Photographed by Aniken Dela Cruz
What makes a great fashion image? Photographer Mark Nicdao and Vogue Philippines deputy editor Pam Quiñones discuss.
As the sun sets on the first day of Vogue Threads Manila 2025, the series of fashion masterclasses concludes with a conversation on image-making. Longtime collaborators in the fashion publishing industry, Vogue Philippines’ deputy editor Pam Quiñones and renowned photographer Mark Nicdao, uncover the process behind capturing a compelling visual narrative.
For Quiñones and Nicdao, collaboration is at the heart of fashion imagery. To bring a shared creative vision to life, a trust-driven dynamic between the photographer, stylist, and team is key. This is reflected in Nicdao’s ongoing body of work with Vogue Philippines, where he has captured some of the publication’s most defining images: from Anne Curtis on the December 2022/January 2023 cover, to Filipino Olympic athletes for the July 2024 issue, and most recently, the unprecedented portraits of Manila’s creative class and the pioneers of Philippine image-making (Neal Oshima, Henri Calayag, Celestina Maristela-Ocampo, and Michael Salientes) for the magazine’s Third Anniversary covers.
Beyond the pages of the magazine, Nicdao’s discerning eye has shaped fashion editorials, advertising campaigns, portraits of global personalities, and exhibitions in contemporary art galleries. To create images that leave a cultural imprint, the photographer emphasizes the importance of research, of building a relationship with your subject and surroundings, and of developing your own artistic point of view.
“Your job as a creative is to show some sort of individuality, to know what really works, and to go beyond what’s comfortable. That’s when you show your character,” Nicdao shares. “There are no shortcuts in photography; you [need to] learn from everyone. You get to have vision when you collaborate with others.”
“With Vogue Philippines, conversations and collaborations are important for us,” adds Quiñones. “When we flesh out [an idea,] we speak to the photographer and ask for their point of view, to see how they would like to approach the story. This perspective is really important to us.”
This is highlighted in the pages of Vogue Philippines, where photography becomes a shared and ever-evolving language of identity, memory, and heritage. Just a floor below, the Vogue Threads Manila 2025 photo exhibition stands as a testament to the impact of fashion imagery as a marker of time and culture.
Vogue Threads Manila 2025 runs from September 21 to 27, bringing together masterclasses led by industry pioneers, portfolio reviews, and casting calls. Over the next seven days, the RCBC Plaza in Makati will be a space for visionaries, collaborators, and future changemakers to exchange ideas, build community, and shape the next chapter of Philippine fashion.
By BIANCA CUSTODIO. Photographs by ANIKEN DELA CRUZ. Digital Associate Editor: Chelsea Sarabia. Producer: Bianca Zaragoza. Multimedia artists: Bea Lu, Myc Priestley.
