Behind the Lens with Ennuh Tiu
There’s more to photography than meets the eye, being an art form in itself. A lot comes into play when capturing the perfect shot, from the intricate details within the frame to the story behind the lens, whether it's from the photographer or the subject itself, but what truly sets everything apart is the stylistics and embracing your art in the process.
And Ennuh Tiu is no stranger to that.
Photo credits from Ennuh Tiu
With her passion for sharing stories and honing her craft, she continuously learns in her field and her experiences - whether it’s through shooting global stars and icons like Jackson Wang, Sandara Park, Brigiding, and Khianna, or her personal projects that resonate with core memories of growing up, and the encounters with people she met along the way.
Curious to learn more about her journey and musings over the past decade as a creative and photographer, the team got the opportunity to talk to her about her pursuits, the industry, and what’s coming next for her.
Q&A
Let’s start things off - Give us a gist on who Ennuh Tiu is, and tell us a little bit about yourself.
Hi! I’m Ennuh, and I like taking photos!
You started photography almost a decade ago. Can you walk us through your journey?
While there’s no official ‘starting point’, I’d say the way I practice photography has evolved over the years. University was when I was truly introduced to it, after graduating was when I dabbled in it, and yeah, around a decade or so ago was when I fell in love. With that said, I haven’t been shooting professionally for that long; I only started doing that after the pandemic.
Photo credits from Ennuh Tiu
Knowing that photography is a process, what keeps you inspired to create content? Talk us through your musings.
There are so many ways to make your photographs live, and one of them is simply by posting them. Sharing helps me practice sequencing and sharpen my eye. It also allows me to sit with my images longer, to see what evolves or deepens over time. Maybe a photo works better cropped, or if it turns into a diptych. The way an image is presented, there’s a kind of magic in there, too.
Also, a bit of a generalization, but do you think your style influences your work?
Oh, for sure. My visual style influences how I shoot — I’m drawn to color, contrast, and intimacy. I’d also say my personal fashion style and taste bleed into the work, too, in a way that I’m drawn to subjects and collaborators that have the same style as me. It all contributes to shaping the world I want to build.
Photo credits from Ennuh Tiu
We see that for sure through your funky still life shots and portraits. Is there any photography style or medium you’d like to explore and try?
Cyanotype on wearable clothes is something I’ve wanted to do for some time, as well as exploring alternative ways of printing on objects.
Okay, speaking of mediums, run us through a project, or projects that you’re most proud of, or one that you could say best represents who you are.
When it comes to narrative projects, it would be ‘The Aliens Look Like Me’, a project that was exhibited in Foto Bali last year, since it authentically represents how I feel about my identity and sense of otherness. The side quest shoot that I did during the Angkor Photo Festival with one of my classmates, Cy, is still something that feels so right, even a year later.
Photos from ’𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗟𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗠𝗲’ exhibit (all shot by Ennuh Tiu)
When it comes to commissioned work, I have a lot of faves from last year alone! There’s an unreleased project with Ena Mori coming out at the end of February that I’m really excited about, and I also loved working on Brigiding’s Statue look and Khianna’s Tech Couture for Drag Race.
Photos featuring Slaysian Royalty’s Brigiding’s Statue look and iconic Drag Queen Khianna’s Tech Couture look, all for Drag Race Philippines Slaysian Royale (shot by Ennuh Tiu)
As for editorial work, the second layout from the Jackson Wang shoot was something I hyperfixated on, and it paid off. I’m really happy with how it turned out.
Photos from Jackson Wang’s Billboard Philippines Shoot (shot by Ennuh Tiu)
Speaking of projects and working with these global icons and iconic drag queens, is there any artist on your wishlist you’d like to collaborate with?
I’ve been daring to dream big lately, so I’d say Felix and Hyunjin from Stray Kids, GOT7, Troye Sivan, Chappell Roan, Olivia Dean, WWE wrestlers, the list goes on!
On the other hand, if you had to collaborate with a creative or photographer, who would that be?
Oh, there are so many as well! What comes to mind right now under photography is Kanrapee Chok and Bad Eyes Collective from Thailand, Chogiseok from South Korea, and artists Yeo Kaa and Eric Bico from the Philippines.
Photo credits from Ennuh Tiu
Given your experiences, the rise of AI, and digital being ever-present, how do you think the industry and you have evolved since then?
Sadly, I’ve seen a lot of beautiful, realistic images made with AI. It’s gotten to a point where it’s hard to tell without the tag. I’ve tried to use AI’s functional aspects, like removing something or extending a background, but I haven’t fully explored its creative capabilities yet.
As for my work, I try to double down on the rawness in the hopes that if it’s human enough, imperfect enough, if it captures something true and honest, then maybe it can survive the AI slop.
Most creatives like us go through creative blocks and challenges when it comes to making ideas happen. What would you say yours is, and how do you manage to overcome those?
A lot of us tend to get stuck in a comparison loop. So many people are good at what they do, and it makes you question your style or try to be like them, but I always try to ground myself and go back to what makes my images an extension of me.
h o w s o o n i s n o w shot on 35mm by Ennuh Tiu
What are the challenges of being in your profession and being a creative as a whole, though?
The burnout, the overthinking, constantly getting lost, and trying to find the “why” of what you do.
On the flip side, what do you love about what you do?
To be given access by a person to capture their essence is quite a privilege. There’s an openness and a vulnerability, a shared moment unique to just the two of you, and the photograph becomes proof of that.
What’s your non-negotiable as a photographer?
Respect, trust in the creative intent, and enthusiasm [are non-negotiables] for projects. It really ticks me off when the subject so clearly does not want to be photographed, but will do a shoot anyway.
Photo credits from Ennuh Tiu
Can you share some words of wisdom for aspiring photographers and creatives?
Try everything once. Do things that scare you. Constantly seek out answers to questions. Your camera and your curiosity will take you to places you’d never dare enter without them.
What can we look forward to next, Ennuh?
I’ll be going on a tour, releasing a zine, and will be part of some upcoming exhibits!