Note: Right on deadline we received message and pics from Edwin. Here is part of it, and we have been able to include photos."More photos ... these are new ones. Some of them have never been seen by the public. So some are exclusive to connex247... : )

I just finished a huge huge huge huge huge campaign with Reichen for a jewelry line he is doing -http://www.FlyNaked.com It  is a very high end line. When he was approached to do the line- he insisted to his business partners and investors and  publicists that only I can shoot him. The 2nd phase of the shoot is coming up ..."Thanks Edwin. --- mjm

LONG VACATION!

I grew up in the Philippines and moved to Los Angeles, California when I was 21. Packed my bags and came here as a tourist and never left. It’s perhaps the longest vacation in history. I go back home once in a while … it keeps me grounded.  I give back to my community through several charity endeavors. I am blessed and I want to share what I have with others.

FULL MOON IN LA

Four years ago, I was coming home from a night of partying at 4:00 a.m. and I looked up to the sky and saw the full moon shining over Interstate 10. I parked my car, grabbed my camera and started shooting. The result was amazing. So the following day, I started driving around Los Angeles taking photos. It was so amazing. I did this for an entire year … something about the lighting at night and how it made LA so peaceful yet so alive.

SCENE IN HOLLYWOOD

In college, I majored in Journalism because I really  enjoyed writing. So when I got here to the US, my editor in Asia  asked me if I wanted to write about my adventures here in Hollywood in a weekly column- talk about the parties I attend, benefits I sponsor and celebrities I meet.

This started a decade ago, before everyone got to do their  BLOG. So I thought, why not? I get to tell people in Asia about my fun little adventures and somehow  educate and inspire them with my stories.

ON IMAGERY

This is specially true with commercial and advertising photographers.  We’re hired to convey a message to our client’s audience …it’s our goal to convey that message through the photo without actual words- just imagery.

DISCOVERING FRESH FACES

I used to be a journalist. So I remember the joy of seeing one’s name printed in a magazine or newspaper. It makes me so incredibly happy when I get to help models get a tear sheet, get paid from a campaign or get amazing photos from a shoot. Sometimes I am just as excited as they are. I call them as soon as the campaign is out or FedEx them a fresh copy of the magazine before it even hits the newsstand. It’s exciting!

I like discovering fresh faces. I try not to go through agencies as much as I can. When I meet a model who’s got potential, I do a test shoot to see how they register and how well they work with the camera. So when I get a  campaign, I go through my book and see who can pull off the campaign. Clients normally trust me with my decisions and know I have their best interest at heart.

RED LASER & CLINTON

Oh, I’ve got a ton of stories. I was at a Bill Clinton benefit at the Beverly Hills Hotel a few years back. I was using this 700 Series Sony Camera for the event. It was my first camera and it usually does the job until I realized that it emits this red laser at the subject that measures light. It was similar to those you see at movies being used by the FBI to shoot their target.

Imagine being the only photographer at the event and the former President’s at the podium with a laser pointed at his body. The image of causing a pandemonium with the Presidential guards jumping at me and hauling me in handcuffs freaked me out. Luckily, I lived close by so I went back home and grabbed my instamatic camera for use during the speech.

FALL BACK CAREER

I think that for a model to be successful, you have to be born with the “look” and “X” factor. Along with that, you must be very professional, passionate about your craft, know your features, willing to listen and take good advice to heart.

The modeling industry is very cutthroat. It’s not for everyone. I always advise models to have a “fall back” career. Not everyone can have the careers of Kate Moss and Tyra Banks.

FAMOUS PEOPLE

Shooting famous people isn't the same as shooting models.  Models don't show up at the shoot  with his publicist, tv agent, commercial agent, manager and two assistants.  Models don't have agents  that will email you a list of what they want to drink and  eat at the shoot ...

SHARING THE MOMENT

I travel 32 times a year for work. So when I am on vacation, what do I do?  Travel to shoot some more. Ha ha. It’s a never ending shoot even when I am on vacation.

I am at my happiest when I discover new, amazing places and experience new things … and the perfect picture is when I can capture these images and this “moment” and share these images with my family and friends and have them feel the same emotion I had.  When they see my images from my trip to Paris, I want them to have the same reaction I had when I first saw the Eifel Tower all lit up… I want their jaws to drop too.

MOST IMPORTANT

The five most important things in my life are:

1. Family
2. Friends
3. My Art
4. Family  and yes
5. Friends.

LIBERAL EUROPEANS

Europeans are very liberal. I love shooting there because I don’t feel like people are going to gawk at the shoot or I may get arrested. In most parts of Europe, you can have a hundred people naked at the park for your shoot and no one would care.  Here, you’re looking at 20 years in jail.

BE HAPPY

This is true for anything in life- don’t do something for money, do it because it makes you happy. If you’re getting into modeling for the money, then you won’t be successful. You would want a job you look forward to waking up to.  Life is too short.

I can be reached at This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it or visit my website at http://www.EdwinSantiago.com