[Say it proud] Filipino photographer Jan Mayo: “The fashion industry in the Philippines tolerates trans representation but does not fully accept it”
Jan Mayo is a well-known photographer in the fashion scene in the Philippines. he is the winner in Fujifilm GFX Challenge Grant Program - the first Filipino to do so.
Jan Mayo is a well-known photographer in the fashion scene in the Philippines. For almost 5 years, his capability of capturing the portrait of his models is way beyond his time working as a photographer. He works for prestigious fashion magazines, including Vogue Philippines, Preview, MEGA, Inquirer, Nylon… He never ceases to grow as a photographer has led him to become the winner and represented the Philippines in Fujifilm GFX Challenge Grant Program – the first Filipino to do so.
Despite his “not considered as big achievements” (quoted Jan), he stays humble, hard-working, and grounded. He told me “I just want to keep on letting my creativity lead me to where I’m supposed to be”.
Jan Mayo.
How long have you been working as a professional photographer?
I started in 2018, so it’s about 4-5 years.
What aspects of your background and upbringing have shaped your creative principles and philosophies?
I was a dancer, performer, and stage actor before I got into photography. That helps shape my sensibility and personality when I photograph. I appreciate the nuances, little movement, facial expressions, and human form of the models in my works. It brings a sense of authenticity and genuineness – which I love.
Model; Vince Marcelo.
What is your journey to switch from a dancer/performer to a photographer?
I trained to become a dancer for 3-4 years. I did a lot of dance: ballet, jazz, contemporary, and gymnastic. Movement is always the element that I encourage my models to do while shooting with me. But there was an interval between my dancing and photography. I went to aviation school and was trained to become an air pilot for almost 2 years. Even though I don’t pursue that career, I’m still able to fly a plane now. Then I went back to dancing but the theater didn’t pay well, so I had to take jobs in the office. I never planned to do photography in the first place. But when I wanted to pursue it, I knew it was a costly career, so I needed the capital to fuel it. It took me a while to start working as a photographer.
Jan Mayo’s work for Preview Magazine (In frame: Baron Geisler)
Did anything in your childhood or teenage years particularly resonate to have a lasting effect on you choosing a creative profession?
I think I have always been a creative person. When I was a dancer, I had to be creative in my body movements and choreography. Now I’m still nurturing my creativity, but now in the form of photography. I have always been loving Janet Jackson since my days of dancing. Her edginess, sexiness, and energy have inspired me a lot. I want my work to have the same “vibe”.
What are three of your career-changing moments?
Looking back, there was no concrete event that make me think that I become more successful or more famous because I have done that. I’m a progressive person. I just wanted to keep on letting my creativity lead me to where I’m supposed to be. How I approach photography is very much a self-reflection. It’s certainly not a short sprint but a marathon. It’s all about showing up, being kind, and being flexible to work with different people, teams, and production. It’s a constant struggle, a lot of failures, and even bad decisions, but that is how you grow. Your past failures can inspire your future self one day.
MODEL: Nayoung Kim
Your works are very diverse, from portraits to high-end fashion editorials and even conceptual art. How did you develop your unique style for people to know it’s Jan Mayo’s work?
Black and white photography wasn’t popular in the Philippines before, so when I started photography, I focused on how to make great black-and-white fashion editorials. But as I grow, I try and experience new styles of photography. Though I’m open to trying new practices, the consistency element I always integrate into my works is the gymnastic aesthetic – which came from my background. The images I tend to create have their edginess, sexiness, and authenticity. I always want to capture sincerity in my work.
It’s Pride Month, are you proud to be a part of the community? As a photographer, how do you normally celebrate it through your lenses?
We have too many events/opportunities to celebrate queer people in the Philippines already so I don’t specifically celebrate Pride Month, or plan to have any project for this one. But we’ll see. I work with talents in LGBTQ+ a lot. I have close model friends who are trans women.
Model; Jachin Manere (for Vogue Philippines)
The Philippines is a country where trans is still a very controversial topic. As a photographer who has been working with trans models, how do you feel about it?
It’s a sad reality because the Philippines is a popular Christian nation in Asia. As a photographer, of course, I sympathize and will support, or contribute to the success of the people in my LGBT+ community. But I will try not to fall for tokenism in the industry. I expect to work with people who have a high sense of value in their work, whether trans or not. You always have to be professional to work in fashion.
Does the fashion industry show empathy and protection enough for trans talents, in your opinion? Do you think it will change for the better?
The fashion industry in the Philippines tolerates trans representation but does not fully accept it, in my opinion. But I think it’s changing for the better because we have a trans model on the cover of Vogue Philippines in December-January 2023. Last month, we also had a modeling competition that got to air on ABS-CBN (a big national television) called Slay Model Search Asia – where I was one of the judges on the panel. I believe it was a big milestone for the fashion industry to acknowledge the beauty and talent of transwomen.
Jan Mayo was a main judge for Slay Model Search Asia 2023.
What are your future goals and ambitions as an artist?
Photography is a life-long career, and I want to branch out to different mediums, maybe video, painting, or mixed media. I want to grow as an artist because I believe there is always room for improvement.
Do you have any advice for young photographers who are just at the beginning of their careers?
