When did your passion for photography start and what were the main milestones that turned you into the artist you currently are?
5 years ago, I’ve decided to buy a cheapest camera just for documentation of events or parties that I’ve been attending to. One day, im just browsing my facebook and Instagram account and saw some filipino community here in Saudi Arabia who is in Photography. I knew I liked photography at this point, but I was thinking on how to start it. For a week, I tried to contact some of the Filipino photographers in the Kingdom if I can go with them to overview what they are actually doing during their sessions. Unfortunately no one replies and they are just seeing my message. So then, I stopped searching for an individual who is doing photography maybe because photography is not for me. After 2-3 weeks, I browsed again my Facebook account and while browsing it, I saw an account named “Kurnelius Fudge” which is his real named is Sonny Landa a Filipino Photographer who is based here in Saudi Arabia. My eagerness to learn photography came across again when I saw his FB account, no hesitations I message him and he replied. I do ask him about photography thing and he answer me back with his all his knowledge. He ask me a lot of questions like what Camera am I using, which brand etc. My Camera at that time is the cheapest one which according to him it was good for beginners. So we’ve decided to meet, and our 1st meeting is that he has a photography session with a Tunessian Guy Model, I started as his assistant and he teaches me some of his techniques and editing (and the rest is history). After a year, I discovered KAVYAR then decided to submit my 1st photo submission and luckily it was accepted. It all start there that all my works has been published internationally by other Magazine Entity and now I’ll be feature in MALVIE magazine which I think is the Main Milestone on my photography Career as photographer. Every photographers dream is to acknowledge by someone which I do consider it as a milestone one they appreciated my work.
How has photography influenced you as a person and what do you love most about being a photographer?
Photography allows you to step into somebody else’s shoes and see their struggle, happiness and sadness. Everyone has something to say and story to tell, and sometimes words don’t work. You can read and interpret people’s emotions and situations, sometime is visual capacity. I’m a loner person who wants to stay away from other people, photography change my perspective in life that we have to enjoy life and go out with our comfort zone.
How important is it to be knowledgeable about fashion and the latest trends to be successful as a fashion photographer?
At first I am not into Fashion Trends, my friends (team) are the one’s who particularly in Fashion Scene because we have designer, make up artist etc in our group. They are the one’s talking about what would be the Fashion theme or concept. That’s the time that I realized that being knowledgeable in Fashion is a big factor for me as a fashion photographer. I need to step up on my comfort zone that im not only a photographer but I need also to contribute to our team effort in conceptualizing concept for our next photography sessions.
What would be some tips you would give to a beginning photographer?
TAKE YOUR TIME – its easy to makes mistakes in photography if you are not careful. Love what you are doing and enjoy every moment of it.
Can you please explain some of the feelings you are trying to achieve in your photographs?
One thing that I want to achieve is the ability to convey emotions or feelings. Emotion in a photograph, or any work of art, is what helps the viewer to connect. Happiness and Joy, these are the easiest emotions that universally felt.
You are going about conducting a photo shoot, could you take us through the typical planning process for your images?
Our team/friends consist of Designer, HMUA & Stylist/Creative Director. We actually depending on the Designer’s point of view. Once we saw his creation, that’s the time when the planning begins. About the concept, the looks and other stuffs. We have a week of discussions thru Group Chat, what kind of looks, background etc. We see to it that everyone of us agrees on what would be the concept and everything. So that when the photoshoot day comes, no one is arguing what would be the looks, what is the 1st thing to do. Because ahead of time and we see to it that 2 days before the shoot we are all set including the Model.
What has been your most successful moment to date in your career so far?
So far, I didn’t consider myself as a successful in the field that I am into because I do consider myself as a learner. I’m still in the learning process of what I am doing right now…, But actually, I felt successful when someone appreciated my work of art. I felt happy in some ways and happiness of what you are doing is simply your success towards your craft.
What's the most important thing you want your potential clients to know about you?
I’m the type of person who is not socialite, simple but hardworking. What you see is what you get type of person. I am passionate at my craft but I am not a perfection.
Are there any current projects you’re working on that you can tell us about?
So far, it’s Ramadan Time here in Saudi Arabia which means we don’t have anything yet on the store. We are just on the process of what you have now then go for it 😊
Where can our readers keep up with your work and get connected with you?
You can follow me on my Instagram account @uno5ingco.ph