After traveling via planes, trains, segways (yes, segways!), and automobiles, we are back!  We had such a great time photographing Lisa & Rinaldo’s wedding in Italy!  Tons of blog posts ahead of me and lots of catching up to do.  We are back in full swing… stay tuned!  A special thank you to the clients and future clients who waited for us to get home to meet… See you all this week!  Here’s a sneak peek of Lisa & Rinaldo’s wedding…

… and the Colosseum inRome, Italy

We are proud and honored to announce that we have recently been accepted into International Society of Professional Wedding Photographers (ISPWP).   Becoming a member of this respected community is a great achievement for Misha Media because of their high standards and committee review of all applicants.  We are so humbled to be included amongst this elite group of wedding photographers.  Thank you ISPWP!  We look forward to a great partnership this upcoming season!

Do you have a DSLR and have no idea how to use it?!  Let’s face it, you’ve invested so much money on your camera and you’ve been shooting in automatic mode… it’s like you’re still shooting with a point and shoot.  You have all of this technology in your hands but you don’t know how to use it…We are launching Misha Media Photo Party 101!  “What the heck is a Photo Party?!”  It’s very similar to a Tupperware party, purse party, jewelry party, or for the guys out there, a fantasy football draft,  if you will…  Instead of going to a workshop with 50+ people that you don’t know, we came up with the idea of having a photo learning experience in the comfort of your  ownhome amongst friends and families.  Basically, it works like this:

• Photo Party hosts will invite their friends and families who are also interested in photography minimum 6 people.
• We will show you the in’s and out’s of your camera and teach how to take better pictures.
• Party will consist of approximately 4 hours of teaching photography (don’t worry, we’ll make it a fun experience) and approximately 3 hours of shooting and learning the light.
• Cost is only $99 per person.
• Limited availability of dates, so inquire now!

We are now booking select dates for the Misha Media Photo Party and if you are interested in hosting a Photo Party, please click HERE to fill out the form for details and host benefits.  This is the perfect time to learn about your camera… Winter is over and it’s beautiful outside!

If you already know your camera basics and are interested in taking it a step further, we are also offering Misha Media Photo Party 201 and Misha Media One-on-One Sessions.

If you are an aspiring wedding photographer, we also offer a Misha Media Two-on-One Weddings! (Andy and Michele with you).  You will learn wedding photography from client correspondents, lighting,  a walk through of a wedding day, work flow, business back end and more!  Ask us anything you want!

Misha Media has been in the business for about 3 years,  shot 200+ weddings, 100+ portraits, and a ton of vacation photos!  We’re not saying that this is the correct way, but it’s the Misha Media way!  We’re so grateful for the blessings He has given us and we want to extend the opportunity and share our love for photography!

Below is a picture Michele shot in Boracay, Philippines.  To see more of our work, check out our online portfolio!

Woo hoo!  We are so honored to be recognized amongst international photographers to have achieved such a prestigious award.  This past March, we attended our annual photography convention,  WPPI in Las Vegas, and for the first time, we entered two prints for the 16×20 Print Competition.  It’s so great to be recognized for something that you love to do!  It’s kinda like getting on the honor roll or the dean’s list, if you will.

To our 2010 Clients: Fasten your seat belts because it’s going to be a wild and fun ride ahead of us!  Thank you for choosing Misha Media to capture your day!

Our “Layers of Love” print received the award.  A special thanks to Mark & Fremy for the opportunity!

The second print we entered was “Windy City Bride”.  Unfortunately, we didn’t get the award for this particular print.  We missed the award by one point due to technical errors… Lesson learned : Plan ahead!  A special thank you goes out to Majka & Ziggy!

