Giving a talk on photography in UPLB this coming Monday (December 7). Not sure with the name of the student org hosting it though. And in the evening, I'm guesting with the Boys Night Out care of Slick Rick... cool buncha guys.

Have a cameo role coming out in Friday (December 4) night's episode of Full House in GMA 7. Along with Raffy , we would be making fools of ourselves.

Recently checked out the official FF13 website, and I was blown away from the graphics. The site was also gracious enough to provide pretty good resolution of their characters. Cosplaying these characters are going to be hard... given the amount of detail they have on their wardrobe. I'm tempted to take on the challenge.

I can't wait for the game's release early next year. Good thing they have it for the XBOX 360 as well... I wouldn't want to spend another small fortune just for a PS3.

Finally got the Rikku shot out. Took us quite awhile and a reshoot to get the look that we wanted to do. Good think Edjie was quite trooper doing Rikku for a 2nd time around. The Morrigan layout is in the works... editing phase.



Shooting Kuniko Hojo next week with LJ Reyes as my model.

I'm thinking of doing Tifa Lockheart next... anybody got any ideas on the casting? Doing it in an old wrecked church for that Advent Children feel.

I was chatting with Tricia last night, and somehow the conversation drifted towards writing some costings for clients. Kudos to Tricia for starting to earn a bit from her photography... especially for somebody who hasn't even graduated yet. But that conversation reminded me of something I have always tried to remind myself to share with newbies or hobbyists who might try shooting for a living.

The biggest killer in this industry is underpricing. It's just a bummer putting in a good bid, then next thing you know, there's this hobbyist, or starting pro putting in about 50% (or even less) of what you costed. I can understand at why most would underprice, and that's in order to win the bid. But at what point are you going to go so low just to win a project? Trying to remember the term, but there is such a thing as winning a war, but at a great price, where losing is a better option. (Edited: It's called a Pyrrhic Victory, thanks Gerald). In an ideal world, it's a battle of portfolio (skill) than of price. When a shoot lands on your lap, I would suggest considering the following: your overhead expenses, the cost of your skill and the taxes involved.

Shooting for a living means considering the hidden costs of the business... basically sustaining your lifestyle with photography as your only means of income. Most if not all hobbyists oversee this factor since a good number of them are cushioned by their day jobs. Whether they win the project or not, they always had the luxury of their main profession for their monthly income. Professionals can't afford that. Photography is our bread and butter.

Clients also shouldn't take hobbyists and newbie pros for granted just because they're green in the business. There is a difference between skill and experience. A good number of newbies out are actually good, they just don't have the same experience as the ones who have been doing it for quite awhile. But that doesn't mean they could push you around for a lower price. The main reason why some veterans could command such prices is because of what they know, and how they do it. If one could build their skill, and develop a good folio, then let the photographs decide the compensation. If a client wants you, they would get you.

It's starting to be personal frustration of mine whenever I get to hear hobbyists wanting to go pro because of fashion or glamour. I find it one of the most cliche reasons to enter the industry. Is fashion and glamour the only genres most known about photography? I don't think so. It may be high profile, but certainly not the only reason why you should shoot for a living. One should love the entire craft, no matter what the subject is. I've actually rejected a good number of apprentice applicants based on this reasoning.

"What do you want to shoot?" I would ask. "I want to shoot fashion..." is the most common reply. Then I get to hear guys going into "photography" just to get to shoot models; such a pathetic reason. Here's a tip: if you want to be successful in shooting women, consider the model as a means to get that perfect shot, and not other way around. Don't be carried away by the model.

I have great commend for a hobbyist's passion for shooting, but shooting for a living is a totally different animal. There are days when you shoot the things you don't like to shoot, and it grinds the passion down for most. I've also seen a good number of hobbyists try going pro, then quitting simply because they don't get the chance to shoot for the things they want. They end up frustrated and scorn. If that's the case, it would've been better to remain a hobbyist; you get to preserve the passion.

Most of the glamour / fashion photographers in the local industry (Manila, Philippines) have made it a point to concentrate most of their work into doing "high" fashion shoots. Personally I find it weird how I'm branded as a "fashion" photographer, while my folio doesn't have as much fashion in it as others such as Doc Marlon, Marc Nicdao, etc...

What I have alot of lately are cosplay shoots. Hahahaa. I don't see a lot of local names do cosplay photogtraphy, so I took upon the chance of hitting this niche category. Being a geek and an otaku myselfd is a great plus I might add. The rest of them in the industry could fight doing "high" fashion stuff... I'm taking the geek route.

I hope you guys get to respond the poll I just put up about the next character we're doing....so far, it seems that Emma Frost / White Queen is in the running. I've started to cast for the model to play as White Queen... sad I couldn't use any local celebrity as White Queen is a natural blonde.

Several shoots have been made, and in the process of post production. Recently did X-23 with Denise Laurel, Rikku and Morrigan with Alodia Gosiengfiao . Some behind the scene shots...

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Getting to collaborate with Tricia and Domz as well were a huge help. Expanded the way I approached photography.