbooks at 4 o’clock in the morning. I recall how excited I was when he and my mom gave me my first camera when I was 10, just in time for my first and only trip to the U.S. as a child, just a small black one, the kind that needed a cube bulb as flash (ooopppsss, did I just reveal my age?). I don’t think there was ever an occasion, a trip or a gathering that wasn’t documented by him with a camera, a task that was eventually handed over to me. We even resisted the digital format for as long as we could because we preferred (and still do actually) looking at tangible prints to images on a screen. I bought my first DSLR just two years ago and he stopped using film and bought a compact digital camera only because his trusty old Advantix got stolen (stupid thief too, who on earth steals an Advantix???).

It is said that a parent’s legacy is his or her child’s future. Today, on my father’s birthday, the only gift I can think of is to thank him for paving the way, albeit unknowingly on his part, for me to discover my true professional destiny. I am what I am today – a memory keeper, an image-maker, a photographer – because of you. Happy birthday, Papa!

Andrés is 3

2009-09-07T15:00:00.003+02:00

Os presento el birthday boy... ¡Ya tiene 3 añitos!

Muy Andrés... So Andrew...

Con Papá y Mamá...

Con sus hermanos, Carolina y Daniel, y los abuelos, Jeff y Susana que también celebran sus cumples esta semana...

La tarta... d-e-l-i-s-h!

Los regalos...

Los invitados...

¡Feliz cumple, Andrés!

Wanna bet?

2009-08-20T16:25:00.000+02:00

So, how did an independent young woman who happened to dislike happy-go-lucky guys hook up with a skirt chaser?

Flashback, 1973, Free Will Baptist Bible College, Nashville, Tennessee. Their story, funny enough, started with a bet and a plan to get even. Jeff had broken up with one of Susan’s friends so one night, the girls decided to give him a dose of his own medicine. The one who got the shortest straw would get him to fall in love with her and then leave him. Unbeknownst to the girls, at the guys’ dorm, Jeff and his friends were making bets on who can get a date with a young lady named Susan. Well, how do you think this story panned out?

Fast-forward, 2009, Madrid, Spain. Jeff and Susan are still together! Talk about kismet! This is their 34^th year of marriage and they have been living a truly blessed life. They travel the world tirelessly for the service of God and good, they raised two amazing and talented children who are married to two equally amazing people. They are grandparents to three of the cutest children on earth (and a grandog!), and are treasured friends to those whose lives they’ve touched and continue to touch.

Ok, people! Are you ready to see what still being in love looks like after 34 years of marriage? :-)

This is Jeff, contemplating God's handiwork in La Pedriza...

Susan has an amazing smile... You can really tell that it comes from the heart.

Love. Amor. Pag-ibig... However you call it, they have it.

Susan: "Jeff, say s..." ;-P

And this last one is my absolute favorite!

Jeff and Susan, thanks for trusting me to take your 34th anniversary photos. Here’s to the next 34! Cheers! (",)

Allyssa's Christening

2009-08-19T20:19:00.005+02:00

Allyssa is Ryan's cousin. They were actually baptized on the same evening and had a joint dinner reception afterwards. Here are some of the photos of Allyssa being christened...

Ryan's Baptism

2009-08-18T20:08:00.002+02:00

This past Sunday evening, Ryan Ganaden became a Christian Catholic. The third son of Dante and Maria was such a trooper - not a single tear was shed as the cura poured water onto his head. Here are some of the photos of the baptismal rite...

Welcome to the world of Christianity, Ryan!

One for Ryan

2009-08-17T13:30:00.002+02:00

A photo of Ryan being christened last night...

Una foto del bautizo de Ryan...

Jeff & Susan: Sneak Peek

2009-08-13T21:00:00.004+02:00

Steven & Anna in Madrid

2009-07-13T18:00:00.012+02:00

One fine day in May, I received an email from a guy in England inquiring about the possibility of having a session done while he and his wife were in Madrid on a mini-vacation. It was to be a birthday gift for her. I promptly answered the email for the following reasons:

(a) I thought it was a sweet and unique gift (Usually, women plan these things, and the men just go along… So guys, take a hint!), and

(b) he was asking me to do two things that I love – show them a little bit of my Madrid and take photos!

