Richa's 18th

Richa celebrated her 18th birthday at Palms Country Club and the LS were there to capture her at her most beautiful shining moments.

It was a fashionable and colorful evening in a roomful of young adults such as the débutante. The Barbie-themed party was opened by Richa herself as she was presented to her guests wearing a pink ball gown escorted by a close friend. She had appointed 18 barbies and 18 kens as their very own version of 18 candles and 18 roses. There was the dance that ended with Richa's close friend. By the way, Richa is still very much single so her most important dance was the one with her dad.

-Lally Eleazar

Photographers: Lally Eleazar and Moises Lua

The Last Dance

On September 18, 2010, the LS team will be covering Richa's 18th birthday at the Palms Country Club in Alabang.

As a preparation for the big day, we had the chance to shoot her on the grounds of the venue last September 5, 2010 and got the chance to know Richa and meet her family.

What's the big fuzz anyway? What's with the elaborate party and this excitement all about?

The Filipino version of a female's rite of passage is an interesting and much awaited event in a young Filipina girl's life. Almost every Filipino, young or old, male or female, is knowledgeable of what happens when a young girl turns 18. There's a "debut" (that's how we Filipinos call it) and you know the drill. An embellished banquet is prepared for the débutante attended by her relatives and friends. She picks out 18 closest girl friends or female relative to present her a symbolical "cake" with eighteen candles where each will have a wish for the deb. She blows out her candles (this is a big task as the 18 candles are placed in a structure shaped like a cake tapering towards the top which is as tall as her). Then there's the 18 roses - male friends, long-stemmed roses, dance with the débutante and so on and so forth. Then 18 couples including the deb and her escort will dance the cotillion or rigodon de honor.

What most of us look forward to is this "dance" of the 18 roses. We know for a fact that the first dance is by protocol, the father's where in his absence, the next in line is the one who is the most senior in the family. Then as the dance progresses, the male friends' hierarchy is revealed. The last few ones are those closest to the deb and the very last one always is the one dearest to the deb's heart.

Who would be Richa's last dance, we will find out on the day we shoot this debut.

Photographer: Lally Eleazar

All images are owned by The Lightshapers. Unauthorized use of these copyrighted images are prohibited.

-Lally Eleazar

The Stephen+Leah Wedding Cover

The special date of Stephen and Leah at the altar was covered by LS team Dave, Jagey and Moises last September 11, 2010.

The bride was radiant as the sun that day. It all fell into place just like how they imagined the day would be. The smile on Stephen's and Leah's faces expressed how happy they were that the day had finally arrived. Relatives and close friends flocked their rented Balai Taal suite. The interior lighting was unbelievable as most of the shots were done with just ambient light seeping through the oversized picture windows framing the Taal Lake and crater.

The outdoor shoot was equally interesting as the clouds diffused much of the harsh sunlight.

The couple had a portrait session in front of the famous facade of the Caleruega Chapel on top of the hill. The colors of the brick stairway served as a backdrop for a picture-perfect couple's portrait while the flowing creamy gown of the bride contrasted with the texture of the brick steps.

As the sun slowly sank down the horizon, the couple's portraits were rendered with the golden hues of the sun.

And here are some snapshots of the LS team in action.

Photographers: Dave Astom, Jagey Nave and Moises Lua

All images are owned by The Lightshapers. Unauthorized use of these copyrighted images are prohibited.

-Lally Eleazar

The Romantic Wedding Of Stephen and Leah In Tagaytay

The team left early today for Tagaytay to meet somewhere in Alabang for the awaited Stephen-Leah wedding. The day's photographers are Dave Astom, Jagey Nave and Moises Lua. The line-up is an all-Sony A-mount-toting group of shooters.

The UK-based Stephen and Leah chose some very romantic Tagaytay scenic locations for this day's event making the day's itinerary mighty exciting for the LS team.

The pre-wedding preparation will be at Balai Taal at Ligaya Drive, Tagaytay. The property boasts of a clean environment of lush greenery and refreshing scenic landscapes, paved walkway through a tranquil escape to its forest and a perfect backdrop sought for by many art-hobbyists, photographers and simply anybody wanting that much-needed breather from the daily grind of the city life.

The ceremony will be held at Caleruega's Transfiguration Chapel more popularly known as the chapel on the hill. Located at the highest point of Caleruega, the imposing architecture stands tall, overlooking the ideal composition of a picture-perfect image of the Batulao hills as it converges with the sky and trees.

1. Stephen and Leah, portrait against Mess Hall brick column at Caleruega

2. Leah, portrait, against brick column

3. Line of red flowers, walkway to chapel

4. Stephen and Leah with garden in the foreground

5. Stephen and Leah sitting on a concrete bench with Batulao Hills on the background

The after-ceremony banquet happens at The Pacific Heights Clubhouse in Batangas. The resort clubhouse is unbelievably surrounded by the Taal Lake, Balayan Bay and the South China Sea in a 360-degree-pano view while the Batulao hills serves as a background, and provides for the stretch of greens and foliage.

A truly genius choice for a wedding setup: prepping at a lodging with the Taal backdrop; getting married at a chapel at the top of a hill; and finally, party at the foot of the hilly range of Batulao! Well done, Stephen and Leah!

Does it get any better than this? We will be posting some of our take of the picture-perfect wedding of Stephen and Leah soon. Best wishes to both of them as they celebrate their great love for one another on this very special day of their lives.

(all images were shot during the couple's eSession last September 3, 2010, Caleruega, Tagaytay)

Photographer: Lally Eleazar

All images are owned by The Lightshapers. Unauthorized use of these copyrighted images are prohibited.

-Lally Eleazar

Stephen and Leah eSession

The Lightshapers team went on a roadtrip to Tagaytay on September 3, 2010. The UK-based couple Stephen Dollman and Leah Alviar are home for their wedding on September 11, 2010 in Caleruega's quaint chapel on the hill in Tagaytay City.

The team shot the couple in the lush and green gardens of Caleruega with the hilly Batulao for the backdrop.

Photographers: Lally Eleazar and Dave Astom

All images are owned by The Lightshapers. Unauthorized use of these copyrighted images are prohibited.

-Lally Eleazar