We recently connected with Fabi Hurtado and have shared our conversation below.

Fabi, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

I’m currently working on a four-year project documenting boxing, and it’s easily the most meaningful project I’ve taken on. I was lucky enough to get the chance to work with former Heavyweight World Champion Andy Ruiz Jr. when he was training with Canelo Alvarez, who’s widely considered “the face of boxing.” That opportunity opened doors for me, allowing me to work with some of the best boxers in the sport. Normally, you have to start at the bottom and hope to one day work with top-level athletes, but I found myself in that world on day one. Being around these big names helped boost my brand as a photographer, and I decided to use that momentum to shine a light on up-and-coming amateur boxers and kids who are just starting out or have been training for years.

My goal is to put together an exhibition within the next year, featuring the superstars I’ve had the privilege to work with, along with everyone else involved in boxing—from the amateurs to the coaches, parents, and others who are usually behind the scenes. I want to show the mix of success, failure, and struggle that makes boxing both beautiful and ugly at times.

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

I’m a photographer who focuses on portraits, street, and sports photography, and I’ve been doing this for almost sixteen years now. My love for photography started when I was a kid, constantly flipping through my family’s photo books and magazines. We lived in a pretty remote area, so I was always looking for ways to entertain myself. I’d make up stories about the photos, imagining what was going on in the ones I didn’t remember—like birthday parties or pictures of my parents and older brother, before I was even born. That’s how I fell in love with photography, but at that time, it was more as a spectator.

As a teenager, I started buying Hip-Hop magazines and got hooked on the “urban” photography style. They used these cool, unconventional angles, like shooting from below to highlight both the artist and the towering New York buildings. That had a big impact on the way I approach photography today.

It wasn’t until 2008, when the first Android smartphone came out, that I actually started taking pictures myself. One day, I was messing around, taking photos of my friends, and before we knew it, we had a whole photoshoot going. That’s when I decided to get my first DSLR camera, and I started practicing on friends and family. I was really drawn to street photography, so I’d go out into the streets of Mexicali, Baja California, either taking candid shots or approaching strangers to ask if I could photograph them. My friends would often come along, acting as both models and security, since some of the areas I shot in were pretty rough. It was through those experiences that I really developed my own style of portraiture in urban environments.

I’m proud of the style I’ve built, which I think sets me apart because it blends classic photography with the boldness of modern digital work. A lot of photography today is influenced by what stands out on social media, and while I love the timeless beauty of film, it has its limits. My approach is unconventional—I focus on pulling light from darkness, creating dramatic, almost cinematic shots. I’m big on bending the traditional rules of photography, but without breaking them. When I was younger, I’d break the rules thinking I would discover something new, but over time, I realized those rules exist for a reason. The key is knowing how to bend them to create something unique.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My journey in photography and art is really about understanding myself and humanity. I’ve got a love/hate relationship with people and the whole human experience. I believe we’re both the best and worst parts of this world, and that life is this mix of beauty and tragedy. Through my art, I try to see the good in people, but sometimes it’s just about documenting reality, even if I don’t always find meaning in it. Being a good photographer means understanding people and making them feel comfortable with you taking their photo—it’s about earning their trust. That connection is really important to me. It’s almost like a ritual when I take someone’s photo, and I’m always grateful for the opportunity, whether it’s a paid gig or just for fun.

But it doesn’t always have to be that deep. Sometimes I’m just out for a walk, see a beautiful sunset, a reflection in the water, or an interesting shadow, and I’ll take a shot. It can be as simple as capturing something that just feels right to your eye.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

I think we’re at a point where society doesn’t really control the direction of art anymore. Whether it’s music, video, photography, or anything in between, it’s kind of like the wild west. And honestly, it’s just reflecting everything else in society, from politics to our everyday reality. The internet was the big equalizer, and now it’s up to each person to figure out how to navigate the craziness of the world, which is mostly happening online anyway. We’re in a time where true masters of a craft are competing with people who wake up one day and decide to call themselves “photographers,” “videographers,” “journalists,” “rappers,” or whatever label they feel like without actually putting in the work or respecting the art. It’s frustrating, especially for those of us who’d still be creating art even if the internet didn’t exist.

Now, we’re also competing with AI, which makes things even more complicated. Personally, I hope society rejects AI when it comes to the arts. AI can be an amazing tool in other fields, but when it comes to art, I really hope it doesn’t replace humans.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.shotbyfabi.com
• Instagram: @shot.by.fabi
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@shotbyfabi