We recently connected with Nitzia Garcia and have shared our conversation below.

Nitzia, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

I learned film photography through a lot of trial and error, countless YouTube videos, and by asking questions. I’ve found that I’ve learned the most by reaching out to people I look up to and learning from their experiences.

Looking back, I could have sped up my learning process by focusing more intentionally on the specific skills or concepts I wanted to develop. In the beginning, I tried to learn everything all at once, which ended up being overwhelming and sometimes confusing. Narrowing my focus earlier on would’ve helped me build a stronger foundation.

The most essential skills for me were understanding lighting, depth of field, and shutter speed—those really changed the way I approached shooting.

The biggest obstacle I faced was time. I often didn’t have enough of it to go out and shoot as much as I wanted, which made it harder to practice and grow as quickly as I hoped.

Nitzia, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m Nitzia Garcia, a film photographer based in San Francisco, originally from San Diego. I’ve always loved people-watching, creating little stories in my head, and daydreaming—and honestly, I think that’s what led me to photography.

At one point, I was just taking photos on my phone. Around 2019, I randomly ran into my friend Rey (who I hadn’t seen in a while), and he asked what I was shooting with. When I told him “just my phone,” he told me I should get a film camera—and that’s exactly what I did. I went home, hopped on Facebook Marketplace, and bought a Canon AE-1. At the time, I was in grad school and working three jobs, so I didn’t have much free time. Then the pandemic hit—I was furloughed from two of those jobs, and school went fully remote, so suddenly I had more time. I picked up my camera in April of that year, and I haven’t put it down since.

I started by photographing my everyday—my friends, SF landmarks, random moments. Things picked up fast. I kept learning from Rey (he’s an amazing teacher), and I started sharing my photos on Instagram. That helped me connect with other film photographers around the Bay, which was super dope. It really helped me grow.

About a year later, my friend Jessica invited me to a party—Love Supreme. I brought my point-and-shoot that night and was just vibing, taking photos because the energy felt so good. One of the shots from that night is still one of my favorite photos I’ve ever taken. Fast forward almost four years later, and I’m now Love Supreme’s photographer. That journey has meant so much to me. Shooting nightlife on film is not easy, but it’s challenged me in the best way. I’ve grown so much from it, and it’s opened up a lot of cool opportunities that I’m super grateful for.

Since then, I’ve done a little bit of everything—weddings, maternity shoots, and one of my favorite gigs: shooting a lookbook for my friend Justin’s brand, Started From One. That was a big moment for me. It was the first time I’d photographed fashion and product work, and also the first time I traveled for a shoot. I really welcomed the challenge, and I learned a lot.

Lately, I’ve been documenting my running journey. I ran my first half marathon about two years ago, and I’m currently training for my third. I wanted to capture what I see and feel during my runs, so I got a small point-and-shoot to carry with me. It’s been really cool combining two things that bring me peace. I even brought the camera with me during my last race! I didn’t take as many pics as I wanted because I was focused on the run, but I got a few I love. A lot of them came out slightly out of focus, which I actually like—it adds motion and feels really real.

I’m super proud of how far I’ve come—not just as a photographer, but as a person. It’s wild to look back and see how much I’ve grown over the last few years. And honestly, I still feel like such a beginner in the best way. I’m excited to keep learning, experimenting, and trying new things. The curiosity is still there, and I hope it always will be.

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

For me, the most rewarding part of being a creative is the self-satisfaction and personal growth that comes with it. I’ve found that when I’m creating for myself—just purely exploring ideas or expressing something—it’s usually during those times that I’m learning the most about who I am. There’s something really fulfilling about mastering a new skill or capturing a photo exactly how you envisioned it. That feeling never gets old.

Another huge reward is the connection it brings. I love talking to other creatives—there’s always this energy, this shared passion that’s so inspiring. Those conversations often leave me feeling more driven, more excited, and full of new ideas. Being part of a creative community like that is something I really value.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I think at the core of my creative journey is self-exploration and connection. Photography has really become a way for me to get to know myself—how I see the world, what I value, and how I move through different moments in life. Whether I’m photographing a party, a quiet run, or my everyday surroundings, I’m always trying to capture what feels real and present. I’m also really drawn to community—so much of what keeps me inspired is being able to connect with other creatives and document the people and spaces that matter to me. I guess my mission is to create work that feels honest, grounded, and rooted in both personal and collective experience.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: gnitzia