About Her 

Charissa is a Filipina documentary photographer and visual artist. Her personal work gravitates towards stories around immigration and identity as she has navigated two worlds since moving to Seattle from Manila more than half a decade ago. As her process evolves, she’s realizing her inclination towards the quiet moments between her and the scenes and settings she photographs to perhaps reveal the unseen.

She is eager to work with publications, nonprofit organizations, and sustainable brands in telling vital stories through photography. With her Master of Communication in Communities and Networks from the University of Washington and her experience in social media, she has the expert ability to understand diverse audiences and craft visual stories that may not only resonate with them, but also compel them to expand their thinking. Her story about international students who have sought the H-1B visa was one of The Seattle Times - Education Lab's highest performing stories in 2023. She has been published by The Seattle Globalist (defunct) and worked with organizations including International Organization of Migration - UN Migration, Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, as well as the City of Burien. She has exhibited her photographs at art walks and group exhibitions such as Have You Eaten in Seattle. As a photographer, she’s intentional about empowering underrepresented communities by collaborating with them from a place of care.