Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ed Garcia. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Ed, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.
When I first started out, I thought buying a high-end camera and fancy lenses would instantly make me a pro. Spoiler alert: I still sucked. After a couple of years of muddling through, I sold my equipment out of sheer frustration.
What turned things around for me was seeking training and mentorship from seasoned professionals. I enrolled in a studio class at my local community college for a year, and the structured learning made a huge difference. So, the key elements that helped me were training, mentorship, and never-ending learning. Being part of a creative community was also crucial. The feedback and interaction from fellow creatives really helped sharpen my skills.
In this field, mastering lighting, composition, and directing is essential. And, of course, making people feel comfortable in front of the camera is a skill in itself. For video, the challenge was finding live training—there just wasn’t any that I found! Most of what I learned came from assisting others and a lot of trial and error. While online resources are helpful, they can only take you so far without a solid foundation in the basics.
If I could go back, I’d dive into training and mentorship much sooner and immerse myself in a creative community right from the start. Learning through doing, and not just watching, is what really makes the difference.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
Hi there! I’m Ed Carlo Garcia, I’m based in the San Francisco Bay Area and the proud owner of ECG Studios, LLC, which encompasses a few brands: Ed Carlo Garcia Photography ([www.edcarlogarcia.com](http:
My journey into photography started in a rather personal way. While searching for a photographer for my own wedding, I became fascinated by the art of capturing beautiful moments. This curiosity quickly grew into a passion for understanding what makes a photo truly beautiful and how to tell a compelling story through images.
At ECG Studios, I aim to solve a couple of key problems for my clients: creating stunning photos and narrating the story of their special events, like weddings, through my lens. I cover various genres of portrait photography, including high school senior/grad photos, family portraits, headshots and branding photography, and fashion portraits.
What sets my work apart is the commercial quality I strive to deliver. My inspiration comes from commercial and advertising photography, which influences the style and quality of my images. I’m particularly proud of my achievements, including having my images and team took part in reaching the finals and winning an award at the North American Hairstyling Awards by the Professional Beauty Association. My work has been featured in several well-known publications such as WSJ, Harper’s Bazaar, Martha Stewart Weddings, Bridal Guide, and Style Me Pretty, thanks to client articles that used my images.
The main thing I want potential clients to know is that I have a knack for finding and creating what looks good. Whether it’s the location or capturing the beauty of my clients, I am dedicated to highlighting their best moments. If you choose to work with me, I’ll commit myself to showcasing your unique beauty and making your moments unforgettable.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
The most rewarding aspect of being an artist/creative is that it allows me to share my unique perspective with the world and my clients. There’s something incredibly fulfilling about creating something that others can enjoy and connect with. Plus, being part of the creative community means I’m always learning from others, which helps me grow and improve continuously.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
Photography is easy if you want to do a mediocre job, but making it truly beautiful is a different story. When I first bought my camera and lenses, I hadn’t yet upgraded my mindset about how to see the world through the lens. It took a lot of learning from others and constantly seeking feedback to get better. And honestly, I’m still learning every day. One of my favorite quotes by Dorothea Lange encapsulates this journey perfectly: “The camera is an instrument that teaches people how to see without a camera.” This constant evolution and striving for beauty are what drive my resilience in this field.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.edcarlogarcia.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/sf.wedding.photographer
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EdCarloGarciaPhotography
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ed-carlo-garcia-0860b0b8/
- Twitter: https://x.com/edcarlogarcia
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@sfbayareaphotovideo?si=YFGv0bCo2e4kXssx
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/ecg-studios-san-francisco-2
- Other: www.weddingsandmotion.com – SF Bay Area Wedding Videography
Image Credits
Photos taken by www.edcarlogarcia.com of ECG Studios, LLC