Doug + Kristin Engagement August 21, 2007

Last saturday, we had the privilege of taking the engagement photos of Doug and Kristin. We call them the golden couple and the pics will tell you why!! I don’t know what it is exactly but you’d know a perfect couple when you see one and they are definitely one of the few ones out there. Okay, just look at the pics.. now, don’t you agree?

Wait, did you say Kristin looks familiar? hmm.. that’s because some famous hollywood actress has been trying to look like her (hint: think f.r.i.e.n.d.s.)

Yes, I know! Kristin is so beautiful and add to that her amazing personality!! she just recovered from sickness a few days before the shoot and she still effortlessly looks gorgeous. Her blue eyes are captivating! Doug, you’re one lucky dog!

Okay, we wouldn’t say they’re a perfect couple if Doug isn’t a looker himself. He cleans up pretty good and so yeah Kristin is just as lucky. Btw, you should hear this guy sing! the dude’s got talent!

 Here’s an artsy pic taken inside their Victorian home at trendy Sugarhouse.

Looking sweet and all..

Then we headed to downtown Salt Lake for some uber cool urban shots! haha.. As you probably have noticed, we try to gear away from traditional shots and we know it’s not for everyone but in this case, it fits perfectly!

 Here’s our run-forrest-run shot… yes, we had a lot of fun!

and now some graffiti actions.

And finally, the two becomes ONE.

After the shoot, we headed back to their house and we got to taste Doug’s famous ribs and his home-brewed beer!! Thanks again for preparing dinner for us!!

We wish you all the best in your marriage and may God continue to bless you! We are pretty sure the wedding in Florida is going to turn out AWESOME!

-ritchie

Rosie August 21, 2007

August 19, 2007

Some Dirt Pile

We didn’t expect that we were going to have a shoot with Rosie.  In fact, our shoot should have been with Melanie but as fate would have it,  there was a little mix up with the schedules and that didn’t push through.       We ended up doing the shoot with Rosie that she needed for her modeling agency.     We didn’t make it to our destination in Union Station as we were racing against the sunset.    We ended up in one of the dirt places going there instead.   And boy, were we floored!   The pictures turned out great!     We had great lighting, thanks to madame sun! 

 

 

We had a blast taking these shots and Rosie is all game.  She was willing to turn that dirt pile into some glamour pile

And didn’t even hesitate to go up these tractors.  LOVE IT!

Love her eyes… They turn green, then brown, then green again.  I think they’re what you call hazel eyes

 

Here’s another amazing head shot of Rosie.   Her eyes are beautiful-extraordinaire!  Yeah, DROWN in ‘em!

 

This is a fun shoot with experimental location!   Rosie’s one special model who totally trusts us to make the most of whatever situation we’re in, tractors or not, mud or not, barbed-wire fence or not.  So let’s bring it

 Hey Rosie,   thanks for trusting us to do this shoot for you.   We really enjoyed it!

- pam

Shootsac Baby! August 19, 2007

Hey hey hey!!!   Love my gift!!  Thanks Ritchie Jo!  I llllllllllllovvvve itttttttttt!    One of our most admired photographers, Jessica Claire, came up with this great add on for photographers, a shootsac.    It suits me so coz besides carrying my camera bag, I used to have to lug an extra bag where I could put all my accessories.   But now, I don’t need to.  I could put everything in it.    Plus I love my japanese shootsac, fits me totally!    And hey fellow photographers, if you want one, just drop by www.shootsac.com

 

I have a bit of a problem with my lower back as well but I am able to carry in my shootsac, 2 lenses, my flash, my lightsphere, my batts, my memory cards and of course, my phone and my wallet.   And guess what, no pain in my lower back.  It hugs to your body so I think that’s why it’s less strenuous.  First time we used it is at a wedding and it’s a dream!  

 

Here’s Ritchie on the shoot.   His shootsac right by his side

 

 

And here’s mine sitting on my chair    It’s so me!

 

And hey, watch out for latest shoot.    Here’s a teeny weeny preview of it with of course Ritchie carrying his shootsac as I was

 

And could I just say again that I love my shootsac!  Thanks Ritchie!

