After dozens of emails and a few conversations on skype, I finally met and shot Michael and Angela’s wedding last May 19. The two met while they were studying in graduate school. Even if they were based in Washington D.C., the two decided to have their wedding in Alameda, California, which was Angela’s hometown where she grew up. It’s really a small world. It turns out that Angela also studied in Manila till high school before she moved to the U.S. She went to the same school where Heidi, my wife, studied and they somehow were introduced to each other before.
Honestly, I really was clueless where Alameda was until I researched it on Google. All I knew that it was beside Oakland and near San Francisco. In my own description, Alameda is a town by the bay. The feeling is very laid back and it has a lot of old Victorian style houses. Even Coral Reef Inn and Elks Lodge where the couple stayed and had their reception, reveals a lot of history and gave out a rustic and homey feel.
This really was my first time to shoot a wedding in the San Francisco-Bay Area. The last time I was there was a quick weekend trip and I shot two engagement sessions in one day (Eric + Fritz & JT + Gucci). Everything felt new, different and unpredictable as compared to being in my comfort zone whenever I’m in L.A., since I’ve already shot two wedding there ( Al + Gi & Justin + Crisa ).
I am blessed and grateful to shoot Michael and Angela’s wedding. Everyone was warm and welcoming…I also need to give credit to Mike and Angela for being so cooperative and so “game” to try whatever I ask them to do to get a shot that I wanted to do…Again congratulations!
Ok, I think I’m talking too much already. I’ll let the pictures tell the story. Enjoy!
Thank you also to Joel Ilao for being my second photographer for this shoot…I could not have lasted this day without his help. Also, here’s the same day edit slideshow I made which we showed during the reception.
