rizzarizphotography » san francisco wedding + portrait photographer

It is good to be back from the motherland, however now that I am here I can’t express how torn I feel. It’s the strangest feeling belonging to two places at once.  Maybe one day there will be an opportunity when I can do that but for now I’ll just have to wait. The greatest part of this trip was being surrounded by family and relatives many who traveled far for my sister’s big day (hang tight as I’ll be posting a select few from the day). I also wanted to extend a huge Thank you to all who wrote while I was away – your concern and enthusiasm was very much appreciated. And to those of you who asked here are just a few from many pics I took while away. 

My first night into Science City, Munoz.  The marketplace, which is also known to Tagalogs as “palengke”, is quite the happening area, even at night.  
This was a quick grabshot at nighttime from the back of a Philippine Jeepney.  

The men in my life: my handsome nephews! It is always so good to see these rascals come together each year. From L to R: Leo, John Lerry, Hunter (U.S.), and Ren.

Food is a huge part of Filipino culture and it comes as no surprise that food vendors exist in just about every nook and cranny imaginable. This man makes an earnest living by selling taho, a delicious delicacy made of warm bean curd, sweet raw sugar and soft tapioca balls. [Manila]

The people back home are always so friendly and open. Here the neighborhood kids in my aunt’s provence strike a pose for me. [Science City, Munoz]

Back home people live in ‘hollow block’ homes. Maintenance on wooden homes is costly and now you see less and less of these. My nephews Ren and Reggie taken just outside one of many hollow block homes in Science City, Munoz.

My cousins and I decided to take a day trip to Palawan Beach just a few short miles away from Pampanga. For $10 US you can rent a bahay cubo or bamboo hut complete with a videoke (aka., ‘karaoke’). For the equivalent amount you can rent one of these bad boys for an afternoon ride.

Every major celebration in life calls for a pig. This pig looks a lot smaller than it really was. It was about the same width and length of your average living room sofa weighing in at nearly 500 lbs. Every part of the pig was used from the skin, hooves, ears, blood and some parts of the intestine.

Our trusty driver but more importantly one of my favorite cousins, Kuya Bobot.  Kuya Bobot is such a sweet man.

Restobars are quite popular in the Philippines. Our restobar of choice was none other than Bahamas.

Ate is another word to address an older sister, female cousin or even friend. Here my Ate Maricel strikes a pokes with my brother-in-law Carlos.

I’ll be posting several other pictures from my travels so stay tuned! Rr.

Yes, you read that right. I’ll be gone the month of February for my sister’s destination wedding and her photographer is none other than yours truly.  I won’t be completely shut off from the rest of the world as I’ll have intermittent email and voicemail access. But do expect blogging activity to take place upon my return . My itinerary while there does include a few trips to very rural provinces with virtually no internet connection to speak of. However there will be internet cafes along the way so I’ll be sure to stop by and leave a quick blog note to let folks know how I’m doing. I’ll be in Manila for a few days with internet cafes a-go-go which also means a quick and dirty check-in post is inevitable.

As much as I look forward to my trip, I also look forward to my return back – the beginning of wedding season for me. I have a few destination weddings scheduled throughout the year and one scheduled almost immediately upon my return. Can’t wait! So, please feel free to drop me a line. Would love to hear from you! All the best, Rr.

Yes, The Princess Project wants you, and the fabulous, unused dresses collecting dust in your closets. The charity collects formal dresses (bridesmaid, formal weddings) and gives them to high school girls from lower income households to wear to their proms.  The charity is located in the San Francisco Bay Area.

This year, they are collecting dresses February 8th through 14th at various drop off locations.  The dresses must be from 2002 or more recently, and need to be cleaned and on a hanger.  The following are the city locations:
 
SAN FRANCISCO:
Crossroads Trading Co.
1901 Fillmore Street, SF
Hours: M-Th 11am-7pm; F-S 11am-8pm; Sun 12pm-7pm
 
Irving Street
555 Irving Street, SF
Hours: M-Th 11am-7pm; F-S 11am-8pm; Sun 12am-7pm
 
Market Street
2123 Market Street, SF
Hours: M-Th 11am-7pm; F-S 11am-8pm; Sun 12pm-7pm
 
Bar Method – Financial District
3 Embarcadero Ctr
San Francisco, CA 94111
Hours: M-F 11:30am – 6:30pm; Sat 9:30am – 11:30am
 
Bar Method – Marina
3333 Fillmore Street, SF
Hours: M-Thurs 6:30am to 1:30pm (closed 1:30pm – 3:30pm) 3:30pm – 8pm
Fri 5:30am – 1:30pm (closed 1:30pm – 3:30pm) 3:30pm – 6:30pm
Sat 6:30am – 1:30pm
Sun 8am – 1:30pm (closed 1:30pm – 4pm) 4pm – 6pm
 
