 I just adore weddings.
I love capturing those smiles that only two people in love can share. I love to preserve for eternity those details that were painstakingly organized for so many months -- that magnificent wedding gown, the ornately designed cakes and flowers, that gleaming bridal car, those sparkling rings. For me, a wedding day is the start of a timeless adventure into the unknown, a journey with the one person each had chosen to be with for the rest of their lives. I WANTED TO BE THERE AND RECORD THAT MOMENTOUS DAY FOR THEM, IN A STYLE AN FLAIR THAT ONLY I CAN PRODUCE.
Upon the instance of my sensei Frank Dizon, i enrolled myself as a supplier for wedding photography at Weddings@Work in August 2008. I would have been happy to be hired to do one wedding a month. For me, it was never the money anyway; it was to feed a passion for excellence in the visual arts.
After John and Benz Rana (the owners of W@W) i nterviewed me and posted the same in their site (and in the Manila Bulletin), a couple of inquiries came in. Then a couple more. And more. Then, the dam broke. Beyond my wildest dreams, i'm shooting (as of last count) 14 weddings in December 2009 ALONE.
Early this morning, i received this text from Benz Rana: "Congratulations! We just finished tallying the nominations and you are part of the Top 10 W@W Suppliers of the Year. Complete lineup -- Cecilio Abad, Events by Clarice; Jayson Arquiza, Josiah's Catering; K by Cunanan; Nice Print Photo; PartyPics; Phoeben Teocson; Raymond Fortun and Threelogy Video." One of just 3 photographers in the Top 10.
This was really just a hobby in the beginning; a soulful expression of how i view reality. I am overwhelmed. A part of me is very thankful to the people who have expressed their faith in my work. The other part, however, is mourning. For this also could mean more sleepless nights in going over images ONTOP of the sleepless nights caused by fixing people's problems in court. This means more time away from my wife and kids, who have been an endless source of inspiration for me.
But i've always been a fatalist. I've always believed that things will happen because God has mapped it out for us all. I do not know what God has planned for me by giving me this latest honor; what i do know is that He knows best, and whatever will be the outcome, it will be good.
The honor does not mean i have anything to brag about. On the contrary, it should only push me to try to be better in every way -- in the service, in dealing with other people, in producing better images each and every time. What guides me is what St. Josemaria Escriva once wrote:
"The more they exalt me, my Jesus, the more you should humble me in my heart; showing me what i have become and what i will be if You forsake me."
 | Congratulations Sir Raymond :)
So happy for u... |
 | Congrats! This is the hardest field in photography, big time ka na paps. =) |
 | Congrats Sir Raymond... I always admire wedding photographers, imagine you have to be there literally before the bride wakes up in the morning.... kailangan makapagshoot ka sa kanya before sya maayusan, lahat ng gagamitin for the event kukuhaan mo, habang inaayusan sya,... sa wedding itself, kailangan wala kang mamiss na moment... sa reception, kumakain na sila kaw hindi pa kasi may mga activities na kailangan mong kuhaan hanggang sa paghihintay ng bayad mo..... it will eat most of your time talaga, not to count the stress and fatigue na mararanasan mo.....
So masasabi ko lang.... galing mo talaga idol, hope one time magkasama tayo sa shoot! :)
Goodluck attorney |
 | You deserve all this achievements bro! You are very indeed skillful and brilliant in so many ways.... May God bless you more with more wedding bookings as you are enjoying capturing beautiful moments for the couples that He has put together.... =) |
 | galing mo sir, attorney ka na , wedding photographer ka pa, CONGRATS PO |
 | Congratulations Atty. Fortun! You deserve it:) I hope to work with you when it's my time to make my "momentous occasion" :) |
 | congrats atty! more weddings to come! =) |
 | thats hard work atty., congratulations and more more more.. |
 | Congratulations Atty. you are really an inspiration to new photographers like me. I myself as an architect was also a hobbyist and just shooting for my kids, but as time goes by, I look at myself searching for more adventures in photography (shooting weddings as my favorite, birthday parties, baptismal, debut, interior design, etc). Your right, its not the financial aspects why most of us continue to pursue this art, but its the passion and love for it. Keep up the good work. Your one of a kind. |
 | passion... that what drives us to excel in whatever endeavors... you are on the right track! congrats!
