There's a special reason you're here
With over a billion websites out there, the internet's a crowded space. And yet here you are.
It's easy to skim through things and move quickly onto the next without pause. We often don't stop to consider why we end up where we do or the paths we choose to explore.
But I like to think there's a reason behind every connection. And for some reason, out of all the websites you could have visited, something brought you here. Maybe you're sneaking in some quick wedding research at work, killing time in a parking lot, or maybe you’re cozied up at home working on your guest list on a Friday night.
Whatever the reason, I'm glad you're here.
How it started
July 28, 2008 was when I first stepped foot in America. Thirteen hours in the air after I left Manila, I arrived in San Francisco. Nervous yet overwhelmed with excitement to experience this new place. This was the first time I left the Philippines and at 31, there were so many possibilities I knew were there but remained concealed to me. It was supposed to be just a month's vacation but when I gave my dad one last hug when he dropped me off at the airport, I had a feeling that I wasn't going to see him for much longer than that.
That temporary stay turned into something permanent when I met my now husband, John. It was a whirlwind, moving in together within a month since we met. We've been inseparable since. All I had was $3,000, some clothes in one suitcase and my camera. It was supposed to be just a holiday. A break from my life in Manila.
After a few months when it was decided I'll be staying, I knew I had to work. Having had no experience in the U.S., I looked at my camera and thought I always wanted to be a photographer. I had no professional experience nor went to school for it but I had taken thousands of photos for leisure and sanity, for friends and family. If something in my reality wasn't so pretty, I could always count on finding something beautiful behind the lens. From something random. Something far removed from my day-to-day.
The newness of it all being in America gave my heart the boost it needed to take a chance. I had a blank slate starting over in a new environment and something told me that here, I can also be a new me. One Craiglist post turned into my first booking, a wedding at Lake Merritt in Oakland. I worked Craigslist over and over and over. Jumped on social media, all of them at the time, and learned everything I could online from editing to marketing to creating websites. I went from zero to over 300 gigs in just a few years and became one of the busiest photographers for San Francisco City Hall weddings.
I'm a bit weirded out talking about all this today. In disbelief that that crazy turn in my life actually happened and at the same time feeling like I've always known that this is where I belong. This is now my home. It's where I was able to make my dream a reality, with icing on top. Capturing beautiful things from behind the lens in the jaw-dropping landscape of the San Francisco Bay.
Your story
At this point, I'm supposed to tell you what makes me the perfect choice to be your photographer, showcase my expertise, tell you how many events/weddings I've covered, how many years I've been in the business and other things I'm supposed to be great at.
But I don't consider myself an expert and I believe that's my best asset. I approach every event, every client, every location, every project, every subject as something new. When you act like an expert, or even believe you are one, you tend to think you know it all. That just because you've done this a thousand times, you think you got it all covered and act on routine.
But each event, each person, each moment is one of a kind. I'm aware of this the moment I shake your hand, or give you a hug or first step foot at your venue. I approach every encounter with fresh eyes and a curious spirit, mindful that there will be something new that will catch my eye, allowing me to not let these moments pass me by just because I've been at a similar event before.
I treat each project as my first. And I don't try to tame the excitement that that novelty brings. No two events are alike. No two brides the same. No two venues are identical even if they're both decorated with the same flowers and flooded by the same music.
What makes it different is you. Your vibe. Your spirit. That's why I try to get to know you as best as I could so I can live up to telling your story on this one day you'll keep coming back to.
Why me
And now we've reached the part where I'm supposed to double down convincing you to hire me. I can do it blatantly or in the quiet pretense of humility as I drop hints here and there of my accomplishments as a photographer.
But I won't do that. I don't want to. I'd rather lay myself bare telling you my story as I have and let you decide if you and I can have some fun together.
Getting along with your photographer is quite underrated. But it's up there side-by-side with talent. You've probably seen a bunch of photographer websites at this point. There are a lot of good ones out there. But more than their work, do you feel more or less on the same wavelength? You can get a feel for it reading their bio, their blog, the way they talk on social media. You have to feel that you can get along.
Why? Because you want someone who gets you. Someone you like. Someone you trust. Someone you'll listen to when they tell you to pose this way or that. Someone you'll allow yourself to be guided by on the day of. Someone who can effortlessly bring you to your comfort zone. One you can relax around. Because when you're unguarded, when you don't feel nervous or insecure or feel the need to put on a face, that's when your best images are captured. That split second when you crack up because of what your sister said. That moment when you tear up letting your dad's hand go and reaching for your fiancé's. Or simply the joy in your eyes the moment you exchange "I do's".
Candid and semi-posed portraits are hands down the best. The not so perfect, the raw, the unrehearsed moments are what produces photos that tell a unique story, your own.
Now what
So what's next? If you somehow stumbled here from a photo you saw on my Instagram, TikTok or Pinterest page, or maybe one I took and shared by a friend or relative of yours on social media, nice to meet ya.
Or perhaps you're here because you're actually looking for someone to take photos of an event you're planning or your portrait or your pet's or your family holiday photos. I give you the same warm welcome.
If you feel you've found the one, let's get the ball rolling. Send me a message at marge@maghoney.com with the following (just copy and paste it and add the missing info):
1. Your name
2. Your photo needs (is it for an event or something else?)
3. Event date
4. Event time
5. Event location
6. Your fiancé/fiancée's name (if it's a wedding or engagement)
7. Your cell #
8. Something about yourself and your soon-to-be-spouse (if it's a wedding or an engagement session), how you met, what you guys are into, how you envision the photo shoot...(feel free to blab).
9. If you have a Pinterest board for inspiration, share the link with me (if you're comfortable).
10. If you have inspo photos for the shoot you've saved on your phone or your computer, share them too.
11. If you have a photo of your wedding dress, I'd love to see it for more wedding vibe inspo.
Then we'll start from there. If you have any questions or any special case scenarios, let me know. Prices are listed here. Trust me, this is going to be fun. :)
Maghoney Photography
San Francisco Bay Area, California
(510) 546-1122
Copyright © 2024 Maghoney Photography