Mary The Queen is known to photographers to be very strict. They will ban photo and video group instantly if they don’t follow the rules. If you inquire there, they will show you the long list of banned photo and video outfit. I remember, I once witnessed how they banned a video outfit and here how it goes:

During first reading, the sacristan approached the video guy.

Sacristan: “Sir, paki sabihan yung kasama mo na bawal sa may altar habang first reading. ”

The video guy was busy fixing his lights and replied.

Video guy: “Mamya”

Sacristan: “Paki sabihan na kaagad”

Video guy: “Sige Mamya”

Sacristan: “Ano ulit name ng group nyo?”

The video guy gave their name. The sacristan went straight to the office. Minutes later, I saw the video guys arguing with each other but I didn’t know what it’s all about. Later, the sacristan told me, he banned the group.

That’s the only time I’ve worked with those video guys and I can’t remember their names anymore. Some church assistants would just persist. Some would give you a bad look. But Mary the Queen would ban you right away.

I’m on the side of Mary the Queen because the rules are very easy to follow. It doesn’t make our life difficult by following the rules.

Nuestra Senora de Gracia (Guadalupe)

Manila Peninsula Hotel

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I came from telecom industry and spent 10 years there. In my perspective, they have similarities.

Competition. There’s a common saying that Globe and Smart are killing each other. It’s quite obvious because we see them in the newspaper everyday. Both are offering the best price possible. Sun is coming from behind but is offering their services almost free. From the regular consumer’s point of view, this is good because it immediately translate to savings. If you go to a bridal fair, most of the time, photography has the most number of exhibitors. Each of them giving the best package – sometimes, video services are given for free. You’ll commonly hear also that we’re killing each other.

Innovation. We’re seeing an endless tail of innovation being offered by telecom companies. Philippines is not far behind from other countries. Smart and Globe already won some international awards in offering innovative products. In some case, we have more updated cellphones in the market than in other countries. We, photographers here used the same equipment as in other countries. Several photographers win in International competition. In my opinion, those local photographers offering photo-video services at the P35K price range are far better than photographers in US offering $2000. How far? Miles apart!

Business Mortality. Ten years ago, there were 11 major telecom companies competing. Now, it’s only Smart, Globe and Sun. Back then, I see PLDT as God. The objective then was who will be no. 2. I was in Globe that time and we’re confident because we have Ayala and Singtel. When I transfered to Smart in 1996, Smart was still behind Piltel but my boss Dave Fernando (co-founder of Smart) always say that he’ll take over PLDT. I didn’t believe him, in fact, I’m laughing inside. I was VERY WRONG. He could be laughing to death at me already. Anyway, I’m a photographer now so I really don’t care anymore. For several years, Bob’s IS the photographer. Then came some other photographers. Seven years ago, I joined the industry. Some of those who are active that time are either less active now or totally left the industry. Because we’re smaller in scale, mortality is higher.

What am I really trying to say? There are other points I want to discuss but it’s useless because why would you compare the telecom to wedding photography industry in the first place?

But look at it this way. Profit drives innovation. Innovation drives efficiency and supply. Efficiency and supply drives prices to go down without hurting the profit. It’s a cycle. We cannot break it. Nobody should not break it or else they will be out of the loop instantly. Those photographers who are lowering their prices for the sake of getting a client is in danger. Those who don’t innovate are also in danger. Those who don’t know the real sense of profit are also in danger.

Two days ago I was talking to an equipment supplier, and she’s expressing her disappointment to some photographers who were not able to pay their equipment loans. Some months ago, Kodak was very alarmed to know that some printers were having difficulty collecting payments from some photographers too. This is sad because there are still photographers who can’t cope up with the cycle or they are not aware of the cycle. Unfortunately, some of them will have to go.

On the positive side, digital camera prices continue to drop. This will make other photographers easy to enter the industry and hopefully they’ll be here to stay.

This is a serious post and somehow point something (good and bad) in the industry. You can disagree with me. But before you give me your violent reaction, please remember I’m just a photographer. I’m Mr. Nice Guy.

In all seriousness, all I just want to say is, like Jason Magbanua, I’m also fully booked already for 2007. Thank you for keeping us in the cycle and we wish to stay long as possible. We also want to express our deepest regret to those whom we turned down because of our unavailability. We also have more weddings booked as of today for 2008 than the same date last year for 2007. Again, Thank you very much for trusting us.

1Esplanade can easily hold 300-400 guests. I’m not about the capacity but for me the ideal number would be 300 if you want more space for decoration and big dance floor.

This is the main entrance. In front of this is a very nice view of Manila Bay. If your guest will arrive around 5:30pm, then they are in for a nice sunset view.

This is the front view but the billboard is just for the wedding I did last March 31, 2007. Thanks to Macky and Anami for putting my name in it. I understand Macky and Anami is also very active at WeddingsatWork.com

Here’s another shot of the facade. You can see a big parking space on the right side. Parking is very convenient.

One of the highlights in the reception was the 30-piece Manila Symphony Orchestra. You can easily put up a stage as big as this.

Here’s another view.

From the side.

At night.

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Here are some of my insights about the place. I really like the place. It’s very convenient and almost infront of Manila Bay. As a photographer, it’s very convenient for me to take sunset shot. The place has also privacy because it’s far from other establishments. Parking is a big plus. Airconditioning was OK and they have very nice comfort rooms. I guess my wedding then has very demanding requirement for electricity but we didn’t encounter any problems. The architecture is very modern and definitely better than any tents available.

I have only one concern for this venue. They have a list of accredited suppliers. I’m not in their list which in turn would require the admin to charge for corkage. This is something new to me since I know it’s applicable to wines when guests bring in their own. I’m not sure I can understand the logic for charging since I cannot see any reason why would they lose business if the couple bring their own photographer. Unless, the accredited photographers pay them a certain commission for every event they have there but it’s very unlikely. Right now, I’m hesistant to promote 1Esplanade because they will incur an additional cost if they get me. That additional cost will not improve the shots or will have any benefit for the couple. Anyway, I hope they change the rules someday.

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Update (4-26-07): Somebody booked me today for next year wedding and they said 1Esplanade waived the corkage fee.

Most of the time of the year, I always look for beaches especially if there’s a nice sunset. In Baguio, there’s mountains.

Imagine, drinking coffee while staring at the mountains in a very cool weather. 

I covered a wedding there last April 18 see what it looks like at night.

with fireworks. 

I wanna go back there and drink coffee again.  Maybe spend a little time looking for stuff at Ukay-ukay.

Friday’s Boracay

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Santuario de San Antonio

New World Hotel

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