2025 so far

Four shoots and four weddings

January was a doozy. With no rest from a busy holiday season, I immediately locked into work mode. It was totally unexpected. But client projects are always a welcome surprise.

After coming from a wedding in Baguio, I shot dishes for Helm by Josh Boutwood. That same week I covered a dear friend’s intimate church ceremony. A week after was that same friend’s main wedding (where I was a guest this time) plus a self organized shoot with friends. The month ended with a wedding in Tagaytay and a jewelry brand shoot.

Besides the four weddings I attended in January, I went to another in February. There are three more to go in March, April, and June.

Who knew decades of Catholic school and family enforced Sunday mass would prepare me for wedding season? All those years of spacing out in church have culminated in this moment.

While I’ve identified as agnostic for the longest time, I do appreciate the artistry that goes into building churches. Alphaland Baguio Mountain Lodge’s chapel was dramatic with a giant steel cross hanging in the center. There were twinkling lights mimicking stars in the altar dome of Our Lady of Lourdes in Tagaytay.

Anyway. Me being me, it was only natural I whined through everything. Which isn’t to say I’m ungrateful. Because I am so so thankful!!! I’m happy to be considered—whether to be a part of a couple’s special day or a client’s beloved project.

The Artist’s Way, art dates, friendship side quests

As if it wasn’t enough that I was balancing a 9-to-5 with freelance work, I restarted the Artist’s Way thanks to my friend Kookie. Doing it the first time was transformative. I was curious to see how it would help at this point of my creative journey.

Got to say, I’ve made big strides only four weeks into the 12-week program. (I mean we’ll never truly know if these things are a direct result of the Artist’s Way, but it definitely helped somehow???)

Exhibit A: for the longest time I’ve been wanting to visit Ayala Museum’s library. I love going to libraries when I travel abroad, so why didn’t I do it here in Manila? Well I finally pulled the trigger and spent one Saturday afternoon there. I even paid for an alumni card so I can try out Ateneo’s library next time. (Pictured above: my alumni card photo taken by Colin Dancel lol.)

Exhibit B: I’ve been forced to live offline as I write this. I’m doing what Ms. Julia Cameron likes to call Reading slash Media Deprivation. I’ve been trying to stay away from books, social media, and any form of input. The transition has been manageable. For the last two years I’ve kept Instagram and TIktok off my phone. (I post then delete them immediately.) My current withdrawal symptoms revolve around recent addictions: Substack, Pinterest, and YouTube.

So far this run of the Artist’s Way has forced me to take stock. Take stock of what I have, what I’ve made and built for myself. The connections I’ve nurtured. I’m slowly letting go of the pressures I’ve put on myself (for example, ideas of what a photographer or artist should be). For now I’m enjoying the ride and whatever may come of it.

I have my friends to thank for that too.

Without divulging too much, the rest of the year is looking like a big question mark. I’m anticipating a big change and that scares the shit out of me.

I’ve never been good at finding a neat conclusion when I write. This post exists to remind Future Sara of how funny and unpredictable life is either way. And ya know, to keep going or whatever.

As a parting gift, here are different phases of a katmon flower!

* Waxes poetic about tranformation, yadayada *