Graduated UP college of music major in Percussion. First job after colleague was that i set up my own food business cart… had 4 stores, opened up a music school. When things were stable after 1 year. I resumed my interest in photography since it was an on / off love affair ever since grade school.
Hello! I’m Shaira, and I’m a fashion and commercial photographer. I have been shooting professionally for the last 14 years and I still spend most minutes of every day thinking about images! I love imagining, creating, and sharing them.
I spent half of my career shooting fashion, portraits, and covers for our major local magazines (such as Philippine Tatler, Lifestyle Asia, and Mega), but since many of the print magazines I shoot for have folded (L’Officiel Manila, Preview, etc.), most of the work shoots that remain are fashion and lifestyle campaigns, and materials for both online use and out-of-home advertising, like billboards and store displays.
#fotografíaSpotlight © Shaira Luna, Fashion PhotographerThese shoots range from major campaigns for brands such as Regatta, Penshoppe, SM, and Dove, to ads for companies like Ayala Land, Huawei, Fuji, and Century Properties, to name a few. It’s certainly a fun, challenging range!
As a photographer, I wouldn’t say I associate myself with a single style, although outside of these brand shoots, people usually describe my work as either dreamy, retro, or cinematic.
I personally think most of my shoots are simply light, easy on the eyes, and are hardly ever deep or thought-provoking! But it will also depend on who you ask, since I try to adapt and adjust as necessary – whether it’s a big ad campaign in a studio, an editorial, or my personal shoots that I produce whenever I have free days.
Because I’m constantly and consistently producing so many images of varying vibes, I take advantage of the digital age by sharing them on various platforms (I have five very active Instagram accounts, a Tumblr, a Facebook page, and a YouTube channel), and to different foreign indie-zines outside of my “style” (like Sticks & Stones, Cake Mag, C-Heads, Boys by Girls UK).
I have a very long history that I can probably attribute this flexibility and level of productivity to, beginning with the fact that becoming a photographer was the last thing I ever thought I would be! I won’t even touch on the personal aspect of all this, or else we’ll never finish!
Like many other children back then, I dreamt of becoming a doctor. I was into music, art, and dabbled in all sorts of hobbies and disciplines. I also had lots of “grown-up” duties, such as doing talks for the Department of Education, and hosting (and eventually producing) a segment for the morning show, Alas Singko Y Medya on Channel 2.
In 2000, at 13, I entered DLSU-Manila and was in BS Human Biology for two years. I finally realized I didn’t want to become a doctor after all, so I shifted a couple of times until I ended up in AB Filipino Studies major in Filipino in Mass Media. It was honestly a great course for me because of my media training. I thoroughly enjoyed my subjects there.
Also around this time, I was watching my singer-songwriter friend’s gigs and became so fascinated by the effect of the stage lights and got myself a point and shoot camera to document it.
Fast cut to 2006, I had zero drive to finish my thesis and I eventually stopped going to school despite everyone’s expectations. I left home, left the comforts, and finally found myself in uncharted territory! I was slowly progressing from a photography hobbyist to shooting all sorts of things, from events, to food, to products, and lifestyle stories as a freelancer and also for The Manila Standard.
Somehow the shoots and assignments kept coming, and I would take them all! The genres came by the years: 2008 was PR and events, 2010 was a lot of portraitures and profiles. 2012 saw a lot of food and lifestyle photos, and it was also the blossoming of my personal + fashion editorial work.
#fotografíaSpotlight © Shaira Luna, Fashion PhotographerIn 2014, I started being represented by Jed Root Manila (now Artists & Company Manila), and 2015 were the years I started pumping out personal shoots at a furious pace – there were weekends when I could manage three fun shoots a day with different models, hair & make-up teams, complete with thrifted clothes and props from my own closet, a location that I rented or a set that I dressed, etc.
2016-2019 was the peak of shooting magazine covers, ads, and international travel to shoot fashion campaigns. Ah, who knows what else 2020 will bring? I don’t think I’ve ever had a single week free until March happened, so this period has been a very interesting adjustment.
Anyway, back in 2018 (while still working non-stop), I released my first photo book, entitled “Playing Long After Us.” It is made up of five love stories, set in different time periods, using things and clothes from my own dress-up “trunk,” of course!
I have a more detailed timeline of my career path here, in case anyone is interested: https://www.facebook.com/urbanizeph/videos/2566216900294547/
I’m just playful when it comes to shooting, really. I guess I operate more by feel than by calculations, in contrast to my rather calculated past and childhood. I will always be grateful for the people I’ve come across, and for the many, many chapters that consciously/subconsciously shaped the way I shoot and go about life!
Hi, I’m Jaja Samaniego and I’m a wedding photographer. I grew up in Tuguegarao City and I moved here in Manila in 2005 to study Communication Arts in De La Salle University. I’ve been here ever since. Right after college, my friend invited me to an apprenticeship program. Little did I know that it was a wedding photography apprenticeship program. I got accepted and that’s how it all started.
I took up Metallurgical engineering in UP Diliman – graduated but not licensed. I also have an MBA degree from Ateneo. So it’s not surprising that I worked in manufacturing and finance before, what’s surprising is that I’m a photographer now. I studied for eight years only for me to succeed in a field where I never have any formal education. Life is all about trial and error, I guess.
I’m Raymond Tesoro Cruz (b. Philippines) half Ilocano half Bulakeño, a contemporary artist based in Antipolo City. I’m a conscientious craftsman in which I print and frame my work. I’m the co-owner of redlab*, a highly specialized print studio focused on fine art photography and custom printing.
