Freelance photojournalist committed to adapting with change
by Athena Altiche
The media industry has been facing shutdowns, layoffs, and bankruptcies, affecting the journalists in the field. But for some photojournalists like Basilio “Eli” Sepe, 30, adaptability is key. Rather than limiting himself to the typical newsroom setup, he has embraced opportunities in freelance work.
Sepe graduated from the University of Santo Tomas with a degree in advertising. He has been part of the university’s campus publication “The Varsitarian” and has also contributed to other media outlets.
Since college, he has been freelancing, and it was a gradual shift when he entered the workforce. Sepe shared, “When I graduated, there were opportunities because they've seen my works already, and I was contributing for them already.”
He is one of the young photojournalists who covered the War on Drugs of former President Rodrigo Duterte, and it remains the biggest coverage he has done to date in his freelance career.
It was a gradual shift, as he said, “I had the opportunity to meet new people, new clients, future clients, and other journalists in the field. So, after graduating, I kept on shooting, documenting the drug war.”
Committed to Adaptability
Entering the world of freelancing comes with a huge commitment to adaptability and acquiring new skills. Sepe said, “The more talents or skills you have or experience, the more clients or the more agencies or organizations will hire you.”
This concept of adapting has opened doors of opportunity for him, as several media outlets and organizations have taken notice of his work.
The flexibility that freelancing provides also extends to the kinds of work being offered. He shared that there were instances when he was the one who needed to pitch a topic or coverage, but there were also assignments where the story had already been set, and he was only hired to shoot.
Stability and Instability
In freelancing, there is no fixed monthly salary, which also gives professionals the advantage of earning more and setting higher rates.
While this flexibility is an advantage, the reality is that it is not always Christmas in terms of pay. Sepe described freelance work as “fluctuating,” where there are peak months full of work, but also slow days when there are no clients.
However, the nature of the industry is highly competitive. Many people are competing for the same jobs, and one must stand out to secure clients. Sepe said that the more skilled you are, the more relevant you become, which equates to higher pay.
He further said, “You need to step up or you need to improve, hone your skills more. Because if you don't, you'll be left behind… That's the competition.”
Vulnerability
In a typical newsroom setup, it is common practice to debrief after every coverage. But for freelancers like Sepe, who often work alone, they have to find other outlets for debriefing.
“That's the problem here, actually. Not just here, but maybe in other countries, especially for freelancers. They don't get enough debriefing or there's not enough social or psychological treatment for photojournalists or journalists who have been through covert violence, crime, war,” Sepe shared.
One avenue he explored to cope was socializing with others and attending events, exhibits, and speaking engagements, whether in schools or abroad. Through these, he was able to share his experiences, especially after covering the peak of the Drug War.
Freelance journalists also have to procure their own insurance and other means of protection. Sepe said, “You're the one who's going to do it. Everything is on your shoulder. No one will answer to you. That's part of investing. You're not just going to invest in your equipment. You're going to invest in your things for your safety, for your protection, for emergencies.”
Editor's note:
This article is part of the spotlight interview of members of the Photojournalists' Center of the Philippines. Celebrating the life, work and contribution to the photojournalism industry of the PCP members.