- pam

Desiree + Mike Wedding August 11, 2007

August 8, 2007 

OUR LADY OF LOURDES CHURCH

MAGNA, UTAH

It maybe that we were used to seeing Desiree or it could be that she is just so down to earth that this wedding just took our breath away.   First, we’ve been told that the church was small but with a caveat that hey, it’s really nice.     But when we got to the place, the church was sooooooo beautiful, tucked away in a small town of Magna.    Built in 1928, it holds so much character with its vaulted ceilings and its old-stone facade.  

 

 

Second surprise? Desiree arrived.  No, wait…  SHE HAS ARRIVED!

 

 

She was soooooo — alas!  I have faltered.  I cannot think of a word to describe her when I first saw her

A truly fitting queen for a dashing groom

 It was a quiet, serene ceremony as we watch Desiree and Mike get married in a beautiful church with only their family and a few beloved friends watch them unite.     And as everybody watch them up there in front, you would see the twinkling stars that the pulpit was beautifully sprinkled with, drawing you in in a cosmic awe.

 

  

And hey, ever noticed the priest’s hair?   Long and braided, he seems pretty cool with his austere appearance.

 

 

 

The first kiss between a newly wed couple is always precious.  But somehow,  a kiss that never leaves another’s lips, hold so much tenderness for me.   How could a touch convey so much more?

 

The church has a mezzanine where the melodious chords of “I Will Be Here” could be heard floating through the whole place.    This allowed us to take this beautiful shot of the couple — together and MARRIED!

 

 

So come on!  Show us the rings!

 And some more … =)

                   

One of Desiree’s requests is to make that a picture be taken of her, her mother, her grandmother and her daughter.   Four generations of beautiful women standing side by side in one lifetime.    

 

In every wedding that I have attended, tears would always be present, flowing down the cheeks of guests and family alike.  And this wedding is no different.    With grace that comes with age,  Desiree’s grandfather wiped the tears away from his eyes …

 

But even with all these so many emotional moments harping on our senses, Andres still managed to make us smile.  He is Desiree’s son.  He  would go in between us and the people we are shooting and just smile.  Haha!  Children are always a blast!  I just love having them around. 

 

 

And here’s Desiree, a picture of a mother, always there when her children needs her.

 

 

But hey for us, Desiree is still firstmost the bride we’ve been blessed to photograph.  You surely rocked the place!

 

It was so tough trying to choose the pictures.  They were just all so beautiful.   But check out this one below.    Ritchie started playing around with another technique.  I LOVE IT!  

 

This was a beautiful shoot.   Mike and Desiree, Ritchie, Jong and I are just wishing you the very best in your marriage.  May God continue to be the center of your lives.   We pray this is the start of a your married life’s beautiful saga.

 - pam

Jaycee – Portraits August 10, 2007

This is part two of our Carter Creek photoshoot. lol… As Pam had already mention, we went camping over the weekend and we can’t just let a weekend pass without a shoot.. 

So here you go, meet Jaycee - our Carter Creek model. When I moved here in the US, she was just a little kid and look at her now…all grown up(we’re about same height !) and very pretty.. and you bet, she knows how to work the camera..

 

into the woods.. aspen trees are so pretty up there..

black and white flare..

-ritchie

Have a little Faith August 8, 2007

August 4, 2007

Carter’s Creek

 

After spending 2 sweet days at the trailer, we embarked on our new photoshoot at one of the forests of Carter’s Creek.     Way exciting!  First time to do a photoshoot in a forest and I’m just so curious on how it’s going to turn out.      We had to scout the forest and look for a really nice place to do a shoot.  And my, what a sight.     There are myriad of purple wildflowers just growing beneath those milky aspen trees.   And there’s nothing more fitting than to have an innocent child walking thru those woods.       With the sun almost down, we are struggling to make the best of the light that we have.   And I’m so glad the last glimmer of the sun gave us ample light to take these beautiful shots of Faith.  