In 2003, I bought my first camera. It was a Fuji FinePix 2.4 megapixel which I used mainly for my graphic design projects. Then came the Nikon FM10. In 2006, I was able to buy my first DSLR which was a Canon 350D. It was the last quarter of that year when I started landscape photography and also explored using a medium format film camera. In 2013, I had a transition in the field of fine art printing.
As a photographer, I was persistently pursuing and exploring the medium and its limitations. Took part in numerous art exhibitions. Some of my works reside with private collectors and are on permanent display at One Gallery and the Archbishop’s Palace in Batangas City.
Oh, and by the way I have my website www.raymondcruz.com.
G-nie Arambulo is one of the top advertising photographers in the Philippines. In 1992, she discovered her love for photography while art-directing shoots as a client for ADPHOTO. She then joined the premier advertising and commercial photography studio as an in-house designer and moved up as an assistant photographer of the renowned photographer, Mr. John Chua.
Soon after, she gained multiple recognition and awards for her work including The Best in Portraiture from the Master Photographers Association in 2006, Boysen’s print ad campaign ‘Flowers’ won a Bronze Lion at the 2009 Cannes International Advertising Festival, a winner at the Spikes Asia Advertising Festival in 2009, an Araw Award from the Philippine Advertising Congress in 2011, and a Silver Lion award in the Outdoor Category at the Cannes Festival of Creativity in 2011.
Her mastery of creating lighting moods and special effect have made her well-known in the industry, coming up with the most creative solutions to meet her clients’ vision.
I’m a graduate of Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy. I own a wellness center somewhere in the south for almost 15 years already. I’ve been to different business industries (I had a wineshop and a signage & advertising business) before. I am an entrepreneur.
I found photography when a personal tragedy hit me. The passing of my daughter brought me to this industry. Photography became my outlet that time. I started shooting at the streets of Manila doing street photography as a hobby, then I met key persons along the way and introduced me to the advertising and fashion industry.
Bo is a multi-award winning underwater photographer and a marine cinematographer. He has represented the Philippines in numerous international shoots and his images are constantly used to promote diving by the Department of Tourism. He has filmed for award winning documentaries concerning our oceans, international lifestyle programs and short films focusing conservation.
He has over 10,000 hours of underwater time and is in the field 9 months in a year. Bo is also the only Fujifilm Digital Influencer specialising in marine imagery. He is also a brand ambassador for Crest Scuba. Combining the deepest appreciation for scuba, imagery, and sustainable tourism, Bo is iconic in the South East Asian dive industry.
I grew up in a dive centre in Cebu and I’ve been around divers ever since. I was lucky to start diving very early on and even luckier to fall in love with the ocean. There was always a dive magazine and books with amazing photography lying around and this amazed me. Years later, I saved up to enough for a used digital camera with an underwater housing. Although already dated at the time, I got to learn so much about light in the water with that small point and shoot.
#fotografíaspotlight © Bogs Ignacio Signature Gallery
• I took up AB – Multimedia Arts in De la Salle-College of Saint Benilde
• My first job,. . I worked as a lightman, PA, runner, “boy” in my father’s studio/office,“utusan” to make it short hehe I was 17 yrs old that time. Then eventually become a photographer when I was 18 or 19 yrs old. I started at P150 as a lightman/PA per wedding. Then nung naging photographer ako I started P800 per wedding. Mahirap matuto ng photography noon kasi limited ang resources to learn, I bought pirated video tutorials, searched photography websites, attended workshops etc…
Then ayun tuloy tuloy na. I started my own photography business, joined competitions local and international, and because of my passion, dedication, determination and the help of family and friends and prayers sympre nakuha ko lahat ng ito:
• Master of WPPI – USA
• Double Master Photographer – MWP II WPPP
• Master Wedding Photographer – MWP WPPP
• Certified Wedding Photographer – CWP WPPP
• 2 Time Photographer of the Year – WPPP
• 2 Time Photographer of the Year – Bridal de Manila
• Photo of the Year – WPPP
• First, Second and Third Place Awards 2013 WPPI – USA
• Third Place Award 2012 WPPI – USA
• 2 First Place Awards 2010 WPPI – USA
• Honour of Excellence Awards 2010 – 2014 WPPI – USA
• The Youngest Master Photographer – WPPP
• The Youngest Photographer of the Year – WPPP
I’m Jo Lim of Jo Lim Photography. I am a newborn, baby, family portrait photographer. I graduated with a BS Chemistry degree from UST and my first job was a QC lab analyst in a multinational company. Though I like my job, I find it hard to get a permanent job as a chemist (it was a contractual position). After two contractual QCA jobs, my boyfriend, who is now my husband asked me if I wanted to try the animation industry. It was the start of my journey in the field of arts. My work as animation checker involves scene planning, camera stuff (like how to make the drawings work in camera). After 13 years, I quit my job to be a full time mom. And did some business on the side (home baking, personal care products, etc – I was a Jill of all trades :).. Then in 2006, I met a wedding coordinator who mentored me. I started my wedding coordination business in 2007. I enrolled and became a certified wedding specialist from Weddings Beautiful Worldwide in 2008. At that time, I wanted to learn how to take nice photos for my business website and social media (Multiply). In March 2008, I enrolled in my first photography workshop in The Alcove using a point and shoot camera. That was when I fell in love with photography. I couldn’t stop taking photos with my point and shoot camera. After a month, I bought my first DSLR (Canon 400D) and enrolled in the FPPF. I still remember Sir Lito Beltran asking me if I like to go into wedding photography since I am a wedding planner. I said no. But a month after the FPPF “graduation”, I was doing freelance work for a wedding photographer LOL!.
