Aya Cabauatan

BY DEANA P. PAGTALUNAN

RENOWNED EDITORIAL photographer Aya Cabauatan (4 BS MGT) lives in the moment. She catches even the most fleeting of memories simply with the click of her camera. Yet this amazing skill wasn’t born out of luck, as Aya was never a stranger to photography. Her father was a hobbyist who taught her the basics as early as grade school—and this was enough to spur her curiosity for the long run.

Sunsets to studios

Aya’s love for photos—and her knack for natural light— started with an early appreciation for the world around her. In high school, she and her sister would run to a park and have photo shoots of the golden hour right before sunset. Afterward, she would post some shots on her Instagram account, @_positivity, just for fun. Little did she know that she’d gain over 50,000 followers by her sophomore year.

It wasn’t long until Aya began freelancing and getting involved with the larger photography community. She met artists from around the world through the internet—they would chat, call, and even edit each other’s photos. Eventually, Aya would be tapped for gigs by complete strangers. These projects have taken her everywhere from a pre-nuptial shoot on Mount Pinatubo to a wedding in Bali. And while Aya is genuinely surprised at how popular her work has gotten, she still grabs these new opportunities to develop her craft.

Upon entering Ateneo, Aya found herself taking photos for the Company of Ateneo Dancers (CADs). The talent and dedication of her fellow CADsters inspired her to grow as an artist. “Back then, having so many followers was the best thing. Now, it’s really not that,” she says. “It’s the community that I was able to meet.” Now with over seven years of experience, Aya has tried different kinds of photography, with editorial and fashion shoots being her favorites. Beyond Instagram, she has put up her own website to showcase her impressive portfolio. She is currently the in-house photographer for Tropa, a lifestyle store, and Araw, a clothing brand. Other companies and publications that she has worked with include Young STAR, Electric Studio, and Adidas.

All these experiences have allowed Aya to develop her own style, which she describes as “hinged strongly on organic elements and natural light, with hints of surrealism and a pronounced emphasis on the often-ignored details.” But Aya remains open to evolution, which comes with every project she takes on. “Before I was more focused on abstracts and colors. Now, I’ve learned to give more emphasis on the clothing—bringing a more commercial and lifestyle aspect to it,” she adds.

Back to the basics

Amid these achievements in photography, Aya is first and foremost a student who prioritizes her academics. She gets through stressful days and sleepless nights through careful time management. In her senior year, Aya even enlisted in specific classes so that she would only need to be in school twice a week. This schedule helps her walk the careful balance of her studies and photography career. “I think that’s the good thing about being a freelancer. I get to manage my work and accept clients that I really want to work with,” she shares. as a good excuse to not put as much thought into her photos, which then happen naturally during the trip. In doing so, she rediscovers the adrenaline that comes with photography. It’s as if she’s transported back in time to her first moments behind the camera.

Just recently, Aya was able to do exactly that during her Junior Term Abroad (JTA) at Sophia University in Japan. In a country where art is everywhere, her goal was to widen her horizons. Aya managed to do projects with fellow exchange students and even a Japanese florist. They communicated mainly through hand gestures, but she found it refreshing to see how culture and artistry could interact in a single photo.

Coming back from JTA, Aya is all the more sure of keeping photography in her life. Whether she works part-time or full-time, she’ll keep using photos to express herself when words fail. “For me, I want to explore more about what I can pursue with photography. It’s just a matter of seeing which path I’ll take with it,” she explains. And regardless of where she goes after college, Aya is definitely in it for the long haul—ready to capture the unexpected. Aya