The Blue Jeans Bar
1827 Union St
San Francisco, CA 94123
Hours: M-Th (11am – 7pm; F-S 11am – 7pm; Sun. 12pm – 6pm)
 
Marc by Marc Jacobs on Fillmore
2142 Fillmore Street (b/t California St & Sacramento St)
San Francisco, CA 94115
Hours: 11am – 7pm
Presidio YMCA – Main Post Fitness Center
63 Funston Avenue, SF
Hours: M-F 5:10am-10pm; Sat – Sun 7am–7pm
 
They also collect accessories, jewelry and shawls, but no shoes or make-up.  It’s an easy way to get those bridesmaid dresses out of your closet and to the right people!
 
You can get more information at www.princessproject.org.  There is also an opportunity to volunteer on distribution day, and help the girls put their outfits together.
 
So please spread the word and get involved because every girl out there deserves to look fabulous!

Oh how I’ve needed something positive and funny especially after a day like today! While I would LOVE to blast a rant about how crappy and negative my day was, I have decided to focus my time and energy on something positive instead. Who likes a Debbie Downer anyway? Truth is not every day is a struggle like this one but sometimes I need to remind myself of a few things: a) I heart wedding photography for all it is and isn’t (and that is that), b) I’ve never experienced nirvana but I imagine the closest feeling that can compare is when I’m behind the lens c) this too shall pass d) the heat of wedding season is coming close – keep excited because it will be here before I know it.  So to keep my spirits (and chin) up I am posting a reminder of some of my favorite moments from Weddings 08 including a note to Mr. Negativity himself.

Dear Mr. Negativity,

Thank you for making my day suck. Your attempt wasn’t half bad. You certainly winded me and got me this time around. That’s quite alright I’ll just keep moving on track as scheduled. However, I am preparing myself as I expect you’ll be throwing curve balls here and there because you are a nasty existence. But here’s the thing Mr. Negativity: the joke’s on you. If you pay close attention to the photos posted below, you’ll see that you definitely missed quite a few. Can you tell these people are having a smashing time? 

Sincerely,

RizzaRiz. [Rr.]

PS: Be Happy!

I think I may have mentioned this way too many times by way of blog, but it is something I can’t seem to come to grips with or even wrap my head around. I have to say that 2008 has been quite a year of discovery, redirecting my life, big time decision making and pursuing a passion that is still a huge dream. I have been SO lucky and blessed to have a tight support and network of peers and family cheering me on in my endeavors as a photographer.

In 2008 alone I’ve worked with a talented pool of photographers, met a lot of amazing couples, have been to places I wouldn’t have otherwise experienced and have developed a fond appreciation of the tiny objet de artes (sp?) that are often overlooked. It’s been a blast! For now, I’ve picked out a few of my favorite moments, couples, photos, etc., to remind me how far I’ve come and how far I’ve yet to go!

I headed to Phoenix a couple weekends ago to visit my good friend and ‘then often’ partner in crime at his lovely-slightly-new-but-ever-so-fabulous-digs. Before my trip out I had never been to an ugly X-mas Sweater Party (seriously). Unfortunately I don’t have much evidence of me dressed in obnoxious Christmas spirit. What I do have are some rather heinous photos that evening. Let me tell you, the sky is the limit on what constitutes as an ‘ugly X-mas sweater’. Our friends Lindsay and Andrew hosted the lovely event at their home in Chandler. As you’ll see they have quite the eclectic bunch of friends.

The ho-ho-hostess with the mostest (ma girl Lindsay)!

Lindsay and Andrew have two dogs Radar and Burton. I can’t recall which one this is, but both are equally as cute!


I was tickled pink I made it onto someone’s Naughty List this year!


And the oddball winner of the Ugly X-mas Sweater is……….*drumroll please*

That’s my good friend Brian dressed as Jesus after he decided his award-winning sweater was too heavy to tote around…

And the gal who originally came in as part of a nativity scene…

Bright and early the next day Brian and I decided we’d trek out to Sedona, a place I had only heard of or ever read about. It really is a magical place. Driving into the gorgeous range is a breathtaking experience. Seeing the redrocks all at once will hit you like a ton of bricks! Just a quick and dirty grabshot as we drove in from flatlands.

I was amused by the Pink Tour jeeps. So cute!

Everything in Sedona is bright and rich in color. Its amazing how trees still manage to turn in the desert.

That’s my friend Brian. Life is fun and so much better with him in it. Cheers to you, friend! Can’t wait till the next one! Rr.