Hitting the streets of L.A. with Hefa Tuita!

Downtown L.A. and the streets are literally empty...  and what do I want to do? Paint the town with my camera!

I hook up with an amazing young artist...Hefa Tuita - a musician, a phenomenal dancer, a choreographer, actor, and more! He is so talented I wanted to borrow his "dancer" title for a while. Who am i kidding?  One can dream right?

Speaking of dreams, Hefa is definitely one who is living his dream out now. His resume consists of touring with Jennifer Lopez, television appearances on Ellen, So you think you can dance, American Idol finale with Janet Jackson, a featured dancer at the 2009 Emmys, and that's just to name a few of his appearances on his amazing resume! 

Hefa is also a member of the Nick 6 dancers on Nickelodeon’s television series, Dance on Sunset he was able to perform with such artists as, Akon, Natasha Bedingfield, Miranda Cosgrove, Fall Out Boy, Fergie, Janet Jackson, Sean Kingston, Lil' Mama, Jesse McCartney, Menudo, Omarion, Panic at the Disco, Ashlee Simpson and many more. Hefa and his brothers Soa and Niua also make up the popular singing group the Tuita Boyz.

Here we were Hefa & I... in the streets of the Arts District in Downtown L.A. like 2 kids in a candy store with the graffiti walls! Soon as Hefa gets out of the car, one thing that really stood out when he got out of the car was photo of his father hanging on the rear view mirror of his car. 

Hefa shared with me that his father passed away 2 years ago in the same week that were were shooting.

I immediately asked Hefa if I can use the photo of his father in the photo shoot... I didn't know when in the shoot that I was going to use it but I knew at some point that I would because I felt really compelled to do so...

An hour into the photo shoot we start to lose sunlight and I am rushing Hefa for outfit changes. We literally lost complete light about an hour and a half into the photo shoot. I thought to myself..."now what am I going to do? "

I asked Hefa to go down the street with me so, we can check out one more location and low & behold there is the wall that I wanted to do photos at with one light source literally coming down from the top. 

A block away I can see this wall and I got  really excited because it allowed us to shoot for about another couple of hours. What a blessing right? I mean this one light source just had all the answers for me and the vibe that I wanted to capture with Hefa. I felt compelled to stick with BLACK & WHITE in those photos because everything I felt should be simple and honest. 

I still can't get over it that ONE light source and all that it offered for this photo shoot and I believe it was a blessing from above. It even answered the question of how I would use Hefa's father's photo in the shoot and it turned out great! 

I had to share this because I always believe sometimes loved ones leave us here on earth and I know they are still watching over us. The concept behind the camera for me was to capture that and to somehow fuse art and style. Hefa is such a professional in front of the camera. He is literally a photographer's canvas.

Thank you Hefa!

Hefa was recently on Chris Brown's tour and just saw this video yesterday of Chris Brown's webisodes of his current tour and he even mentions Hefa in this video at: 2:48 and you can also see him throughout the video clowning around and having fun with Chris Brown. 

See Below:

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE! 

I am grateful for many things this year but I most thankful for my health, family, and friends... 

This blog post can easily turn into an Oprah interview so I will keep this one short and sweet. 

Thank you all for your continued support and love for the past year! I am grateful that I have a strong support system to see me through the highs and the lows. 

From the bottom of my heart - THANK YOU! 

So in honor of the thanksgiving holiday... I made a turkey for you all! Trust me... its MOIST!!!

Hope you like it! 

MASH UP! The Talauega Brothers + The Tuita Boyz...

PHOTO MASH UP!

The Talauega Brothers & The Tuita Boyz! 

These photos seriously brought a tear to my eye. This is a representation of the experienced showing support for our young ones. The poses in these 2 photos says a lot more to me than just flips and jumps. 

It represents that saying "passing the baton" and who better than the Tuita Boyz who are climbing the music and entertainment industry very fast and are making headway in their own right! 

It also represents that we can share talent and support each other! WOW!

It was a dance battle that wasn't planned and I felt like the referee!

These 2 sets of brothers inspire me.

Fly brothers... FLY! 

Coming soon... the Tuita Boyz Photo Shoot! 

Living The Dream with the Talauega Brothers + Rich & Tone!

Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.
Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow.

- Langston Hughes

Living the dream with Rich & Tone Talauega. World Famous Dancers & Choreographers! 

I recently attended the "DESINTED FOR GREATNESS" H.Y.P.E. Conference at the University of Utah where I had the pleasure of meeting amazing and inspirational dancers, poets, community workers, and so much more! When a great friend of mine Anapesi Ka'ili called me and told me about this event and invited me to come down to Utah, I felt like my dreams came true! Real Story! 

I have been following Rich & Tone for years and amazed at the work they have done in the entertainment industry! Rich & Tone have worked from likes of Madonna, Britney Spears, Chris Brown, Kylie Minogue, Aaliyah, and that's just to name a few.

With careers spanning over 2 decades Rich & Tone Talauega have transformed themselves from dancers into choreographers, from choreographers into creative directors; from creative directors into producers, and from producers into directors!

I bumped into Rich & Tone the night before the conference at the hotel in Utah and as I was coming down the elevator they were coming up and doors opened and being their #1 fan I started stuttering and I said... "uhm,,, I'm Ralph... and Uh...Uh...I will be shooting you guys tomorrow?"  Like if it were a question to them instead of statement.

Rich & Tone laughed and as I got into the elevator I looked in the mirror slapping myself in the head saying..."Dummy! You could have said more than that!" I felt like my world came crashing down. 

Okay kind of dramatic but I made up for it the next day. 

The next morning I enter the room where Rich & Tone would be holding their dance workshop for the high school students at the conference and then again... I get sweaty then to turn around to give myself a pep talk before I walk in the room and I said to myself... "Okay dummy... get it together and don't act like a groupie... be professional!" 

After my long deep sigh I finally walk in and introduce myself properly and had the most awesome experience with Rich & Tone. Rich asked me to take a seat and we talked about current events, inspirations, and even their first visit to Utah. I am not sure if they knew how much of a fan I truly was but, I helped them set up their workshop just so I can say that I was a part of the workshop. I know groupie right? LOL.

I have to say that these brothers are the most down to earth people that you are going to meet. Tone was even sharing his experiences in the business and how to overcome challenges in life and gave me a few pointers on how to go about "living your dream". 

The fact is they have a really busy schedule and consistently traveling the world -  so to get any words of encouragement and business pointers was a dream in itself. As the students started to arrive Rich & Tone prepared for the workshop and I was low-key learning the dance moves off the side and counting to myself... "5-6-7-8..boom kat, hit, and turn" but then my body wants to go ahead and say... "boom fat, sit, and learn..." Ouch! LOL.

Rich & Tone's workshop was truly inspirational from the dance moves to the uplifting words & messages that they gave our young polynesian youth. I was so inspired and lifted by their presence and their continued support in our communities. 

During the photo shoot we laughed and played with a lot of posing and dance moves. I appreciate their determination to help me get the shot I was looking for. True motivators, movers, and shakers.

Here are some shots pre-workshop, during the workshop and then, the photo shoot! 

You will be able to see the kids really getting the steps and having a great time!

The excitement in the kids faces was the icing on the cake!

Special thanks to Anapesi for making everything happen! 

This was one of my bucket list items and you made it happen! 

You can also see a video that I attached below of their choreographed production from

" Macy's Dancing with the Stars!" 

It's breathtaking!

Dreams do come true! 

Choreographed production from Rich & Tone on the Macy's Stars of Dance on ABC!