Photographer Mel Dolorico

—Unang una sa lahat - sino ang papangalanan mo na pinakamahusay na photographer sa Maynila, Pilipinas? :)

—There are lot of good photographers in Manila.. I mean a lot! it's very hard to pick one.

—Ikaw ba ay photogenic?

—Yes, i guess. lol

—Paano ka nagsimula sa industriya ng photography?

—After I left my previous work (i'm an engineer). I decided to go full-time in photography, that was 5 years ago. Back then, I tried different genres of photography (street, landscape, product, etc.) But later on, focused on wedding and portrait photography because it has been my bread and butter since I left my previous job.

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

—Composition, Story and Color grading.

—Mahilig ka ba maglakbay?

—I don't travel a lot but i'm definitely in for some adventure!

—Ano ang pinakagusto mo sa iyong propesyon?

—I really love it when the client really appreciates what you do for them, takes all the exhaustion and weariness in whole day's work. It also feels great to work with other phottographer whom I share the same passion.

—Ano ang hindi mo gusto sa iyong propesyon?

—I absolutely hate inconsiderate wedding suppliers, well i have no choice but to deal with them and act professional.

—Ano ang magiging kinabukasan ng photography?

—Hahaha! I absolutely have no idea. LOL

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

—We are working and with different types of people everyday, that is different set of emotions and we have to capture it artistically no matter what.

—Paano ka tumatanggap ng pagpuna?

—If it's constructive criticism, i will gladly accept it but if not, I just have to leave them alone.

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

—Quality and skills.

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

—Uhhmmm... overexposed photos, and back focused photos

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

—I have no idea we usually take the detailing and portraits very seriously in Manila. But I always wanted to have a creative family portrait

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

—When you capture an untemplated emotion, that will always be a classic!

—Sino ang gusto mong kuhaan?

—I really love to shoot with my girlfriend Kat, see has this potential but she does not have that time. I would love to see the world with her.

—Mayroon ka bang mga propesyonal na ipinagbabawal?

—None at all.

—Sino ang gusto mong makasama sa pagkuha ng larawan?

—Photographers that I look up to and beginners trying to step up. Sharing knowledge is very fulfilling. I also love to work with the people with equal amount of passion as I do.

—Ano ang ikinababahala mo, at bakit?

—I am worrying if wedding photography is still that much in demand 10-15 yers from now.

—Ano ang pinakahanga-hangang pagkakataon sa iyong buhay?

—When a lot of people would give me their trust.

—Kung ikaw ay isang kartun, libro o karakter sa pelikula, sino ang gugustuhin mong maging at bakit?

—Woody.

—Sino ang nagbibigay inspirasyon sa iyong buhay at bakit?

—My family and Kat.

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

—Success is measured on how much stacks do you have in your bank! hahaha Kidding.It depends on your point of view, if you think you already fulfilled something and people around you appreciates it, you can call it a success.

—Mas pipiliin mo bang magustuhan o nirerespeto?

—Respected.

—Ano ang pinakamalaking pagkakamali ang nagawa mo sa trabaho?

—Being late.

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

—Camera. go figure! =)

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

—I am absolutely happy with my gears right now but I do love to have Nikon 58mm 1.4

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

—Practice =)

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

—Too many to mention. Some photographers that I look up to was Mango Red and Metrophoto since I was starting. and Annie Leibovitz also!

—Ano ang isang bagay na nais mong malaman noong nagumpisa ka sa pagkuha ng mga larawan?

—Learn to cook! My Gooood i can't even cook a decent sunnyside up egg. LOL

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

—My monthly bills. LOL! Just kiddingThis profession is passion driven, I always make sure at the end of the day that I'll always bring home the money shots... and the next day... and the next day.. and so on.

—Ang iyong magulang ba ay dapat naging mas o hindi gaanong istrikto?

—Not much, i love it how my parents raised me.

—Paano naman ang buhay sa ibang mga planeta?

—YES!

—Sino ang iyong mga bayani?

—My Parents....

—Kanino ka walang respeto?

—Ungrateful people. Respect is earned and not easily given away.

—Ano ang iyong ginagawa sa iyong bakanteng oras?

—Thrift hunting!

—Kailan ka ganap na nasisiyahan sa iyong trabaho?

—When I see my clients are crying after viewing their photographs. We do have a service here in Manila called onsite photo presentation which is presented during the reception. You can see the couple's raw emotion first hand after they view the wedding slideshow. Also when the people I look up too appreciates my work, that brings spark to me.

—Naniniwala ka ba sa tradisyunal na mga papel para mga sa lalaki at babae?

—Hmmmm... Yes.

—Mabilis ka ba makipagkaibigan?

—Most likely.

—Saan mo gustong manirahan?

—New Zealand.

—Mayroon bang buhay pagkatapos ng kasal?

—The first day of Marriage? Yes.

—Mahilig ka ba sa mga aso at pusa?

—Cats

—Sino o ano ang iyong kinasusuklaman?

—Irresponsible people.

—Ang pinakamahalagang bagay sa buhay ay:

—GOD almighty!

—Ang pinakanakakainis na bagay sa buhay ay:

—when you battery is drained and memory card is full

—Ano ang nais mong baguhin sa iyong sarili?

—my beer belly!

—Ano ang nais mong baguhin sa mundo?

—change corrupted people minds...

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

—Shoot everything yo can! Practice! Learn the rules, and break them once in a while. =) =) Learn from your mistakes. Be inspired. Do not imitate. If you learned all these, then educate others.

—Kung ang mga alien ay pumunta sa Earth at ikaw ang una nilang makikilala, ano ang sasabihin mo sakanila?

—Can we be friends?

—Kung ikaw ay tatawagin upang mag-shoot ng pelikula, ano ang magiging kategorya nito?

—Mafioso movies. 70s-80s setup.

—Bukas ako pupunta at gagawa...

—to be better than today. =)