About –

"Shooting is one thing, aesthetics is another thing. Always remember that doing wedding photography is not about the photographer, it's about the wedding, the couple, the clients. We still have to give what they want, and not force what we want unto them. We may pitch an idea here and there, and if they are up to it, we start off from there. Clients' personalities vary from one to the other, and as a photographer, I have to find a common ground to infuse their personalities with my art. In the end, the final photo should be about their story." – Jervy So Santiago –

Jervy Santiago's humble beginnings found their roots when he apprenticed Peter Tsao from Taiwan. Manila opened up and gave Jervy his opportunity to shine. Even after more than nine years in the business, Jervy maintains his 'cinematized' approach. "All my shots are guided by instinct and emotion. I put my heart into it and go with the flow; and when it feels right, --- then it is right."

"walk by faith, not by sight" 2 Cor. 5:7


FAQ

1. Do you provide the raw / unedited shots?

- Yes, in DVD format, all in hi-resolution.

2. How long do you finish an album?

- The usual delivery time takes anywhere from 3 to 4 months. The delivery date largely depends on how fast the client submits their chosen pictures. We give the proofs (in a DVD) a week after the event, and let the client choose 150 of their pictures. It then takes an average of 4 - 6 weeks to finish the layout design, after which we send the photos for client approval before printing. The process of printing, laminations, album binding will also take about 4 - 6 weeks to finish.

3. Do your photos require post-production work?

- The majority of my shots do not require post-production, since they are good enough to be printed in any photo lab. Some image enhancement procedures can be done on the photos, but this is largely on a case-to-case basis or as per client request.

4. We have 800 ++ guests - Chinese Lauriat style, how are you going to take pictures of all of our guests?

- I understand that it is also difficult for the couple to go from table-to-table. What I usually do is take pictures of the guest per table even without the couple, then take photos of the guests and the couple after the reception on their way out.

5. I'm not comfortable posing in front of the camera and my fiancé doesn't smile a lot. What can you do about this? Which E-Pictorial would you suggest?

- Initially, I need to earn your confidence and give you enough comfort level, for you to put your trust in me as your photographer. We have to communicate. I'll study your angles, your movements, your gestures, what makes you smile, what makes you laugh. You may pitch us an idea or a concept, then we take it from there. Always remember that at the end of the day, the shoot is about you, the couple.

- Now, with regards to which E-Pictorial - Doing a Cinematic E-Pictorial will be more challenging for couples like you, this requires acting and posing; facial expressions and hand gestures are very important as well. But I've been surprised a lot of times before so I'm quite confident you can do it as well.

I highly recommend a Thematic E-pictorial - I focus on the couple's facial expressions and reactions to certain scenarios more than the background. Yes, the background helps enhance the mood and feel of the photo but for me the couple should still be the main subject, so I really make it a point to put emphasis on the couple's natural actions. I firmly believe that you don't have to take lots of "kissing shots" just to show the couple's affection for one another. I want to show "realness" and "candidness" and fuel it to express the love between the couple.

My style is flexible. It usually depends on the theme. Even the photo treatment should be based on what theme we agreed on. It should be consistent and not "half - baked".

6. What are the 2 types of albums that you have in your package?

The Digital Story Book and the Magazine Type Album.

- The Magazine Type album features a standard layout with your choice of classic or minimalist styles. No fancy editing. Shots are almost straight out the camera. The Digital Story Book, on the other hand, is more stylized and features only the highlights of the wedding, focusing mainly on the couple. By doing this, I can come up with two approaches: Minimalist, classic, or the clean cut look or a contemporary take that is more graphic driven.

7. Do you personally take the shots?

- Yes, and I only limit myself to one-wedding coverage per day.

8. How many are you in the team when you cover a wedding?

- 5 people - 3 photographers, 2 lighting assistants. (I generally try to limit my crew to preserve the solemnity of the event).

- 3 photographers - I'm the lead photographer, in-charge of all the details of the wedding. My 2 other associates are in charge of the candid shots and photo journalistic approach.

9. Do you charge extra fee for an out-of-town wedding coverage?

- No, but I charge out-of-town travel expenses, like transportation and toll fees for places within Bulacan, Pampanga, Batangas, Tagaytay, Laguna, Cavite and Quezon. Outside these areas, I charge an extra P20, 000, plus transportation, crew meal and accommodation.