cheers,
=tops |
| Congrats! Congrats! Ayan na....! Batikang Atty. na at Btikang Wedding Photographer pa! Yahooo! galing galing! |
 | BIG Congrats!!!! Woohooo!!!! |
 | Congratulations sir! the hard work really paid off. you're going to need a bigger office. one for your legal staff, and the other for your wedding staff. cheers! |
 | congrats paps! pa bulalo ka na hehehe |
 | congratulations sir!!!
APIR!!! |
 | Sir Raymond, Wish you all the luck and i guess you need more Strength and the power to balance things. I know its not easy to do numerous tasks, just hang on there and im praying the staying power will be with you all the time.
Regards! |
 | mmjel wrote on Feb 17, '09 |
 | congratulations - ang pinakalagareng noobie atty photographer! :) |
 | Congrats Sir!.. I'm planning to be one also... Just resigned from my work here in Dubai.. Going Home this march to cover my brother's wedding..
Any tips from you will be an honor.. Congrats again.! |
 | Congratulations po Attorney...you are now officially "PIMP" hehehehe! |
 | Congratulations, atty! So proud of you!!! Yeehaaa!!!;-) |
 | Eh pano naman yung smile natin sino ang magcacapture pag pinakasalan mo ko uli?! Sino ang magpepreserve for eternity ng mga details which I will start planning now? aber? Sino? Sino? hmph. I want memories also you know. hehe. btw, change my pic! |
 | You really deserve it. Thank you for that picture. You make a lot of couples like us happy, and you inspire other photographers especially the newbies. Here's wishing that someday, all or one of your kids will be into photography as well. God bless you and your family, Atty. Fortun. |
 | wow!! congrats! gusto ko uling pakasalan si myls if only to have you take pictures of our wedding. |
 | congratulations! you deserve it talaga! i'm so happy that i trusted you to capture my wedding kasi super satisfied kami ni hubby. it has been a pleasure to work with you. |
|  Any tips from you will be an honor.. Congrats again.!  Hmmm.... where do you want me to start?
Naku sir, sa totoo lang po, baguhan lang din ako eh. Wala yata akong K para magbigay ng tips. Pero kung meron kayong specific na tanong, susubukan ko pong sagutin. :D |
| congratulations! you deserve it talaga! i'm so happy that i trusted you to capture my wedding kasi super satisfied kami ni hubby. it has been a pleasure to work with you. Ops! I should be the one to thank you po for your faith in my work. Halaaaa, 2000+ images ang i-turn over ko by Friday, helloooo! Mahihilo ka sa katitingin hahahaha! :P |
| hala...malupit na tanong yan Ngayon pa lang, nagpapa-clone na ko, hehehe. :P |
| Here's wishing that someday, all or one of your kids will be into photography as well. Taniiiiiiii!! Ikaw ang nagsimula nang lahat hahaha! I swear, may special place yung feetchurs nyo sa 2010 Calendar ko hahahaha!
My eldest son wants to beat me in photography. I gave him a Canon 1000D last month, and attached my 24-105L f/4 lens to it. He's ... getting better. *starts biting fingernails |
 | Congrats master! wuhoooo! tumbling na ito! cartwheel at jumping jack! hehehe :) |
 | Galing naman! Dapat pala nagpapabook sayo ng sobrang aga para di maubusan ng slot hahaha. Pero I'll hold on to your promise na ikaw mag shoot ng special day ko for free (dapat ninong ka para sigurado!)! waaaaahhhhhhh!
