Weaving Filipino Narratives
PHOTO | VIDEO | CONCEPTS
Frequently Asked Questions
We are quite proud of the fact that Habi Collective is not your usual photo-video service provider. But, being a tad too different can induce head-scratching at times, so here are our answers to FAQ's to help clear things up :)
01
How much?
Send us an e-mail at habi.collective@gmail.com, and tell us your expenses range. We will then give you our rate card, and then we may (or may not) begin to negotiate the price to fit your specifics. If the price you want is too low, we will have to politely decline, BUT if you really like our style and the quality of our work, we trust that we will be able to reach a very fair bargain :)
02
What is your style?
We are trained as documentary filmmakers and photojournalists, and so we apply this style on our productions. We almost NEVER direct our subjects (like, "OK Bride, place your chin on your groom's shoulder and look down!"). The only time we "direct" our subjects is to tell them to keep doing what they naturally do.
03
We're getting married. Why should we hire you?
80% of our photos are candid, and we would only take "glamour shots" if the couple asks for it. So, if you're the type of couple who would rather spend every second of the wedding laughing and crying with friends and family (instead of being whisked away from the party for that "sweetie patootie photo session by the staircase") AND if you're the type of couple who finds posing-like-a-model quite unnecessary, we're the perfect match.
04
Wait... are we that type of couple?
Well, we all wouldn't know, not until you guys practice posing in front of the mirror. If you find yourselves feeling awkward as you try to imitate all the serious poses you see in elite magazine spreads and rom-com movie posters... then, boom! Welcome, welcome, welcome, to the Habi Collective Portrait Photography Philosophy, where moments are as real as they can get. The sweet photos you see on our portfolio? They're all candid!
05
Other suppliers charge low. Why can't you?
We make sure that Habi Collective would give its talented pool of artists the salary they deserve. We strive to be fair, humane employers, because we know how it feels like to work through sleepless nights finishing layouts or wrapping up editing jobs, only to be paid salaries lower than the minimum wage. We never want these kinds of scenarios for our team. Talent is honed through many years of hard work. Colleagues say we should be charging much, much more, but then again we also would like to share our talents to more people. Striking a balance is key -- balance between being accessible, and having deep respect for the craft.
06
I need an AVP. Why should I hire you?
We read a lot, and we immerse a lot. If you want us to read a 300-page pamphlet prior to shooting your AVP, we will do it. If you want us to live for two whole months in an isolated town just to get the essence of it, we will do it. Of course it would entail a respectable budget that would nourish our minds properly, but the point of everything is this: we go the extra mile to produce no-nonsense, field-specific and palpably-Filipino AVP's that will spur your target audience to action.
07
Why are you so stubbornly Filipino?
We know the Filipino story by heart because day in and day out, we live it, see it, hear it, and yes, we tirelessly research deeper about it. Another big reason is that we believe in the incredible uniqueness of the Filipino world-view. We'd love to talk to you about it, let's have coffee soon :)