From J’s about page:

This year, he came full circle rediscovering his first passion, only after 10 years – photography. Coming from film, he has now embraced digital, and has refined his skills shooting weddings side by side with one of the Philippines’ best wedding photographers, his colleague and good friend, Nelwin Uy.

Photography by J Lucas Reyes

J just got married himself, having wed his longtime sweetheart Catherine Magsaysay in January of this year (we featured their lovely origami crane-themed invitation in a previous entry). And so I asked him if, being a newlywed, he can offer something unique to the couples he photographs.  His answer:

I love shooting weddings. Despite the frantic pace, it relaxes me, being reminded of my own and the few things that really matter – the bride, the groom, and the love. Funny thing is though, in the short span of time I’ve shot weddings, I think my photography style brings out the brides more. Well after all, like my wife used to say then, it’s the only special day in her life when she wants to be a princess and so I’m all happy to oblige.

Photography by J Lucas Reyes

Looking at J’s photographs, I can tell that he has kept his graphic design sensibilities in the way he angles and crops his shots. He keeps just enough of the image to retain the essence of the moment but leaves out some bits so that something is left to the imagination. And he makes sure to keep things simple:

Thankfully I come from a film background where you have to know photography and its history before you can call yourself a photographer. Despite using almost all-digital tools in exploring design, I do 90% of my work at the time of shooting and use the computer like I’m in a darkroom. I don’t utilize Photoshop layers, textures, plugins and stuff, which are quite the common thing everyone now buys off the street after a dslr. I try to keep things simple, frame steady, and let my mind be free to create pictures.

Photography by J Lucas Reyes

So with J, what you see in real life is what you get. And isn’t that just how we want our big day captured in stills?

See more of  J Lucas Reyes’ beautiful photography on his website. There’s good news too: he now accepts bookings.  Leave a note on his contact form or text/call him via 0919.8363620.

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Niña and her groom Carlo are graphic designers and so the theme for their entire entourage in their May 2008 wedding was paper. James came up with a stunning design that was nothing like we’ve ever seen. Niña raves, “After showing James photos of styles I liked, he came up with something beautifully modern, with very clean lines. The back of the dress had an exquisite origami-inspired knot and folds – sculptural details that I absolutely loved.”

The gown is made of Ivory Duchess Satin and the skirt was designed to appear like its one big piece of fabric made to wrap around Niña which then ends up in a shock of crumpled paper in the back.

The gown’s neckline has a slashed V-neck and a standing collar. The skirt’s front panel is also designed to lead the eyes to the origami detail at the back. Photo at the bottom shows husband and wife Carlo & Niña Herman at the Chapel on the Hill in Batulao, Batangas.

For the rest of the entourage gowns, subtle Japanese details are also in place with the use of dupioni silk to make the gowns look like crumpled and folded paper and Samurai-inspired cuts for the collars and necklines.
***

Looking at the photos in James’ website, you can easily see the passion he throws into the creation of something unique and personal for each of his clients by the careful thought and detail he puts into each gown he makes.

Clockwise from top left:
1) Gina’s full terno gown in piña and ecru silk chiffon. The skirt is composed of layers of silk chiffon with full bias inserts creating a serpentina silhouette. As a dramatic, final touch, the skirt flares out into a full swirl at the back. “This is one of the gowns I’m proudest of because it was the very first time I made a terno and it turned out great.

2) Aimee in her champagne-colored wedding dress. The back of the gown features a huge assymetrical bow that falls in a dramatic cascade onto the floor. “The reception was outdoors and Aimee wanted something light and airy to catch the cool Tagaytay breeze. Thus, the butterfly became my inspiration.”

3) Cathy, Pao, and their entourage. Cathy was inspired by a play she was doing that was set in Florence hence their theme Florence at Sunset. “Immediately, we pinned down the colors of her entourage and my theme for all the gowns would be Florentine jewelry. The Moms wore shades of gold with crushed crystals as accents. The entourage came in beautiful colors inspired by the romantic city: wine red, burnt orange, champagne and gold.”

James was actually my classmate in college and it really makes me proud to see how far he’s gone from the talented, cheerful Fine Arts student who would happily design our Lantern Parade costumes to the talented, cheerful, acclaimed fashion designer he is now.

See more of his wedding gown work on his website.

Get in touch with James Reyes at:
Mobile: 0917-6236183
E-mail: jvreyes@pldtdsl.net or jamesvreyes@yahoo.com
Website: http://jamesreyesdesigns.multiply.com

Related post:
* I wrote about my own wonderful wedding gown experience with designer Tippi Ocampo in a previous entry.

