For JL Crespo and Edward Joson, love and creativity go hand in hand. Nearly nine years ago, they met through a mutual friend, sparking a lasting partnership.

PHOTOGRAPHY&nbsp;Shaira Luna
CREATIVE DIRECTION &nbsp;Maura Rodriguez
There&rsquo;s no better feeling than collaborating with someone who shares the same passion and creative drive. For content creator and fashion stylist JL Crespo, that perfect partner is graphic designer and photographer Edward Joson. Their journey began almost nine years ago when they connected through a mutual friend while JL was working as an assistant stylist. What started as casual online chats quickly grew into a deeper connection.

Over nearly a decade of collaboration, they&rsquo;ve faced creative differences but have always resolved them with mutual respect. JL shares, &ldquo;If it&rsquo;s fashion-related, he trusts my judgment; if it&rsquo;s about composition or branding, I trust his.&rdquo; When disagreements arise, they don&rsquo;t let them linger. &ldquo;We step back, reflect, and come back with fresh eyes. After knowing each other for so long, we understand our dynamics,&rdquo; JL adds. This respect allows them to navigate creative challenges without it affecting their relationship.
Despite working in different fields, their influence on each other is undeniable. JL shares, &ldquo;He helps me a lot, especially when I&rsquo;m shooting content&mdash;he actually shoots about 90% of my Instagram photos.&rdquo; Edward adds, &ldquo;Since JL isn&rsquo;t a designer, I&rsquo;ve learned a lot from him. His perspective helps me see design in a new light.&rdquo;

&ldquo;If it&rsquo;s fashion-related, he trusts my judgment; if it&rsquo;s about composition or branding, I trust his. We step back, reflect, and come back with fresh eyes. After knowing each other for so long, we understand our dynamics." - JL

JL, a stylist since 2015, has worked with brands like Uniqlo, Adidas, Herschel, and Netflix. &ldquo;Styling is about aligning a look&nbsp;with the brand&rsquo;s aesthetic or an individual&rsquo;s personality,&rdquo; he explains. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s about making sure they feel confident and the final look is cohesive and clean.&rdquo; His strength lies in creating polished looks true to the subject&rsquo;s essence.

&ldquo;Since JL isn&rsquo;t a designer, I&rsquo;ve learned a lot from him. His perspective helps me see design in a new light.&rdquo; - Edward

Meanwhile, Edward&rsquo;s experience as a graphic designer and photographer is defined by the freedom to explore. &ldquo;Freelance work outside of my corporate job lets me focus on projects that excite me,&rdquo; he says. This freedom lets him maintain an intentional approach to both design and photography. For Edward, the two disciplines complement each other. &ldquo;I see photography with a designer&rsquo;s eye,&rdquo; he explains. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s all about layout, composition, and visual flow. That perspective shapes how I create visuals&mdash;with intention and character.&rdquo;

Communication is key in balancing their personal and professional lives. JL says, &ldquo;We make sure to communicate openly, set boundaries, and support each other&rsquo;s careers in whatever ways we can. We also ensure work doesn&rsquo;t take over our relationship, planning time together where work talk is off-limits.&rdquo; Edward agrees, adding, &ldquo;It&rsquo;s essential to carve out moments where we focus on each other and not let work consume everything.&rdquo;
PRODUCERS&nbsp;Loris Pe&ntilde;a and Maura Rodriguez
MAKEUP and GROOMING&nbsp;Don de Jesus
HAIR&nbsp;Miggy Carbonilla
STYLIST ASSISTANT&nbsp;Tere Gabat
PHOTOGRAPHER'S ASSISTANT&nbsp;Emelito Lansangan

JL Crespo and Edward Joson Prove That Passion and Creativity Go Hand in Hand

Recommended posts for you

Culture