We're so proud of you friend. Continue what you've started. You have mastered your craft. |
 | Congrats Atty!!! You really deserve it!!! You are an inspiration to everyone! Looking forward working with you in 2010!!! I know we made the right choice!!! See you later!!! Ü |
 | yes sir attorney! galing galing! hehehhe. just as i have told you dati, back up mo na ko :P |
 | Congratulations Sir! Im very proud of you & very proud to be part of BMS. You are truly blessed!... Also because you are A BLESSING to so many like me. =)
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| Pero I'll hold on to your promise na ikaw mag shoot ng special day ko for free (dapat ninong ka para sigurado!)! waaaaahhhhhhh! Thanks friend! Yeah, kunin mo kong ninong, para yung photography na lang ang gift ko sa inyo (KUNG si Allan ang pakakasalan mo). :P O ayan ha, 1 major expense saved. hahahaha!
DISCLAIMER: This offer is for the recipient only and does not establish a precedent. Wag isipin na, "hmmm..... Ninong Raymond, pwede yun na lang gift nyo saken?" hahahahaha! |
| Sir Raymond, Wish you all the luck and i guess you need more Strength and the power to balance things. I know its not easy to do numerous tasks, just hang on there and im praying the staying power will be with you all the time.
Regards! Salamat nang marami, bro. Your prayers are most welcome because i really need it.
Photography was supposed to be just a hobby for me -- pa-shoot shoot dito, pag may mga activities yung kids sa school, pag may summer trips -- ganun lang. I'd always wanted to shoot weddings because i know that it's the hardest; nandun yung challenge eh! Pero..... i never expected this response, and the pressure to do well everytime. Hindi sa nagrereklamo ako, but couples are demanding clients and they (probably) deserve to be because they paid hard-earned money to expect a particular level of excellence. The pressure is really great on wedding photographers kaya bilib ako sa kanilang lahat, sa totoo lang.
When you put together the demands of my regular day job and the pressures in weddings during weekends, then i am almost certain that pitying me is a more apt sentiment. I just console myself with the thought that i'm getting paid for 'doing a hobby'. :P |
| congratulations - ang pinakalagareng noobie atty photographer! :) Psssst zita! Naka-bili ka na ba ng mga props naten? Lagot kayo ni Jonathan saken, bwahahahahahaha!! |
 | congratz! i ve been referring u to my w@w sis and Im glad pasok ka sa top10! |
| congratz! i ve been referring u to my w@w sis and Im glad pasok ka sa top10! Noooooooo more sleepless nights hahaha! Thanks thanks po! *hugz* |
 | I just console myself with the thought that i'm getting paid for 'doing a hobby'. :P
oh di po ba, masaya pa rin kahit papaano hehe!!!
Congrats!!! |
 | congrats atty.! you really deserved it... ganda-ganda pictures ng mga sisses namin kasi dinadagsa ka ng mga w@wies...... sa w@w party, makikipag-unahan akong pumila sa spot mo para mag-pa-prenup ;-P |
| congrats atty.! you really deserved it... ganda-ganda pictures ng mga sisses namin kasi dinadagsa ka ng mga w@wies...... sa w@w party, makikipag-unahan akong pumila sa spot mo para mag-pa-prenup ;-P I'd love to shoot your prenup at the party. But don't expect the usual pa-tweetums ha. That ain't my style. :D |
 | atty! congrats! i hope you'll emerge as w@w top supplier for 2008! (crossing my fingers :])
i'm just sad coz i won't be able to attend the w@w party :( |
| i'm just sad coz i won't be able to attend the w@w party :( Oh no! Why not? :-O |
| muah muah muah! (galing samin yan ni allan!) *goes to bathroom to gargle and wash off mouth |
 | congrats atty. you deserved it. more more more! *wink* |
 | hey where are the photos? i had so much fun. thanks for making us (me) feel comfortable in front of the camera. haha :) congrats congrats! |
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