Photos by Ken Go

20/06/2026

KISS principle, Keep It Simple, St.....

Simple is often more appealing to look at.

18/06/2026

WHY ARE NEWBIES SO SENSITIVE TO CRITICISM?

Sorry if my statement came across as clickbait. Unlike the post currently making the rounds, I am not generalizing all newcomers. However, there is sadly a small group of beginners who seem resistant to criticism or being shown a better way of doing things. Instead of considering the feedback, they often become defensive and use age as justification, claiming they are better because they grew up with newer technology than those who were already established when that technology arrived.

Today, access to information is virtually unlimited thanks to the internet. The problem is that not everything online is accurate. Yet some people confidently call themselves experts based on misinformation, simply because they can post attractive photos on social media. Give a non-photographer a camera set to Auto and ask them to take 100 photos of anything. I can almost guarantee that among those 100 images, at least 10 will be worth showing. That's what we used to call "spray and pray."

When I started, we didn't have the internet. The photography books available to me were old volumes from the school library, and imported magazines were difficult to find. So how did we learn? In my case, I spent countless hours hanging around a local photo lab, where I became friends with the owner and my first mentor, the legendary Sonny Camarillo. I remain grateful for everything he taught me.

As the years went by, I met more established photographers. Some were encouraging, while others openly laughed at my techniques. The difference was that I never took it personally. Instead, I worked harder so I wouldn't make the same mistakes again. My goal was to eventually earn the right to laugh alongside those veterans.

You can ask my students, I’ve been teaching for over 20 years, or the photography clubs that have invited me to judge competitions. My critiques are often delivered with humor because people tend to remember lessons better when they're enjoying themselves. More often than not, we're not laughing at you; we're laughing with you.

These days, I've largely stopped giving unsolicited advice because more and more people seem to interpret it as an attack rather than an attempt to help them improve. Still, I can't help but chuckle at some of the things I see. For example, photographers shooting outdoors with their flashes bounced straight upward, as if the clouds are going to act like a giant reflector and bounce the light right back down.

At the end of the day, photography has always been a journey of learning, making mistakes, accepting criticism, and growing from it. Veterans still have things to learn, and beginners still have things to teach. Experience and fresh perspectives are not enemies, they complement each other. Please stop making it as Veterans vs Newbies. The moment we stop listening, regardless of our experience level, is usually the moment we stop improving.

18/06/2026

My fascination with light and shadow.

Model Beatrice Joy Papa

Make Up Odille Jova

17/06/2026

One of the most rewarding parts of being a photographer is witnessing new talent step in front of the camera for the first time and just nail it. She has a phenomenal path ahead of them, and I’m proud to play a small part in their start. Cheers to a bright future!

16/06/2026

Great lighting doesn't happen by accident.

Join me for a hands-on Location Lighting Seminar and learn how to confidently use artificial light outdoors and on location. We'll explore how to balance flash with ambient light, overcome challenging lighting conditions, and create images that look intentional rather than accidental.

Most importantly, you'll get to put theory into practice at a beautiful shooting location with professional models, giving you real-world experience you can immediately apply to your own work.

Whether you're new to off-camera lighting or looking to refine your technique, this workshop is designed to help you understand not just how to use light, but why.

See you on June 27.

Registration form link on the comment section.

16/06/2026

My lovely muse

14/06/2026

The Afterparty Afterparty!

Rumor has it some still looking for their pants.

10/06/2026

07/06/2026

I shoot brides too, just not the wedding :)