Jaja Samaniego https://jajasamaniego.com Wedding Photography Sun, 27 Jun 2021 12:49:35 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.2 Anthony and Erin https://jajasamaniego.com/estatewedding/ https://jajasamaniego.com/estatewedding/#respond Tue, 01 Jun 2021 07:23:05 +0000 https://jajasamaniego.com/?p=8074















ANTHONY AND ERIN

FEELS LIKE HOME

This lovely couple’s autumn-themed estate wedding was nothing short of cozy and charming

You see, the universe really makes things happen for a reason. Erin and Anthony initially planned to have their wedding at Tagaytay—but things didn’t go their way. During those times, Taal Volcano was on high alert, so they decided to move the ceremony to Anthony’s family estate in Antipolo. And like the sight of the falling leaves, the crisp colors of the bright sky, and the cool breeze of a nice, autumn afternoon, Erin and Anthony’s wedding felt like home. Not just because they were right there, at the comforts of a place Anthony is familiar with.  But it was because they were together with their loved ones, celebrating the momentous occasion. With their guests clad in warm hues, Erin in an elegant minimalist modern gown, and with the sunset as a perfect backdrop—Erin and Anthony are finally home.

PHOTOGRAPHY: JAJA SAMANIEGO | WEDDING PLANNER: BERLYN YAP | VIDEO: BOB NICOLAS |BRIDAL GOWN: ALEX PERRY | BRIDESMAIDS’ DRESSES: FRANK BARRIO | FLOWERS AND RECEPTION STYLING: SPRUCE FLORAL DESIGNS | MAKE UP: ROBBIE PINERA

]]> https://jajasamaniego.com/estatewedding/feed/ 0 Rasheed and Wonhee https://jajasamaniego.com/rasheedandwonhee/ https://jajasamaniego.com/rasheedandwonhee/#respond Wed, 26 May 2021 04:16:24 +0000 https://jajasamaniego.com/?p=7917















RASHEED AND WONHEE

MODERN LOVE

 

A FLORAL-FILLED GARDEN WEDDING AT HOME

A day full of love and flowers. Rasheed and Wonhee celebrated their Manila wedding with only close friends and family as guests. Gideon Hermosa perfectly styled Rasheed’s family house with beautiful flowers and non-traditional chairs. It complemented the elegant aesthetics of their lovely Forbes home. It’s truly refreshing to capture modern weddings like this. 

PHOTOGRAPHY: JAJA SAMANIEGO | WEDDING PLANNER: BRIDESMAIDS AND CO. | VIDEO: BOB NICOLAS | GOWN: NERIC BELTRAN | MAKE UP: DENISE OCHOA | CHEF: MARGARITA FORES

]]> https://jajasamaniego.com/rasheedandwonhee/feed/ 0 Diego and Tricia https://jajasamaniego.com/diegoandtriciawedding/ https://jajasamaniego.com/diegoandtriciawedding/#respond Tue, 11 May 2021 03:06:56 +0000 https://jajasamaniego.com/?p=7778





DIEGO AND TRICIA

LA CARTA DE AMOR

A MODERN FILIPINIANA WEDDING IN
SAN AGUSTIN CHURCH

Diego and Tricia had a memorable wedding ceremony in a beautiful Spanish church in Intramuros. The reception that followed at the groom’s family residence, was adorned with native fresh flowers and Filipiniana accents. It was a such a tasteful intimate celebration that I had the absolute pleasure to photograph. 

Photography: Jaja Samaniego | Wedding Planner: Bridesmaids and Co. | Videography: Ian Celis | Wedding Styling: Joji Duque | Gown: Rosa Clara | Cake: Delightful Miss Joyce
]]> https://jajasamaniego.com/diegoandtriciawedding/feed/ 0 Diego and Tricia https://jajasamaniego.com/diego-and-tricia/ https://jajasamaniego.com/diego-and-tricia/#respond Sat, 30 Jan 2021 05:09:03 +0000 https://jajasamaniego.com/?p=7629

Diego & Tricia

Luisita Golf and Country Club
jaja samaniego
]]> https://jajasamaniego.com/diego-and-tricia/feed/ 0 Howard and Jessica https://jajasamaniego.com/howard-and-jessica-an-intimate-dinner-celebration/ https://jajasamaniego.com/howard-and-jessica-an-intimate-dinner-celebration/#respond Mon, 12 Oct 2020 13:49:38 +0000 https://jajasamaniego.com/?p=7303

