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METROPHOTO
Metrophoto is a behemoth name in the field of destination weddings, one of the pioneers in modern wedding photography in the country. Founded by Oly Ruiz in 2007, Metrophoto offers top-quality coverage services for all things related to weddings, debuts, and portraits. Recently, it has also launched NEXT by Metrophoto, which covers all things after the wedding: from maternity and birthdays to any celebration of life and love.
Ruiz initially created Metrophoto to cater to the quickly modernizing photography and videography industry, and he is currently its chief executive artist. Since then, the brand has blossomed into a group of over 30 people spread over several teams. The brand’s reach goes as far as Cebu and Siargao, all headed by a pantheon of Manila’s top-tier photographers: Dino Lara, Erron Ocampo, and Paolo Nierves.
“On a regular day, you’ll usually find me either editing photos in our office or attending meetings with clients and other suppliers. Pre-production is a lot of work because that’s where we come up with the ideas and when we set our expectations with the client. It’s during this time that we let them know what we can do with the time and the place that they give us. On the wedding day itself, it’s a lot more busywork to actually execute and see to fruition these standards we’ve set. Add this of course to the time pressure that comes with having a day-long event. We’ve got to make it to the church on time, and we’ve got to make the same day edit in time for the end of the reception—all while making sure we provide the distinct Metrophoto shots we’re known for. The workload is definitely a lot more dense on the wedding day,” says Ruiz of Metrophoto’s typical process.
Guided by Ruiz’s artistic vision, Metrophoto has become synonymous with style and innovation, producing stunning images and videos that are boldly experimental and vividly cinematic. Having pioneered the use of drones on his work back in 2015, Ruiz continues to push the envelope along with his colleagues, carefully shaping Metrophoto’s evolving aesthetic, all the while influencing the creative landscape of local wedding photography.
“One of the things Metrophoto is known for is its customer service. When clients ask us for things that seem difficult or unrealistic, we always make it a point to try and find a way to get it done before telling them no. Basically, if my shooters can find a way up whatever tree or rooftop we want to shoot in, they’ll be helping the groom and bride every step of the way up there so we can achieve it. Clients will always know that we try our best and we explain if certain things cannot be done,” explains Ruiz. “I make it a point to be clear with what we can do and what’s unrealistic [by our standards]. It’s always about being honest with them.”
It doesn’t hurt that Metrophoto always goes the extra mile to accommodate its clients and to produce quality images.
“[With] every one of my shoots, I always have at least four lights in my setup. It’s crucial for me, especially with the types of shots I do. It’s important to me that I have as much control as possible over the conditions I’m shooting in. I also always have a stepladder ready in the van for when we have to achieve those buwis-buhay shots. I also have a few apple boxes to help add variety to our group photos, which we are very known for,” shares the photographer.
Metrophoto has been privileged to travel and shoot in unlikely places like Peru, Bolivia, and Cuba, as well as gain notable clients like local celebrity couples Toni Gonzaga and Paul Soriano, Pauline Luna and Vic Sotto, Coleen Garcia and Billy Crawford, and Sunshine Garcia and Alex Castro, among others.
“Aside from very distinct photos and experiences, what makes Metrophoto special is the care and attentiveness we put into every single client we have. From the first inquiry to the last delivery, we give them consistent and reliable customer service. Our goal with every client is for them not to have any worries when it comes to their photos.
With Metrophoto, you never have to think twice,” Ruiz guarantees confidently.