Meet Carmen Del Prado, a Filipina photographer based in the Netherlands, whose work is rooted in storytelling and a deep sense of place. In 2024, she left her home island in the Philippines and followed love to the Netherlands, where she continues to capture moments through her lens.
We were lucky to have Carmen photograph our latest shoot in the Philippines, bringing Mabangó’s island-inspired story to life in the place that inspires us most. We sat down with her to ask a few questions about her journey, inspirations, and what it means to capture stories between two worlds.
Definitely the Philippines! I feel like even if I’ve lived there my whole life, there is still so much to discover. A big part of my work is always inspired by the ocean and nature. The Philippines is where I found my passion for photography.
I have many faves from that shoot! But there is this shot of Alliyah through the palm and talisay leaves. It gives you a sense of place as coconut and talisay trees are native in the Philippines/ Southeast asia. There is a version of her carrying the laundry basket on her head which I find to have a quiet strength to it.
Alliyah, our model that day, is Filipino-Ghanian and we both resonated with the fact that in both cultures, women would carry baskets on their heads as part of our traditions. She even had a tattoo of it (women carrying baskets on their heads) . It was a harmony of sorts connecting both cultures at that moment.
I love to cook ! it actually de-stresses me. I have a small collection of wooden spoons from my travels and these are what I love to cook with.
When it comes to doing laundry, I am pretty organised. We almost always do laundry over the weekend. Starting with the delicates in wash sacks and moving on to whites & colored. The one thing I still find a struggle with is folding my clothes neatly the way I want to!