I met up with Steven and Anna early morning on June 13th for their photo shoot. I was secretly worried that they wouldn’t like the city. Upon exiting the metro late Friday night they were greeted with a rather surprising first Madrid sighting – Gran Via teeming with its “ladies of the night”. Then, on the day of the shoot, we saw the aftermath of the previous night’s botellón (beer cans, broken glass bottles, cigarette butts, vomit… ICK!), a couple having a very physical fight (I mean really hitting each other) which I can only assume was a lovers’ quarrel, and if we want to add a group of trannies hanging out on a street corner for more shock factor… Definitely not the stuff you see in tourist books!

Well, thankfully, as the shoot went on and throughout the rest of their stay, they were able to see the pretty side of Spain’s capital and had an amazing time here. I’d say they truly had the TOTAL Madrid experience! Here are some photos from their session:

Married 4 years with 2 super cute kids (they showed me a photo)... Don't they look like they just got hitched yesterday? :-)

Out and about the city...

Mirror, mirror on the MNCARS wall...

Anna and Steven, thank you for choosing me as your photographer for your Madrid photos. It was indeed a pleasure meeting and working with you both and I hope you come back soon!

Español:

En un día de mayo, recibí un correo electrónico de una persona de Inglaterra que quería informarse sobre la posibilidad de hacer una sesión fotográfica con su mujer mientras ellos estaban de vacaciones en Madrid. Dijo que iba a ser su regalo para el cumpleaños de su esposa. Le escribí en seguida animándole con las razones siguientes:

(a) Yo pensaba que seria un regalo único y cariñoso (Normalmente, son las mujeres que planean estas sesiones y los hombres las siguen, así que, chicos, ¡tomad nota!) y

(b) Me pidió que hiciera dos cosas que me encantan hacer – enseñarles un poco de Madrid y sacar fotos!

El 13 de junio, quedé con Steven y Anna muy temprano para la sesión. En realidad, me preocupaba de que no les gustara la ciudad. Cuando ellos llegaron el viernes por la noche, al salir de la boca del metro, la primera cosa que vieron de Madrid fue la de Gran Vía, pero llena de las mujeres que “trabajan” por la noche. Al día siguiente, de camino al primer sitio elegido para las fotos, vimos las secuelas del botellón de la noche anterior (latas de cerveza, botellas rotas, cigarros, vómito…), una pelea violenta, supongo que entre una pareja amorosa, y si queremos añadir más al “shock factor”, un grupo de travestís pasando el tiempo en una esquinita… Definitivamente, esto no es la clase de información que se puede ver en los libros turísticos!

Menos mal que a lo largo de nuestro tiempo juntos y en el resto de su visita, ellos pudieron ver el lado bello de la capital de España y se lo pasaron muy bien aquí. ¡Puedo decir que tuvieron una experiencia total de Madrid!

Anna y Steven, gracias por elegirme como vuestra fotógrafa en Madrid. Fue un placer conoceros y fotografiaros y espero que volváis a Madrid pronto.

Happy Birthday, Ma!

2009-07-02T00:01:00.009+02:00

To the woman who bore all 7 lbs. 4 oz. of me, who brought me hot lunch every single day of my school life ‘til high school (much to the envy of my classmates), who helped me review for my tests (I wasn’t a bright student), who proudly said to the aunt of the 3rd place winner in an elocution contest that I, HER daughter won 1st place (my one rare moment of glory), who still somehow takes care of me even from thousands of miles away and still puts up with me today… Woman, daughter, sister, teacher, wife, mother, and yes, she's a cancer survivor too… Happy birthday, Ma!

Feliz Cumple, Brooke y Mateo

2009-06-22T21:51:00.005+02:00

Esta foto está dedicada a Brooke y Mateo...

This photo is dedicated to Brooke and Matthew...

"June 18, Happy Birthday to me!"

2009-06-18T00:00:00.004+02:00

This was the response of my sister, Aline, every time she was asked when her birthday was when she was a kid. Already so eloquent at 2...

Well, as you can see, today is June 18th so let’s talk a bit about the birthday girl.

