Yaewon (예원) and Mike (민걸) came to El Nido from Seoul, South Korea for a quiet escape. This was not an engagement shoot or a honeymoon, but simply a couple shoot built around time together, with space to move freely and let moments unfold without pressure.

I was involved early in the planning stage, helping shape the flow of the days and handpicking most of the locations. One of our non-negotiables was Small Lagoon on Miniloc Island. While El Nido’s Big Lagoon is often the poster image, Small Lagoon offers something different photographically. Its narrower passageways allow the limestone cliffs to feel taller and more imposing, creating a stronger sense of scale and enclosure. With the help of a dependable tour provider, we left El Nido Town at 8:30 AM and arrived first, giving us nearly thirty quiet minutes with the lagoon entirely to ourselves.

The shoot unfolded over three days. Day One stayed grounded in El Nido Town, beginning with coffee at Hama Coffee, followed by a slow walk along Caalan Beach and a sunset shoot at Las Cabanas. Day Two was dedicated to island hopping, starting at Miniloc Island’s Small Lagoon, then moving through Ipil Beach and the Lagen Island sandbar before ending with our first set at Pangulasian Island Resort. Day Three took place entirely on Pangulasian, where the pace softened and the moments became quieter.

"Coincidentally", (good ol' qarah in redsheep-speak), I was also staying on Pangulasian Island, as Miniloc Island Resort was undergoing repairs after a recent typhoon. (Hope you guys are able to rebuild soon!!!) That unexpected overlap turned the third day into something unplanned and unpressured. With no need to relocate or rush, we leaned into what was already there — even if it meant giving up personal time off. Some of the most relaxed frames came from that day.

A portion of the shoot happened underwater, where photography becomes secondary to comfort and control. Underwater couple images are only partly about the camera. Most of the work happens before the shutter is pressed. You do not need to be the best diver, but you do need to go just a little bit deeper than the couple, moving calmly and anticipating their rhythm so the water carries the moment rather than interrupts it.

The following day, I flew onward to Hong Kong for the next shoot. El Nido closed quietly, not with a crescendo, but with a sense of completion that did not ask for emphasis.

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A cinematic El Nido couple shoot photographed on location across Pangulasian Island, Miniloc Island’s Small Lagoon, Lagen Island sandbar, Las Cabanas, Caalan Beach and the coastal edges of El Nido Town, Philippines – 2025. Captured by @_elsewherelse with a documentary, filmic approach prioritizing candid moments, natural light, and unscripted connection — from kayaking through limestone lagoons to snorkeling in clear island waters.