I have to temporarily interrupt Robilyn & Darell’s blog updates to share a little bit of what I did yesterday… Yesterday, I shot for myself =D  As a photographer, sometimes you just gotta go out there and shoot… anything and anywhere… so I picked up my camera and had a photo drive (usually called a photo ‘walk’) but in the midst of winter, I persuaded Andy to drive me around our neighborhood… It was so beautiful after the snowfall we had overnight from Sunday to Monday.  I was so inspired to get the shots because I knew that the beauty wouldn’t last too long… So with frozen fingers and toes, I shot these images for my winter 2010 collections…   Photographer’s note:  All images shot w/ my Nikon D3 and Nikor 85mm f1.4.  Yup, I’m a Nikon girl, and darn proud of it!

I wasn’t as lucky last year with the newly fallen snow look.  But if you want to check out images from last winter, click here.

’til next time… Michele =)

I have been invited by Daniel Gin to speak at this month’s Chicago SmugMug meeting which will be tonight at 7pm.  I have never had any formal talks about photography, aside from the shoot we hosted last March…  so when Dan asked me to speak about something that I am very passionate about, of course I agreed!!  But agreeing also came with a good dose of nervousness… I hope you all can stop by and say hello… I will try my hardest… I promise I will!

Chicago Smugmug Meeting

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

7 pm to 9 pm

Daniel Gin’s Studio

1000 W.  Monroe

Chicago, IL 60607

This is an open invitation and you do not need to RSVP.  However, if you’d like to RSVP via Facebook, here’s the invite.

This is for all of our families and friends who cannot experience the beautiful season of Fall, simply because of their geographic locations… this is through my eyes, with the company of my family sharing the love for photography… Happy Fall to all!  For my fellow Chicagoans and Midwesterners, it’s not too late to capture the beauty… go out there and shoot!  It’s not going to last much longer…   See behind the scene photos here.

Camera : Nikon D3

Lenses: 50mm & 105mm

The beauty about not having to drive… I shot this through the window of our car en route to Starved Rock.  The rays of sunlight was amazing!

Real life Farmville… lol… Thanks Mari for the heads up!

There were sooo many lady bugs!

It actually rained for about 10 minutes right when we arrived… passing rain, perfect for water droplets on the leaves…

My 9 year old niece, Maddie, found this little snake (about the size of a large earthworm) in the grass… how she found him, I have no idea… I “burned” the edges just to make him pop out a little bit in the photo.  Otherwise, the color of this snake helps to camouflage him against the grass, sticks, and dried leaves.

We wanted to travel light and did not bring a tripod, but I really wanted to slow my shutter down to capture the motion of the waterfall.  Held my breath, wedged myself right against the rocks and squeezed my shutter.

f 14, 1/5 s, with continuous shutter release of my camera.

We’re happy to say that we have raised a total of  $2974.02 plus 6+ boxes of canned foods, toys, and clothing and raised awareness.  The current exchange rate for the Philippine peso (PhP) is approximately PhP 48 to $1.00.  Therefore, we have raised a total of PhP 142,752.96 pesos and to put it into perspective, we will be able to feed and clothe approximately 71,376 people!  Wow!  We have made a difference!  Thank you to all those involved in the success of our fundraising event!  Without your help, this wouldn’t have been possible!

As I write this blog post, I am very proud of my fellow Chicagoans who have come to support our cause this past Saturday.  After seeing all the destruction in the Philippines from Typhoon Ondoy last Sunday, September 27th, we knew we had to do something… Being so far away, we were so worried and felt helpless.  Luckily, our families were okay and weren’t as affected as some of the other people we saw online.  Every  image and video that was posted on Facebook and YouTube was so heartbreaking… We wanted to donate money and help those that are in need… But that would be the end of it… As we saw on Facebook, there was a cry for help and we felt the need to really do something about it….We wanted to draw awareness to the seriousness of the problem and hopefully become a ‘bridge’ to aid our fellow ‘kababayans’ (countrymen).  We knew we had to act fast…