Aline is extremely intelligent. I think when God showered the world with intelligence, she had buckets surrounding her (I, on the other hand, had an umbrella over my head, hahaha!).

She was a great “mom” to her two dachshunds – Cupcake and Francis. Sadly, both of her “babies” already passed on. They’re at the Rainbow Bridge now. :-(

She's an excellent writer. Her letters (emphasis on the “s”) to our ISP when she complained about the one-cent discrepancy in our bill are testament to this fact. ;-P

She's a great support not only to me but my photography as well.

She loves Egyptian culture. In fact, her dream vacation is to go to Egypt.

Well, since I can’t afford a plane ticket to Egypt just yet, here’s the next best thing – some photos of her favorite place here in Madrid… Happy birthday, sis!

"June 18, Happy Birthday to me!": Esta era siempre la respuesta de mi hermana, Aline, cada vez que alguien le preguntaba sobre su cumpleaños cuando era niña. Ya tan elocuente a los dos años...

Pues, como hoy es el 18 de junio, hablamos un poco de ella.

Aline es muy inteligente. Creo que cuando Dios colmó al mundo de la inteligencia, ella tenia cubos a su alrededor (Yo, por otra parte, llevaba paraguas, ¡jajaja!).

Ella era una mamá estupenda a sus perros – Cupcake y Francis. Desgraciadamente, los dos ya murieron y están en el Puente de Arco iris. :-(

Es una escritora excelente. Sus cartas (énfasis en la “s”) de reclamación sobre la discrepancia de un céntimo en nuestra factura de Internet son evidencias de esta realidad. ;-P

Es un gran apoyo no solo a mi sino a mi fotografía también.

A ella le encanta la cultura egipcia. De hecho, su deseo es irse de vacaciones al Egipto.

Bueno, como aún no tengo el dinero para comprarle un billete de avión, aquí está la alternativa – fotos de su lugar favorito en Madrid… Feliz cumple, hermana!

Anna & Steven: Sneak Peek

2009-06-14T01:52:00.002+02:00

Just a hint of what's to come... I'll see you both on Mon... oooppppsss, Tuesday, hahaha! I hope you're enjoying your vacation here in Madrid. Happy birthday, Anna! (",)

Una pista de lo que os espera. Os veré el lun… oooppppsss, el martes, jajaja! Espero que estéis disfrutando de las vacaciones aquí en Madrid. ¡Feliz cumpleaños, Anna!

The Turnbough Twins

2009-06-09T19:05:00.002+02:00

La primera vez que fotografié a Carolina y Daniel, ellos solo tenían 9 días (ve sus imágenes en la entrada de 28 de abril - “Sobre Fotografía Lifestyle”). Mira cómo han crecido… Son preciosos y están para comérselos. Gracias, Brooke y Mateo por permitirme hacer fotos de vuestra familia. ¡Espero que hagamos más sesiones en el futuro!

The first time I photographed Caroline and Daniel, they were just 9 days old (see their images in the April 28th post - “Sobre Fotografía Lifestyle”). Look at how they’ve grown... They’re adorable and oh-so-yummy. Thanx, Brooke and Matthew, for letting me take photos of your family. I look forward to doing more sessions in the future!

Little Miss Caroline...

Sweet Daniel...

Los detalles también cuentan

2009-06-01T00:35:00.005+02:00

¿Sabes cómo un conjunto no está completo sin los complementos adecuados? Por ejemplo, pensamos en qué bolso queremos llevar (el Louis Vuitton o el Gucci… ¡Ojalá fuera así!), o si nos ponemos unos tacones o los planos… ¿los Manolos o los Louboutin, hhhmmmm? En mis sueños, ¡Jajaja!

Pues, en cierto modo, es lo mismo con las bodas. Cada detalle importa – desde los zapatos que apenas asoman debajo del vestido de la novia hasta la comida que los camareros maniobran de mesa a mesa (para servir). Ya que los novios dedican tanto tiempo, esfuerzo y dinero en los detalles, también los fotógrafos deberíamos dar la misma importancia para fotografiarlos. Además, después de que se hayan ido los invitados y la escultura de hielo se haya derretido, solo quedarán las fotografías para recordarles de ese día tan especial. En este “post”, pongo algunas fotos de los detalles que hice en la boda de M y J en Boadilla del Monte. Gracias a los novios por permitirme mostrarlas en este blog y gracias a Elia por invitarme a ser la segunda fotógrafa en esta boda.

