Pinoy photographers in Thailand

Jerubem Era, 38; Jojit Pangilinan, 39; and RJ Protacio, 32, are not just overseas Filipino workers relying on salaries from employers, instead, the trio is into freelance graphic arts, photography and managing a “community of photographers”—the Photography Entrepreneurs based in Bangkok, Thailand.

Era has a master’s degree in Information Science in Internet and e-Commerce Technology at Assumption University of Thailand. He exploits his talents and grabs every opportunity to improve his craft in graphic designing and photography. Pangilinan finished Marketing and Computer Design while Protacio is a Math major.

“I am excited for the AEC (Asean Economic Community or Southeast Asian countries’ regional economic integration). It will open doors for many professionals and investors, even for small players like us,” Era says.

Finding opportunities

Pangilinan arrived in Thailand in 2002 to find better opportunities. Era, who was into a recording and stage plays business in Mindanao, lost his capital due to difficulties in the south. He went to Thailand in 2003.

“My initial intention was to go and save some money to pay off debts from the business,” Era says.

Both came to Thailand as tourists seeking employment as teachers. Era worked in a few international schools and used his strengths in graphic design and media at the same time pursuing his master’s degree.

But it was when his school closed in 2011 that he decided to venture into business and freelance work for three years, mostly graphic designing and photography.

“It was very hard and the income was not steady. I worked part time with Jose Tan, a famous Filipino photographer in Thailand and in the US, in the designing and marketing of his magazine.

I also assisted him in a few of his shoots. This is where my photography went to the next level,” Era says.

Era also ventured into a magazine business but realized it was a tough market to sustain financially and later decided to concentrate on a different venture.

Protacio arrived in 2010, also as a tourist, hoping to land a teaching job.

“The atmosphere is more like the Philippines, cheaper cost of living and better compensation,” says Protacio.

Community

Era and Pangilinan are longtime friends having been in the same Adventist Church in Bangkok and belonging in a singing group. But it was photography that kept them closer. They later met RJ who is also an enthusiast.

Protacio says that photography is his way of coping with homesickness. “I would just carry my camera, walk in the streets and find interesting people and scenes to photograph. That way, I learned to appreciate the beauty of life despite all the negativity that surrounds us,” he says.

As an IT person, Pangilinan takes a lot of photos for his school activities.

“I thought why not make this a hobby or job as another source of income? And so here we are—we found each other and made our hobby into a small business. Equipment I may say is quite cheaper here in Thailand,” he says.

In 2014, Era and Pangilinan started Photography Entrepreneurs.

Era explains that aside from a business venture, it is run as a community to help connect and improve entrepreneurs in the field of photography through collaborative shoots, workshops and tutorials.

The group’s goal is to establish the community and later register it as a business. The team consists of Bem Era, who does the main photography and videography; Jojit Pangilinan, photographer, who also acts as creative director; Lizza Christi Pangilinan, Pangilinan’s wife, and in-house makeup artist; and RJ Protacio, photographer.

Their activities do not hinder their regular teaching jobs. They schedule photo shoots during weekends, holidays or weeknights during their free time.

Growing support

“Photography Entrepreneurs is not just us, though we are leading the group, but it is a growing community who shares common interests, ideas, events, etc. Within this group we organize events, workshops, photo shoots and gatherings that would benefit not just the team but also all our fellow members in the community,” Pangilinan explains.

“We invite models and makeup artists to collaborate with us. For 2015, we are making a road map, or blueprint of our goals for the ventures and projects, and we hope to achieve them throughout the year,” Era says.

Photography Entrepreneurs has done shoots for Paul Frank’s Teen Idol 2014 in Chimney Magazine, another model of Gossip Girl Thailand, a few Thai fashion designers, and are in negotiations for a session with Miss Thailand Universe 2014 some time in the coming months. They have already booked six collaborations and workshops lined up for the months of January and February 2015.

Aside from group projects, they also have individual projects in Thailand and in the Philippines. Protacio has projects for prewedding and wedding photo shoots in the Philippines.

Pangilinan takes photos for Mango Metro Magazine and collaborative shoots with Thai and foreign models while Era who used to design for EXL Magazine and Thailand Professionals Magazine uses his expertise in doing freelance design, photography, and videography for schools and companies.

Gearing for AEC

The year 2015 marks the implementation of the AEC where the Southeast Asian countries is a single regional common market. Although this may seem only for large businesses competing for markets, this also opens more opportunities to the 600 million people of the region, moreso among the Filipinos.

“We are creating online lessons, tutorials, DVD workshops and live workshops to be able to be a resource in Asia, especially to Asean,” says Era.

Compared with others, the group’s ability to speak English gives them an advantage in dealing with foreign clients, aside from affordable services and photos creatively and professionally done.

For global Filipino workers, they say: Wherever you are, always prove the Filipino’s work qualities—efficiency, punctuality, keenness and patience.