In a male-dominated industry, Charisse Tinio proves even women can triumph through hard work, determination, and vision.
Charisse, 46, is the owner and chief executive officer of Nice Print Photo, the in-demand one-stop shop offering photography and videography services.
Nice Print is reputed to be the go-to service provider for countless stars—including A-listers.
Like the lively and vibrant snaps and videos it takes, Nice Print Photo’s success story is nothing short of colorful.
THE RISE OF NICE PRINT
In an interview with PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal), Charisse relates how her prominent and successful business came to be.
Ironically, Nice Print spawned from her previous photo-related business that was becoming obsolete as the digital industry began to flourish.
The year was 2006.
Charisse had just gotten married to Jibby Tinio and given birth to her first-born child. Her family life was growing, but her photography and photo express studio was not doing well anymore.
Before the advent of digital technology, photos were produced by developing rolls of film.
“And then, siyempre, yung analog, slowly, natsugi na. So we had to shift. We had to pivot,” she relates to PEP.
“So, sabi ko sa asawa ko, ‘Ano kaya puwede nating gawin na hindi tayo maiiwan? Mawawala na, ma-o-obsolete na ang film.'
"So naisip namin, ‘Let's do service.’”
The businesswoman thought it was a terrific idea because while technology is ever-changing, you still need a person to operate it.
“Kasi, I figured, with service, regardless of advancement of technology, it will never go out of business,” Charisse explains.
“Kasi you can't take your own photos on your wedding day. You will still need someone, a professional to do it. So we ventured in photo and video servicing.
“And then, from then on, we branched out to several things after: studio, invitations, printing company.”
They also added a service called The Concept Room, a flexible venue that artists can transform according to whatever theme they have in mind for their photo shoot.
All of these ventures are under her company, Nice Print Photo, which has an office in Quezon City.
Charisse recounts that at the start of her business, she only had four or five people to help her out.
Her only “puhunan” was a good camera or “lente,” and she put up her new business with less than a million pesos.
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NICE PRINT’S BIG BREAK
Charisse is well aware that whatever success Nice Print has now was not achieved overnight, and she is happy with how far her business has come.
The Nice Print founder ponders, “Para bang pag naisip mong celebrity wedding, automatic, ‘Ah, Nice Print iyan.’ Di ba, ganun? Parang may ganung tatak.”
Looking back, Charisse credits the success of her company to that one big break given by a showbiz couple.
“It all started with one celebrity couple who trusted us nung wala pa kami masyadong napapatunayan,” she explains.
When Ogie Alcasid and Regine Velasquez tied the knot in 2010, they hired Nice Print to cover the special event. And the rest, as they say, is history.
“So my gratitude for that couple, is, siyempre, sobrang-sobrang laki," says Charisse.
However, Charisse is quick to add that the deal would not have been possible if not for her good friend Claudine Barretto, who recommended her to Ogie and Regine.
That really started the ball rolling for Nice Print's coverage of celebrity weddings.
“After nun, I did John Estrada-Priscilla Meirelles; yung surprise wedding ni Zoren [Legaspi] and Carmina [Villarroel] na nag-viral; Dingdong Dantes-Marian Rivera, and everything else… Napakadami to mention.”
Nice Print also became the official photographer-videographer of the debut parties of today’s big stars, such as Kathryn Bernardo, Julia Montes, and Liza Soberano, to name a few.
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WOMAN TAKING THE SHOT
Charisse also recalls the challenges she had to overcome when she was just starting her business.
She shares, “I think the biggest challenge, really, was I'm a woman in a male-dominated industry.
“You know, photography, videography in the Philippines, kadalasan talaga nung panahon na yun, puro lalaki.
“So parang unheard of yung studio owner ka pero babae. And I was very young, I was like 22-23 nung mga time na nagnenegosyo kami.
“And then, I guess isa pang challenge is hindi ako photographer. So I don't shoot, and I never advertise myself as a shooter.