You know how an outfit is not entirely complete without the right accessories? We put thought in which purse to choose (Louis Vuitton or Gucci… I wish!), if we should wear heels or flats, the Manolos or Louboutins, hhhmmmm? In my dreams! Hahaha!

Well, for weddings, it’s the same. Every little thing counts – from the shoes that barely peek out from the bottom of the bride’s dress to the food the wait staff masterfully maneuver from table to table to serve. Since most couples spend time, effort and money in choosing these details, it’s only right that as photographers we put some focus on recording them. After all, after the guests are gone and the ice sculpture has become a puddle of water, what remains are the photographs to remind them of their special day. With the permission of the very private couple (Thanks, M & J), I’m sharing with you some of the detail shots I took at their wedding in Boadilla del Monte. Special thanks to Elia for making me her second shooter at the wedding.

Ghostly Lights

2009-05-23T19:12:00.004+02:00

Ventanas de un edificio cerca de mi piso…

Windows of a building near my apartment…

Estaba jugando con la cámara y me salieron estas imagenes. ¿Quién dice que no puedes hacer fotos interesantes de ventanas sencillas y antiguas como estas? (“,)

Just playin’ around with my camera… These are the resulting images. Who says you can’t make interesting photos out of plain old windows? (“,)

You say "tomato", I say "tomate"

2009-05-14T21:15:00.005+02:00

To all my English-speaking friends/readers who follow this blog, wherever in the world you may be… I’ve been asked several times now if there’s an option to translate the blog entries to English. People tend to overlook this, but, in fact, every post HAS an English translation of the Spanish text and rest assured, all future posts will include an English version. I hope this clears things up for everyone! Happy viewing and reading! (“,)

Si Helen de Troya fuera un niño, se llamaría… Andrés.

2009-05-08T00:15:00.009+02:00

Digo esto porque estoy convencida de que las chicas se van a pelear por su atención dentro de unos años. ¿No crees que sea uno de los niños más monos en este planeta? ¡Ah que sí!

[If Helen of Troy were a boy, he would be named... Andrew. I say this because I'm convinced that girls will be fighting to get his attention not too long from now. Isn't he one of the cutest kids on this planet? For sure!]

A él le encanta jugar con las burbujas...
[He loves playing with bubbles…]

En esta foto, cogió una flor y me la dio, qué dulce!
[In this photo, he picked a flower and gave it to me! Sweet!]

En serio, este niño será un rompecorazones algun día. ;-)
[Seriously, this little guy will be a heart breaker someday.] ;-)

Sobre Fotografía Lifestyle

2009-04-28T20:00:00.020+02:00

Natural. Espontánea. Relajada. Estas palabras describen a la perfección mi manera de captar mis sujetos. Las sesiones se hacen con luz natural o la luz que tenga a disposición en ese momento, siempre en un ambiente familiar, acogedor o de especial interés para ti (ya sea en tu casa, en un jardín/parque o en algún lugar de tu barrio). Son ocasiones para que tú seas tu mismo y oportunidades para convertir esos instantes en recuerdos únicos y memorables. Aquí tienes algunos ejemplos:

Natural. Spontaneous. Relaxed. This is how I aim to capture my subjects in their lifestyle photos. The sessions are done using natural or available light, in an environment that is familiar or of special interest to you – be it in your home or backyard, a park you frequently visit or simply a favorite corner in your neighborhood. It’s just you being you and turning those instances into unique and lasting keepsakes. Here are a few samples:

ADULTOS/ADULTS

BEBÉS/BABIES

NIÑOS/KIDS

FAMILIAS/FAMILIES

A quick shout-out!

2009-04-26T16:25:00.003+02:00

Before I place my first official post in this blog, I just want to give a quick shout-out to Matthew for your help with the text, Ray for customizing the blog header, Elia for your expert guidance and all those who have been very supportive about my photography (you know who you are)! Mil gracias a todos!