Howard and Jessica

  • At a time when the future feels so uncertain, to get married is a beautiful sign of hope. A testament that love transcends all, even the virus. 
  •  
  • The lockdown has changed us. Many of us have discovered we do not need all the things we once we thought we did. We have come to realize that families are the people who truly matter and the ones who will always show up when the chips are down.
  •  
  • Howard and Jessica decided to continue with their wedding last August. They had a simple ceremony followed by a dinner party at their parent’s house where they prepared a special tribute for their families. 
gideon hermosa 
Photography: Jaja Samaniego | Videography: Jason Magbanua | Coordinator: La Belle Fete | Catering: Kai Catering | Gown: Mark Bumgarner | 
Hair and Make up: Anthea Bueno and Renz Pangilinan | Music: Manila Philharmonic Orchestra
]]> https://jajasamaniego.com/howard-and-jessica-an-intimate-dinner-celebration/feed/ 0 Mico and Isabel https://jajasamaniego.com/weddinginthetimeofcorona/ https://jajasamaniego.com/weddinginthetimeofcorona/#respond Wed, 08 Jul 2020 14:36:21 +0000 https://jajasamaniego.com/?p=7187

Miguel and Isabel

After three months, I finally got to shoot a wedding again. Coming forward to the task wasn’t easy. The team of 7 was reduced to a team of 3, we practice the highest standards to keep everyone safe.

The new normal dictates you wear a mask, maintain a distance and to maintain good hygiene. No one wants to hurt or to be hurt, so we practice the standards to keep everyone safe.

We arrived at the house at around 11am, only immediate family was there, everyone in the house had masks, and my skills were rusty. The family members were kept to a bare minimum, and the grandparents didn’t even attend. Luckily they lived close-by, so close they were an eyeshot away.

Everything was bare, no wedding coordinators, no wedding cars, nothing fancy. The abundance that was once there was reduced to the bare essentials.

What used to be a routine suddenly became this nerve racking challenge. I’ve had shoots of more than a hundred people, but suddenly ten became a daunting task. I knew I was shooting a historical moment not only for the couple, but also for me as a wedding photographer. It was my first time in my career to cover an intimate wedding during a pandemic. 

Arriving at the church, parking slots were easy to find. The chairs that were filled from front to back had only one row filled, groomsmen and bridesmaids weren’t even there. Ceremonies that took an hour or more became half an hour long. The full production reduced.

The immediate families were there, a sincere gesture and sacrifice was made to make this wedding happen. Isabel’s dad even mentioned, “maganda na nangyari to simple lang.”I completely agree, I like this new norm.

The elegance in simplicity, no need to impress, the intimacy of family.
This will be the new norm for a while but I like this new norm.

INTIMATE WEDDING
gcq wedding
st. benedict church
wedding during the covid pandemic
gcq wedding
st. benedict church
zoom wedding
intimate wedding

Here’s Isabel and Miguel’s testimonial from their experience with us:

When the COVID lockdown was first announced, the strict regulations meant that Mico and I would need to move and downscale our May 1 wedding. Because our extended family and friends would no longer make it, we wanted to invest in capturing memories that would feel special despite our celebration’s small scale, and that could be shared with our loved ones, too. We’d booked Jaja long ago because we loved her candid, easy and vibrant style, so there was no question she was the supplier we wanted to keep. Her team was kind enough to offer us a simplified wedding package, and chat over Zoom to discuss our new plans.

We planned our new date in a matter of weeks. Since we could only have immediate family present, we did not have a coordinator for the day. But Jaja and Mariel went above and beyond their expected roles, and shared with us not only their own health and safety guidelines for shooting, but also a well-paced flow for us to use and adjust for our wedding day, which helped us have the most relaxed intimate wedding possible.

And relaxed it was! The team all arrived earlier than expected. We didn’t feel any time pressure from Jaja and Yosef, or any need to get certain shots in. We just let the day happen, and let them do their thing. They were also very considerate of COVID guidelines (the team all wore masks and kept a good distance), while at the same time stayed very personal, giving us kind guidance for our photos. We got our artist’s edit today and we couldn’t be happier with how Jaja and her team captured our wedding day – much smaller, yes, but still our dream come true. They brought out the very best of our homes, our families, our intimate ceremony and vows, and of course, our simple love story. 

