The truth about defying expectations to pursue creative work
Alan Segui, originally from Bicol, relocated to Manila at 20 and has since made waves as a multi-hyphenate creative. Today, he is a published commercial photographer and a brand owner who’s also carving a space where younger creatives can thrive. Here, he shares his story.
I graduated from Bicol University in 2016 with a degree in journalism. When I was in high school, I was the photojournalist and editor-in-chief of our school paper. I’d be sent out to competitions, which in hindsight was the time photography pulled me in.
After college, I was determined to leave and seek something bigger than the traditional opportunities in my province. The creative industry there isn’t huge; creatives aren’t well-received. As much as I love being in Bicol, moving away was my only option.
When I got to Manila, I expected that my first job would be related to my degree since that’s my only portfolio. I entered a BPO company, where I wrote articles to sell materials in the construction industry. After five months, I resigned. It drained me as I was left with no creative outlet.
As a kid who grew up on the internet, most of my friends are based in Manila. A friend here helped me get into my next work in Straightforward, where I became a one-man team. That same friend introduced me to my first freelance project. “Alan Segui, he’s a photographer,” he would tell other creatives. From there, it was just a matter of looking for the next project; it helped that I was documenting my career journey online.
It gets tiring, but I remind myself, ‘You wanted this. You’re only tired now, but it will be worth it later.’
My typical busy day as a freelancer starts by waking up at 5 a.m. for an 8 a.m. shoot. I have lunch then proceed to my next shoot for a different brand. In the evening, I’ll change my clothes for an event, and once I get home, I’ll start editing because the deadline is usually two days away. It gets tiring, but I remind myself, “You wanted this. You’re only tired now, but it will be worth it later.”
When I graduated, I knew I also wanted to work in fashion. My dream was to launch my own brand that fully represented Filipinos’ different body types and sizes. It inspired me to release a swimwear line called Weekend Wanda, which helped me take the jump to freelance full-time.
Then the pandemic came. People forgot my identity as a photographer because I was working on different things simultaneously. Everyone was at home, the swimwear stopped selling, and no photography projects came.
But my biggest motivation now is to be someone that other probinsyanos can look up to. We have so much to offer but have limited resources back home. It’s only when we are given a chance that we can surprise you.
I became vulnerable on social media and talked about how difficult it was to be a freelancer during the pandemic. All studios were closed, but I’m used to working in small spaces and I have equipment available, so I said, “Hey, brands. You can send me a couple of items with your mood board, and I will shoot it in my home.” By luck, some of my followers have their own brands and they resonated with my story as a probinsyano who took a chance in Manila. I started being reintroduced as a photographer.
Cut to today: because of persistence, hard work, and putting myself out there, along with being open and honest about my highs and lows — I can definitely say I’ve come a long way.
One day, I received an email. I was in my car and I vividly remember calling my sister, crying, “I’m shooting my first magazine cover!”
That was my pivotal moment.
After that, more opportunities came. It was one cover after another. Never in my life did I think of Anne Curtis inviting me to her house to shoot her portraits and brand content. That’s when it dawned on me: “This is it.”
It’s been about five years since I became a photographer. I now have Studio Segui that I use personally but also offer for rent. I see it as my physical brain for everyone to experience. Given that, I still look for other creative outlets. I’ve been dabbling in DJing and dipping my toes in the nightlife scene.
But my biggest motivation now is to be someone that other probinsyanos can look up to. We have so much to offer but have limited resources back home. It’s only when we are given a chance that we can surprise you.
I also want to harness creativity among the younger creatives and inspire them to keep putting themselves out there. Even if they don’t know anyone in the industry, they never know who’s going to see the content they churn out. There used to be a gatekeeping mentality, but now it’s more of, “Have you heard of this new designer?” People are more inclined to credit and reference now.
Currently, I have three young creatives under my management. They accompany me during shoots and they are compensated. My big dream is to build a content playground within the studio, where we can collaborate with small- and medium-sized brands for their design needs. It’s a good platform for budding creatives to practice their skills and earn money at the same time. I want to be able to give that platform.
