My Friends

Besides building my photography business and portfolio, my internship introduced me to 2 upcoming and amazing photographers, and gave me 3 new friends. Read more about them here.



Julia Mary from Minnesota.



Jessica Shae from Texas.






Kristen - super amazing - Leigh







These girls are all soo beautiful, hilarious and amazing photographers.
PTL for new friends.

Big News!!!

It's already Saturday and my week of interning with the fabulous Kristen Leigh has already ended. But I'm sure this is only the beginning to a amazing journey.

My new blog is official up, and I'll be updated about my internship and all my photography stuff on there. And no, don't worry .. I don't plan on closing off this blog any time soon, it'll just contain more personal stuff and inspiration {as originally intended}. So stick around, or head on over to my new blog, which ever you do thanks for stopping by and I heart you!!!

Amazing internship ... and only half way through.

This week is only half way over and

I feel like I've learned so so much already.

Not only have I learned sooo much about the business aspect of photography, my photography is definitely looking better too {I took this shot on our first night while on a shoot, this couple was too adorable}. Watching Kristen at work & and picking at her oh so wonderful brain has been nothing but amazing. As for the other interns, they are just super sweet and super super talented. I can't wait to start another wonderful day with them, and even spend the night at Kristen's. {Plus, her family rocks!} There's soo much more to be shared but that my dear friend is on its way! Happy Wednesday to you!

-The Filippino Intern .. hehe

The Count Down

Just one more day.

My pulse gets faster every time I think about it, and it's nearly here. Just one more day till Monday. Just one more day till my internship with Kristen Leigh. Where just a few months ago I was admiring Kristen Leigh's work from a distance, and now I'll be learning from her and working with an amazing group of girls who'll be flying in from all over. I don't know if I'm more excited than I am nervous or vise versa. Which ever it is I can hardly wait for Monday to get here.

SUMMER INTERNSHIP FUN!!!

It's been along time coming, but it's finally starting to sink in ...

I've got myself a photography internship this summer!!!!!!!!!!!

And remember that I had some exciting news about 

Kristen Leigh that I wanted to share very soon???

Well, the news is that I've been blessed with the opportunity to intern for Kristen Leigh this summer! YAY!!! There are 3 other gals who'll be with me, learning, growing, and having fun ... all with a pro to guide us and just have a good time with. I am beyond excited, and beyond blessed because the slots for interns were few, but God definitely made a way. Ekkkkssss!!! Praise God!!!  

{I can't wait for July to get here!}

Magazine runner up ...... AGAIN

I got runner up again for yet another Washingtonian Magazine Photo contest. Sweeeeet.

The Board Room & Coporate Photography

It's taken me awhile to find the confidence to finally post this up, but yes ...

A while back I had my first "Board Room" meeting with my "big sister" Ate Gertrude, here's why.
 

The Board Room meeting we had awhile back was a meeting to jump start my involvement with her company. My Ate Gertrude works for a contracting firm that does renovations for businesses and they need a photographer to take pictures of the spaces they've renovated in use as well as provide the company's newer clients visual examples of their current work. More photos ... more freelance, Praise God.

My first shoot was back in February, and my second shoot is tomorrow. YAY!

A Florida affair

I spent the weekend in Florida. And though I had a pretty good time, I'm so glad my feet are back on the ground and that I'm home.



Though so much didn't go as planned, the wedding was lovely and that's what mattered.
There is so much to share, but so little time. I'm just blessed to be home.

Goodnight Lights

Stunning.

iHeartFaces Giveaway

iHeartFaces + Photojojo = Free Giveaway!!!

They are giving away either this awesome frame, or this fun tripod.

My other favorites from Photojojo's rockstar store are this Spy lens, the Eye-fi wireless cards, and

... the magnetic photo rope.

Check out: iHeartFaces and Photojojo!

I'm a runner up!!!!!

Not a finalist, nor a winner ... but my oh my

I'll gladly take runner up for a Washingtonian Magazine Contest any day!

Along with four others I ended up being a runner up!!! This just made my week.

10 days ago my best friend sent me a link to a photo contest she thought I should take a look at or even enter. And so I took her advice and entered. I didn't think much would happen and to be honest I actually forgot about it since entering the contest so this was such a surprise.

Check out the finalist and place your vote,

or see the work from the other runner ups!

Suffice it to say we love our city.

edit:: the original blog entry this image was posted in

Eye Want

This.

