Through Gail’s Lens

For photographer Gail Geriane, stepping behind the camera to photograph Shaira Luna was more than a professional opportunity. It was a moment that quietly carried years of inspiration, admiration, and personal history.

Shaira’s presence in the industry has long been felt, especially among women photographers who saw in her a kind of confidence that made the creative world feel a little more accessible. For Gail, that influence was deeply personal. Coming from the province and growing up with dreams that sometimes felt bigger than the environment she came from, seeing someone like Shaira take up space in the industry changed the way she imagined her own path.

“Shaira has inspired not just me, but so many photographers, especially women,” Gail shares. “She’s opened doors and created space in an industry that hasn’t always made it easy for us.”

Yet when the time came to photograph her, Gail didn’t approach the shoot with the pressure of doing something radically different. Instead, she focused on something simpler and more honest: capturing Shaira the way she saw her. Bright. Generous with her light. Strong in a way that feels both soft and certain.

That honesty sits at the heart of Gail’s approach to photography, particularly when photographing women. She recalls a line once shared by her friend Marilou Morales that has stayed with her over the years: “For who understands the plight of women but women themselves.”

For Gail, that thought continues to guide the way she works. The camera becomes a tool not just for documentation, but for reflection. Through it, she captures fragments of what she sees so others may see them too. The beauty, the complexity, and the quiet struggles that shape women’s lives often go beyond appearances.

“Who else is going to tell the story of our experience but us?” she asks.

That shared understanding naturally shifts the dynamic behind the lens. When women photograph women, there is often an instinctive sensitivity that emerges. It’s not always visible in dramatic gestures. Instead, it appears in small decisions. In patience. In the willingness to wait for the in-between expressions rather than forcing a moment.

Women, Gail explains, carry a lived awareness of what it means to be seen. They know what it feels like to be admired, underestimated, celebrated, objectified, or misunderstood. That awareness informs how the camera is held.

“It creates a sensitivity that’s quiet but intentional,” she says. “There’s often an instinct to protect while revealing, to empower rather than extract.”

During the shoot, that sensitivity quickly found its rhythm. There was a moment where the energy shifted, when both photographer and subject seemed to meet each other halfway — not just as collaborators, but as women navigating the same creative space.

“Once that clicked,” Gail recalls, “everything that followed felt lighter, more honest.”

Trust played a central role in allowing that moment to happen. For Gail, one of the most meaningful aspects of the experience was the freedom Shaira gave her throughout the shoot. There was no micromanaging, no over-explaining, and no second-guessing of creative choices.

“She just trusted me to see her the way I see her,” Gail says. “And for someone who’s shaped so much of the industry herself, that kind of trust feels big. To the point na nakaka-pressure na! Haha!”

Still, that trust also created the space for Gail to express her own voice as an artist. For someone who once felt far removed from the creative circles she now works within, the moment felt unexpectedly full circle.

“As a probinsyana who once thought this industry was so far away, having the chance to photograph someone like her already felt complete,” she reflects.

Much of Gail’s perspective on collaboration and mentorship has also been shaped by her own journey through the industry. Having experienced moments where beginners are dismissed or underestimated, she now sees mentorship less as a hierarchy and more as a shared process.

“Mentorship isn’t about standing above someone,” she explains. “It’s about standing beside them and saying, ‘I’ve been there. Let’s figure this out together.’”

That spirit of support has been present in her own life from the very beginning. Gail speaks with gratitude about the women who have been part of her journey, particularly her close group of friends from high school. Among them is her best friend, Betita Sarmiento, who has been there through nearly every chapter.

They were the first to believe in her work long before it reached wider audiences. They became her first models, her first supporters, and her earliest audience.

“They cheered me on even when there wasn’t much to celebrate,” she says. “From my worst shots to my first magazine covers, they’ve been by my side.”

It’s that kind of unwavering belief that continues to anchor her, especially in an industry that often moves quickly and demands constant visibility.

Staying grounded, she admits, isn’t always easy. The creative world can push artists to produce more, be seen more, and keep up with the relentless pace of change. Gail has experienced the burnout and self-doubt that can come with that pressure.

But she returns to the same reminder: to stay aligned with her intentions.

“I remind myself that I am replaceable, and that the world doesn’t revolve around my worries,” she says. “There’s a bigger picture beyond deadlines, likes, or trends.”

Returning to her province also offers a kind of reset. Being surrounded by nature helps her reconnect with a sense of perspective — a reminder of how small each individual moment is within the vastness of the world.

In that quiet space, the pressure fades.

Since she first picked up a camera in 2008, Gail has witnessed meaningful changes in the creative industry. More women now occupy roles that were once harder to access — photographers, directors, and creatives telling their own stories in their own voices.

But she’s quick to point out that progress doesn’t mean the work is finished.

“Women are still pressured to constantly prove themselves,” she says. “We’re often devalued, underpaid, and judged as less capable simply because we are women.”

Even so, the growing number of voices entering the field gives her hope. What excites her most about the next generation of women photographers is the diversity of perspectives they bring.

Each new photographer, she believes, adds another layer to the collective narrative — expanding how women’s lives, experiences, and complexities are represented.

“The narrative is becoming fuller, bolder, and more honest,” she says.

Looking ahead, Gail hopes women in the creative industry continue building a culture that uplifts one another rather than competing for limited space.

A space where collaboration thrives. Where perspectives are celebrated. And where more women feel empowered to create freely, without restriction.

If this cover could leave a message for women in the industry, Gail hopes it would be a simple one.

“Strength doesn’t always mean being tough,” she says. “There’s power in softness, in vulnerability, and in embracing femininity on your own terms.”

For Gail, beginning the year with a story centered on women supporting women carries a meaning that feels deeply personal. It represents not only where she is today, but also the journey that brought her here.

As someone who once saw this dream from a distance, standing behind the camera for this moment feels like a quiet affirmation that she belongs.

“Representation and women’s empowerment have always been the driving forces behind my work,” she says. “And to be given a platform to share that passion truly means a lot.”

Then she adds, with warmth and sincerity:

“Dako gud nga salamat.”

Produced by BLNC Mag

Photo: Gaile Geriane

Make-up: Cats del Rosario

 Hair: Phray Payek Production

Assistant: Elcan Romaguerra @linawframe_

Art Direction: JM Jusay Studio

Location: Espacio Creativo Escolta