We thank God every day for his blessings and his gift to us… This was a great opportunity for us to use our voice and skills to aid those who are in most need in the Philippines.  So as of Monday, September 28th, we decided to host a fundraiser… “Shoot for a cause : Relief for Typhoon Ondoy in the Philippines” It was no easy task getting a location to host and hold our event for October 3rd.  Due to the time constraint and the rushed schedule, no hotel or Filipino venue would offer their location.  We started to turn to friends who own businesses.  Our first choice was Orlando Cecilio who is the owner of Health Kick in Morton Grove.  With his generous heart and his awareness of the problem in the Philippines, he willingly offered to co-host our fundraising event.  And the rest you could say, ‘is history’…

We’d first like to recognize and thank everyone who made this fundraising event possible:

Orlando Cecilio owner of Health Kick in Morton Grove, IL, DJ Mark delRosario (aka DJ DelRo), Kristine Gonzales, Khris Lee, Alvin Rivera, and Jimmy Tan of Jimmy Tan Photography for donating their time and energy for our event.   Gina Alcantara of GNG Designs, Adel Domingo of Oliveairé Artisan Events and Meetings, Ray Pryor of Emotia, Traci Fine of Fine Makeup Art, and Chris Deaño of tek-uniQue Graphics for donating goods and services for our raffle.  And Joey and Noelle Parker of J.N. Imagery and Paul and Giselle Santos of Phia Photography for donating yummy treats for our bake sale.  And last, but definitely not least, Dennis Martinez of ReDeFinition dance group for organizing and collecting the dry goods!  Orlando Cecilio of Health Kick also provided gift bags and appetizer snacks at the fundraising event.  THANK YOU!

We’d also like to thank all those that helped spread the word via Facebook and Twitter.  To the Chicago nightclub promoters: Vic Melecio, Lyle Delmundo, and Marlon Vigan!  To our photographer friends: Karatography, Otto Rascon, Kenny Nakai,  Kenny Kim, Avery House, Vergil Magsino, and Maurice Ramirez!    And to our Tweeps: Roma Christina, Capncrisp, Scarty.  And last but not least, all our friends from Facebook who helped spread the link for our great cause!  THANK YOU!

And of course, the generous online donations from people in Chicago and from across the nation, the kindhearted guests of our fundraising event who donated a generous contribution and brought dry goods such as canned foods, toys, and clothing.  And to my fellow photographers who joined us in our “New Photographer’s Seminar”!  THANK YOU!

Marie Chico, Michael Santos, Laarni Joy Pablo, Lutgarda Ramos, Ria Almaria, Marlynne & Johnny Pineda, Rowena & Marc Adajar, Josh & Gina Ensell, Farita & Chris Reyes, Loy & Myrna Gonzales, Eric & Mitzi Orlanes, Grace Ha-Kim, Kenny Nakai, Maria & Giovanni Pultrone, Mae Samiec, Gilbert Abadilla, Chris & Kelly Yap, Angie Hristova, Angie Hristova and Co-Workers, John Quilban, Lowen & Robert Rezek, Noelle & Joey Parker, Mark delRosario, Rainiel Distor, Adel Domingo, Corrie Powers, Reenah Hashem, Chris Deaño, Jon Hernandez, Velasquez Family, John Churchwell, Jessica Uzarraga, Jona Caberto, Joe & Veronica Alvarez, April Calueaqib, Katrina Beltran, Erwin Delfin, Colleen Ray, Emil Ramos, Emil Ramos-Friends & Family, Emil Ramos – Coca Cola Friends, Paul & Giselle Santos, Dan Dedios, Roxanne Alcantara, Jon Holmblad, Josephine Gentallan, Rosalind Beltran, Aimee Lee, Michael Ahn, Cheryl & Rich Cabildo, Emmanuel Cecilio, Janice Gunderson, Alvin Rivera, JR Bangit, Leujay Cruz, Christine Ong, Michael Domingo, Adrian Domingo, April Ocampo, Rodger Decilio, Gretchen Villa Luna, Eugenie Panganiban, Vanessa Frosch, Cindy Lam, Illi Ferandez, Mike and Mari Rivera, Cheryl, Mel, and Cici Quijano, Allan Palmes, Tina, Lei, Ethan & Isabella Xie, Kelly Barnett, Larry Cecilio, Crystal Clayag, and Carlo & Mia Gonzales, Stefania Presta Greco, Mylene Hamblin, Mylene Hamblin and co-workers!!!

