behind-the-scene of the band portrait shoot during day 4 workshop Kris Richa on lens shooting the Autotelic band

Day 3: Photo Post-Processing Lecture
This is another one-on-one session with Kris. We met up at a coffee shop near the Top Hat studio. With two laptops in front of us, the lecture started. Kris mostly uses Lightroom and Photoshop in post-editing her photos. Aside from post-processing tips and tricks, she also gave advice on how to effectively arrange photo files, on creating an online portfolio (can be in the form of a Facebook fan page or own website) and creation of own logo for use in watermarking your photos.

The wonders of post-processing.

ninja photo @ Top Hat xD Photos on the wall are all of Kris' works

Kris gave a lecture about the basics of studio photography. She demonstrated to us the different lighting techniques being used in taking portraits. She mentioned terms like rembrant light, fill light, hair light, and edge light. As she introduced the terms, she demoed it using the lightings in the studio and having her assistant serve as her model for each technique.

my camera settings during the studio photoshoot

The band that we were to shoot for that day was Autotelic. We had some time before the shoot to get to know the band by researching stuff about them online. I was searching for photos of them to get to associate the names with the faces (which was a bit hilarious for me because that was exactly was I was doing a few weeks ago for EXO's concert). Kris was also playing some of their songs in the background while we were having lunch in the studio. There would be three layouts in the band's shoot for the day, and Kris would be giving each of us a chance to shoot the band for one of those layouts.

When the band finally came, I saw a familiar face amongst the people who came into the room. Gabby Alipe (vocalist of Urbandub) was with them! Apparently Autotelic is under his management (in some way I think). After doing a wardrobe change, the band was ready for the shoot!


I got the formal-in-black layout of the band's shoot. With Kris' guidance, I did a few shots of the group. It was a nerve-cracking actually, as everyone in the room is looking out for the photographer to give out instructions. Good thing the band members were professionals already, and they did different poses each time I snapped photos of them. :D

Sarah, one of my workshop classmates, in action! (And there's Gab for you sitting in the couch!)

As I am not sure if we are allowed to release photos, I'm just posting here a preview of the best photo (in my opinion) of them that I took during the shoot.

Before this workshop, I knew Kris Rocha mostly as a concert photographer. She has worked for tons of shows already - local and international acts alike. Her photos are just beyond amazing. I am very honored to be one of her students for this workshop, and I was eager to learn more about music photography from her.

And so day one of my most awaited workshop came. My meeting with Kris was set at Top Hat Studio in Timog, QC. The setup was not formal at all, and so it helped me to relax a bit. I got my phone and opened up Google Notes, ready to take down notes. 〆(・∀・＠) With her Mac laptop open, Kris started with her lecture on the basics of music photography.

Since I already knew the basics of photography, we already skipped that part and went straight ahead to music photography. Below are some of the points I have learned from her lecture:

• Start local. If you are to introduce yourself as 'a music photographer based in Manila', you should have local acts covered on your portfolio. 
• Pre-Event Preparations. If you've been booked to shoot an event, have all the info you need beforehand: your purpose of shooting, the artist, the event, etc.
• Shooting for Local vs Foreign Acts. Apparently there are differences on how you shoot for local and international acts.
• Shooting Etiquettes. There are some unspoken rules amongst photographers that you need to know to gain everyone's respect in the field.
• Camera Settings. She shared her SOPs for her gear setup when preparing for concerts.
• Shooting Techniques. Apparently there are lots of ways to capture an image of an artist/band on stage.

Being a concert photographer has always been one of the things that I wanted to do, and I am actually lucky enough to have fulfilled that in my own way through the concerts that I was able to attend to. In any field that you are passionate about, for sure you have someone you look up to like a mentor. For me in this field, one of them is seasoned lifestyle photographer Magic Liwanag.

Magic Liwanag doing his workshop for Henry's Professional Holiday Gift Guide Festival 2018 at Glorietta 2 Activiy Center (December 2018)

I must say I am happy I finally saw Magic in person. He seems to have a bubbly and light personality. His talk was not boring at all and I can just sense his pride and passion with his craft. Most of the things he said I already heard from Kris Rocha's music photography workshop, but Magic's talk extended to lifestyle events photography this time. The foundations are all the same - come prepared, research about your client, research about their branding - those kinds of stuff. He didn't actually focus much on the technicals of photography (because I guess we can learn it by ourselves anyway), but instead spent much of his talk discussing about the soft skills photographers have to possess to be successful in the industry. What's the use of having the best gear and technique when you are an a**hole? (Magic didn't say this by the way... this is from me, don't quote him on this 😂).

Throughout his talk, he was flashing beautiful photos he took from different events. Of course my heart will always be with concert photography, and I couldn't help but to be at awe at how fantastic his photos turn out.

Magic showing us a photo from Katy Perry's concert

I wasn't able to ask my question during the Q&A session (even though I have raised my hands a hundred times 😅). He said we could DM him after the event, of which I did.

