creative/fashion direction
karaoke night(2020)
“October is Filipino American History Month, and we’re celebrating with a shoot inspired by Filipino karaoke tradition. Dahil Sa Iyo which translates to “Because of You” is a popular Filipino karaoke song and is one of the most widely known love songs in the country. Karaoke is an integral part of Filipino culture which Filipino Americans have kept alive throughout their diaspora. Though the first karaoke machine has been credited to a Japanese inventor in 1975, it’s Filipino inventor, Roberto del Rosario, holds the patent for the 1975 Karaoke Sing Along System. Today, Filipino households both in the motherland and overseas are not complete without a karaoke system in one form or another. There’s not a birthday, wedding, or any gathering for that matter that goes without a little sing-along.”
CREATIVE DIRECTOR: NICHOLAS GAVINO, PHOTOGRAPHER: GRADE SOLOMON, STYLING: HOPE OLIVANT, MAKEUP: SOPHIE NGUYEN, PRODUCTION ASSISTANT: CLAIRE BUSBY & JESS SOM
Inspiration board
I wanted to convey the joy of the Filipino tradition karaoke by evoking the vibrant nightlife of the 1970s. Connecting the comfort and joy associated with nostalgia with my experience around Karaoke as a second-generation Filipino American was the objective of this project. Sparkling, iridescent clothing and make-up under colorful lighting were key elements that encapsulated this idea.
Final product
The photoshoot took place at the home of the photographer and took nearly 6 hours to complete. We shot three looks with pieces sourced from several local vintage boutiques including Blue Bones vintage and Rumors. For me, it was an exercise in collaboration–working with my friend Grade was a challenging because I didn’t want to compromise his artistic integrity for my vision. We took time to talk about any bumps in the road so that we could have the most productive night on set. The result was an emotionally charged set of colorful shots that brought the vision to life.
Color vision (2019)
Color Vision explores the uniquely symbiotic relationship between twin siblings. By utilizing complimentary colors in each look the intimate bond between twin siblings is highlighted.
CREATIVE DIRECTOR: NICHOLAS GAVINO, PHOTOGRAPHER: KYLIE NEWCOMB, STYLING: ELINA YUUKA, MAKEUP: ELINA YUUKA, PRODUCTION ASSISTANT: JESS SOM
Inspiration board
Inspiration was drawn from editorial photography that showed models in symmetrical and interactive poses. Marina Ambromavic and Ulay’s performance art from the 1970’s was a key influence to the creative direction.
final product
Color Vision was the very first shoot I ever creative directed alongside Elina Yuuka. We sourced clothing through local thrift stores over the course of a week, pulling pieces that reflected complimentary color relationships. The photoshoot took place on a hillside by the James River in Richmond Virginia. Two of my closest friends, who happen to be twins were our models. This was also their first time modeling as a pair, which presented me with the challenge of making them feel comfortable enough loosen up. Although it took sometime, they began to naturally fall into poses which strengthened our theme and made for an effortless final product.
