The fashion and commercial photographer takes the lead in a self-directed shoot
In September, one distinguished magazine boldly decided to feature tots, no older than six years old, to usher in the biggest month in fashion. The headline emblazoned across this release alluded to Filipino fashion’s bright future: that the next is now and that the youngins on the cover are well on their way to making an indelible mark on the local fashion and beauty scene. The same, not surprisingly, could be said about the woman who captured two out of three of these covers. It’s one bright-eyed Charisma Lico, who trailblazed her way through 2018 to get to this moment. Not to mention, there was no setup more apt than this: to have the next generation of stars be photographed by the up-and-comer to watch out for.
For emphasis, we reiterate: 2018 is the year of Charisma Lico. She hit a milestone in March when she landed her first cover shoot for the #AllNewPreview with Janine Gutierrez. The rest of her months were peppered with editorials, ad campaigns, look book shoots and even more covers. Then, she landed Folded and Hung’s star-studded “Stay Wild” campaign and closed out October with her own photography workshop.
What this adds up to is an Instagram grid that immediately reads like a who’s who of fashion, beauty and entertainment’s VIP. And it’s evident that Lico has made a clean sweep, earning the trust of the country’s biggest names, brands, and publications in the process.
Ahead, we turn the tables on the woman behind the lens––and put her right in front of it. In an invitation to produce a self-directed self-portrait, this young creative was given free rein over all creative aspects of her feature shoot ultimately to showcase something that represented her, to a T, as an artist.
World, meet Charisma Lico.
Blazer and trousers, TOPSHOP
Wonder: What was it like directing your own shoot? It was interesting to see you in your element (both as the subject and photographer).
Charisma: I’m obviously used to being behind the camera, so it took me a while to warm up; for that, I’m sorry. [laughs] It’s a little awkward, a little weird but fun.
W: Can you tell us about your decision to take this direction?
Charisma: The final look and vibe represent my current style as a photographer. I like warm tones and makeup that showcases skin, something that flatters natural beauty and not covers it. I think this reflects my personal style as well. I’m not a girly girl or a ruffled dress kind of person. I’m usually in pants and sneakers and I like being in clothes I can really move in.
Turtleneck jumper, MARKS & SPENCER
W: Where do you usually get your inspiration from when you put together your own mood boards for shoots?
Charisma: Oh, Pinterest. I always check Pinterest. From one simple concept or idea, I look up stuff on there and I always end up clicking on “similar post” after “similar post” and I do that until I find the pegs I like. It amazes me that Pinterest always knows what people are looking for. [laughs] I also look to other creatives for inspiration though. Some of the people I follow whose work I love are Petra Collins and David Gomez-Maestre. They both have very distinct but consistent looks.
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W: How did you find yourself on this career path?
Charisma: Well, I always knew I wanted to be a photographer. At first, it was a hobby; in high school and even while I was taking up Advertising Arts in college, I was shooting for fun with friends already. But really, this all came from me enjoying post-processing photos and editing them. I realized I needed material to work with. I can’t edit if I don’t have photos. So, I began shooting my own stuff and I went from them.
Camisole, FOREVER 21, Blazer and trousers, MARKS & SPENCER
W: What would you say is the biggest change you’ve noticed about yourself since your first ever shoot?
Charisma: Definitely a more developed eye. You can’t put a timestamp or a number of projects on that. The quality of your learning experience and who you learn from super matter. But I also believe that your skill has to be paired with a good work ethic.
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W: What is one lesson you learned the hard way as a photographer but are thankful for anyway?
Charisma: Patience. For a while, I was frustrated that I wasn’t getting where I wanted to be. I learned that sometimes, the waiting time is longer than what you expect it to be and that’s okay. I’ve been getting comments like, ‘wow, Charisma, you’ve come a long way,’ knowing that I’ve undergone assisting other photographers on things that I’ve been wanting to shoot. And I’m not even saying that I’m already there. I learn from every single one of my shoots and I want to learn more. I just want to share that it pays off to patiently wait while you give your best in every opportunity that’s being given to you. It may be a small shoot or just a normal day at work, but it matters to always do everything passionately and deliberately ‘cause that’s how we master our craft. We don’t get good overnight. The process is long, it takes time and conscious effort, and it can get tiring but take heart.