Congratulations to the top 3 winners of the raffle:

Grand Prize of a Misha Media photo session along with makeup provided by Fine Makeup Art is: Emmanuel Cecilio – Please email us for details.

2nd Prize of an 8.5″ Digital Photo frame donated by Oliveairé Artisan Events and Meetings is: April Lomibao – Please pick up your prize at Health Kick

3rd Prize of a Lexmark Photo Printer donated by Chris Deaño of tek-uniQue Graphics is: April Calueaqib – Please pick up your prize at Health Kick

Prizes such as floral arrangements by GNG Designs and “Facing the Giants” DVD movies donated by Ray Pryor of Emotia were raffled off throughout the day live… Congratulations to those who won!

For those of you who took portraits at our mini-studio, please fill out our contact form here. We will email you the directions on how to go about downloading your high resolution images.

We can still continue to make a difference.  If you have missed our event, but would like to donate, please go to the Philippine National Red Cross website and donate there directly.  We promise to update everyone with other fundraising events that other Chicagoland Filipinos will be hosting.  If you are hosting an event in the near future and would like us to feature your event on our blog, please contact us here.  We also promise to keep everyone updated with the ongoing effort of the Philippine National Red Cross and it’s aid for the Ondoy victims.  Damages as of right now according to wikipedia:

Once  again, thank you to everyone!  God Bless you all.  The Bayanihan Spirit lives on!

“Shoot for a cause” event is today!  We hope to see you there!

100% of the proceeds will be going to the Philippine National Red Cross.

11 am to 6:30 pm

Health Kick

5640 Dempster St

Morton Grove, IL 60053-3041

(847) 965-4070

Get directions

11am to 4:00pm: Get your photos taken with our backdrop.

11am to 6:30pm: Fun and goofy photos at the Photobooth!

4:30pm to 6:30pm: “New Photographer Seminar” $50 per participant hosted by Michele and Andy of Misha Media

UPDATE III:  I have just been informed that a digital photo frame has been donated by Oliveairé Artisan Events and Meetings towards the raffle!  Check out their website here!

I also want to re-iterate that when you choose to have your photos taken with our backdrop for $5.00 per person or $10.00 per family, you will get the high resolution image(s) from our website, free to download, and free to print on your own!  This is a great opportunity to get your photos taken for your Christmas Cards!

Also, there are only a few seats remaining for our “New Photographers Seminar” so please email us at typhoonrelief@mishamedia.com if you’d like to join us!

See you all tomorrow!

Michele and Andy

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UPDATE II:  I have just been informed that there is an organization out in Glenview called NAFCON Midwest who is sending ‘balikbayan boxes’ containing dry goods such as clothing, towels, blankets, dry food (rice and ramen noodles), and medical supplies. Dennis Martinez will be at our event to pick up any dry good donations that you may want to bring.  Please bring anything and everything that you can,  every little bit helps.  If you cannot make it to our event, please see details on their website on how to go about dropping off goods at their location.  Here is their contact information:

Fellowship for Filipino Migrants-FFM
PO Box 901 Glenview, IL 60025-9998
ffm4outreach@gmail.com Nerissa (224)3816888

Also, please scroll down at the bottom of this post for other drop-off locations across the U.S.

Also, they are expecting yet another typhoon (Typhoon Parma) to come this weekend.  Let’s all hope and pray that she decides to take a different path, away from land.  Also please pray for those who were affected by the recent earthquake in Indonesia and Tsunami in Samoa.  God bless…

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UPDATE I: A comment I received from someone who is a blog reader in the Philippines… “we have one more typhoon coming this friday or saturday. we’re hoping an praying it will not be another landfall. Sad though there are still hundreds of people at the east part of Manila,stranded on top of their roofs (at the time of this writing) Amazing, kanye west got more media publicity compared to whats happening here. just this afternoon, a cab driver told me that his colleague has gone insane after loosing all his property and all his love ones from the flood. im speechless this is just one of titanic-like stories you can hear from your colleagues and good strangers Ondoy humbled everyone… for now we’re gearing up for another typhoon..”

