Tiongphoto, 44-16 23rd Street, Long Island City, NY (2026)

12/28/2025

No mercy for .aquino.t at today 😅

06/29/2024

Alright Facebook, I’m no longer on here as I used to but this is a milestone for me so hear me out:

In 2019, Marie Angeline Aquino bought me a camera for my birthday noticing how much work I put in taking and editing videos on my phone - most likely from seeing Kevin Brent Estrada Sanderson do his thing with photography in Manila before I moved to New York. Angel was the first one to believe in my curiosity in this art form.

Since then, became my new art form, my new outlet of fun, curiosity and exploration. I’ve been pushing it as hard as I can ever since in a city as equally gritty and competitive as it is inspiring and expressive.

Fast forward to 2021, I got introduced to my idol . One day, he graciously invited me, a nobody, to assist him in an editorial for Schön! Magazine. That was my first time being credited (as an assistant) in a fashion magazine.

On a cold November of last year, I decided to scout Rockaway Beach for future shoots. In March 2024, I started doing test shoots with an idea of a Summer Preview: a series documenting the anticipation of Summer with trips to the beach. Having seeing my tests, pitched an editorial idea she wanted to do with me at the same location so we did the work to make that happen eventually.

Today, after months of waiting, that story finally came out. A ful circle moment for me. My very own fashion editorial in Schön.

Only fitting that my first editorial as the photographer would also be on the same magazine where Alvin brought me in to assist. And the best part of it was me bringing in my friends who I’ve met along the way and giving them the same chance that Alvin once gave me.

So this is the milestone. Turns out Summer Preview wasn’t the real story. It was Another World. It wasn’t just the anticipation of summer but the anticipation of me recognizing that I am no longer just a novice but now a legit fashion photographer. This other world that has more things to explore.

Congratulations and thank you to my team - especially to Kara who believed in me to be the one to deliver this story. 🥂🌊