“Photographers are artists” said Ong. Artists are creative by
nature and being one has certain tradeoffs. Most have the following
characteristics: unpredictable, weird, selfish and unprofessional. Straight
forward yet, the description is true.
I can’t help but think of the famous William Klein, Fashion Photographer in the 60’s. As what mid-century American Vogue editor Babs Simpson said “Klein was easy to work with but completely selfish (Vogue September Issue 2012).”
 |
| Agents Provocateurs, American Vogue September 2012 |
Having the eye for the lens is utterly pure vision. The way
that photographers work involves the formation of pre-determined mental images
that he/she creates before the actual shoot happens.
| John Mateos Ong |
Manila Smug’s 1st Birthday was graced by John
Mateos Ong of Image Nation. His interests and portfolio are diverse where
people can draw a lot of inspiration. From establishing an events company, managing
a band “Orient Pearl,” being a scuba diving trainer and heading a team of
professional photographers, Ong found his niche in weddings. Starting from 17
weddings a year and up to more than a hundred these days, Image Nation
established its presence in the saturated market of local wedding photography.
So, what can we learn from someone who has decades of experience in the field?
Ong shared 10 Photography lessons from the bible which
became the foundation for tips on being a good photographer.
1.) It’s all about the light
Bible excerpt: Genesis 1:2-3
When doing an ocular, for a wedding event
or any place where a shoot will be held, photographers should give premium to
lighting.
(Tip: Check the light source by placing the
hand from where the light is coming from.)
The ideal time to do an ocular is around 2pm.
Remember that photography is all about mastering the light.
2.)
Be Who You Are
Bible
excerpt: Psalm 139:14
Choose a photographer icon and admire them
for their work. Observe how they do quality photographs. Also, it is equally important
to come up with your own style. Don’t just
copy their output. Ong’s method is to observe
the works of his icons and integrate their techniques with his own.
I remembered Pilar Tuason, whose works were
initially known for child photography and then shifted to fashion. Her
portfolio includes the billboards we see in the Metro for Penshoppe and other
famous brands. Observe the way the light was used, position of the subjects and
integration of the different elements of the picture. It’s important to discover your identity as a
photographer where people will recognize your work as your personal trademark.
Another tip: When doing weddings or events,
photographers should learn to talk to their clients. Ong believes that this is
an important recipe to be in-demand in the market.
3.)
Expose yourself to Great Things
Bible
excerpt: Phil 4:8
If you want to be great, you need
to expose yourself only with the best of the best. Quality photographs that exploit your
creative side can be influenced by great works of the masters.
4.)
Love People
Bible
excerpt: Hebrews 13:1-2
A photographer should be inspired for the
love of people enabling him to create something beautiful as a result.
5.)
Don’t Settle for Mediocrity
Bible
excerpt: Proverbs 22:29
Avoid being satisfied with the basics.
Learn the hard things. To produce quality output, photographers should also be
equipped with the necessary skills to capture great pictures. Ong insists to be
the only photographer (together with his team) shooting pictures during
weddings. Blocking, positioning and posing are a few elements that skilled
photographers develop through time. He takes ownership in every aspect of his craft.
This marks his passion and dedication in producing great pictures for his
clients.
6.)
Be on the Alert!
Bible
excerpt: Mark 13:33
In photography, timeless moments happen in
a second. Ong shares that some photographers are unprepared to capture those
events. Those priceless moments could have been frozen in great photos. Just
like in the bible, being on guard allows photographers to get the best shots.
7.)
Plan Ahead and Have Goals
Bible
excerpt: Luke 14:28
When is the right time to make your hobby a
full time job? People usually ask this question to Ong as they plan to make the
big leap and pivot from their careers. The master believes that a concrete plan
is still the ideal way of knowing when the time is right. Does your income in
photography earn equal with your full time job?
8.)
Learn to Read the Manual
Bible
excerpt: 2 Tim 3:16-17
You got this one.
9.)
Be more
than Passionate
Bible
excerpt: Col 3:2
For Ong, Passion fleets as time goes by. He
advised that people should go into photography driven with a deeper purpose. By
the time that passion has faded, your motivation transcends from that which is
earthly and extends far beyond from what the eyes can see. Be a purpose-driven
photographer.
10.) Take Action
Bible excerpt:
“How many from you attended a Photography
workshop?” asked Ong. Apart from knowledge acquisition, Ong says that going out
in the open and shooting pictures are the key of being a good photographer.
Photography is a step-by-step process. After learning one element, you should
experiment, practice and learn more elements to come up with great pictures.
Participants
were also eager to ask questions and get tips from the pro after the talk.
To be an Artist or a Professional?
I
wondered if a photographer compromises his artistic tendencies when he
transitions to work as a pro. Ong said that he does compromise art at times. Professional
photography has its tradeoffs. Art is good but, going commercial means selling
your skills and integrating it with the ideas of clients. To be a successful
photographer, you must also consider the profession as a business which is
subject to criticism and infusion of new ideas.
How to Price Your Work?
Ong
believes that leveraging your services with the rest of the competition is the
best way to go. Do market research and be aware how others are pricing their
work. For stock photos, price it according to the market price.
How can you use light effectively?
Remember
3 things when using light: Quality, Intensity and Color.
 |
| SmugMug Pro Tracy Heppner |
What
makes people want to be part of Smug?
Plus,
you get to be mentored by professionals with no fees.
With
just one year on its track, I believe that Smug Manila will go distances to
house great photographers and be the go to place for mentoring newcomers in the
field. Smug gives an opportunity to learn, to network and to make new friends.
Why not take advantage and be part of the community?
Happy
Birthday Manila Smug!
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