“It Takes a Village”: Archie Geotina and Shaira Luna on Image-Making in 2025

At Vogue Threads Manila 2025, photographers Archie Geotina and Shaira Luna share their perspectives and insights on image-making.

For the third anniversary issue of Vogue Philippines, a striking image by Archie Geotina and Yerg graces the cover. Ikit Agudo, wearing Jor-el Espina, surfs along the shores of Siargao. It’s a cover that has caught the attention of many, reaching global figures such as Zoe Saldaña, who reposted the cover image on Instagram. But behind this single image are years’ worth of training the eye, not only in taking photographs, but specifically, in the art of image-making.

In 2025, most people have their hands glued to their phones, scrolling down a rabbit hole full of fleeting images and the constant flux of digital content. Now, more than ever, there are many ways of perceiving culture and reality, which is why, for Vogue Philippines editor Danyl Geneciran, it’s important to have these discussions now. “These conversations matter now because images shape how we see culture as it’s unfolding. Being intentional helps make visuals that actually last,” he says. “By curating visuals that are rooted in authenticity, we help reframe how society values its own people, proving that beauty is not monolithic but as layered and plural as our culture itself. These images become a bridge between personal identity and collective pride.”

At Vogue Threads Manila 2025, a panel discussion titled “Image-making in 2025” features guest speakers Archie Geotina and Shaira Luna. Moderated by Geneciran, the panel discusses image-making, their photography career, and integrating Filipino culture into their work.

Geotina, who conceived the Pearls Project, shares how the project changed his life. “Not a lot of artists have the chance to have their own voice and identity,” he says. “It’s not about me as a great painter or as a great photographer. It’s about the people involved in it.”

Luna, on the other hand, is known for her fashion, commercial, and editorial photography, as well as portraiture. As a photographer, she leans into the unknown, allowing herself to learn through the process. “I really wanted to shoot, not knowing what I was supposed to do or how I was going to do it, but knowing full well that I have the grit, the persistence, and the inner compelling will to try,” she says.

Although the two have very different photography styles, they share a similarity in their approach to taking photographs, focusing on music, clothing, and people. Luna, who began shooting at music gigs, shares that the experience has taught her how to work with people. “Gigs really help me so much,” she shares, recalling how musicians’ different personas helped her practice taking portraits. “Most of my subjects are not really celebrities. They’re not used to being in front of the camera. You have to be like a mirror to the person you’re dealing with.”

Meanwhile, Geotina shares how culture, fashion, and collaboration inform his images. “Without the Filipiniana, without also the place I live in, the environment, I don’t think I’d have this platform or voice I’ve created right now,” he says. “I’m not afraid to work with different types of people. Understanding that to create a vision, it takes a village.”

When asked how photographers can authentically, visually advance an image, the pair offers two pieces of advice. “You find your voice, you find what you’re trying to say, your truth, and whatever comes up, comes up,” Geotina answers. Luna, on the other hand, picks out a single keyword in the question: “authentic.” “It’s really being authentic to what you know, what you’ve learned, what you’re really trying to do,” she says. “There’s no such thing as trying too hard. So if someone tells you you’re trying too hard, then try harder.”

As the panel ends, Geneciran shares what he hopes people will take away from the talk: “I hope people walk away inspired to create from a place that’s real to them. Archie and Shaira’s works remind us that the strongest images come from personal stories.” This statement rings true throughout the discussion. As Geotina put it, “You have to create from what you really love and believe in, and eventually, you will find your audience.”

By DAPHNE SAGUN. Photographs by ANIKEN DELA CRUZ. Digital associate editor: Chelsea Sarabia. Producer: Bianca Zaragoza. Multimedia artists: Bea Lu, Myc Priestley.