Metrophoto’s Oly Ruiz on the pains and privileges of capturing couples’ “once-in-a-lifetime” moments – every time.
Something Clicked
Metrophoto’s Oly Ruiz may have developed into one of the today’s most sought-after wedding photographers – but you’d never tell by his background. “I was originally an engineer, then I went into finance (as a banker), because there was more money,” he says half-jokingly, “photography was a hobby. Ever since I was a child, I never thought I was artistic. Art, drawing, not my forte – numbers ok.”
But a chance meeting in 2006 with a friend toting one of the very first digicams opened Oly’s eyes. “I was stunned! He was showing us pictures of food, pets, clouds, shadows – sobrang ganda na pala ng photography!” He shares as if struck by lightning. “If I had to do things with film, I never would’ve become a photographer. I’m not a patient person! But now you take a photo – there it is! Trial and error. Instant gratification – that’s very important for me.”
And Oly realized – why not try making money doing something he loved doing. At one point, heedless of the expense, he undertook one workshop a month, for a year. “I would say I’m aggressive with photography – I wanted to learn everything! And I retained maybe 30% of what was being taught, but it still helped.”
With his knowledge of the field and new connections, he was able to develop a big picture of what the photography industry was like. “I can’t do fashion, food, portraits? But maybe weddings – I can start there.”
A Marriage Proposal
Oly shares his first proposal for marriage. “I just pestered my friend! ‘Hey, I want to do weddings, can you hire me, even without pay?’” He learned the ins and outs of weddings by doing. And after awhile, taking picture after picture – he finally got his first shot.
“It was another friend of mine. He goes: ’Oly, my brother is getting married very soon, baby on the way, no need for an engagement, they just want the wedding over with – can you do it?” And Oly Ruiz did – furnishing the best of everything he could, despite the couple paying very little. “It turned out well!” Beams Oly, “The couple looked good, it was easy for me to get great pictures – composition, concepts lang, angles not so much kasi they looked good na!” And one gig turned to three, then three to ten, then ten to dozens.
Over the past 14 years, Oly has amassed experiences in his commitment to capturing marriages, some of them demanding he go a long way for the client.” “The farthest I had to travel for a wedding was in Aitutaki, in the Cook Islands, back in 2015.” He narrates, “I had to take 6 flights going in, 5 flights going out. It was Philippines to Sydney, then Sydney to Auckland, down to Queenstown, then Raratonga which is the capital of the Cook Islands, then a regional flight to Aitutaki. I had to sleep at the airport going there!”
With his luggage imperiled at every port, Oly was only too relieved to find his checked-in boom intact. Once there, he reminisces being spoiled about having a team around him – but enjoyed the 100% control he had over the shooting schedule. “I’m still amazed I was able to pull that off. It was really fun. It was an adrenaline rush. I felt like a super hero!”
There are times though, which he admits he does not. Oly recalls a gig in New Zealand, where he found himself on fours negotiating an icy path high in the mountains while it was windy. He remembers feeling nervous every time he has to ride small airplanes, or helicopters. He’s felt fright when a tiger lunged towards him, the animal stopped only by the chain held by his handler. “But siguro the scariest for me was this shoot in the Rainbow Mountains in Peru.” There, Oly and his team dealt with the invisible dangers of altitude sickness. “We wanted to deliver, and we never back down from any shoot, so we pushed on without acclimatizing. At one point, 5 kilometres up, all of us were crawling and throwing up between shots. It was the one time I felt that we were in trouble.”
Thankfully, the couple was very happy with the photos – a feat Oly confesses would not be possible without his capable team.
Assembling an Entourage
“In 2007, I applied my skills to the job. I used to work for Intel and Deutsche Bank – those guys are great at branding. And back then everyone (in the wedding photography business) then was ‘banking’ on their name. I realized there was a niche in the market for a group of photographers. That’s how Metrophoto started.”
Oly says they wanted a name that could connote – modern, sophisticated, and stylish. And that they should act like it’s a multinational company. “Branding starts when you inquire. We answer emails, we set expectations – we’re really good with that. We’re hands on, we treat every couple as our best couple. The premium-ness of my team must remain. We don’t shoot a concept twice. And it worked. Clients reached out, and Metrophoto developed not just photos – but relationships. For for Oly Ruiz and the Metrophoto Team, a bride’s walk down the aisle may mean a mere ten minutes – but the preparation before and work after takes far longer…until recently.
“Honestly a lot of our shoots have been postponed, but we’re confident,” he shares in relation to the Covid lockdowns, “technology will change, there will be drones, 360 degree cameras, same-day-edits – but style will always be a requirement.”
Just as pandemics come and go, Oly believes that humans loving each other and their need to celebrate it – is eternal. When the time comes, he and the Metrophoto team will be there yet again to capture couples’ once-in-a-lifetimes – every time.
You may reach Oly Ruiz through his Instagram and Facebook account.
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