A morning with Ms. Sunshine

I'm finally updating about one of two freelance opportunities I've had in the last two weeks. I'm finished with my earlier freelance project but I haven't had the will to blog it, but the second of the two I'm much more confident about and ready to share. Over the weekend I some how managed to fit in an early morning photo shoot with a girlfriend of mine. Mind you we haven't really talked in awhile and I'm honestly not sure when the last time we actually saw each other was {maybe the Filippino Festival during last summer}. It was all planned out a little last minute, but it worked out just fine.

This beautiful is Mr. Sheena "all grown up". She's been like a little sister to me since the youth retreats we use to go to back in the day. And even now, being in her company is like being surrounded by sunshine. Her smile is always so infectious, and she's always so lovely, plus she's got both brains and talent for days. But most of all she's genuine and real.

Spending the morning together we got to talk about a lot and found out that we've got much more in common than we knew. If I had a doppleganger {and not an evil one} I'd think it'd be Sheena, we've got that much in common. {For example I have a Tim and she has a Tim .. hahah} But all jokes aside she could pass for a younger version of me, but I'm certain that her genuine kindness and sweetness surpasses my own on any given day.

Might I add, we are both kindda silly at time and it was great fun to let loose while working.

Especially when we found pretty places to play!

Ok last headshot...

This one makes me laugh {not because of Sheena beautiful face} but because it totally reminded me of those bad high school portraits we use to take with fake backgrounds and dread in all our teenage angst. I even added a little vinette to polish it off. HAHA.

Sheena was such a delight to work with and I'm soo glad everything turned out wonderfully, even better than planned. She even mentioned to me that she felt very comfortable working with me and I know how hard it is to feel natural or comfortable in front of the camera so I'm soo glad I could do that for her and I hope I make all my clients feel the same way she did. I love this girl to pieces, she's such a sweetheart and she's grown up to be even more beautiful both inside and out. I'm glad I was able to see all that she's turned out to be and I can't wait to see what else God does with her. {Maybe we should travel together Sheena!} Hehehe. I wish you all the best my dear and I pray that God continues to bless you fully and that all your heart desires will come true too.

My First Love

When it comes to photography ... my first love has and will always be black and white film.

I'm not sure how I stumbled upon these old prints, but I'm glad I did. Seeing them reminded me how much I loved developing my own film, my own photos and even mounting my own work. And though it was a tedious and sometimes lengthy process with calculation after calculation, it was definitely worth it and was always rewarding in the end. I really miss the tactile part of photography, and I don't mean just having your camera in your hands.

And to be frank, I think black and white film has always been my best element.

I look back on these two photos now and still can't believe I actually took them in high school. I think that if I tried to take these shots now I couldn't even do my own work justice. Sigh ... it's true what they say, you can never really get over your first love.

A date with Stanley

My first California visitor of 2009.

Some time last week I spent an early morning doing some freelance work in DC {that I promise I will share as soon as I'm able to} I headed downtown to have a date with Flat Stanley. And after one day with him out and about I definitely under estimated this guy's popularity.

After finishing up some freelance work I pulled Flat Stanley out because I thought he might like a warm cup of coffee at Starbucks before sightseeing downtown ... and to my surprise an old friend of Stanley's stopped us just to say a quick hello and offered to take our picture together since I didn't have any extra hands.

Please excuse my dumb looking face ... I was stunned that Stanley had a friend this far away from home.

After our little picture together Stanley and I walk a good 20 blocks to reach the National Mall, and though it was quite a walk Stanley was in high spirits and even wanted to take a picture while waiting to cross the street.

Our first order of business while downtown was visit the White House.

Where once again .. Stanley found another old friend so we hung around there for a little while.

Then we went down to the National Monument where Stanley goofed off showing me how he was taller than our National Monument .. what a kidder. And again ... found some old friends. Told you he was popular. And man I felt like a nobody in his company. Hahah.

While on the national mall we not only saw other tourist but also a few brave runners so Stanley did a little running of his own. As you can tell from his face even if it was a lot colder than his California weather, he was enjoying himself alot.

One of our last stops was the Capital. Where for one of the first times that day instead of finding old friends .. we both made a new one who so kindly helped us take this picture. What a blissful date with the oh so famous Flat Stanley and I'm definitely glad me and my family got to host him in our beautiful city. He'll be returning back to sunny California before the weeks end I just hope he had a wonderful while he was here.