These 5 Filipino photographers are changing how we see architecture and interiors

What sets Torres’s photography apart is his affinity for more candid photos. He takes advantage of natural architectural forms to frame otherwise mundane moments. Others may be intimidated by this approach, with so many factors out of one’s control. But Torres maintains a levelheaded, experimental approach “that makes you feel like you [as the viewer] were the one living in the photograph I captured.”

Measure twice, shoot once is the philosophy Bien Alvarez applies to every architectural space that comes his way. Having started with a 35-mm film camera, his lack of access to a full-frame digital camera elevated each photograph into a discipline. “The goal is to make the photograph feel as close as possible to the experience of standing in the space by using composition, relationships and scale to communicate the design as a whole.”

With an architectural background under his belt, a broader approach is engendered in his work. Before the photograph, he analyses plans, sections, circulation and sequences. Exploring how natural light threads through each moment is instinctive for him. This rhythm of functionality tempers the aesthetics of a home, as people leave indelible marks with every entrance, usage and exit of a room.

For Alvarez, an underrated skill is that of having and maximising time. So many projects are constrained by deadlines and costs, but witnessing how a space settles into its context is the most rewarding experience for an intuitive photographer. “Architecture changes with time,” he muses. “More than the building itself, I’m interested in thoughtful responses to local materials and climate. I’m interested in the life these spaces make possible for their inhabitants.”

We can so rarely explain what intuitively draws us to a certain field. But for Greg Mayo, it was his self-proclaimed status as a “frustrated architect”. “Design, buildings and construction have always surrounded me,” he shares. He redirects his creative passions into photographing each space as it is, looking at the world “through the eyes of an architect.”

When working with interior spaces, Mayo ensures that each shot has depth by layering the foreground, subject and background to create a more immersive viewing experience. This has even led him to layer multiple photographs of a home into a single image, as two mahogany trees completely blocked the view of the home.

Looking back on his career, Mayo remembers this learning moment: at his first event, he refused a meal and ended up, starving, at a nearby fast-food joint. “Don’t be shy, or you’ll end up hungry–literally and figuratively,” he shares. “It may be a funny story, but it also taught me not to be afraid to connect with people and accept kindness when it’s offered.”

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The most creative paths are often the least linear; such was the case with Tarish Zamora, who learnt how to shoot interior photography “on the job”. For her, each shot must convey how the space feels: the styling, the textures and the unexpected details that create a welcoming space. In approaching a more architectural project, she focuses on “the structure itself, the lines, forms, materials and how light interacts with the building.” 

In Zamora’s eyes, adaptability is the foundation of a successful shoot. Looking back on a creative brief that called for a bright and sunny atmosphere despite a gloomy day, Zamora brought out her strobe lights “to recreate the look my client envisioned while still keeping the images true to the space.”

Her advice to young creatives is to trust their perspective. “Your first shoots won’t be perfect, but they teach you something new each time. It’s easy to compare your work to others, but your unique way of seeing a space is what will set you apart,” she enthused.

Creativity means listening to those small nudges that open new channels for self-expression. Paola Aseron not only enjoys photographing people’s apartments; “I would secretly imagine living there,” she shares. Such a desire set the stage for a more intimate, appreciative approach to the textures, details and atmosphere of a space.

Looking back on her career, one of her most notable shoots was the Theatre at Venetian Resort in Macau. “It was my first time watching Cirque du Soleil, and it was so magical I cried,” she recalls. “That trip made me realise that photography could take me to places and experiences I never imagined.”

On the technical side, Aseron encourages young creatives to learn colour theory. On the other hand, she encourages them to communicate clearly with clients: “Their success is your success,” she emphasises. Having the patience and fortitude to capture the essence of a space down to such minute details is what keeps her passion for photography alive.

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