Ryan Agoncillo. Photographed by Aniken Dela Cruz.
In his first public talk on photography, the host, together with Leica Philippines, shares lessons from a lifelong “double life” behind the camera
Yes, Ryan Agoncillo has been in movies, television, and even campaign shoots from his modeling days. For most Filipinos, he’s a familiar face, an everyday presence on noontime TV. Known for being in front of the camera, the host reveals at Vogue Threads Manila 2025 that he has also been quietly leading a “double life” behind it.
For the first time, he talks about the “other movie” he has been living, and reliving, through photography, a personal journey he describes as both a discipline and a form of therapy. In his keynote with Leica Philippines, titled “The Camera, A Passport to Life’s Journey,” the 46-year-old photographer invited guests to see how he decides when and how to capture images.
In Agoncillo’s point of view, photography is less about equipment or output and more about presence: deciding, moment by moment, whether to step into the frame or preserve it for others.
Photography can be more than a hobby
Long before his television debut, Agoncillo admits that he has carried a camera for most of his life. He shares, “I’ve been taking photographs and videos since about 1997. If there’s anything about photos, it’s going to have to come from that time.”
What began as a curiosity eventually became a parallel life. “Ang camera sa akin, hindi lang siya pang-capture ng images. It’s really connected to my psyche,” he shares that the act of photographing isn’t separate from who he is; it’s a way of seeing, processing, and remembering. (For me, the camera isn’t just about capturing images. It’s really connected to my psyche.)
Look to the past for perspective
Agoncillo’s visual education began in the 80s, even before he ever studied Organizational Communications at De La Salle University. He would often linger in cinema halls, showing his fascination with the unit still photographs displayed beside movie posters.
He recalls how these overlooked frames intrigued him more than the stars of the film themselves. Studying them taught him that photography could tell stories from angles different from the main narrative, a lesson that continues to form how he frames both professional and personal moments.
Treat your life like a film worth capturing
When he became a husband and father, Agoncillo realized his own story was the most important one to preserve. “I woke up in my own movie, and I wanted to do a coverage of my life for myself. I was my best audience.”
What once lived in pockets of his wallet now lives on Instagram, where he carefully curates personal archives. “I am my biggest Instagram stalker, personally. I’m not ashamed to say that because if I need a pick-me-up during breaks, I go to the old photos. That’s why I’m saying, in curating this talk, it’s like really therapy for me. Pelikula yan ng buhay ko.” (That’s the movie of my life.)
Master the fundamentals of light
While much of Agoncillo’s talk centered on presence and perspective, he also emphasized the importance of knowing photography’s technical basics: shutter speed, aperture, and ISO. For him, these aren’t just settings but building blocks for intentional image-making.
He encouraged young photographers not to rely solely on technology to “think” for them, but to understand how light behaves. Metering, in particular, is a practice he values. “Personally, I’m a fan of metering. That’s why I was able to discern what kind of light I like best.”
He continues, “Your favorite lighting conditions, memoryahin niyo yung settings. Because when you see it, shooting from the hip is fantastic. Mas intentional ‘to.” (Your favorite lighting conditions, memorize its settings, because when you see it, shooting from the hip is fantastic. It’s more intentional.)
Decide whether to be in the scene or behind it
Every photograph requires a choice: to participate or to record. Agoncillo recalls a trip to Thailand with his wife, Judy Ann Santos-Agoncillo, and child, Yohan, where he initially brought along his full professional setup: multiple cameras, lenses, and tripods. But faced with the reality of carrying either his daughter or his equipment, he chose presence.
Instead of trying to capture everything, he learned to limit his gear so he could move freely between joining the moment and documenting it. “A good photograph, it doesn’t matter if I’m in it or not, as long as I took it. That’s your decision to make when you live your own movies. Are you going to be a character? Are you going to be a presenter? Sometimes, you can be both.”
As an event partner, Leica also extended the conversation beyond the stage. Among the exhibit vignettes on the upper floor of The Art Space in RCBC Plaza, the brand showcased its M series cameras and lenses, highlighting the craftsmanship behind every frame. Guests were invited to try the cameras for themselves, bringing Agoncillo’s lessons on presence, perspective, and light into practice. Or, as he put it best: “I hope you end up taking very good images, great images of your own movie and sana pumatok sa takilya and inyong pelikula.” (I hope your own life’s movie becomes a hit.)
For more information, follow Leica on Instagram. Visit their official website.
