Ok, here's I view my session with bigs girls and guys (mom, dad, woman, man...) I love to talk...to carry on a converation...I want that whoever is in front of me feels comfortable in front of my camera...because it is important to me that I bring out who they are. A photograph for me is not just a physical representation of a person...but rather a revelation of who that person is...what she looks like at the moment, what is she going through, her struggles, the things that makes her happy and how she expresses herself...its a peak into the different sides of a person....

In this photo session, we just talked and we had a great time....It took me a couple of minutes to do this so that she had no time to be conscious...and that I captured her in her own special and true way. For me, it was magical...

Collages for Gen:

I remembered it was a very cold afternoon in SF that day we took the photos. But everybody worked hard and we got some nice shots --- I bet you can't tell they were cold? Wonderful family and Ester -- I just love talking to her.

She was one of those women who when you talk to, it would be dumb not to pick her brains out....her view of life and how things need to get done is nothing short of inspirational. She is very devoted to her community and to her family and I really admire that about her.

I just love this picture...how awesome is it to get three generations in one image...in their own environment, watching them interact with so much love. Grandma, son and his two boys --laughing and sharing a moment together...

I miss my grandma.



This picture was taken in front of city hall -- to represent the city they love and work for....She, a commissioner and the son, a fireman for the city of San Francisco.

Isn't she lovely? And her aura is as sweet and soft as the flowers...Tita Marilyn Roda

UFB which stands for Unfreakin Believable experience (an acronym used by Kevin Kubota, speaker and highly acclaimed photographer) is how I describe my recent trip to Las Vegas to attend the WPPI (Wedding and Portrait Professionals) convention!

No, there was no partying involve (I wish!) but instead, it was intense back to back days of just insightful seminars that started from 8:30am and ended at 10:30pm daily. It was like I came to Vegas to get power charged - and I sure did. I cannot wait to implement some fabulous ideas in my photo shoots.

My sister who is also a photographer from Toronto, Canada joined me and it was so nice to just spend some time with her as well. We also met a group of photographers and one of them had a wedding gown with him -- one of those just in case shoots...and my sister was gracious enough to wear the gown for us so we can do a little photo shoot....Photos below were taken at the Mile Shop in Vegas from 11:00 om till 3am...yes we are crazy but we love it.

Another family that will be featured in the upcoming book I mentioned....I have no business blogging right now but I have to post a couple of their pics. I will share some more but this will do for now....love, love my time with them! What a fantastic group of people and the kids --oh my soooo adorable -- I can just go follow them around all day! There are more pics of their family I wish to share but I'll see if I can come back here later tonight.

I met tita Nimfa a couple of weeks ago. We chatted a little bit before we did the photo shoot for the Filipina Women's Network magazine and for the short amount of time I talked to her, I saw why she is a special person. She is a soft spoken woman, sweet, calm and very, very nice. But behind her sweet disposition, I also see in her strength and tenacity as a mother, (once) an immigrant, and now a CEO of a very successful home care business. To hear her story from when she first came here to the United States with practically nothing, to how she became one of the most successful Filipina business women here in the US is remarkable and inspiring.

As a Filipina woman, now on my own...she really inspires me to continue to persevere and dream big.

Thanks tita Nimfa for being an inspiration and a role model to me and all the Filipina women out there.

*To read her success story, you will just need to get yourself a copy of FWN magazine (or you can ask from me too when it gets published in April).

I hope Nanette and Rodolfo like Audrey's pictures --because I do -- not because I took them but Audrey is soooo stinkin cute -- and nobody can deny that! She was (and still is) such an angel when we did her shoot...makes me want to have a girl -haha!!

Anyway, I'm just glad to post these today and see her beautiful smiles and expressive eyes...I had a bad day today when I picked up my parents from the airport...my wallet was stolen --and it hurts.. :( Oh well, life must go on as they say...

Presenting Audrey...

Talk about an energetic girl...Meet Karina...fun and playful....This are shots taken during our conversation....love it!

A couple of weeks ago, I attended the Pre-school Faire that was sponsored by the FUN Moms Club The task of choosing what the right school --ok the best school for your little one was quite daunting. As a mother, we'd always like the best for our kids. We want them to be in the best school, to get the best education, to be in the best environment...and as much as I did this for my first son years ago (well, that was a long time ago), there is still that fear: Will his dad and I make the right decision - will we put him in the school that is best for him? And yet, accompanying that 'natural fear" is a mixed sense of anticipation and nostalgia....

I am eager to see Troy go through the next phase of his life and yet, I cannot feel a little melancholy that he is growing up too soon. But I guess, that's just a natural stage for every parent out there....

For moms, dads and everybody in between, a poem I read from one of the literatures I took home:

A child who lives with gentleness
will touch with gentle hands,
A child who is understood
becomes someone who understands
A child who lives with patience
learns a way to wait for things,
A child who is taught to smile at life
is one who laughs and sings

when children find acceptance,
thats another trait to learn,
And children who are loved a lot
will give love in return.

This morning, I heard that Puja gave birth to a lovely boy...welcome to the world Rihaan! So here are a few more pics...a few more quiet moments before Puja became a mom once again and Karrina, a big sister.

What a wonderful time at the Shah residence...

Congratulations once again!

Finally some sun today. The past few weeks, the continuous gray skies, incessant rain and biting cold has slowly, at first meandered outside my windows and as days went by, crept inside the walls and little by little inside of me...Its a good thing I had my boys this past weekend and they kept me pre-occupied and "anchored". With their laughter, silliness, and playful selves -- they served as my internal sunshine that got me through the horrible, horrible somber gray days. Oh what would I do without them!

So today, I want to celebrate them -- my kids who not only provide me with sunshine and love, but colors ---different colors of life. They make everything so much more...I am treating myself and my walls to some of their warm smiles and colorful, soulful presence....

Off to my lab this goes....

FYI: These are both 20x16 storyboards...backed with foam core.

For Paul, Peggy and their 3 wonderful kids with their 3 Siberian Huskies. My very first time to take photos of dogs and I love it! We did not shoot right away as I wanted to get cozy a little bit with the dogs and by the end of the session, I wanted to go home with them....

Well, instead of me posting some individual photos, I'd just pose these...one is a 10x20 storyboard, ready to be framed and the other one is a collection of different frames and how they can look like in the wall.

A while back I posted one photo of Sean and his Myanmar protest project. Here are a couple more pics from that session. Sean is an art student (and former tae-kwon-do champion) from CalPoly. Although the poses here are not his own ---his interpretation was more subdued and somber, I asked him if he could do this for me.

Hey Sean - how did your project turned out?

If you want to learn more about what is going on in the military ruled Myanmar...here are a few links:
http://www.mizzima.com/www.burmanet.org/
www.world-newspapers.com/myanmar.html
http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/01/30/myanmar.suu.kyi/