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Charisse Tinio of Nice Print Photography on Capturing Life’s Greatest Moments
The CEO and founder talks about the photography company's ethos and their secret to lasting relationships.
by Em Enriquez
Published Nov 28, 2024
"I'd like to transport my clients back to the times of their happiest memories... When they look back and see those hard drives of photos, I want them to smile and know that at one point they were able to be this happy."
Sat in front of a makeup mirror and with curlers in her hair, Charisse Tinio was in work mode. Every now and then, she would pick up a call and casually name-drop an A-list celebrity, mentioning the particulars they needed for an upcoming event. In between layouts, she’d be typing away on her phone, presumably sending instructions to her team or communicating with clients.
Throughout the shoot, makeup artist Muriel Vega Perez would approach her for a retouch, and while she obediently angled herself towards him, her eyes and fingers would stick to her phone. It was, after all, just another Thursday for someone as busy as the founder and CEO of Nice Print Photography.
Dennis Sulit
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Charisse Tinio of Nice Print Photography for Preview In Focus November 2024
Humble Beginnings
It’s no secret that Charisse herself doesn’t shoot. Her forte lies in marketing and building relationships with their clients. While she doesn’t get herself involved in the technical aspects, she does have a deep-rooted appreciation for how photographs are able to immortalize moments. “I’ve always been the sentimental girl,” Charisse says.
During her schooling days, she was the designated photographer who would bring her analog camera along on field trips and retreats. Her friends would receive printed photos or collages as gifts, personalized with messages on the back. Up until today, Charisse is still a “believer of printed pictures,” filling up photo books with snapshots from her family’s overseas trips.
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“I like preserving memories and there’s no better way [of doing that] than by capturing them in photos,” she states. This affinity for the craft was what eventually led her to launch Nice Print Photography alongside her husband, Jibby Tinio. The business started in 2006, which was personally a pivotal year for Charisse as she was just a newly-minted mom.
The state of technology was vastly different 18 years ago. Companies like Nice Print had the unique challenge of transitioning their photography services from analog to digital, foregoing the arduous process of having photos manually developed.
“There was no other way but to pivot,” Charisse says, emphasizing how important it was for their business to adapt to the technological advancements being made. “Change is something you cannot stop. It's something you just have to embrace. You have to move forward with the times and with technology. Otherwise, you know, you'd be left behind,” she adds.
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From the get-go, Nice Print focused on capturing events, with wedding photography as their most popular enterprise. In Charisse’s perspective, this is what made them stay afloat and thrive. “In the same way that you can't cut your own hair, you can’t take your own pictures at your own wedding,” she puts it.
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Four years into the business, Nice Print got its first big break when they were trusted to cover the wedding of OPM bigwigs Ogie Alcasid and Regine Velasquez. For someone who grew up fascinated by the world of show business, such a project was a huge milestone for Charisse. “That was really a ‘wow’ moment for us when we didn't have much to prove in this industry. Those two trusted us for their most special day, and I think they placed us on the map,” she recalls. “I'll forever be grateful for that.”
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Milestone After Milestone
Even in the age of Instagram, where everyone is an instant photographer with one click, Charisse remains firm in her stance that companies like Nice Print serve an undoubted purpose. “You cannot go against the tide. You always have to move forward,” she says. “I love how technology has evolved and has made an impact on our lives. It helps you reach more people.”
Part of Nice Print’s strategy to better meet the needs of its clients is its utilization of artificial intelligence. For large-scale events such as celebrity galas or weddings, guests often scroll through a bottomless Google Drive just to find their own photos. With the help of AI, Charisse and her team were able to develop a face-scanning technology that retrieves a person’s photos in an instant.
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The idea came to her when she wanted to find a more convenient way to disseminate photos from their events. “In everything that I do, I try to be very observant. I try to see new things that I can apply to my business, and I saw how AI [can be used] to distribute photos.” she shares. “Nice Print was the very first one, if not the only one that does this [in the local industry.] So it's good. It's good for the market.”
Such an innovation reflects Charisse’s client-first approach to things. With the ever-changing landscape of event photography, she makes it a point to adjust to her client’s wants and needs.
“Of course, there are those trademark shots of Nice Print, but we try to also collaborate with the ideas of my clients. So if [someone from Gen Z] wants blurred shots or a grainy film-camera effect, I have the perfect photographer for them,” Charisse shares. For her, it’s all about incorporating “different flavors” per client, and not imposing styles that wouldn’t align with their vision.
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This versatility is seen in the outputs they provide for their clientele. One day, they could be shooting guests in their blinged-out attire at Raymond Gutierrez’s Opulence Ball, and the next, they could be taking candid shots at a family gathering hosted by Isabel Oli and John Prats.
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The list of celebrities who trust Nice Print goes on and on and on, with names like Catriona Gray and Bea Alonzo being mainstay clients. Through the years, Charisse has made it a point to create and nurture these bonds. For her, it’s become bigger than just a business.
“A lot of companies capture beautiful moments. Lahat naman yan magagaling. But what I think really makes you stay in this industry is the relationships you build,” Charisse expresses.
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“I try to be as genuine as possible when I deal with my clients, and they see that,” she goes on. “They see that this is not just a one-time thing. They see that I want to be a part of each and every milestone of theirs, and getting that trust, you know, is everything.”
Charisse acknowledges that it’s a privilege to bear witness to her client’s unguarded moments, which is what makes the trust they forged together of the utmost importance. Some of the brides they’ve shot have become mothers, whose daughters become debutantes, who later on become brides themselves. It’s a life-long partnership from her point of view.
“I passionately value them not just as clients, but as friends and even as family,” she muses.
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Future Nostalgia
With Nice Print hitting its 18-year mark this 2024, Charisse has not only one, but two offspring making their “debut.” Her son, who is currently in his freshman year of college, practically grew up alongside the company. According to Charisse, his own interest in photography came about naturally. It’s a legacy that materialized right in front of Charisse’s eyes.
“What's great about it is I didn't even have to force him to like it,” she shares. “He has to finish college first but I know that he’s going to be a breath of fresh air to the company.”
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With close to two decades under their belt, Nice Print is positively geared towards further upping their game. At the end of the day, their job is all about capturing life’s greatest moments. With Charisse at the helm of things, each photograph they take aims to emulate the pure joy instilled in that moment.
"I'd like to transport my clients back to the times of their happiest memories,” Charisse waxes. “When they look back and see those hard drives of photos, I want them to smile and know that at one point they were able to be this happy.”
Dennis Sulit
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“Those are memories that will sustain them for the rest of their lives, so we're really just there to execute and capture them,” she says in finality. “To be present in their milestones, it's a blessing. It's magical."
Produced and Styled by the Preview Team
Photographer: Dennis Sulit, assisted by Joreli Apellanes
Creative Director: Bacs Arcebal
Editor-in-Chief: Marj Ramos-Clemente
Production: Em Enriquez
Videos: Jana Jodloman
Fashion: Em Enriquez
Makeup and Hairstyling: Muriel Vega Perez
Nails: Mimi Luxury Nails
Story: Em Enriquez
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