“Nice Print is a studio owned by myself and my husband, but we don't shoot.”
Charisse made up for her lack of expertise in technical photography with her experience in public relations, which, she says, is her forte.
“I handle the operations and the marketing, sales. My husband helps me with operations.”
They also hired talented photographers and videographers as their employees.
Charisse proudly says that the business she started with only four or five employees is now employing around 40 people for the photo and video team, in addition to more or less 100 in-house employees.
“I have about 150 people working for Nice Print, 24/7,” beams Charisse.
SECRET TO SUCCESS
Relationships, vision, and innovation are the essential factors Charisse banked on to bring Nice Print to success.
She explains, “I give importance to relationships. Hindi pera-pera, hindi one-time deal. The clients, they feel it, e.
“I build relationships. I take pride that most of my clients have become lifelong friends, non-celebrities or celebrities alike.”
She also quips that many of her clients tend to see her as an “ate” or a big sister, or even ask her to become a godmother for their wedding or christening occasions.
To her, this gesture signifies trust—after all, choosing a "ninang" isn’t something done lightly, making it a true privilege.
“So maybe nakapag-leave tayo ng marka sa buhay nila.”
While it is intentional on her part to make a client feel important, she goes the extra mile by communicating with them even after their business deals.
She willingly helps clients when they need recommendations about anything.
“Takbuhan ako ng mga iyan, ng nagiging bride ko na celebrity.
"Pagkatapos na ng kasal, ‘Ate Char, saan ako kukuha ng tutor? Ate Char, saan ako kuha ng costume para sa Halloween?’
“Kunyari kina Isabel Oli, kina Patrick Garcia, kina John Prats, kina Ara Mina.
“Sasabihin ko lagi, 'Aba, ginawa niyo akong Google.’ Tapos, sasabihin ng mga artista, ‘Ate, mas mabilis ka pa sa Google.’”
Charisse ensures she provides detailed responses when offering recommendations, a quality her clients-turned-friends deeply appreciate.
ABREAST WITH TECH
With technology constantly changing, Charisse knows she needs to keep up with the times or else her business will be left behind.
“You know, that's the hardest part in everything," she explains.
"Rising up and getting there is one thing, but staying there is a totally different ballgame. It's harder. Kasi nga, may pressure."
Her business may be part of a cutthroat industry, but Charisse does not bother herself with competitors.
She admits, “To be honest, I don't look at my competitors. Parang kabayo. Yung may takip. That's one thing talaga. That's so evident in my life.
“Hindi ako tumitingin sa kaliwa o sa kanan. Hindi rin ako tumitingin kung magkano price nila, anong bago nilang pa-promo.
“I concentrate on my business and my market. So my eyes are always open. Kung ano yung kailangan ng market, gagawin ko. So we've become a leader in innovations.”
Case in point are Nice Print's latest services, including what Charisse calls NP Magic, which uses artificial intelligence (AI) technology.
She describes it this way, “Di ba pupunta ka sa event? Sa mga malalaking gala, siyempre pinipiktyuran ka ng Nice Print photographer.
“Problema mo lagi as a guest, 'Paano ko kaya kukuhain yung official photos ko?'”
Nice Print came up with an app that users can download on their gadgets.
Once downloaded, the attendees of the event will be provided with a QR code, which they will then have to scan.
“When you scan your QR code, you register your name, take a selfie, and automatically, you're gonna get photos with all your face in it.”
Charisse explains this AI uses face recognition technology which will retrieve all photos from the event that have your face.
“So hindi na siya parang yung Google Drive na isang libong picture hanapin mo yung litrato mo.”
Charisse takes pride in this innovation, which she describes as “state of the art” and a “game changer.”
Another service they now offer is NP Retro, which works like the old style in producing photos.
“Alam mo, bumabalik ang vintage,” she says.