Blazer and trousers, TOPSHOP
Keep your eyes peeled for more from this creative on the rise. You can follow Charisma Lico on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Store Locations
Greenbelt 3 Mall G/F Greenbelt 3, Esperanza Street corner Makati Avenue, Ayala Center, Makati City
Power Plant Mall R2 Level, Power Plant Mall, Rockwell Center, Lopez Drive, Barangay Poblacion, Makati City
SM Aura Premier Upper Ground Floor, SM Aura Premier, Taguig City
Robinsons Galleria 2/F of EDSA node, Robinsons Galleria Mall, EDSA corner Ortigas Avenue, Quezon City
SM Megamall 2/F Mega Fashion Hall, SM Megamall, Barangay Wack-Wack, Mandaluyong City
UP Town Center G/F UP Town Center, 216 Katipunan Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City
Alabang Town Center 2/F Alabang Town Center Mall, Alabang-Zapote Road, Ayala Alabang, Muntinlupa City
TriNoma Mall 3/F TriNoma Mall, EDSA corner North Avenue, Quezon City
SM Mall of Asia 2/F Main Mall, SM Mall of Asia, Central Business Park, Bay Boulevard, Pasay City
Robinsons Place Manila G/F Midtown Wing, Robinsons Place Manila, Pedro Gil corner Adriatico Street, Ermita, Manila
Robinsons Magnolia Upper Ground Level, Robinsons Magnolia, Aurora Boulevard, New Manila, Quezon City
Ayala Center Cebu G/F Ayala Center Cebu, Arch. Reyes Avenue and Bohol Avenue, Cebu Business Park, Cebu City
Alabang Town Center G/F Commerce Mall, Alabang Town Center, Commerce Avenue, Ayala Alabang Muntinlupa City
SM Aura Premier 26th Street corner McKinley Parkway, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig
Central Square 3/F Central Square, Bonifacio High Street, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig
Glorietta 4 Mall G/F Glorietta 4 Mall, Ayala Avenue corner Pasay Road, Ayala Center, Makati City
SM Mall of Asia 2/F Main Mall South, SM Mall of Asia, Jose W. Diokno Boulevard, SM Central Business Park, Bay City, Pasay City
Greenbelt 5 Mall G/F and 2/F Greenbelt 5 Mall, Legazpi Street, Ayala Center, Makati City
Power Plant Mall R1 Level North Wing, Power Plant Mall, Rockwell Center, Lopez Drive, Barangay Poblacion, Makati City
Estancia Mall G/F North Wing, Estancia Mall at Capitol Commons, Meralco Avenue, Ortigas Center, Pasig City
Eastwood Mall G/F Eastwood Mall, Eastwood Promenade, Eastwood City, Quezon City
Shangri-la Mall 2/F and 3/F Shangri-la Plaza Mall, EDSA corner Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong City
SM Megamall 2/F SM Megamall A, EDSA corner Julia Vargas Avenue, Mandaluyong City
Robinsons Midtown Manila G/F Midtown Wing, Robinsons Place Manila, Pedro Gil corner Adriatico Street, Ermita, Manila
Gateway Mall Upper Ground Floor Gateway Mall, Araneta Center, Cubao, Quezon City
TriNoma Mall 3/F TriNoma Mall, EDSA corner North Avenue, Quezon City
SM City North Edsa 2/F SM City North EDSA, North Avenue corner EDSA, Quezon City
Marquee Mall G/F Marquee Mall, Francisco G. Nepomuceno Avenue, Pulung Maragul, Angeles City, Pampanga
SM City Pampanga G/F SM City Pampanga, Olongapo-Gapan Road, Barangay San Jose, San Fernando, Pampanga
Ayala Center Cebu G/F Ayala Center Cebu, Arch. Reyes Avenue and Bohol Avenue, Cebu Business Park, Cebu City
Limketkai Center 2/F East Concourse, Limketkai Center, Limketkai Drive and Rosario Crescent Street, Lapasan, Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental
Abreeza Mall G/F Abreeza Mall, J.P. Laurel Avenue, Bajada, Davao City, Davao del Sur
SM Megamall 2/F SM Megamall Building A, EDSA corner Julia Vargas Avenue, Mandaluyong
SM Makati Ground Level SM Makati, East Drive corner Hotel Drive, Ayala Center, Makati
SM Aura Premier 2/F SM Aura Premier, McKinley Parkway corner 26th Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
SM City North EDSA 2/F The Block, SM City North EDSA, North Avenue corner EDSA, Quezon City
SM Mall of Asia 2/F Main Mall South, SM Mall of Asia, W. Diokno Boulevard, SM Central Business Park, Bay City, Pasay
Robinson’s Magnolia Upper Ground Floor Robinsons Magnolia, Doña Hemady Street corner Aurora Boulevard, Cubao, Quezon City
SM City Fairview Upper Ground Floor Main Building SM City Fairview Quirino Highway corner Regalado Avenue, Novaliches, Quezon City
SM City Clark Ground Floor SM City Clark Manuel A. Roxas Highway, Clark Freeport, Barangay Malabanias, Angeles City, Pampanga
SM Southmall Ground Floor SM Southmall, Alabang–Zapote Road, Almanza Uno, Las Piñas
SM Lanang Premier Ground Level SM Lanang Premier J.P. Laurel Avenue, Barangay San Antonio, Davao
SM City Cebu Northwing, SM City Cebu, Juan Luna Avenue corner A. Soriano Jr. Ave., North Reclamation Area, Cebu
SM Seaside City Cebu Upper Ground Level SM Seaside City Cebu SRP-Mambaling Road, Cebu
SM City Iloilo Ground Level SM City Iloilo Benigno Aquino Jr. Ave., West Diversion Road,, Mandurriao, Iloilo
SM City Bacolod Ground Level, North Wing, SM City Bacolod Negros South Road, Bacolod
SM CDO Downtown Premier Ground Level SM CDO Downtown Premier, C.M. Recto Ave. corner Osmeña Street, Cagayan De Oro, Misamis Oriental
Photography and Creative Direction Charisma Lico
Styling Nicole Blanco Ramos
Hair and Makeup Zidjian Floro
Art Alexandra Lara