Photographer Kenneth B. Doctora talks about this special wedding; gives tips to couples who are planning to tie the knot soon
Getting married is one of the most important milestones of every couple’s lives. No wonder, everyone is working hard to make it as perfect as it can be, making sure that the celebration reflects their personalities.
This goal is crystal clear with the viral “Cardcaptor Sakura” themed wedding of couple Ren and Val from Koronadal City. And in an exclusive conversation with Manila Bulletin Lifestyle, the wedding photographer Kenneth B. Doctora of Ken. Dra Photo talks about this special wedding.
From cosplay to wedding
According to Kenneth, the couple is really into anime, and “Cardcaptor Sakura” is the bride’s favorite. “Ren and Val are my friends way back our cosplay days,” he says. “That’s how we established the foundation of our friendship. Then, when they decided to settle down, I was the first person Val tapped. Amid the pandemic, we planned their prenup up to their wedding.”
As a photographer, Kenneth says that he made sure that he understands the couple’s goals for their dream wedding. “During our meeting, they showed me their ideas and inspiration, something I was excited about because it’s not common to have a ‘Cardcaptor Sakura’ themed wedding. Not your usual wedding as they say,” he continues. “I made sure to capture the theme of their wedding.”
The General Santos based photographer then said that his hard work paid off given the attention they are getting online when the photos were posted on social media. “It gained attention from the cosplay community and from the fans of the said anime,” he says. “But we kind of dropped our tails because we are not that fond of having this kind of attention and being on the spotlight.”
Challenges along the way
Despite the success, he openly admits that planning this type of wedding in the middle of COVID-19 pandemic is challenging. “The short amount of time for the preparation was a challenge for me and my co-shooter, Rodrian Gonzales of Rodrian Gonzales Photography,” he says. “Since they planned a morning wedding, we were in time constraints, but somehow we managed to take good shots.”
While doing their job, Kenneth and Rodrian made sure to highlight the wedding’s theme. “We specifically focused on capturing the details of the wedding. The request of the bride was to take photos of her collections, since aside from them being married, her collections and love for ‘Cardcaptor Sakura’ must be showcased,” he continues.
On top of this, they also experienced setbacks due to COVID-19 restrictions that prohibiting mass gathering. “Being a photographer, all I can say is this wedding will be memorable not just to the couple and their family and friends, but also to the other people who share and dream to have the same magical wedding as theirs,” he says “Also as I said, this wedding is not your usual wedding since it endures the struggle and hardships of the couple amidst of the pandemic.”
He then gives tips for the couple who are planning to tie the knots while in pandemic. “Make sure that you plan it well and thoroughly. It's once in a lifetime opportunity to enjoy and have fun during you wedding, make every moment counts,” he says. “Don't be afraid to be unique, it’s your wedding. Don't let other people discourage you from having your own themed wedding. Don't forget to have fun on your special day. And to my fellow photographers, just go with the flow with your client. It’s fun really fun to work with such kind of energy and enjoyment.”