I’ve been very fortunate to have worked with the finest (and friendliest) photographers over the course of our near-ten year career as a photographer.

I struggled and succeeded and struggled and succeeded with Dino Lara from the very start.

I was fortunate to have worked with pillars of the industry very early in my career (Patrick Uy, Wig Tysmans, Eddieboy Escudero).

I saw how MangoRed broke very single rule there is about wedding photography (and yet continue to flourish).

I’ve worked countless of times with Mimi and Karl who quietly and subtly brought back female sensibilities and elegance (with a kick) to photographs.

And then there’s Oly Ruiz of Metro Photo.

He’s only been at it for less than two years.  But that is what patience, talent, hard work, business savvy and MORE hard work bring.  It doesn’t hurt that he’s genuinely nice too.  Here’s the video we whipped up for him for his brand re-launch).  (I mean really?!  Who thinks about branding on their second year?).

Metrophoto by Jason Magbanua from Oly Ruiz on Vimeo.

Andrea and Jerome from Jason Magbanua on Vimeo.

It’s fun to be able to produce a couple of these in a year.  We actually did decade hopping from the 60s to the 50s then all the way down to the 20s (with a lot of guidance from Madge Lejano).

It was a fun shoot overall (but taxing too).  There was a whole truckload of props and costumes to complete the look.  I think I even stole a hat for myself

And nothing beats a hot Tapa King dinner after a long drawn-out shoot.

Production Stills:  Dino Lara
Styling and production design:  Makeup Studio
Editing:  John Marvi de Guzman
Cinematography:  Ian Cruz
Concept and Directing:  Jason Magbanua

I was pleasantly surprised when Bridgette (our ever dependable secretary) that we were nearing capacity for next year - 2010 (with 100+ bookings).    It’s the first time it’s ever happened, us having to close the calendar the year before and I’m eternally grateful to our couples who have placed their trust and faith in our craft, art and vision.

And so we open 2011.  Brides books so far in advance that we might as well open it up.  However, we’ll be taking in far less for 2011. I’m gonna work my ass of next year and try to take it easy the year after.

I’m hoping to travel more, without shooting so I can ingest more, live slower and appreciate places better.  I hope to work out me and Oleg Kalyan’s plan for a workshop in Moscow next year.  And then I hope 2011 will be the year I get to Brazil for the wedding filmmakers there.

I’m turning 35 this December and there’s so much to go to and see.

No.  These are not the musings of a person in mid-life crisis.  I’m not that old!

“All Saints Day” - That’s what we call “Halloween” here in the Philippines.

Remembering the dearly departed.

Hanging out with the kids (on all too rare and precious free weekends).

Consuming all the candy one could possibly can.

Todos Los Santos 2009 from Jason Magbanua on Vimeo.

It was all work in San Francisco for me last week.  It was totally different being just a speaker to being part of the ReFrame Collective, (planning, organizing, skyping, budgeting, emailing people no end).  I guess I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Work it was but seeing everything coming into fruition, and hearing the responses from the attendees made everything well worth it.  A very special thanks goes out to my partners and Julie, Kristen and Bruce for inviting me to be part of the experience.  You cannot even begin to imagine how much time, effort and finances went into this project.

The best ReFrame ever!  That’s what we promised and that’s what we delivered.

Thanks to all the press, sponsors and of course, the attendees who trusted us.  We hope you had as much of a great time as we did.

_______

I kinda purposely didn’t go out as much to explore the city.  Same story last April.  Makes for all the reason to go back and enjoy this beautiful city for once.

On the last day, however, I was able to go to my new favorite place on earth - Rasputin - to pick up a couple of DVDs.

Can’t wait to watch this -(The MIndscape of Alan Moore)

We won four Golds last year at the WEVA Creative Excellence Awards.  I suppose there was no way to go but down. 

Thus my apprehension of heading down to Orlando for the Gala/Awards night,  but what a night it turned out to be!

Now more than ever, the Filipinos once again asserted their dominance in wedding videography in the international scene.  We counted a total of 20 awards between 9 Pinoy companies.  Unbelievable!  I heard they’re bringing down WEVA to the PI to save on plaque shipping costs ;-).

As for us?  A total of five awards including TWO GOLDS! Not too shabby!.

It was also an awesome experience meeting up for the first time with the headliners of Reframe San Francisco.  Man!  It’s gonna be the best RF yet!

(l-r, David Robin, Kevin Shahinian, Phil Bloom, some asian guy)

And it finally aired!

Medicol TVC - Jason Magbanua from Jason Magbanua on Vimeo.

More than anything, I’m just giddy with excitement and high of the cheesy feeling you get because you see yourself on the boob tube.

Thanks to all the peeps who give my text messages everytime they see it.

I would just like to tell you all that nothing will change.  I’m still the Jason you all know.  Bwahahahaha.

Thanks to Bob, Ian and Marvi for producing this and thanks to Starcom/Mediavest for giving me a break (ROTFL!)

______

Make no mistake!  Being a Wedding Videographer is the coolest job in the world!

Are you in my league?  ;-)  Sign up at www.medicol.ph and get the chance to win a Macbook!

of what?  soon!

The Making from Jason Magbanua on Vimeo.

Bob Nicolas - cinematographer
Ian Cruz - cinematographer
John Marvi de Guzman - cinematographer/editor

Although I haven’t gotten a copy for myself, John Rana of WeddingsAtWork forwarded me a scanned copy of the article - from Yes! Magazine June 2009 issue.

Awesome pictures from Patrick Uy.

Promise, I was so kilig!

Just got the developed Super8 rolls from Cali and I’m dying to edit is as soon as I get back from my Baguio wedding.

Last Wednesday too, Wedding Essentials Magazine held their annual appreciation party.   I’m pestering Managing Editor Kitten to send me some pictures.  Before that though, I’d like to happily announce that we won the Ad with the Strongest Impact.  Nope no free ad pages but we did bring home a plaque.

It was fun to see co-suppliers in  a setting other than work.

Later guys!

I was perhaps the last to be onboard this super-duper-mega-secret-cloak-and-dagger-reel-to-real-wedding-of-the-year.

And I almost didn’t make it (more on this later).

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