J Lucas Reyes – Fine Art Weddings + Lifestyle Photography » Based in Manila, Philippines

We had a chance to finally visit this picturesque Filipino restaurant when we went up in not-so-chilly Tagaytay last month with our close friends. We enjoyed their wonderful Chicken Binakol and the legendary Ilocano Bagnet. The place was both a feast for the eyes and our palates.

Pamana Restaurant is along Aguinaldo highway just right after the Tagaytay rotunda.

My bro Brian and his wife Rowena







My photojourn sister Candice and my designer bro John

And of course, me and my lovely wife Catherine.

What better way to spend Christmas than with family? Me, my wife, and my siblings got together this recent holidays and trooped back to our lola’s house at our hometown, Malabon. We grew up playing and kite-flying at the Rufina Patis compound (which the Lucas family runs), just a stone’s throw away from our ancestral home. Since our wives haven’t seen the abandoned-looking, salt-laden, patis-brewing factory, we had the pleasure of revisiting and touring them in our old rusty playground – that instantly served as a backdrop for an on-the-spot photoshoot.

From our families to yours, Happy Holidays everyone!

Profile photos by Paulo Magsaysay

Finally, around four months in the making, this is it.

I’ve had a handful blogs or so-called blogs but it’s never been really more than words, until now. This new journal will be mostly about what comes out of my camera – which after a 10-year hiatus I’ve lovingly gripped and aimed at life, people, and sometime beyond perhaps, hopefully – the world.

As I try to re-explore the world of photography with new eyes and countless, carefree clicks, hopefully things will be even more magical than the film days (which I’d still look forward to every now and then).

My brother recently told me that from the looks of only my handful of shoots, it feels as if I’ve been doing this for a long, long time. Honestly, I don’t hide the fact that I’m new in this huge, crazy-paced but romantic world of wedding photography. It’s really a wonder how this whole thing fits me like glove so naturally. The stories, emotions, details, beauty, music, laughter and tears, I love it all. Consider me an old soul, I’d play my sweet blues like it is, and just sing along with images.

God, I missed photography. Thank You for leading me back, and letting me share my craft with new purpose and resolve.

Thank you to the couples and people that graced my new canvas, for dancing with the light and letting me capture, enjoy, and share my newfound passion.

I’d also like to especially thank my good friend, a living legend in the wedding photography industry, and an inspiration in my work, Mr. Nelwin Uy for giving me my skyflakes break, shooting alongside him on some wonderful weddings I’m featuring here. Also, to Paulo Magsaysay for the encouragement, and likewise Mervin Gobaco, for egging me on to pursue shooting as my new craft.

Of course, I’d like to thank my lovely wife, Catherine, for her loving patience and unwavering support for me in all that I do, beyond her countless smiles that always inspires me to catch every shining moment.

And to you, thanks for dropping by, and for sharing my curiosity with bliss. I hope we’ll get to shoot something together soon.

I’m reminded by that saying, “after you make the right decision, everything will become easy.” I couldn’t agree more.