 

Faith is wayyyyyyyyyy shy…       We had to make her feel comfortable with us even before she give us a tiny glimpse of her mona lisa smile.   And when she did, guess what???   Hundreds of shutter clicks could be heard to capture the oh-so elusive smile that wraps up this  photoshoot.   What can I say?   All we need is a little faith and for sure, everything would be fine.        

 

AH-HA!    A beautiful smile …

 

 

 

  

   And these are some test shoots before we went into the woods ..

Hey Faith,  don’t grow up too fast!   

- pam                        

                                   

An Ode to the First Couple… August 3, 2007

Dennis + Annarose Wedding
Layton, UT
July 9, 2005

Before Pam and I became RITRATO, we were just big time hobbyist who enjoyed taking photos of all of our travels. Okay, for those who don’t know us, we’re not a couple, Pam is more like an OLDER (she’d hate this) sister to me and I look up to her husband like a brother. They’re my family here in Utah and they’ve always looked after me cause you know,  I can be a mess sometimes! haha

Anyway, one fine summer day in 2005, we were asked by our good friends from church, Annarose and Dennis, to be the official photographer of their wedding. Hmm..who ever said that we do weddings? We’re not even photographers, we’re IT geeks who just happened to get our hands on one of those DSLRs! What is wrong with you people??!?! Ok, enough of the exaggeration! haha. Of  course, we were very excited and then it dawned on us, if we screw up… well, we’re screwed!  Weddings are one-time deals.. No second chances, things happen with a blink of an eye.. and that’s what makes it special. so as you’ve guessed it, we agreed and PRAYED……….REAL HARD!!!  And yes, we’re glad we took the plunge! Thank God we did!

So here you go,  you be the judge.  The cocky side of me thinks for a first time wedding shooter, we actually did a kick-ass job!  Haha.. Love your own as they say. But seriously, don’t you think we did a great job? yes?

So everyone, meet our first couple, Dennis and Annarose. Aren’t we lucky to have such beautiful people for our first wedding gig?

Our radiant bride.

 

and dashing groom

Of course, the first dance….it’s always special!!

Oh yes, we had fun that day! Check out the entourage gone crazy! 

My favorite kid, Aziah. He’s so big now he even got a myspace account! haha..it’s amazing how time flies ..

On our way to the reception. Love them street shots. Btw, I remembered we got a parking ticket that day! (it’s the bride’s fault!)..

There was some serious competition on the dance floor..

And lastly, what’s a filipino wedding without the money dance!?!

Dennis and Annarose, we are truly honored to have been part of your wonderful union and may God continue to bless your family!

-ritchie

Tess + Jason Wedding August 2, 2007

Lucky #7

July 7, 2007

Thousands of couples got married on a day that no one would alive today would once again see, 07-07-07.   Believed to be really lucky, the day signifies a lot for a couple that would be married that day, Tess and Jason. 

  

I wish I could give you an idea of how lovely our couple is.   Besides all the beautiful moments that they shared together,  Tess is probably the funkiest bride that we’ve been blessed to photograph.  She could turn a solemn moment into a stolen moment with one quick loco shot …  and the biggest grin ever.   But her smile would draw you near .

she could be a mystere

and a radiant one

     

Tess is one of those brides whose candor is so honest.   It totally cracks me up .     And it sure does her bridesmaids too …

                

And where the bridesmaids are, the groomsmen are somewhere too.  But here they are pictured to be really involved with ceremony.

And just around the corner, we’re not the only ones trying to capture this matrimony.

 

And there couldn’t be more classic than capturing this incident.  I just had to squeeze this in.  Children are just such a joy. This is when Jasmine, their adorable daughter, wanted to do what her dad was doing when he took the garter from Tess’ legs. She wanted to get under her mom’s gown as well. She would solicit a round of laugh from their guests with this …

  

But it is always the bride and groom that makes any wedding a special event… 

A secret exchange

 

A tender moment  

                    

And a kiss that seals them as one

So to you Tess and Jason,  we thank you for making us a part of your wedding.  May God continually bless you! 

- pam