Mark Nicdao, master photographer
MANILA, Philippines - Mark is undeniably talented and passionate,” top stylist Pam Quinones says. “He has a great under-standing… He doesn’t just want to give you a picture, a stiff photograph. He wants to give you a story.”
Quinones is one of the country’s most in-demand stylists. The Mark in question is one of Pam’s most frequent collaborators, of course — the unparalleled Mark Nicdao.
Eight years into a career, Mark Nicdao finds himself in a comfortable position. With magazine cover after magazine cover, indelible star portrait after indelible star portrait, Nicdao has built a reputation that, in only eight years, has garnered him the respect of his peers and collaborators, and the undying love of some of the country’s biggest stars and models.
“For me, aside from his technical prowess, Mark stands out because he has the ability to inspire the trust and confidence of his subjects,” says Miguel Mari, creative director at Rogue, where Nicdao is photographer-at-large. “With Mark, I can get very ambitious with our concepts because he’s always game to try something even more difficult than his last shoot.”
Dingdong Dantes, Piolo Pascual, John Lloyd Cruz and Sam Milby On the eve of the launch of his book Vantage, Supreme sits down with a master at the top of his game and talks passion, portraits, and knowing exactly what you want.
SUPREME: Tell us about your book. What went into the production of this book?
MARK NICDAO: ABS-CBN Publishing called me up and set up a meeting four months ago about a book nga about me. I was a bit hesitant because I didn’t know if I was ready, to have a book. I had no plans yet. I just suggested maybe a book on celebrity portraits since I owe half of my career to them. They’re the ones I work with most of the time and I have a lot of photographs with them and I guess that’s interesting. A lot of people saw my work because of them. It’s a nice thank you book to everyone I’ve worked with, eight years ago up to now.
So yeah, ABS-CBN published, I provided the photographs and I worked with Miguel Mari, the creative director of Rogue. We laid it out and each photograph has interesting anecdotes from the shoots.
Are these photographs new or a compilation?
Marian Rivera and Angelica Panganiban It’s a compilation of my work with celebrities, from 2003 to the present. It’s really hard picking because I only have 180 pages so that’s not really going to sum up my whole career. There’s a lot to pick from. There were interesting photographs I wanted to put. It doesn’t necessarily mean that if you’re not in the book, you’re not important. There are just a lot of factors… Overall, I enjoyed doing it. It’s a beautiful book.
Do you have any favorites?
It’s hard to pick a favorite but the cover was amazing. I made it for this book, exclusively. I picked the four top celebrities right now. I grew up with these four, professionally. When I was starting, they were also starting. I think that’s my favorite photograph. But nevertheless, most of the photographs in the book are my favorites.
There are so many photographers now and a lot of them, especially the ones who grew up with your photos, look up to you. What’s your advice to someone who wants to be a professional photographer?
Look in the mirror and ask yourself what you want to do and why you want to do it. I think it’s a good thing to start with. It always starts with your foundation, your reason why you want to be a photographer. You must be very passionate at it. it’s not an easy job. It’s hard. You have to love it. It all boils down to why.
Kris Aquino and Regine Velasquez So why do you do it, Mark? Why are you a photographer?
Because I think it’s the right job for me.
As simple as that.
Yeah, I wake up and I’m excited to do it. I can’t go a day without a shoot or something to edit. It has to be that way. Whatever I have right now, is because of it.
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The collector's edition of Mark's book Vantage will be exclusively available at Fully Booked by March 7. The regular edition will hit all newsstands by March 20.