My question: What's your essential gear set during concerts?
His answer: I usually bring 2 cameras: one with wide lens, and one with telephoto lens

I know he's such a busy person but I'm so happy he took time to reply. With just this brief encounter, my respect for him has quadrupled. He's an ambassador of Fujifilm cameras and on that day, I got slightly tempted to consider buying one. But oh well I already have my Lumix. It's incomparable to DSLRs and mirrorless cameras out there, but for me it makes the job done. As a casual concert photographer, my number one dilemma is not having a media pass during concerts (although I've been given for some concerts I've been to), so a powerful point-and-shoot super zoom camera is what's perfect for me. It's a 2-in-1 camera I guess: I could capture the crowd as a whole because I usually am located far from the stage (wide lens) and I could also zoom in 30x if I wanted to have a nice close-up shot of the artist (telephoto lens). I guess I was doing it right all along. 😂

Hey Magic, thanks for the inspiration. With you sharing your photography journey, I learned that to become successful (in any field I guess), you don't just need to have the skills, but also the passion, and the right attitude. 😎📷💓

Day two of the workshop involved hands-on experience of shooting a concert, and the training ground for me was Threadfest Manila, which was held at B-Side in Makati.

It was a nice coincidence because me and my officemates went to that place just the previous week. On the event day, I had no idea with regards to the venue (I just instructed my Uber driver to go to the location on the map). But upon arriving, I immediately recognized the place!


It was an event mostly for local bands. There was supposed to be one foreign band from Malaysia but because of problems with their flight (because of the APEC I believe), they were not able to fly here for the show.


I was the only one there among Kris' students as apparently there were conflicts with the schedule for the others. I was backstage together with the tech team, the organizers, floor managers, and the other bands that were to perform on stage. B-Side was pretty jampacked that night. It was hot. Everyone in the backstage was all sweaty already, including the performers themselves. No wonder part of Kris' instructions was to bring extra shirts to the event!

I saw that there were also a lot of people taking photos backstage during the event. I was able to (very briefly) talk with some of them. I wanted to make conversations with them but the blasting sound of the speakers made it impossible. Kris also noted for us to get ourselves earplugs. Good thing I managed to get a pair, or else I might have been deaf by the end of the show.

*Death stare* xD

This photo above is one of my favorites from the Cables & Space set. It's just oozing with the Bob-Marley-ish vibe.

Kris was also doing work and shooting the other bands, but she checks on me from time to time.


The tech people were kind enough to let me stand on their chairs at the side of the stage. I was not able to go to the pit area during Typecast's set, so I had to find another good place to shoot.

Halloo there tech pips!

One photographer also went up the chairs with me. He was cute actually, too bad I was not able to get his name ahahaha.

Typecast during Threadfest Manila More photos of the event on my Flickr.

This is hands down one of those concerts that would stand out forever in my memory because of a lot of factors. This might also be the concert that will cap off my live concerts adventure (or will it?)


I know I have been to a lot of concerts already, but this is one of those concerts that I wished and prayed and hoped to happen. I am very well aware that The Royal Concept is not really that popular, but contradictory to that, this band is the closest one to my heart. This is the band that sang the songs that have become the anthems of life. Shut The World has become the song that gave me comfort during the darkest times of my life. Although I am now in a better mental state (compared to before heh), this song still has a very special place in my heart.

I think I first encountered them through Spotify (as always!). I noticed their music because they sounded remarkably similar with Phoenix. When I became obsessed with them, they were still not actively touring - they even had no new material released yet. So seeing them live any sooner was close to zero percent, but well I still included them to my concerts bucket list.

So for months I have been stalking the band's Facebook page, holding on to that possibility that they'd tour and stop by Manila again (they went here during Wanderland 2014). So just imagine the (mini) heart attack that I felt when I saw the announcement that The Royal Concept is finally coming to Manila! When the ticket selling began, it's already a given that I was first in line, even availing their early bird promo. Wohoo! 😄 I'm just glad that I'm already used to going to concerts on my own so I didn't need to think twice on buying the tickets or pause to worry about who I could come to the event with. This time, the band played for Karpos Live's concert series. Together with local band Urbandub, they played for a one-night show at ABS-CBN Vertis Tent in Quezon City.

I just proved to myself how much I liked this band, because I overcame these "walls" during the concert:

• unfamiliar bands playing that same night (well now I know them!)
• unfamiliar venue (first time to go to Vertis Tent, and hey it's located far north!)
• unique event schedule (it's on a Sunday freaking night!!!)

On concert day, I arrived just on schedule to catch the start of the show (yup, lesson learned from the latest concert I went to 😅). I passed by Trinoma to get to the event venue. It's actually been a while since I've been to this mall. Good thing I was able to locate the Vertis Tent without much hassle (although I did make a few wrong turns along the way). When I got there, all the people were inside already, and Over October (the opening act) was already playing on stage.


I was mildly surprised by the complimentary beer, but well why not right? It's my first time to experience drinking while seeing a concert so it was really a unique experience. And now I love it. How come there weren't any booze in the other concerts I've been to? Apparently I've been doing it wrong all along!

The Royal Concept finally went on stage, though I must say their timing was anticlimactic (for me at least). At that point that night the effect of alcohol has left my system. I knew in my heart I would've enjoyed the show more if I wasn't sober (yeah yeah judge me all you want 😅 but if you read the lyrics of their songs you'll understand... hopefully). I'm surprised to learn that In The End is David Larson's (the band's vocalist) favorite song to perform live. Though I think this sentiment stems from being able to sing this song to a crowd of fellow breathing human souls.

My favorite live performance of that night was of On Our Way. I was one with the music especially along the lines 'hold me close, we're losing time... hold me close, we're falling to the ground.' 🎶🎵That song was already good enough for me to have it as their last song for the night. Just before they started their encore, I started walking towards the exit with such a beaming and bright heart. I had to leave early because 1) it's getting late, and I need to get up early the next day 2) I need to book a Grab before everyone else, or suffer the consequences and be stranded in the middle of the night.