How do you keep up with all the new equipment, software, techniques, etc. available for photography?
There is so much information and imagery out there on the web, that it can sometimes get out of control. I love it when things just happen naturally. I may be with my photo peeps, and we may just be talking about workflow, and sharing with each other what we do to get things done faster. I find it fascinating whenever I go to any book store, certain books gravitate towards me. Those books tend to become the inspiration of your work, and starts a ripple effect for a new way of thinking when it comes to my visualization process.
Equipment is cool, but I always tell people that it isn’t going to build your style. Whatever lens you have, just be out there shooting, and you’ll continue to grow as a photographer. Some people shoot with the same camera their whole lives, and that’s a cool thing! Believe it or not, education can be free. There are tons of sites, books at the library, books at friends houses, movies, and any kind of reference you can think of. These are all teachers for you, just asking to be storyboarded and analyzed. It is such a long journey, and the trick is to enjoy it instead of getting frustrated. A big tip is to keep on figuring what style you love the most, and then figuring out WHO in the world does it best. After that, get your study on!
Shoot what you love, and you won’t have to worry about keeping up with anything.
What do you see in your images now, that you didn’t see in your images 5 years ago?
The first thing that comes to mind is authenticity. I’m always wanting to bring out the best and most natural version of my subjects when I shoot them. What I’m envisioning in my head is one thing, but getting someone to do it is a completely different task. I love that I don’t settle nowadays, and I think my clients appreciate it. I love knowing at the end of the day I did my best.
It’s pretty crazy to even say 5 years. I feel like every year, there’s been not only a natural progression, but also a rebellion against my work. I feel like it was one of the ways personally for myself to find out which images were truly reflective of the people I was shooting.
Take for example the idea of a kiss in the picture above. Every time I take a picture of anyone kissing, I would a say a million things are processing in my head. Images I’ve done in the past, something I saw in a book, a movie that I had recently watched, the light, etc.
After I process all that crazy imagery in my imagination, I think that is the main difference with my images after all this time. By the time I press that shutter, I feel like I have something authentic. For me, that is being original. It’s growth. It’s trust.
Q & A: You have a full armory of lenses, but how do you decide if a new lens is worth the purchase/investment?
I wish somebody had told me this from the start. As I started to get more into the craft, I was at a constant struggle from taking something from my imagination, and making it a reality. With a lot of studying and bugging the people at local camera stores, I realized the power that lenses have. Each glass can serve a specific purpose, and that’s where that phase of your journey begins. There’s only one way to find out if a lens is good for you, and it’s not because your favorite photographers use it. Do NOT splurge on a $1500 lens just because you heard it was awesome! Try it out yourself, and the make your own decision if it should be part of your arsenal.
Since we all can’t afford to buy every lens, what do we do? We RENT! It’s as simple as that. If you’re a super newbie, head on over to SAMY’S CAMERA and rent a $1200 lens for just $25 to $35 dollars. What a deal, right? This is how you find out if certain lenses suit your style, and if it’s worth the investment. If you know you’re going to be using that lens often or have rented it out an X amount of times, maybe that is when you’ll know it’s time to keep that lens for yourself permanently. Pure joy when you make that purchase!
As I’ve talked about finding your style in past posts, the lenses you shoot with has everything to do with the process. It’s the way you see the world! Renting can add up in costs depending on what you rent, but in the bigger picture, it’s always worth it. Good Luck and see you in line at SAMYS! Why did we pick such an expensive hobby!
Q & A: Do you think you’ll ever explore shooting in film?
Film? Who does that? Haha. I definitely will explore film more in the future. So many of my favorite photographers use film professionally, or just personally in their daily lives. There has to be some kind of nostalgia for everyone on so many different levels. Some people love that element of surprise, and missing that feeling of going to the lab and wondering how the film reacted. Yes, digital photography can spoil you. Stylistically, I know everyone loves that texture that only film can produce. It’s untouched perfection straight out of the camera, right? Who needs photoshop?!?!
The great thing is that film, at least in my eyes, has started a new movement of influence. A lot of photographers are going back to it, which is awesome! I love it because all I search for in my own imagery is that natural and untreated feeling with whoever I shoot. Film has always made everything feel completely real. Whether you’re new or have been reborn into the digital world, it’s healthy to explore your roots and play with it.
You’ve been a photographer for quite awhile. Do you still get nervous before shoots?
YES! YES! YES! haha. Over the years, that nervous energy has turned from negative to positive though, which I think is very important. For me, I just want to do the best job I can on every shoot, and those are high expectations to live up to. The challenges personally are weeding out the good nerves from the bad ones.
