Here’s the link to the gallery.

PHOTO BY MICAH DEBENEDETTO, MICAH DEBENEDETTO/SPECIAL TO THE CALLER-TIMES Dr. Dolores Guerrero, Nia Vardalos, Frances Wilson, the shelter’s executive director, and Katia Uriate.

Enjoy another portrait I had the opportunity to take of Nia Vardalos shortly before she departed.

Beach to Bay – Leg 3 – Corpus Christi, Texas | Print Date May 19, 2013 |

Here’s the link to the gallery.

PHOTO BY MICAH DEBENEDETTO, MICAH DEBENEDETTO/SPECIAL TO THE CALLER TIMES Micah DeBenedetto/Special to the Caller Times 2013 Beach to Bay Relay Marathon leg 3

Mix, mingle and network with members of the Young Business Professionals of the Coastal Bend and the Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce as we Sail into Summer!

Enjoy hors d’oeuvres from Beauty and the Bistro or hop in to the Image Cinema Photo Booth! There will be a cash bar, door prizes and fabulous views of Corpus Christi Bay at the Grandview Lounge in the Best Western Marina Grand Hotel. Doors open at 5:30 pm. Don’t forget your business cards!

Questions? Email networking@ybpcb.com

Visit the Facebook Gallery HERE.

Click respective names for more information about the Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce, Best Western Marina Grand Hotel, Young Business Professionals of Coastal Bend, or MD Photography.

Here’s the link to the newspaper article.

PHOTO BY MICAH DEBENEDETTO, MICAH DEBENEDETTO / SPECIAL TO THE CALLER TIMES A black skirt from Stein Mart and a Rock-n-Roll red and black shirt with black belt, and matching jewelry all from Cavender’s is the perfect outfit for a South Texas gal.

Nueces County high school students receive $67,000 in scholarships from livestock show – Corpus Christi, Texas | Print Date May 8, 2013 |

Here’s the link to the newspaper article.

PHOTO BY MICAH DEBENEDETTO, MICAH DEBENEDETTO / SPECIAL TO THE CALLER TIMES Cheyenne Frost (right) is presented a scholarship from the Nueces County Junior Livestock Show Association on Tuesday in Robstown.

About their mission:

People, groups, business’, organizations, communities; Friendship Success Support System is our name. The Art of Unity is our game.

Watch, laugh, and learn.

FSCUBED – “Making Kindness Cool” since 05

Isis LaBelle is going to get his booty tattooed with “Hakuna Matata” of Lion King Fame. He’s going to let the public choose color and font, and it’s suppposed to go down this next upcoming Corpus Christi ArtWalk on June 7, 2013 at Axis Tattoo & Body Piercing located at  701 N Chaparral St, Corpus Christi, TX 78401.  As they say, “Stay tuned…”

• Beach
  
• Attractions
  
• Food
  
• Culture
  
• Nature

Here were the rules of the competition:

• It must not look or behave like a commercial.
• Go for a “home-style” video—produced for an online audience.
• Dialogue, story, music are allowed; however all copyright and trademark rules must be followed.
• Music must be original or within copyright regulations.
• Actors must have a signed photo release.

I’ll be honest I had no involvement on the creative side, aside from a minor line change or suggestion once we started recording the audio track aka “LAYIN’ DOWN THA RAP!”, Alan, my partner-in-crime on the right side in the video, came up with the little “ditty.”  And the instant I read it I said, “YES I HAVE to Participate!”

The video was filmed entirely on Go Pro HD Hero 3 Black Edition with a few shots on the HD Hero 2. On May 8, 2013 they announced the winners at a luncheon.  I missed the actual announcement and acceptance by a few minutes (I was upstairs covering another event) but still had the opportunity to take a picture with Alan and the “big check.”  I’m going to try and cash it… stay tuned for that picture on social media sites.  Oh, we won first place, which is honestly something completely unexpected.

It was a tight race, with only a few points separating 1st and third.  You can check out the other three videos who placed in the top three (there was a tie for third place) by visiting the City’s Youtube channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/VisitCorpusChristiTX .

From their website:

Communities In Schools is a non-profit drop out prevention agency established in the Coastal Bend area in 1986.
The mission of Communities In Schools is to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life.

The video is going to make rounds on the Caller-Times website, KIII, ABC Affiliate, and will also play on May 22nd at the Hooks game possibly during the 4th inning!

After she answered any and all questions from the audience, she autographed, took photographs with, and visited with guests who purchased her book “Instant Mom.”  Afterwards she allowed me the opportunity to photograph her… for which I am forever grateful… then she continued to autograph the remaining copies.  Click for a larger image.  Head on over to Corpus Christi’s Half Price Books to purchase a signed copy of her harrowing and heart-warming story of becoming a mother in “Instant Mom.”

Nia Vardalos Micah DeBenedetto-MD Photography Copyright 2013 http://www.mymdphotography.com-2

From an earlier post:

Monica and Luis celebrated their nuptials with a traditional Catholic wedding ceremony at Most Precious Blood Catholic Church and reception at The Ranch at San Patricio.  It was a wonderful day to celebrate a wedding. I’d like to share a piece of this wonderful and truly unique moment (at the very least unique to me) with the sequence of the garder belt and bouquet toss. We’re all familiar with the fact that the lucky recipients are allegedly the next in line to marry.  What transpired yesterday on Cinco de Mayo 2012 had a wonderful twist – quite literally! Naturally the ladies took their turn first, lined up, held hands and then ran amok across the reception hall “ducking” underneath the outstretched veil of the beautiful bride which was held by her dapper young groom Luis, both were elevated by standing on a chair while supported by their friends.

Then the men’s turn, and in turn, they almost completely knocked over Luis – all in good nature of course.  I decided to film this sequence in one continuous shot.  Enjoy the moment and be sure to check out a few pictures from the event below, I was there to capture video but couldn’t resist snapping a few photographs, especially when the men in stilts appeared…

Be sure to keep an eye out for Jade and Jamie of Journey Tree Studio who did the wonderful wedding photography!  Learn more about them at http://www.journeytreestudio.com/

The band is called Manhattan Show and if you’d like a truly unique experience with interactives and props then visit www.manhattanshow.net!

For the video I used a Canon 5d Mk II with a Canon 320 Ex II as a camera light and Glidecam HD 2000 without the body support, for the most part my movement wasn’t too shabby.

Wedding Ceremony

Monica and Luis departing Most Precious Blood Catholic Church

Donde esta el Mariachi???? Esta AQUI!

I was roaming around and she suddenly stopped and posed. I couldn’t resist capturing the moment!

It’s the simple moments like this one that really makes me fall in love with weddings.

Amelia Munoz –  mother of the Bride

I LOVE THIS ONE!

This was an interesting moment. I was using an off camera flash to light this scene, for some reason the girls just stared upwards at the flash.

This is when things took it up a notch. This is part of Manhattan’s celebration.

Monica took her turn…

…as well as Luis!

Who’s louder – Las Damas??

… o Los Muchachos?

My traditional photo at the end of the night with the newly weds!