We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Andres Garzas a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Andres, thanks for joining us today. Before we get into specifics, let’s talk about success more generally. What do you think it takes to be successful?

My definition of success goes beyond mere achievements or accolades. You must find fulfillment in your work, make meaningful contributions, and continue to grow as a person and artist. I believe the following key elements contribute to success:

When you have passion and perseverance, you can overcome obstacles and stay committed to your goals regardless of obstacles.

Be open to continuous learning and growth. Continue to learn, expand your skills and knowledge, and seek out new experiences to adapt to an ever-changing market.

Keep your artistic vision and voice authentic. Audiences are attracted to authenticity and make genuine connections with it. What makes you unique is your perspective.

Collaborate and network with fellow artists, industry professionals, and collaborators. Create a supportive community that fosters creativity, innovation, and joint success.

In today’s creative landscape, adaptability and resilience are essential. Utilize challenges for growth, embrace change, and learn from setbacks.

Define your purpose and your intended impact with your art. You can spark emotions, inspire thinking, or inspire change by aligning your work with your values and goals.

Successful careers aren’t just achieved through career achievements; they’re also about maintaining a balance in all aspects of life. In parallel with your professional endeavors, prioritize self-care, relationships, and personal fulfillment.

The journey to success is more important than the destination. Creating art is about finding joy and meaning in the process, and continuously pushing boundaries, expanding horizons, and positively impacting the world.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m Andres Garzas, a passionate cinematographer and visual storyteller who is passionate about capturing life’s essence through film. The beginning of my journey into cinematography was a childhood fascination with visual imagery and storytelling sparked by memorable cinematic experiences such as “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.” While growing up in Madrid, Spain, I was immersed in a variety of artistic mediums, including photography, literature, and filmmaking, before discovering my true calling as a cinematographer.

As a Director of Photography (DP), I pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Media Studies at Universidad Complutense de Madrid. From my humble beginnings as a camera trainee and production assistant, I gradually honed my craft and gained invaluable experience working alongside esteemed directors such as Milos Forman and Pedro Almodovar. With dedication and perseverance, I became a full-time DP, specializing in music videos, commercials, documentaries, and films.

Curiousity, culture, and collaboration are at the core of my cinematography approach. I draw inspiration from a range of sources, including history, science, literature, and art, to infuse every project with depth, emotion, and authenticity. Using evocative imagery and cinematic storytelling, I work closely with directors to bring their visions to life.

A cinematographer like me offers a wide range of services tailored to each project’s needs. The goal of my work is always to create memorable visual experiences for audiences, whether that’s creating visually stunning music videos, capturing raw emotion in a documentary, or bringing commercial campaigns to life.

I aim to solve a key problem for my clients by capturing the essence and emotion of their stories through imagery. As part of my services, I help my clients translate their visions into compelling visual narratives that leave a lasting impression with careful attention to detail, creative collaboration, and technical expertise.

My commitment to excellence, authenticity, and innovation sets me apart as a cinematographer. I embrace new challenges and push the limits of creativity for exceptional results with every project. As a continuation of my commitment to continuous learning and growth, I have studied under esteemed mentors and gained valuable skills at prestigious institutions like Maine Media Film School and the Global Cinematography Institute.

Over the course of my career, I’ve built relationships with clients and collaborators, and my work has impacted audiences around the globe. Whatever emotions my imagery evokes, whether it’s laughter, tears, or inspiration, it’s thrilling to know that it touches hearts and inspires minds.

In order to convince potential clients, followers, and fans that I am passionate about my craft and committed to creating memorable visual experiences, I would like them to know that I am deeply passionate about my craft. In my work, I reflect my values, my vision, and my devotion to storytelling. By observing cinema through my lens, they may experience the magic of exploration, creativity, and connection.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

For me, being an artist and creative means connecting with others on a deeply emotional and transformative level. It is a privilege to capture moments and create visual narratives that can elicit laughter, tears, and introspection as a cinematographer. My work has the potential to touch hearts, spark conversations, and inspire change, which brings me immense joy.

I found the achievement of working on the feature film “A Couple of Secrets,” directed by Nicholas Pallos, to be one of the most fulfilling moments in my career. I enjoyed working with a talented cast and crew, including actors Stella Maeve, Hale Appleman, and Chase Offerle, which allowed me to fully immerse myself in the art of storytelling. A challenge and an immense reward, bringing the director’s vision to life through imagery and cinematography was both challenging and rewarding.

True rewards of being an artist lie in fostering connections and making an impact beyond tangible achievements. The ability to touch lives and inspire others through films, commercials, and music videos is what motivates me to continue pushing the boundaries of storytelling and creativity. To be able to share my passion with the world and to create moments that reverberate long after the end credits have rolled is a great privilege.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

Many resources have profoundly influenced my management style, entrepreneurial thinking, and creative philosophy. An excellent resource is Nestor Almendros’s “Days of a Camera”. Almendros was a pioneering cineaste whose insight into the art of visual storytelling has been invaluable to me. His memoir takes a look into the life of a cinematographer, describing the struggles, triumphs, and creative processes involved in capturing unforgettable images for film. Having read the reflections of Almendros, I have gained a deeper appreciation for cinematography and been inspired to approach my work with integrity, dedication, and passion.

A major influence on my creative philosophy comes from Andrei Tarkovsky’s films. His poetic and philosophical approach to cinema challenged conventional storytelling norms and advanced the boundaries of visual storytelling. His films, such as “Stalker” and “Mirror,” are masterpieces of cinematic art, filled with haunting imagery, profound themes, and a sense of spiritual transcendence. Through studying Tarkovsky’s work, I have realized the importance of patience, contemplation, and emotional resonance, and the power of symbolism and metaphor to convey deep truths.

As well as these influences, I have had the privilege of being mentored by some of the greatest cinematographers in the industry, including Vilmos Zsigmond ASC, Fernando Arguelles ASC, and Dante Spinotti ASC. A towering figure in cinematography, Vilmos Zsigmond was one of the greatest amongst the greatest of them. He won an Academy Award for “Close Encounters of the Third Kind.” Learning from Zsigmond and other masters has been a transformative experience, helping me gain a deeper understanding of light, composition, and visual storytelling. In addition to developing a deep sense of responsibility and respect for cinematography, their mentorship inspired me to push the limits of creativity and innovation.

Overall, these resources have helped me develop my management and entrepreneurial thinking as well as my creative philosophy as a cinematographer. They have inspired me to be relentless in my pursuit of excellence and to continue pushing the boundaries of creativity and innovation in my artistic endeavors.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.andresgarzas.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/garzas_dp/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andresgarzasdp/