Today we’d like to introduce you to Don Marcelo.
Hi Don , can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
A little (or perhaps a lot) about me…
THE PAST:
Photography and Art have been a passion of mine ever since I can remember. As a child growing up in The Philippines, at 8 years old, my father introduced me to his film camera. I immediately fell in love with the camera and the power of photography as a way to capture, document, and create images.
Because of my love of collecting and reading comic books as a kid and as a teenager, I then started creating and designing my photo albums that looked and felt like comic books or graphic novels as a way to express my art and share my stories and adventures to anyone and everyone who was interested in seeing my photos as stories.
Little did I know back then that this would lead me to a career that I both love, Photography and Graphic Arts.
Right after getting my Associate of Science degree in Graphic Communications and Bachelor’s of Art degree in Art and Photography and a Minor in Business at San Jose State University, I pursued my career in Graphic Arts working as a Production Artist, Photoshop retoucher, and then as a Color Artist for the advertising world, printing world, and movie/entertainment industry. I also immediately started assisting as a documentary wedding photographer up in the Bay Area and started my side gig/freelance photography business in the late 2000’s shooting whatever opportunity came around from Weddings, to portraits, to corporate events as a form of secondary income.
THE PRESENT:
I continue to pursue many different freelance photographic opportunities and creative projects as of today and have added music photography in the year 2020 during the height of the pandemic where bands, musicians, singer songwriters, promoters, and two well known and established music venues near me, The Regent and The Echoplex. I have been very fortunate enought to have gotten my name known out there in the music industry all because of Instagram, my one and only social network besides LinkedIn.
So for now, I keep “Livin’ Life and Lovin’ Life!” One photograph at a time.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
As in everything in life, the road to success (and success all have different meanings to each person) is extremely hard. It took me a year to get my career in The Graphic Arts Industry as a Production Artist right after college, only to be let go after 3 years. Then it took me another 2 years to get to my dream corporate job in the printing and magazine industry as a photoshop retoucher which lasted about 7 years and was let go once again due to workforce reduction. But fortunately, I was able to acquire a great career in the realm of the movie/entertainment industry as a Color Artist/Production Artist/Retoucher (I wore many different hats with this company) which lasted for 10 years, until once again, I was let go due to corporate workforce reduction. C’est La Vie!
And during those years I pursued my freelance photography gigs.
So yes, the struggles are real in both the world of photography and graphic arts because of the proliferation of iPhones, the ease of use of apps and programs where anyone can learn and master these skills easily, and now the introduction of A.I. So technology has surpassed creative work. Everyone has a camera. Everyone has a laptop and a computer. Corporations are paying less and letting go of seasoned people and hiring younger generations for less pay (no hate at all because I understand business and that’s good business for the bottom line of corporations). There are less demands to get paid as a photographer because of technology. But I never ever give up. As long as I can keep creating and shooting and doing the things that I love both in personal work and career work, I am happy. We shoot because we love to photography. We create art because we love to create.
And as the saying goes, “Nothing lasts forever and nothing is guaranteed except Death and Taxes”. So might as well do everything that we love as we only go around once on this planet.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Having had a corporate career as a Graphic Production Artist/Photoshop Retoucher/Color Artist and as Freelance Photographer running my business, nowadays, I mainly capture musicians playing LIVE on stage and whatever promo work they need me to create for them. I am proud to say that I was able to use my Art Degree as a stepping stone to get my foot in the door of the Corporate World and the world of Photography as a side freelance business/gig where everyone said that I couldn’t use my Art Degree for anything. So I said to the NAYSAYERS, “Watch me fly! Watch me fly.” And I continue to fly and soar but ready to just take it easy for my next career or job before I retire in the next 10 or 15 years because corporate work, despite the provision and benefit of having a steady stream of income, can actually make someone stop from what he or she is meant to do in life, in my opinion of course.
And as a photographer, what sets me apart from others is that I cater to the needs and wants of my clients and to truly try and understand who and what they are and what they want. I’m very selective who I shoot because I want to build a relationship. And that relationship has to be authentic coming from both parties. I shoot for emotional purposes and create art and ever lasting stories of my work along with my documentary style of the great photographer, Henri Cartier Bresson, the father of the term in photography called “The Decisive Moment.” I don’t just press the shutter button for days on my camera. I actually create and understand lighting as a way to create and document my vision and photograph with my “mind’s eye.”
And If I don’t connect with my clients, I am always happy to refer them to someone else.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
My advice to the younger generation of shooters is to just keep shooting. Shoot for the love of photography and not for the money. Create for the love of creating art. Don’t let the naysayers get in the way. Do what you love and everything else will fall into place. And always be grateful no matter how small or big the job is. A win is a win is a win. The universe always rewards the people who work hard on their passion and craft. Some may take a day to get rewarded. Some may take 5o years. Your turn will happen. So don’t ever give up and just keep doing what you love.
Pricing:
- Different packages and always negotiable
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marcdphotos/#
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donmarcelo/
- Other: https://www.slrmagazine.com
Image Credits
COPYRIGHTS AND PHOTOGRAPHER’S RIGHTS:
Please know that all images are copyrighted and owned by the photographer, unless otherwise discussed with the client who wants to buy out the rights of my images. Please credit as follows:
ⓒ DON MARCELO PHOTOGRAPHY
ⓒ @marcdphotos
Photo Credit of me: Jonathan Lane Photography
