Photographer Joseph Requerme

—Ikaw ba ay photogenic?

—I am not sure yet. I will have my own wedding in the coming months and we'll know if I am. Technically, yes because I direct my couple by doing the pose first.

—Paano ka nagsimula sa industriya ng photography?

—I got into wedding industry by accident. I was invited to attend a wedding as a guest and I brought with me my 2 days old dslr camera and started taking pictures. To make the story short, the official photographer lost all his photos of the wedding and the couple made my photos as their official(even ordered an album) after 4 years of their wedding. That's where I was inspired to make more love-inspired photos.

—Ano ang mga mahahalagang bahagi ng isang magandang larawan sa iyong opinyon?

—For me, it is the emotion that is captured in frames. I always make sure that most of my photos are love-inspired. When emotion is in there, composition and post processing style will follow.

—Mahilig ka ba maglakbay?

—Yes, in fact I am a destination wedding photographer based in Cebu City. I have been to different places in the Philippines and abroad.

—Ano ang pinakagusto mo sa iyong propesyon?

—I love to feel and indulge myself into an emotional celebration like weddings and my favorite is the pictorial of the bride and his father, the dance with the father and the groom with his mom. Capturing those are heaven to me.

—Ano ang hindi mo gusto sa iyong propesyon?

—What I don't like is the sore in my feet the day after the wedding. I move a lot to make sure that everything is covered. But it also reminds me of a successful wedding coverage. No sore, meaning I did not do my best.

—Ano ang magiging kinabukasan ng photography?

—I think people will start to take photographers like me to unfamiliar and less shot locations and will incorporate adventure along the way.

—Ano ang espesyal sa kategorya ng photography kung saan ka dalubhasa?

—The most special thing in wedding photography is the union of two souls. That's where I challenge my self, to get every inch of emotion and historic event in the frames.

—Paano ka tumatanggap ng pagpuna?

—I have the best and worst critic in the world, my partner in life and she tells me the things that she don't like in the harshest way possible. Every time she do that, I will be hurt but I use that pain in my ego to improve. At the end of the day, I am glad that she made those criticism. Criticisms from people I don't know – I listen to them. Criticism from my clients – I am glad they are all satisfied and if there will be one, I will work my way to correct the problem.

—Mayroon bang mga trend ang photography?

—There are no trends for me. Every couple has its own way of making their wedding a memorable one and each shoot is unique. In fact, the more different the wedding is, the more unique it will become.

—Ano ang dapat na pamantayan ng isang customer sa pagpili ng photographer?

—The couple should and must always like the photographic style of the photographer. No buts and ifs. If you like the work, go for it and tell the photographer. Rates should be the last thing that will hinder in booking a photographer.

—Ano ang mga bagay na dapat iwasan kapag kumukuha ng larawan?

—For me, the only thing that is not allowed is shooting beyond the cultural norms of every person. You got to respect it.

—Ano ang mga detalye na kadalasan ay hindi napapansin na napapansin ng photographer?

—It is the emotion. When people are emotional they forget about their looks and not aware of their surroundings. The photographers on the other hand, hold the tears or just smile behind the camera and capture those moments.

—Ano ang mga umiimpluwensya sa kahalagahan ng isang larawan? Ano ang mga element nito?

—Its all about the subject, location and composition.

—Sinong tao ang sumisimbolo sa ika-21 siglo sa iyong opinyon?

—A person that can understand different cultures without any hesitation and manage to blend in.

—Sino ang gusto mong kuhaan?

—I love and want to shoot weddings and any life events.

—Mayroon ka bang mga propesyonal na ipinagbabawal?

—I am glad that I don't have.

—Sino ang gusto mong makasama sa pagkuha ng larawan?

—I like to shoot with Jasmine Star. There's a lot of things that I like about her shooting style.

—Ano ang ikinababahala mo, at bakit?

—I don't get worried that much in terms of shooting. I worry much when I got home and make the photos exist in different places (backup).

—Ano ang pinakahanga-hangang pagkakataon sa iyong buhay?

—When I got hired by a Swiss magazine to make a portrait of a typhoon survivor. Eventually, they got married and I was their photographer. The story I told was amazing. The guy saved his queen after typhoon Yolanda and that was the most heart warming story I ever told.

—Sino ang nagbibigay inspirasyon sa iyong buhay at bakit?

—My inspiration will always be my partner in life and the photos that I have not captured yet.

—Paano mo binibigyang kahulugan ang tagumpay? Paano mo tinitimbang ito?

—Success in not a destination, it is an ongoing process and cannot be measured. As long as you are happy, you can feel success.

—Mas pipiliin mo bang magustuhan o nirerespeto?

—Yes, as a human being but not like king.

—Ano ang pinakamalaking pagkakamali ang nagawa mo sa trabaho?

—Hiring a cheap 2nd shooter. They just don't get my style. When I started to hire right priced shooter, my output became more valuable.

—Kapag ikaw ay naglalakbay, ano ang dinadala mo at bakit?

—I would take my editor(my partner). She is all in one, my inspiration, my critic, the stylist and can give tons of ideas when I ran out.

—Mayroon ka bang kahilingan na hindi mo pa nabibili maliban sa mga gadget na mayroon ka? Bakit?

—Every piece that I have has its own use, I did not regret buying any of them.

—Paano mo tinuturuan ang sarili mo na kumuha ng mas magagandang mga larawan?

—By joining photography related clubs and forums. The different opinions gives me ideas on where to improve.

—Kaninong mga gawa ang may malaking nagimpluwensiya sa iyo bilang photographer?

—Jasmine Star

—Ano ang nais mong sabihin sa iyong mga larawan?

—I must say that my photographs are created and inspired with love.

—Ano ang nag-uudyok sa iyo na ipagpatuloy ang pagkuha ng mga larawan?

—The satisfied and happy clients.

—Ano ang iyong ginagawa sa iyong bakanteng oras?

—I do fishing, watching movies and travelling. I love indulging to beach, nature and adventure.

—Kailan ka ganap na nasisiyahan sa iyong trabaho?

—I don't get satisfied. There is always a margin of unsatisfaction but I make sure that the photos are well processed.

—Mabilis ka ba makipagkaibigan?

—Yes, I always make sure that I make conversation and help people along the way.

—Saan mo gustong manirahan?

—I love my country and my answer is Philippines. If my clients want me to live in their place for a month then I'll go.

—Mayroon bang buhay pagkatapos ng kasal?

—For me, Yes. But I should experience it first next year for me to say the whole thing.

—Mahilig ka ba sa mga aso at pusa?

—I like both.

—Ang pinakamahalagang bagay sa buhay ay:

—The best thing in life is love.

—Ang pinakanakakainis na bagay sa buhay ay:

—The most annoying thing in life is disrespect.

—Maaari ka bang magbigay ng mga tip para sa mga photographer na nagsisimula pa lamang?

—Just get your hands dirty and shoot weddings regardless its price. The most important thing is experience. Don't listen to negative and destructive comments.