From shooting with a 4MP camera to artfully capturing celebrities for cover stories, photographer Regine David shares her journey in discovering and honing her art.&nbsp;

How did you get into photography? What was your background in school?&nbsp;
I got into photography to remember. My memory is hazy but it would become tack sharp when I would take photographs. We always photograph what we want to remember, or desire, or understand, right?&nbsp; I was maybe 14, on my first trip to the beach. A small 4MP camera. I took about 50 photographs and printed them out into a photo album. I don't think they were necessarily beautiful images but it was the magic of preserving a significant memory that got me hooked.
I definitely had no plan B. I studied BFA Information Design for a year and a half at the Ateneo de Manila University then applied to art schools internationally, where I transferred to Savannah College of Art and Design for my BFA in Photography. It was a surreal experience since I found myself studying art in multiple continents (Hong Kong, France, USA.) and has definitely impacted the way I interpreted my work.
What subjects did you start shooting?&nbsp;
My friends. There was a period I photographed more slice of life but it was always people that drew me in. I felt the most curious about even the most minute expressions.

What stories do you love to tell with your work?&nbsp;
I think it's always been about connection and visibility.
With the male form, I&rsquo;ve been documenting them as a way for me to understand my relationship with them. The important thing to note is the power dynamic that is equal or to my favor, which isn&rsquo;t the status quo for people like me.&nbsp;
There are so many layers: documenting them as a human, as a woman, as a queer woman of Southeast Asian descent. I don't necessarily want these labels to be the main signifiers of my work but I recognize that labels are important to get our stories out there. We still have to find our support.
With all my work, the intent is to share my experience. I feel like my narrative isn&rsquo;t present enough. It&rsquo;s something I&rsquo;ve been looking for to &lsquo;validate&rsquo; my experiences and the experiences of others, and what better way to do it than to photograph it myself?&nbsp;
How has your craft evolved since day one? Are you deliberate with changes in your work or do you surprise yourself and suddenly notice how it shifts?
I come in with a general idea of what I want to explore&mdash;maybe a visual identity, an expression, a particular energy&mdash;but I almost always leave the interesting things up to chance. It's planned chaos. The thing is, I want to make sure I don't become trapped in my own genre and end up becoming a parody of myself, so I have to allow myself a sense of freedom when I approach my work.
For a time, I lost that sense of experimentation I had at the beginning... but this pandemic has forced me to look back at some work and recalibrate what excites me. Sometimes I catch an image that happens during a vulnerable moment. Maybe I'll have a singular image in my mind that dictates the rest of the story. There are so many ways to approach an idea but the biggest factor would be the people I work with. That's why casting is 80% of my job. They surprise me in the best possible way.

What and who inspires you?&nbsp;
Stolen stills from movies, era-specific bedrooms from <a href="https://www.instagram.com/decorhardcore/?hl=en">@decorhardcore</a>, really great color palettes, ambient light, romantic feelings, heartbreak, well-written autobiographies, conversations about the future, my friends, good haircuts, scrolling mindlessly on Instagram, a little smile, talented artists of all media, music from specific times in my life.&nbsp;
I know people always expect something they can find for themselves so I'm trying my best to be specific.
How do you find that balance between work that's fulfilling (meaningful, artistic, gives you creative freedom) and practical (pays the bills, consistent, gives security)?&nbsp;
There is no balance; it will always be unbalanced and usually out of your control. The best thing to do is give your commercial and personal work equal passion. The goal is to weave them together.
Find Regine on Instagram @reginedavid.&nbsp;

How Regine David Captures Connection and Visibility Through Photography

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