Any lensman can make a woman look beautiful, but it’s photographer-of-the-moment BJ Pascual who has a knack for making women—the likes of too-pretty girls Liza Soberano, Bea Soriano, Anne Curtis, Megan Young, and Isabelle Daza to name a few—feel beautiful. Only seven years into his career, he releases his first book PUSH: Muses, Mischief, and How to Make It in Manila, the kind of book that young photographers and models wish they had read when they were younger.
At last night’s launch, we had to ask BJ about his muses, and his muses about him, too.
Who would you say is the easiest girl to shoot?
Every girl is a different shooting experience for me. Some girls are easy to shoot in one way, and some girls are easy to shoot in another. But I think it’s obvious when I really like shooting a girl, napakaraming shoot na lumalabas with them, case in point (gestures towards Janine Gutierrez). I guess all the muses in Chapter 3 are my favorite girls, and it’s because of our connection from the very first shoot. If I really like someone, first shoot pa lang, I know na.
What’s your pre-shoot ritual?
Iba-iba. If I wake up early, makakapag-workout pa ko. But usually, I just play music from my playlist set by Raymond (Ang) and try to set the mood. Especially for editorial shoots, I really try to prepare a moodboard in advance even if the concept doesn’t come from me, I still make it a point to make one to [give] my own take.
What songs do you play to get your girls in the modeling mood?
Actually my favorite playlist to play during shoots is the one Raymond made for one of our shoots with Anne (Curtis). It was for her album that’s coming out pa lang, and each layout was a different vibe. Like, there was disco, then there’s rock, so we did this crazy long playlist with The Strokes, Jessica Simpson, and all super fun songs from the ’70s.
Who’s the craziest on set?
For this book, definitely Liz, Belle, and George. When they’re together, it’s crazy but very fun and productive. During the shoots, nagpaparinig pa si Liz ng “alam na kung sino pinakamahal mo, ah” then si George nagalit, you could see her namumula na talaga. (During the shoots, Liz would tease me and say, “Your bias is showing, ah” then George got mad, you could see her turning red.)
If Tyra had “smize,” what’s your go-to expression?
Nga-nga! (Fish gape!) I always tell people to open their mouths, no fail. I don’t know, it just always makes people look more relaxed and open. And I like seeing people’s two front teeth, especially bunny-like teeth. But sometimes I do the under bite instead, kasi nagkaka-jawline and chin ka. But the photo has to be front view lang, ‘pag side, halatang nag-underbite ka.
Do you believe in good contour or good lighting?
I think they’re equally important, but since I’m a photographer, I’ll say good lighting.
What are some tips you could give new models to help them during shoots?
You should practice. It’s gonna look weird when you practice, but it really helps. When you practice in front of the mirror, you see how your body moves. You could even try using self-timer, because not all photographers will direct you. It also depends on the photographer’s style. Some photographers care about composition, while I really care about the face. So it’s good to have baon.
Do you have a signature “face” when you pose for BJ?
Nga-nga!
If your go-to facial expression had a name, like Zoolander and Blue Steel, what would yours be?
Nga-nga lang talaga. (Really just the fish gape!)
What’s the craziest thing BJ made you do?
There was a shoot we did for Suitcase, and we went over to the Mangrove tree tapos puro jellyfish below. Like hundreds of jellyfish na super laki. He sat me on the tree and left me there because the boat had to move away ‘cause it was going to be a wide shot. That had to be the craziest and scariest shoot!
What’s your pre-shoot ritual?
I just like making chika and kain with Beej.
Who’s your model peg?
Kendall.
Which part of your face projects the best?
The right side.
How many selfies do you take during a BJ Pascual shoot?
Oh my God, so many! I can’t even count. But it’s his fault, because kahit selfie, kailangan makuha yung perfect shot.
Kelsey Merritt
Do you have a signature “face” when you pose for BJ?
Yes! I suck in my cheekbones.
If your go-to facial expression had a name, like Zoolander and Blue Steel, what would yours be?
I’d just name it cheekbones.
What’s the craziest thing BJ made you do?
He made me wear fishnet tights, nothing but that! It was an unpublished shoot for Metro and he carried me on his back. It’s a good thing it wasn’t published, ‘cause it was pretty risqué.
What’s your pre-shoot ritual?
I just show up, ask what the shoot’s about, what the mood is, and think about what I’m going to do to mentally prep myself.
Who’s your model peg?
I don’t have a model peg, but I do love Kendall Jenner’s street style, but not her work.
Which part of your face projects the best?
Left side! Any side or part is fine, it’s just that my teeth project better on the left side so I go with it more.
How many selfies do you take during a BJ Pascual shoot?
Not so many.
Solenn Heussaff
Do you have a signature “face” when you pose for BJ?
Wala naman, ‘cause he usually directs us and tells us the look he’s going for.
What’s the craziest thing BJ made you do?
My Esquire shoot with him where I was butt naked was daring. When I saw the photo, I panicked because even if the photo was good and tasteful, it wasn’t ready for this country—I would have had lots of haters. I’d be fine if it was published abroad. So, he shadowed the butt area.
What’s your pre-shoot ritual?
I work out regularly anyway, so for shoots I remember to just drink less water because it makes people more bloated. I never starve!
Who’s your model peg?
I don’t really have one or practice in the mirror, and sometimes I feel I always do the same pose. That’s why I need someone like BJ to direct me and change it up. I look at magazines, but I don’t really get to study the new trends and poses.
Are you a Gigi Hadid, Kendall Jenner, or Cara Delevingne?
Cara. She’s more edgy and more wala lang.
Which part of your face projects the best?
Left side.
How many selfies do you take during a BJ Pascual shoot?
Actually hindi talaga. I have just one, from when we shot for Hola and it was a group shot pa.
Photos by Acushla Obusan