On October 22, 2025, BINUS School of Computing and Creative Arts, Graphic Design and New Media (GDNM), welcomed professional photographer Prabowo Prajogio, better known as Kak Bowo, for an inspiring guest lecture “Behind The Lens with Prabowo Prajogio: Masterclass on Studio Photography Techniques and Building a Career in Fashion & Commercial Photography.” The session, held at BINUS FX Senayan Campus, was part of the Advanced Photography course for Semester 3, Batch 28 students, who are currently preparing for mid-terms focused on fashion editorials and commercial beauty shoots.

Kak Bowo shared his journey from studying Political Science to becoming one of Indonesia’s most exciting fresh photographers, working with global clients such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, Warner Music, and Harper’s Bazaar Indonesia. He is also the founder of Sleeping Tiger, a Jakarta-based creative production house known for bringing together diverse talents to produce remarkable work across art, fashion, and commercial advertising. Students were given a “behind the scenes” look of some of his most prominent editorial and commercial shoots, gaining insight into client relations, pre-production, teamwork, and creative direction. Beyond his impressive portfolio, Kak Bowo encouraged students to nurture their passion projects, reminding them that creativity thrives when driven by curiosity beyond fleeting trends. He highlighted how collaboration fuels creative growth, urging students to develop their own visual taste, and to connect with like-minded collaborators within the creative field. His own personal story is a testament on how exploring personal projects, like test shoots, to boost visibility and strengthen one’s portfolio can open doors for larger opportunities in an otherwise highly saturated industry. 

The second half of the session transformed the auditorium into a lively photography studio, where Kak Bowo led a hands-on lighting demonstration featuring various lighting setups to achieve different results from commercial to contemporary. In an industry notoriously known for “gate-keeping”, students got a real-time insight into different lighting hacks and techniques. What began as a demonstration quickly evolved into an engaging creative jam session. Students jumped in to test lighting setups, swapping roles and directing one another, firing questions, as Kak Bowo guided them through the process of working on set. Beyond technique, they walked away with a deeper sense of confidence, teamwork, and creative autonomy.

The session wrapped with students feeling inspired to explore their own creative direction. Kak Bowo’s guest lecture was a reminder that photography is as much about vision and collaboration as it is about technical mastery. To create meaningfully, photographers must stay curious, observant, and connected to the world around them. And, perhaps most memorably, he left us with a few crucial survival tips: never work for free, and remember, posting your work on Instagram isn’t cringe; it’s how you get booked.