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When Dino Ocampo, a friend & colleague back from when I worked in the industry, mentioned that he was to settle down with fellow creative Pia Roxas, I knew their wedding was going to be anything but cookie cutter. With the help of stylist Candy Reyes, they managed to infuse their wedding with elements that reflected their personal fancies – a shared love for travel, diving, photography, curios, and of course, writing. What struck me most about the decor is the predominance of paper elements – quite appropriate for a marriage between two people who weave words for a living, yes? – so that’s what I chose to feature here:

Dino Ocampo & Pia Roxas' wedding

Clockwise from left:
1/2. Custom postcards featuring their photography were handed out for guests to write messages on (what a great idea!)
3. Instead of bouquets, the bride her entourage carried bags with a “paper flower” on top.
4. Huge paper flowers made by hand by an urban poor community.

Dino Ocampo & Pia Roxas's wedding

Clockwise from left:
1. Paper flowers abloom all over the tables in the reception area.
2. Paper bag luminaries light the path to and from the garden.
3. Another shot of the guest postcards.
4. Folded paper hats & stars printed with the couple’s writings for guests to take home.

Read more about their wedding in an upcoming issue of Wedding Essentials magazine. They also have a wedding blog filled with comprehensive wedding preparation step-by-step photos and tips [here].

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It feels good to be back =)

After 6 long months, the next issue of Wedding Essentials will hit book stores and magazine stands in a week. WE`re all excited to share with you what WE`ve been busy with- the more we look at the black book (same book in Ugly Betty containing print-outs of the pages of the magazine), the more WE think it`s a wonderful issue (ok, ok, we`re a bit biased =P).

In 7 days, you`ll be able to

a. know what WE mean and hopefully, agree that it`s a beautiful issue

b. check out wonderful wedding discoveries of WE

c. win in our online contest

d. all of the above

***c. – will post mechanics in the next few days, so pls come back to our blog to check for updates. WE assure you it will be a nice prize. Maybe even prizes (keeping our fingers crossed!)

In the meantime, here`s a little preview to whet your wedding planning appetite a bit.

1. Do you really need that mile- long cathedral train? Or the same fully beaded Inno Sotto gown Ruffa wore when she walked down the aisle with Yilmaz? Kit Kwe, a real bride-to-be (and award-winning fictionist), gives the lowdown on how to recession-proof your wedding (translation: How to have a great wedding without busting your budget). After all, Kit says in her story, `no one ever got arrested for skipping the garter toss`…

2. Guess where this is? =) It`s not in Tagaytay, nor in Baguio. This place in B_t_n_a_ is one of our WE Discoveries in the issue.

3. Pls trust us when we say that you don`t have to be a model to look strikingly beautiful in your wedding pictures. Years in advertising taught us that (and Mica Tuanio, the writer of this piece is still in advertising)

But. You have to know your angle and practice, practice, practice. Personally, I think my best photos of myself were during my wedding years ago.

4. One of the 4 dream themes for this issue is this beautiful set-up by Jing Tanada at the Conservatory of The Manila Peninsula, in collaboration with planners Nenita Zagala and Ruby Ines. It was our first time to work with Manila Peninsula, but it definitely won`t be the last. This is quite memorable because it took our photographer Terry Uy, less than 3 hours to finish the entire photo shoot (which usually takes about half a day)- thank you Nenita and Ruby for orchestrating this well-planned photo shoot. Because we finished early, we also err, finished most of the desserts on the buffet table set up by the chef. Oops!

Some chocolate related- aha!- moments

Terry Uy, photographer

Dr. Michael Young, saxophonist

Sorry guys, don`t have pics of the girls eating chocolate- wink =P

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Teddy Manuel is the genius who styled the Jelly Belly set-up in the current issue of WE.

About 3 months ago, we called up Teddy to tell him that we wanted him to play with Jelly Belly for the next WE dream theme concept. He grasped at the idea.

But look at what he was able to do. Isn`t it amazing? My hubby Eths is a big fan of Jelly Belly and thinks that the `Child in You` theme in the current issue of WE is the best theme we`ve done so far. He`s biased of course. =)

The `Child in You` theme was photographed by Terry Uy for WE magazine

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I’m a Colin Cowie fan as well, not as much as Marbee probably since I haven’t bought any of his books, but I love how he takes inspiration from the mundane (circles, for instance) and transforms those concepts into something interestingly complex and beautiful.

[ insert slick segue here ]

And speaking of beautiful, one of our dearest friends and among our suki photographers at Wedding Essentials, Mr. Toto Labrador, just launched his shiny new website. Please check it out and see why he is THE MAN.

I’ve known Toto since our college days in UP Fine Arts and Marb has known him since his brother Albert photographed her and Eths’ wedding years ago, BUT it is with absolutely no biases at all when we say that when it comes to fashion photography he is in a league of his own. This is why his photos have graced the pages of several glossies and Wedding Essentials since our very first issue in 2004…

… and the twin covers of our second issue in 2005.

Congrats Toto! WE hearts you. Here’s to more photo shoots together. (:

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