The bad nerves is the kind of self sabotage that can stress you out and hold you back from creating your best imagery. Doubt is a strong emotion, and it plays a lot of mind games, but I also think it’s part of the journey. It’s healthy to have these tests, so we can figure out a way to break through the walls, and realize it’s small stuff. The good nerves I think are the thoughts that are overly excited. It’s the passion to grow, and take your work to the next level.
There are so many things to think about and manage in this business. Location, Lighting, Interaction with your Subjects, Keeping the Clients Happy, Equipment, Backing Up the Work, and More!
All those factors can lead to your nerves as well. What is important is to stay organized, and on top of your emotions. I think it’s important to be aware of those thoughts that hold you back, and when they pop into you head, simply push them aside and remember it’s not worth it. As I always say, Be Happy, and Be the Best You can Be.
When you do that, I promise that your nerves will change from anxiety to excitement!
Some believe that external inspiration is what drives artists. Others say that artists have to create their own inspiration. From where do you derive inspiration?
Inspiration is everywhere, and I absolutely love that. It can be from other photographers, illustrators, or any other artist for that matter. It can be from books, movies, driving in the streets, walking around, daydreaming, kids, food, and definitely music!
I think it’s important to rebel against your own thoughts and never get use to the same patterns, or you’ll eventually get bored mentally, or your work might lack the growth it needs. I love talking to people. There is nothing more inspiring then hearing about other people’s stories and what it took for them to fight through the doubt from not only their peers, but from their own self sabotage.
I also love using my own experiences of course too. It’s what makes work not feel like work. I feel like our own visual style of shooting is very much connected to our personal experiences, and that’s why we are drawn to the things we love to photograph. First and foremost, shoot what you love, or you’ll never be inspired!
Q & A: How can you keep from doing the same poses over and over again?
Good Question my friend! I think every person behind or in front of the camera goes through this fun struggle. Do we do the same poses all the time? Is there variety? Is this cookie cutter? Am I stepping out of the box? Enough with the self criticism, right?
I can’t say what the right answer is. For some people, doing the same poses over and over is what makes you the artist that you are. It’s your bread and butter. The question is whether or not you are happy with it. If you aren’t, maybe it’s time to rebel a little, get your study on, and try something new.
For the people who are back and forth with it, I personally don’t think there isn’t anything wrong with doing the same poses over as long as each shot has its own authenticity. Take for example the classic shot of a “kiss on the cheek.”
I’ve done this shot a million times in my life, and the truth of the matter is that it never gets old. It’s a universal pose that everyone can relate to. I could do this pose with people in love, between a mother and son, between a owner and pet, and the list goes on. Also, with every pose comes about a million different versions of the pose. I said it was a kiss on the cheek shot, but sometimes it’s always about the moments that happen before and after the kiss, that make the picture worth a thousand words.
Now there are poses that people will look at, and just tear your photos apart with their words, or even literally tear it apart. Yikes! You can either choose to listen, especially if these people are credible artists that you respect. Or you can stay true to your own journey, and learn at your own pace. Being an artist is all about the conversations you have with yourself when you hit that fork in the road. Don’t let other people make choices for you.
Q & A: You’re a 3rd generation photographer. Though the craft has developed significantly since your grandfather, and even your father’s earlier days, what quality or philosophy about photography hasn’t changed for you?
I think it’s pretty awesome when I look back because my grandfather was not only a photographer, but a very notorious painter in the Philippines. Inspiration is an amazing thing, especially when you can trace it back this far. My grandfather, or as we called him, Tatay, had tons of photographs that my dad keeps at our home. Whenever I look at my tatay’s photos, I can actually see what he used as creative juice to produce his paintings. Random candids of people, animals, landscapes, and different parts of the day to further his study of light. It’s pretty surreal. From my grandfather, there is a lesson to be learned: Discovery is everywhere, if you just look. From his work ethic, I strive to be a student of the craft, and be the best I can be.
Now, my dad was another kind of inspiration. Whenever I think of him, I think of portraiture. My father loves to pose. If you’re ever on my Facebook, you’ll see that as young kiddos, we were forced to take millions of photos. It’s pure comedy. I will continue that tradition when I have one of my own of course! Seriously though, we all know the art of posing is not a easy task. It’s one of the many reasons why we would rather be photojournalist, right?! Getting people to do what you’re envisioning doesn’t always translate when you click that shutter. It’s all about the little things in portraiture like knowing people’s angles, any loose hairs in the face, how the wardrobe falls, where the light source is, posture…the list goes on. All the rules change too once you start shooting 2 people, or odd numbers. Ahh! As I learned, you have to know the rules before you can break them. You can’t fake good portraiture, and I have to thank my dad for his indirect ways of teaching me to build a strong foundation in my creative process.