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Misha Media x Health Kick is hosting a fundraiser this Saturday, October 3rd from 11:00 am to 6:30 pm to help the people that were affected by Typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana) in the Philippines.  There will be a mini photo studio to take portraits with a suggested minimum donation of $5, the Misha Media Photobooth will be there with a minimum donation of $1.00 (you will receive a 4×6 print of your photobooth picture on the spot),  and also a gift bag with awesome health products donated by Orlando Cecilio from Health Kick!  There will also be floral arrangements (by Gina Alcantara of GnG designs) and music (by Mark Del Rosario of dj delro).

We will also have a raffle for a photo session (lifestyle session or Bride and Groom session or Engagement session) with Misha Media

AND

Makeup for the photo shoot by the talented Traci Fein of Fine MakeUp Art!! (each raffle ticket will be $1.00).

We are also offering a “New Photographer Seminar” from 4pm to 6pm for $50 per participant.  You will learn about the basics of photography and also learn how to “read” light, composition, etc… All you new SLR camera owners, come join us!  You will learn a lot and it’s for a great cause!  If you are interested in becoming a participant for the “New Photographer Seminar” please email us at typhoonrelief@mishamedia.com to reserve your spot!  Limited number of availability, so reserve your spot now!

100% of the proceeds will be going to the Philippine National Red Cross.

11 am to 6:30 pm

Health Kick

5640 Dempster St

Morton Grove, IL 60053-3041

(847) 965-4070

Get directions

11am to 4:00pm: Get your photos taken with our backdrop.

11am to 6:30pm: Fun and goofy photos at the Photobooth!

4:30pm to 6:30pm: “New Photographer Seminar” $50 per participant hosted by Michele and Andy of Misha Media

Please help us spread the word via Facebook and  Twitter!

Typhoon Ondoy took the capital of the Philippines by surpirse… A month’s worth of rain fell over Northern Luzon, Philippines on September 25, 2009, leaving much of the country’s capital and surrounding regions submerged in water, some areas reaching up to nine feet!  The current death toll is at 240 people, with 340,000 affected by the Typhoon.  This rainfall has been the highest recorded since 1967 and exceeds the rainfall level of Hurricane Katrina.  They are predicting two more potential tropical depressions coming in the midst of Ondoy’s wake…. Let’s hope and pray no more rain comes…

Filipinos call it the “Bayanihan Spirit” which means the spirit of communal unity and cooperation.  Stand up Chicago!  They need our help…  This is a great way to pay it forward…

I realize this is an urgent post and this event was planned over a period of 4 hours and counting.  If you have other pre-arranged engagements, but would still like to donate to those affected by the Typhoon,  Please click below to donate.  Please don’t forget to include your name and a link for recognition.  We will be doing a blog post on all the participants who will make this event a success.

a Picture is worth a thousand words…

Photos courtesy of http://www.typhoonondoy.org/

The following photo is courtesy of Xinhua / Reuters Photo

View more photos at NowPublic.com

Photos below courtesy of Friends from Facebook

It’s time to show our Bayanihan spirit for those who need it most…

NAFCON Drop Off Centers:

I am proud to announce that Misha Media has received an Accolade of Excellence award in the 8×10 print competition for WPPI (Wedding & Portrait Photographers International) in the Engagement ategory.   Here’s the image.  This is Fremy & Mark’s Engagement session which was photographed at the Santa Monica Pier in California.  This is one of my most favorite images in my 5 years of shooting.   I am so honored to accept this award and feel blessed for being able to do what I love to do…

“Layers of Love”

Photographed by Michele Rivera