The Philippines’ top creatives share their skills on storytelling and creation in the Xiaomi 14T Series Masterclass

The exhibit also showcased the photography prowess of the new Xiaomi 14T Series, co-engineered with Leica

Aspiring young Filipino content creators and storytellers got much-needed advice and insights from some of the country’s top creatives at the Xiaomi 14T Series Masterclass held last October 26 and 27 at ONE Ayala, Makati.

The smartphone brand brought together luminaries such as journalist Atom Araullo, actresses and creators Gabbi Garcia and Janina Vela, and more to share their expertise on photography and various other creative fields.

The Xiaomi 14T Series Masterclass also showcased the impressive mobile photography capabilities of the new Xiaomi 14T Series through a photo exhibit. The new premium smartphone line has a camera setup powered by photography technology from renowned camera manufacturer Leica, which helps give photos taken on the 14T Series the maker’s distinct and iconic aesthetic.

“With the Xiaomi 14T Series Masterclass, we at Xiaomi Philippines strengthen our commitment to help nurture the creativity and expression of Filipinos, especially with the advent of equipment and resources that help more people unlock their inner artist and storyteller,” said Tomi Adrias, Head of Marketing at Xiaomi Philippines.

Accessing a wealth of creative knowledge at the Xiaomi 14T Series Masterclass

The powerhouse lineup of guest speakers at the Xiaomi 14T Series Masterclass proved to be a trove of valuable and essential insights for Filipino creatives present.

Each of the speakers shared easy-to-understand tips that allow most people to become their best selves as creatives and content creators with the tools they already have at hand.

“Everybody can be visual storytellers, and all of us understand the visual medium very well,” said Araullo, who spoke on the art of storytelling and his journey as a photojournalist that captures the truth of the world around us.

He credits the Xiaomi 14T Series for being not only a versatile smartphone that has a clear and stunning camera rivaling traditional photography equipment, but also being a device that helps with subjects’ inhibitions.

“Normally, people get shy and intimidated when they see someone take out a bulky camera, but they’re less self-conscious when it’s a phone camera,” Araullo shares. “That makes the Xiaomi 14T Series an even better tool for capturing real moments.”

Wedding photographer Jaja Samaniego shared crucial tips on how to shoot soulful portraits, which often make up some of the most compelling photos. Simple yet essential tricks such as making a subject move, getting up close, and using natural light — all of which can be summed up as shooting with intention — can go a long way towards better pictures.

“We’re very lucky that we have really advanced technology with the Xiaomi 14T Series, and you don’t have to worry about the technical aspect of photography — you really have to shoot with intention,” said Samaniego.

“Capturing portraits is not just a photo, it’s a connection you make with your subject.”

With so many insights, advice, and knowledge shared by all the guest speakers across both days of the Xiaomi 14T Series Masterclass, Filipino creatives definitely came away better, more skilled, and ready to make art by capturing the world around them.

About Xiaomi Corporation

Xiaomi Corporation was founded in April 2010 and listed on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on July 9, 2018 (1810.HK). Xiaomi is a consumer electronics and smart manufacturing company with smartphones and smart hardware connected by an IoT platform at its core.

Embracing our vision of “Make friends with users and be the coolest company in the users’ hearts”, Xiaomi continuously pursues innovations, high-quality user experience and operational efficiency. The company relentlessly builds amazing products with honest prices to let everyone in the world enjoy a better life through innovative technology.

Xiaomi is one of the world’s leading smartphone companies. In June 2024, the MAU reached approximately 675.8 million globally. The company has also established the world’s leading consumer AIoT (AI+IoT) platform, reached approximately 822.2 million smart devices connected to its platform (excluding smartphones, laptops and tablets) as of June 30, 2024. Xiaomi products are present in more than 100 countries and regions around the world. In August 2024, Xiaomi was included in the Fortune Global 500 list for the sixth year in a row. 

Xiaomi is a constituent of the Hang Seng Index, Hang Seng China Enterprises Index, Hang Seng TECH Index and Hang Seng China 50 Index.