Market Week NYC for Grace Ormonde

I just got back from shooting market week in New York for Grace Ormonde. I flew in to JFK on a red-eye after my wedding in Coto de Caza on Saturday and went straight to work. I was a zombie through the first three runway shows mostly because I only slept 2 or 3 hours on the plane but partly because I was lame and took a couple Tylenol PMs which lasted half way through the next day. Special thanks to uncleray who covered for me on Saturday and hung out the rest of the week with me to ensure I didn't catch up on any sleep. It was a blast as usual... shooting great models in stunning gowns by day and hanging with my second family (Grace, Yanni, Ray, Traci, and Paula) by night. I really enjoy shooting with such an amazing team!

As tradition would have it, Ines Di Santo allowed me to steal away a couple of her models to the streets below the Waldorf Astoria to grab some quick editorial/fashion type images for Wedding Style. It's a rough job but someone's gotta do it :)

In between locations, I grabbed a shot of your everyday NYC life - two cab drivers who got out of their cars to scream at each other. They caused a major traffic jam... goodtimes :)

I'm back at home and spent the evening with my two little boys while the wifey went out for some coffee with her girlfriends. My wife is such an angel. I always appreciate her so much after a few hours of taking care of our boys... something she does all day every day! I am completely drained!

Back from Puerto Rico!

What an experience! I just spent 3 full days in the streets of San Juan (including a few hours in Ponce) with my homey uncleray and my new friend Gretchen Del Carmen photographing Ford models in couture gowns for Grace Ormonde. I am so blessed to have this opportunity to shoot for the nations hottest wedding magazine! Grace and her staff have become close friends of mine and have supported me as a photographer for many years now. I owe so much to Grace for trusting me with so many editorial and fashion shoots over the years. Her magazine is one of the largest contributing factors to my success and I am so thankful that I have a place in her magazine again this coming issue!

Random Fact: My dad was born in a town called Arecibo just West of San Juan in Puerto Rico. It was so nice to have my name pronounced properly for once. There are streets in Puerto Rico named Colón which I was unable to find for a photo so if you live in P.R. and know where the street is, would you send me a photo please? :)

Baby Cake Shoot in Puerto Rico

Video Credit: uncleray

Grace Ormonde Fashion Shoot in Puerto Rico

I'm off in the morning to San Juan, Puerto Rico for a Grace Ormonde fashion shoot. After speaking with Grace and her team about the vision for this shoot, my brain is stirring with ideas and I can't wait to see what happens. I am so blessed to have this opportunity! Be sure to check the Spring/Summer issue of Wedding Style which will be on shelves January 2008!

P.S. I wasn't going to mention this because it is so personal, but I can't hold it in. I just got back from a men's retreat up in Big Bear with my church. God shook me up and revealed things in my life that I need to change. I'm starting with the most important - my relationship with Christ. I'm ashamed to say that He has not been first in my life. Next is more quality time with my wife and boys. It's crazy how easy it is to let materialism and selfishness creep in. I have this freakish need for success and it has really become a false god. I am so thankful that I have such good friends and Godly mentors in my life who look out for me and slap me around when I start to slip.

""For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?" (Matthew 16:26)

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control." (Galatians 5:22)