Photography 101 Written by Brad Burchards

I am a person who definitely appreciates high-quality pictures. Ever since I was a kid I was fascinated by the art of photography. My first camera was the windup kind that used those old films that had 12, 24, or 36 shots and had to be developed after using the film was used up.

We are familiar with the guys who wear red vests in Sto. Niño who take pictures and deliver them to their clients. Then there’s the obvious taboo of usually nannies and drivers having a cup of tea on Sundays having their pictures taken while hanging out in Fort San Pedro.

Today we often see people holding Nikons and Canon DLSR cameras taking souvenir shots with friends or doing it professionally while covering weddings and other special occasions. I was lucky enough to hang out with two friends of mine, Jon Tolentino (a former call-center coworker) and Mecca Maranga (a person I met at the infancy of the Internet chat through mIRC) who are both into photography both as a hobby and as a business. I shot them a few questions:

Brad: What made you pursue photography?

Jon: My dad is a wedding photographer. I grew up spending my weekends in his studio. But the interest really came after college. In between job interviews, I’d borrow my dad's Nikon SLR (film) and I’d go to Busay or the mountains in Guadalupe and just shoot shoot shoot. I’d write down the camera settings in my little notebook and then assess the output afterwards (after film is developed). When I finally got a job, the hobby stopped. It wasn't until around 2008 when DSLRs became more affordable, and I was able to buy my first camera, a Nikon D60. I started with portraits of friends and officemates. I then joined the Sinulog PhotoContest in 2009 and luckily placed 10th in the Sidelights Category. It was that very moment that I realized that this was something that I could really do.

Mecca: I have been taking pictures for my family ever since I can remember, even as young as four years old. Taking photos comes very naturally to me. I love telling stories with pictures, remembering an image as a feeling.

What course did you take in college and what job did you have before going into photography?

Jon: I graduated B.S. in Accountancy, which is a far cry from photography. After university, I became a real-estate agent, then a store supervisor, and then a call-center agent before going full-time into photography.

Mecca: I first took up A.B. Psychology in De La Salle University in Manila, as a pre-law course but a year and a half before I was to graduate I realized I really didn't want to be a lawyer. Shifting to A.B. Multi-Media Arts in De La Salle - St. Benilde was such a liberating, happy moment. I felt like I belonged around like-minded individuals, and that weird was normal.

Did your photography even come in conflict with something else?

Jon: When I started getting paid for shoots, I was still working in a call center. I ran out of excuses for my absences because of those shoots. I had to quit my job eventually.

Mecca: Yes. I have files up to my neck of pictures to edit because I don't have time to edit them yet.

What type of photography are you into?

Jon: Weddings. Early 2009, me and my two friends formed RockPaperScissors Photography. Our style then was vintage and edgy. It was something new for the Cebu wedding industry. Our specialty was prenup/engagement shoots. That made an impression not only on Cebuanos but also on couples around the country. Our first destination shoot was in Bohol. This was followed by weddings in Boracay, Tagaytay, Manila, and even in Hong Kong. It's amazing how wedding photography in the Philippines has evolved. Early this year, I left RockPaperScissors and started my solo company-Jon Tolentino Photography. So far, so good. I’ve been blessed with people who trusted me and supported my solo career. Joining my team are two talented photographers: Christine Cueto and Roui Faelnar.

Mecca: It depends. I love to travel, and I take pictures when I do. I like to tell a story with my pictures. Sort of like a scrapbook. I love taking pictures of people, more than landscapes. I am also lucky enough to be surrounded by friends who are very creative, and amazing individuals who would not hesitate to pose. I never run out of inspirations, models and moments. However, I would like to go into landscape photography in the future. Good landscape shots, takes a lot of technical skill and competency. A lot of my work so far are glamour shots and travel photos.

What are the basic things and equipment a photographer should keep in mind?

Jon: Photography has different fields (wedding, fashion, landscape, sports, food, photojourn, etc.) It's important you concentrate in just one or two fields. Pursue something that you find the most enjoyable or the one with the highest of interest. Invest in equipment. Photography is quite an expensive hobby. The highest end of DSLRs and lenses will almost cost you the same as buying a car. You can however start investing on one equipment at a time. After your DSLR purchase, you might want to invest on a good lens. For weddings and portraits, I find prime lenses (fixed focal length) a must. Then invest on a flash, then so on and so forth. Study. I was self-taught. I learned from friends, from the Internet, and from experimentation. There are a lot of forums online that you can join. Check the portfolios of other photographers for inspiration. Attend seminars/workshops. Learn how to do post-processing. Practice. Bring your camera with you all the time especially for newbies. Shoot whatever and wherever. Find a photo-buddy. Love. The most important thing is to love what you do. When you eventually turn your hobby into a business, there will be a lot of very early call-times, attitude-problem clients, endless hours of editing, so it is really important that the passion for photography is burning.

Mecca: Decent Digital Camera, I don't think the brand matters. I even have a friend who has a point and shoot, but the results are amazing! It does make a difference, but it's not the only thing that's important. A good lens is a good investment. Work with a lens you are comfortable with, and take your time getting to know your lens. Equipment aside, photography is life expressed, just have fun!

Weirdest or funniest experience being a photographer?

Jon: The only funny moment I can recall was when during a boudoir session (a solo sexy portrait for a bride-to-be), I wanted to capture the bride-to-be laughing naturally. So I told her to think about her fiance. The only problem was instead of her fiance's name, I blurted the name of her ex. When I realized I said the wrong name, I felt so embarrassed. Good thing the bride was just cool about it, she just laughed.

Mecca: Some friends of mine wanted to "preserve" their pristine form at a young age, so I got to photograph my friends naked, with glitter on top.

That was quite an extensive exposure to the world of photography through the eyes of experienced professional photographers who gave me a brief insight into their bustling and busy world that preserves precious moments suspended in time for many years to come.

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