Changing the business of child photography

MANILA, Philippines -  Established in May 2008, The Stork Studio is represented by the country’s first duo of photographers who specialize in child photography: Sofia Genato and Stan Ong. Their goal is to “change the game of child photography beyond the typical, run-of-the-mill services offered by those that we have in the malls or department stores” by creating what is called fine art child photography.

“It’s about capturing those precious, meaningful moments and turning them into a work of art that lasts,” Sofia says. “We aren’t mall-based for a reason: we are real photographers, for us this isn’t a job, it’s a passion for a photographic style, which for us are newborns, children and moms-to-be. For example, if there are specialty wedding photographers that people hire, then we are specialty child, family and maternity photographers.”

She adds that their clients love the rawness and originality of their shots.

“We try to promote the mindset that child photography shouldn’t be just about cookie-cutter types of photos, they should be seen as art,” Sofia continues. “For us, it’s really more about being spontaneous and capturing those split-second moments, a newborn’s smile or a special hug. We are unique because we don’t believe in having the same types of photos, in costumes or even saying ‘cheese.’ We really want our clients to appreciate the value of fine art child photography. When you look at them many years from now, you’ll realize how beautifully (and sometimes embarrassingly!) priceless they are.”

Both Sofia and Stan started out as photography hobbyists. Through years of self-study and photography seminars and workshops, both became polished, professional lensmen. Their combined knowledge about and passion for both children and photography helps them produce photo shoots that are not only works of art but also an enjoyable experience for the children and their parents.

Stan says that one of their main concerns is to make the child comfortable.

“During the shoot, parents are often pleasantly surprised at how well we interact with their kids and get them to follow our lead, even though we are strangers to them. And when the kids have fun, the parents do, too, and there they have a great opportunity for bonding which we really want our photographs to show,” he says.

Even as the demand continues to grow for the services that they offer, Stan and Sofia make sure that they still shoot the photos themselves. They put a premium on the quality of their service, so they don’t leave photo shoots to assistant photographers.

“We take pride in the fact that we do the shoots ourselves. We are very careful because we have a specific style and it’s hard to take pictures of kids, especially because you can’t direct them as you would adults. A child photographer should know how to get them to interact naturally and be really dynamic. There are also techniques and intricacies involved that make it different from other kinds of photography. That’s why a lot of photographers shy away from it,” Sofia explains.

The Stork Studio offers studio or outdoor/location-based photography and even home service. “We give our clients the option to choose where their child will be most comfortable,” Stan explains.

The Stork Studio is located at a home-based studio in Makati, near the Glorietta mall. Aside from covering babies and children, they also shoot maternity portraits and do customized photography projects for parents who want photographs of their children to become art centerpieces in their home. For more details on their services, rates, and other info, visit http://thestorkstudio.com and www.thestorkstudio.multiply.com or add The Stork Studio on Facebook.