Weekly Photo Editing #01: Jisa Atrero, Philippines

In light of the current Covid Crisis and Lockdown across Asia and beyond, I am offering free photo editing once a week for photographers and artists who have a body of work or series of photographs and need/want my help in editing and sequencing. This offer is open to those in Asia and all genres of work. 

Here is Week One Edit for Jisa Atrero, Philippines, first published on www.instagram.com/kevinwylee.

Thanks for sending your work. I’ve selected you as my Weekly Photo Editing (#IPAWeeklyEditing) #01
You sent in a few photo series folders. Whilst it’s good to see that you are organised, there’s only a handful of images in each, not enough to edit as projects in themselves.

Rather than put your photos into little boxes, put all of them into a large folder as I have done. And for now title it “Life in #Philippines.” Look at all the photos in totality and start again from there. It’s okay to start broad and then find a particular niche or perspective as you commit and move forward. Putting them together and examining them as a whole is also a better investment strategy – more singular in focus, your weaknesses and strengths will also be more evident. You’ll notice where you’re repeating and what you’re missing.

I’ve selected 8 shots from your pool of 35 to give you some direction moving forward. You have a decent eye for composition and these 8 shows it. They also show a variety of shots – from portraits, daily life, still life and weddings (which you expressed a particular interest in), which I feel you should keep in mind in future. As I feel these are early days for you, the 8 aren’t yet sequenced. This can be done much much later after more investment and a whole lot more images. And with the weddings, if you’re really interested in the subject, you need two things to do well – Commitment and Access, beyond that of an average guest.
Finally, on your question “how should I pitch stories to editors?” The hard sad truth today is that very likely, editors are interested in hot breaking current issues. So unless you’re a news or photojournalist already working on these issues, I would say drop the “pitch” dream and focus rather on being an expert on a particular subject, whether in your case it is Filipino Weddings, and use photography merely as a means to communicate all that you know. One day, some day, that expertise will be called upon, rather than the photos alone.

I’ve attached some screenshots of what I’ve discussed.

Hope that helps. I will be sharing this on Instagram for community benefit.

Thanks.

Kevin @kevinwylee

This effort is part of my “#Lockdown Editing” series, undertaken in #circuitbreaker lockdown in Singapore.

To submit your work for consideration: Send a wide edit of your photos (low res) along with a synopsis/statement to [email protected]. (NOTE: Send once only, don’t spam) I will select one work each week, edit and send back a sequence. Will also share the edited project on my and @invisphotogasia channels. Will do this as long as everyone #stayhome and there is sustained interest in this offer amidst the #covid crisis #lockdown.