JE VILLAROMAN: FROM GREENBELT TO MANDALUYONG
Je Villaroman is a 23-year-old freelance fashion photographer who graduated from De La Salle University in 2016 and pursued his education at the International Center of Photography in Manhattan, New York.
He has done various stints with the world’s top modeling agencies, namely Wilhelmina Models, The Society New York, and New York Model Management. He is currently based in Manila and is associated with the country’s leading public relations firm.
THE DRIVE What do you do for a living?
JE VILLAROMAN: I do what I like to call PR shoots, but what I believe I am good at is editorial and fashion photography. I also like to take photos of dogs because they are so cute. It’s also because I have a French Bulldog; he is two years old and his name is Taco. I always take photos of him during Christmas — he is my Christmas card.
Are you a regular Uber rider?
Yes, I like that the Uber rides are normally on time. I usually take Uber X. But if I can’t find an X, I go for a black — only if I am running late.
How did you get into photography?
I have always taken pictures because I like taking photos of memories. I like seeing things. My mom bought me my first point-and-shoot when I was in grade school. And then when I got into college in La Salle, we had a course in photography. It was just a general course for advertising photography; it covered food, fashion, portraiture and I fell in love with the portrait. So, when my friend lent me a lens that made everything in the background blurry and focused only on the faces, I fell in love with photography then.
Latest work?
Estée Lauder asked me to shoot their breast cancer awareness campaign. They blasted it out on Instagram. It was a shot of 250 people in three days. That was a lot. I would have to take five frames per person. And, being the photographer that I am, I made sure that I communicated with each of my subjects. I wanted to make sure that they were comfortable on set because if they are not comfy on set it is going to look bad in the pictures.
But if it is an editorial kind of pictorial I can probably do three models with three layouts each.
How do you know if you have a good photo?
I believe that a photo is not just a picture of a face; rather, it is a connection between the subject and me. In fashion photography the directors always have to make the clothes look good. But as a photographer I have to make the relationship between the person shooting and the person being shot come out.
If the clothes look good but the facial expression is not, then the photo will not be good. A good photo for me is when my subject and me connect. No matter what the person might look like.
What was it like living in New York?
It was like just rushing everything because staying in New York can break your mind, soul and body.
Most famous person you’ve shot?
Jake Cuenca. I shot him for an advertorial campaign.
Worst shoot?
I do have stories like that and it is crazy. There are some ladies in a shoot who are part of an awareness campaign and not the cover of Vogue in September. It is a problem when the models are so maarte.
Who are your favorite photographers?
BJ Pascual and Mark Nicdao are probably the best photographers in the Philippines. When I finally got into photography and did research on the photographs I had kept from magazines as I was growing up, I noticed I had a lot of Mark Nicdao and Patrick Demarchelier photos. So, I figured that I actually did like photography even at a young age — I just didn’t know it.
What else do you like taking photos of?
Dogs. I love taking photos of my dog. When we stop I want to show you the photos of Taco.
As Je is getting off, I stop for a bit so I can take a look at his cute French Bulldog Taco.
“I notice that you are fond of pets, and you look like the writer of pets from
The Philippine STAR. Also, you ask too many questions to be an Uber driver by profession.”