The Fat Gypsy: BEHIND THE LENS: Ronald and Dhen Pre-wedding

Every love story has its coincidental beginnings. Some chance encounters are fortunate, others are unfortunate but some are just magical. It is as if all the forces in the universe convened and decided to link the stars between these two people. Love like water takes too many forms but then no matter what container, no matter what temperature it is, the content is still water. Love is unique to every individual. For Sir Ronald and Ma’am Dhen, their love for each other is built on their respect for each other. Sir Ronald is very polite and Ma’am Dhen is very prudent and thus their love is pure. I think it is a match made in heaven.

When Ma’am Dhen asked me to be their photographer, at first, I was hesitant. Why? Because I know I am still an amateur. The task is very delicate, very complex and very detailed. And I am just a fat woman who happens to own a camera and who knows how to edit. But, on the other side, I was thinking that this might be an opportunity for me to hone my skill and eventually make a mark. So, I said yes! The good thing about this photo shoot is that I have colleagues in my work who unbelievably believed in my new found talent. They helped me with the ideas, the making of the props and the hair and make-up. We borrowed wardrobes from my sister, who was unhappy with the idea because I didn’t ask her permission and from Sir Mario Autentico, who has surprisingly a number of good formal attires. It was a collaboration of the brilliant teachers from Blessed Trinity College. We were even joking about putting up a business like that.

As a photographer, I scouted the place and the perfect heaven to shoot their prenup is the Vicana Resort, located in San Vicente, Trinidad, Bohol. Aside from it is a resort, I can’t really lie about the serenity of the place. Surrounded with trees, beautiful landscape, and a kiosk by the pond. It is just so ethereal! I visited the place a couple of times to create the shots. I can’t contain my excitement. I’m having troubles in sleeping because my mind would not let me rest. Even lying in my bed, images of how should I do it, what should they pose and what would they wear were running in my mind. I know somehow that those sleepless nights paid off.

Here are the shots I took during the prenup.

Note: I wrote some of my self-woven words in there just to compliment my shots.

“We need that someone who will still laugh in our jokes even if they have heard it a hundred times already. We need that someone who will listen to our endless stories. We need that someone to laugh with, to cry with and to celebrate with. And I want to share those moments with you.”

Every photographer wants to capture unguarded moments because it is more realistic, more believable. And the shot above is just one of the few. It made my heart stopped for a second and at the same time made it bleed for a day. Knight in a Shining Armor, where art thou?

“And I’ll never forget the first time I laid my eyes on you. I know I was looking at the woman who will give me the reason of my everyday existence, the reason why I am happy and the reason why I choose to wake up every morning.”

I am not the best photographer in town. I am a work in progress, flawed but learning. That's why I can't really consider these shots as the best in the market. I have given my best and this is how I tell my story. I'm a novice visual storyteller as of now. And I am glad that my client didn't think twice of choosing me to be their storyteller.

"You will always be my favorite chance encounter"

"Let's make a pact that even if I let go, you would still run to me and hold my hands."

"It must be the fault of the stars why my path intersects with yours"

I'm such a fan of John Green's TFIOS. I feel like the moment you are born you are already connected to the star that will be with you. It is inevitable not to influence your work of art from your own personal favorites. I wish that these two will be Lancaster and Waters without the dying part.

" The greatest happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved; loved for ourselves, or rather, loved in spite of ourselves."

-Victor Hugo

"To love is nothing. To be loved is something But to love and be loved, that's everything"

-T. Tolis

What is the real challenge in here is how to make an output on something you have never understand fully. I have never been in a serious relationship. Whenever I look back, a massive LOL follows after. I always think its a waste of time when lovers would talk in hours over the phone. I find it really absurd when they try baby talking to each other. I find telling someone what are your itineraries for the day completely strenuous. Everything that is in the realm of love and marriage is beyond logic. That makes it magical! How did I overcome this predicament of mine? Actually, I didn't. When you have two people in front of you who are truly, perfectly and unbelievably in love with each other, even if you you are that lousy photographer, you can't really conceal what is captured in the lens.

They are proud and happy to say..