 

 

Photography: Jaja Samaniego | Isabel’s Gown: Martin Bautista | Mico’s Barong: Francis Libiran |Entourage dress: Micah Lacap | Invitation: Ja Bautista | Hair and Make up: Nicole Ceballos and Bryan Resureccion | Flowers and Styling: Gathered Creative Co. | Catering: Black Pig | Cake: Bizu | 

]]> https://jajasamaniego.com/weddinginthetimeofcorona/feed/ 0 Javier and Catherine https://jajasamaniego.com/javier-and-catherine/ https://jajasamaniego.com/javier-and-catherine/#respond Thu, 03 Oct 2019 10:03:32 +0000 https://jajasamaniego.com/?p=6158 I had the privilege to shoot Cat and Javier’s wedding in early June. It was tagged as one of the most anticipated social events of the year. I was amazed to have witnessed how they managed to pull off a wedding that felt intimate despite its grandness.

I first met the couple in Catherine’s family vacation house in Batangas, where we shot their engagement photos. The weather that day would not cooperate, which left us to compromise many things. Despite it all, Catz and Javier were unfazed, and I was amazed at their coolness. They wanted to enjoy their moments together, rather than stress on bad weather. I had a blast that day.

The wedding had a similar chillness. Their choice of an autumn color palette made the grand celebration feel warm. To top off the perfect day, the reception program was filled with surprises, with heartfelt speeches, and surprise performances from the bride and their families. Just goes to show, intimateness is not about the number of people, but rather, shown with sincerity and love.

 

 

]]> https://jajasamaniego.com/javier-and-catherine/feed/ 0 Mike & Isabel https://jajasamaniego.com/mike-isabel/ https://jajasamaniego.com/mike-isabel/#respond Thu, 01 Aug 2019 07:14:28 +0000 https://jajasamaniego.com/?p=6143 Mike and Isabel knew each other since they were young. Their families would spend a lot of summers in Montemar. Both were unaware that they would fall in love and tie the knot at that same place surrounded by their closest kin and friends.

I still find it a mystery how the universe prepares us to find our soulmate. For most of us, the right person does not come along easily. We make mistakes, move from one failed relationship to another, and with new lessons learned, eventually attract the right one. For some, there’s a lot of waiting and searching involved while others are stuck with the wrong person. We all hope to find that one person who are ready to cross the bridge with us.

Mike and Isabel are one of the lucky ones. Maybe, they did something right in their past lives to be rewarded with such great love. I am glad to have witnessed and photographed that love – it was pure, solid and warm.

Press the play button to see their beautiful union.

]]> https://jajasamaniego.com/mike-isabel/feed/ 0 Kenneth and Danni https://jajasamaniego.com/kenneth-and-danielle/ https://jajasamaniego.com/kenneth-and-danielle/#respond Wed, 20 Mar 2019 06:49:47 +0000 https://jajasamaniego.com/?p=5949 “I want a wedding just like this” were my exact words that day. Kenneth and Danni chose to get married in a beautiful old Spanish church with warm pink walls. It felt like a set in a Wes Anderson film. After the ceremony and eager to celebrate, the couple went straight to the reception venue, ahead of the crowd to savor their first few hours as newly weds while I take their first portraits.

Picture the bloody sunset dramatically pouring in the windows of the hall, people dancing to the music of Bloomfields, the smell of fresh tobacco, and people laughing and drinking; This was the scene in Balay Dako. No frills of a program, it was the ultimate gathering of families and friends. The day was simple yet filled with stories about how the day went that they’ll be retelling at every reunion, I bet!

I’m so glad to have been part of this beautiful wedding. Thank you, Kenny and Danni.

]]> https://jajasamaniego.com/kenneth-and-danielle/feed/ 0 Kiwi and Denise https://jajasamaniego.com/kiwi-and-denise/ https://jajasamaniego.com/kiwi-and-denise/#respond Thu, 26 Jul 2018 11:41:18 +0000 https://jajasamaniego.com/?p=5819 Kiwi and Denise are dear friends of mine who I met through crossfit. We had the pleasure to shoot them last summer in Kiwi’s hometown, Bolinao. It was the absolute best choice for their engagement session. That was their place of escape when they both just want to get away from the stress of the city.

These love birds were such great hosts that it felt more of a vacation than a shoot. We had a lot of crabs – the most I have had in my life! Of course, there was a lot of drinks too in between takes. It was clear to me that my good friends just wanted honest portraits and a meaningful session.

The chemistry between Kiwi and Denise was evident and their attraction was just undeniable. To say that they are a perfect match is an understatement. We look forward to shooting them on their special day!

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