“Yung aming way of shooting, e, merong handy cam. Old style. Blurred. Out of focus. Malabo.
“E, iyan ang trip ng Gen Z, e. So, sasayaw ka.”
This is how Nice Print stays a step ahead of others in the industry.
“I'm always a very observant person. Pag may nakita ako, ino-notes ko na iyan. Makikita mo, lagi ako may cellphone.
“Pag may naisip ako, ‘tapos ide-develop ko, iri-research ko.
“I travel a lot. I see a lot of things abroad. And then, I observe. And then, I don't wait. I'm a doer.
"Pag meron akong type, gagawin ko agad. Hindi ko siya titigilan hanggang ma-launch ko siya. So, that's how I do things.”
Emphasizing the importance of being one step ahead, Charisse says, “Lahat magaling. But you always have to offer something new [to stay] number one.”
fostering relationships through the years
But most importantly, Charisse says, building relationships is one major reason that her business continues to thrive.
Back in March 2023, Nice Print celebrated its 17th anniversary with a big post-pandemic celebration, and Charisse herself was overwhelmed by the turnout.
She recounts sending invitations to past and present clients, including celebrities, wedding suppliers, and fellows in the industry.
“Alam mo, my god! There were 200 celebrities who went. Halos mahulog na yung stage sa dami ng artistang pumunta: Julia Montes, Carmina Villarroel, Marian Rivera, Ogie Alcasid, Morissette Amon, Erik Santos. Sobrang dami.”
She says the event felt like ABS-CBN Ball and GMA Ball in one.
This year, Nice Print is celebrating its 19th anniversary.
DOING WHAT SHE LOVES
Charisse’s business success is a testament to the power of passion and dedication—pouring your heart into what you love and giving it your all.
“Sabi ko nga, kung photo-video coverage lang kasi, simple lang naman yun. Kahit sino, puwede. May hawak lang na camera, photographer na, di ba? Cellphone lang, puwede na.
“But if you give them so much love, they will be very loyal to you.”
She mentions the Barrettos, Bea Alonzo, and Catriona Gray as some of her closest clients.
While it is easy to give special treatment to celebrities, Charisse is consistent in extending that special treatment to every client.
That consistency, she says again, is what got her this far in the industry.
As it is, booking Nice Print's services should be done a couple of weeks before the event. This is for occasions like birthdays, christenings, debut, press conferences, anniversaries, or corporate functions.
However, a couple needs to book a year in advance for a wedding.
Charisse then quips, “Wag lang lamay.”
Just this January 2025, Nice Print took part in a bridal fair in SMX Mall Of Asia Arena, where 500 exhibitors and wedding suppliers attended.
Charisse proudly shares that Nice Print secured the top spot for the most bookings, a testament to the trust people place in their brand.
She also feels like she has reached a point where she no longer needs to sell her brand, as Nice Print has become top of mind for potential clients in need of photo and video services.
Based on her personal experience, Charisse says you should always do something that you love.
In her case, she may not be a photographer, but she is so familiar with knowing the right elements needed to make an occasion special.
“You get into a business that you know by heart. It's hard to get into a business that you don't like. You'll wake up each day not excited. You have to love it,” she advises.
Charisse also reveals, “Ever since I was young, I was the designated photographer of friends, barkada.
“And I would have scrapbooks and scrapbooks and scrapbooks of photos piled, piled, piled. Ganoon ako ka-sentimental.
“Tapos ang pagregalo ko usually sa kaibigan, picture nila, ipi-print ko, lalagyan ko ng dedication sa likod. Iko-collage ko. Di pa uso nun yung digital.
“So yung ika-cut-cut mo yung litrato niyo, di ba, lalagay ko sa frame. Old school. I've always been the sentimental one.
“So this business is really close to [the] heart because I really like photos, and we're serving, capturing memories.”
She smiles as she says, “You cannot go far away from your love and interest. Ako kasi, I don't shoot, but I love photos.”