In collaboration with Fujifilm, I often got invited to become a lecturer at their respective workshops in the Philippines. As much as I enjoy inspiring other people, especially the younger ones who show interest in photography, I still feel like I need more time to grow as a photographer to teach people. But if there is any advice I can give, that would be to learn from your failures and understand this is a career that needs resources such as financing and connections.
Thank you for this inspiring conversation. I wish to see you even more success in the future.
Jan Mayo is a well-known photographer in the fashion scene in the Philippines. For almost 5 years, his capability of capturing the portrait of his models is way beyond his time working as a photographer. He works for prestigious fashion magazines, including Vogue Philippines, Preview, MEGA, Inquirer, Nylon… He never ceases to grow as a photographer has led him to become the winner and represented the Philippines in Fujifilm GFX Challenge Grant Program – the first Filipino to do so.
Despite his “not considered as big achievements” (quoted Jan), he stays humble, hard-working, and grounded. He told me “I just want to keep on letting my creativity lead me to where I’m supposed to be”.
How long have you been working as a professional photographer?
I started in 2018, so it’s about 4-5 years.
What aspects of your background and upbringing have shaped your creative principles and philosophies?
I was a dancer, performer, and stage actor before I got into photography. That helps shape my sensibility and personality when I photograph. I appreciate the nuances, little movement, facial expressions, and human form of the models in my works. It brings a sense of authenticity and genuineness – which I love.
What is your journey to switch from a dancer/performer to a photographer?
I trained to become a dancer for 3-4 years. I did a lot of dance: ballet, jazz, contemporary, and gymnastic. Movement is always the element that I encourage my models to do while shooting with me. But there was an interval between my dancing and photography. I went to aviation school and was trained to become an air pilot for almost 2 years. Even though I don’t pursue that career, I’m still able to fly a plane now. Then I went back to dancing but the theater didn’t pay well, so I had to take jobs in the office. I never planned to do photography in the first place. But when I wanted to pursue it, I knew it was a costly career, so I needed the capital to fuel it. It took me a while to start working as a photographer.
Did anything in your childhood or teenage years particularly resonate to have a lasting effect on you choosing a creative profession?
I think I have always been a creative person. When I was a dancer, I had to be creative in my body movements and choreography. Now I’m still nurturing my creativity, but now in the form of photography. I have always been loving Janet Jackson since my days of dancing. Her edginess, sexiness, and energy have inspired me a lot. I want my work to have the same “vibe”.
What are three of your career-changing moments?
Looking back, there was no concrete event that make me think that I become more successful or more famous because I have done that. I’m a progressive person. I just wanted to keep on letting my creativity lead me to where I’m supposed to be. How I approach photography is very much a self-reflection. It’s certainly not a short sprint but a marathon. It’s all about showing up, being kind, and being flexible to work with different people, teams, and production. It’s a constant struggle, a lot of failures, and even bad decisions, but that is how you grow. Your past failures can inspire your future self one day.
Your works are very diverse, from portraits to high-end fashion editorials and even conceptual art. How did you develop your unique style for people to know it’s Jan Mayo’s work?
Black and white photography wasn’t popular in the Philippines before, so when I started photography, I focused on how to make great black-and-white fashion editorials. But as I grow, I try and experience new styles of photography. Though I’m open to trying new practices, the consistency element I always integrate into my works is the gymnastic aesthetic – which came from my background. The images I tend to create have their edginess, sexiness, and authenticity. I always want to capture sincerity in my work.
It’s Pride Month, are you proud to be a part of the community? As a photographer, how do you normally celebrate it through your lenses?
We have too many events/opportunities to celebrate queer people in the Philippines already so I don’t specifically celebrate Pride Month, or plan to have any project for this one. But we’ll see. I work with talents in LGBTQ+ a lot. I have close model friends who are trans women.
The Philippines is a country where trans is still a very controversial topic. As a photographer who has been working with trans models, how do you feel about it?
It’s a sad reality because the Philippines is a popular Christian nation in Asia. As a photographer, of course, I sympathize and will support, or contribute to the success of the people in my LGBT+ community. But I will try not to fall for tokenism in the industry. I expect to work with people who have a high sense of value in their work, whether trans or not. You always have to be professional to work in fashion.
Does the fashion industry show empathy and protection enough for trans talents, in your opinion? Do you think it will change for the better?
The fashion industry in the Philippines tolerates trans representation but does not fully accept it, in my opinion. But I think it’s changing for the better because we have a trans model on the cover of Vogue Philippines in December-January 2023. Last month, we also had a modeling competition that got to air on ABS-CBN (a big national television) called Slay Model Search Asia – where I was one of the judges on the panel. I believe it was a big milestone for the fashion industry to acknowledge the beauty and talent of transwomen.
What are your future goals and ambitions as an artist?
Photography is a life-long career, and I want to branch out to different mediums, maybe video, painting, or mixed media. I want to grow as an artist because I believe there is always room for improvement.
Do you have any advice for young photographers who are just at the beginning of their careers?
In collaboration with Fujifilm, I often got invited to become a lecturer at their respective workshops in the Philippines. As much as I enjoy inspiring other people, especially the younger ones who show interest in photography, I still feel like I need more time to grow as a photographer to teach people. But if there is any advice I can give, that would be to learn from your failures and understand this is a career that needs resources such as financing and connections.
Thank you for this inspiring conversation. I wish to see you even more success in the future.
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