Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to German Vazquez . We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

German , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

for me one of the most meaningful project to date has been “Jardin Del Pecado” Growing up in Puerto Rico, an island with very strong and deep rooted religious beliefs. Which created a fear to be your true authentic self , due to societal and religious oppression towards the LGBTQ+ Community and as I began to explore stories similar to my own experiences within the Queer community, Ive noticed that it was maybe time change the narrative. I began focusing on celebrating the queer bodies and taking a step from the constant trauma that the LGBTQTT+ community is often viewed as. Queer & Trans people are often targeted, As nature and chosen family becomes that safe place where they can reconnect with themselves and celebrate from hatred and colonial oppression! This current Photo series is not just a reflection, but a documentation of the human beings who are tired of living in spaces where they do not feel welcomed, loved or protected so they are creating their own meaning of family by celebrating their bodies and identity in Voguing Ballroom scenes where they are able to bring together people and show them the gifts and treasures and what it means to feel accept with a celebration of individuality !
One of the most important goals to me as a Queer artist of color is redirecting our views on this community from the trauma that surrounds them, and finding ways to highlight by celebrating the life of each individual with confidence, sexuality and gender identity. To overcome the stereotypical judgment and condemnation that was placed into our culture, and endangered the shared experience of primal safety and visibility.

German , 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?

German Ayala Vazquez a Photographer , Creator and Visual Fine Artist. I was born in Bayamón Puerto Rico, raised in New York and is currently living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. a 2020 Graduate with a Bachelor of Fine Art in Photography from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Where I was awarded The Adolf and Geraldine Paire full scholarship in 2018 to complete my studies in Fine Art photography.

During this time, I was able to continue my interests in editorial and fashion photography while gaining expertise in the studio, documentary and Fine Art techniques. Over the years I have won multiple awards for outstanding studio work from Profoto, and the 2020 TheNikon/Ben Rose Prize. He has been featured in multiple publications including Vogue Italia, Fluid Culture, Hunger Magazine amongst many others. I currently just exhibited two solo exhibitions one in Philadelphia and in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

My main focus is to not only to become a Storyteller in the Fashion Photography Industry, but to serve as an outlet to focus on conceptual and specific bodies of work to represent for the BIPOC LGBTQTT+, community by using his personal experiences, and ideas that relate from religion, sexuality and etc… as a way to comment on how it affects the LGBTQ+ community mentally and physically worldwide, but particularly in colonized regions but also focusing in uplifting my community by highlighting them and steering away from the constant trauma box that we the LGBTQIA+ community if often placed in.

Aside from that i have my own studio on Philadelphia where i work with a underrepresented talent. By offering them quality content that is cost effective to the upcoming artists. I think that my work quality and production has set me aside from the others because of the authenticity that is visible within my work.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

To me it has to be the quality, creativity, the use of color and lighting is something that has allowed me to become incomparable with in my field. Yes there are others that can do what i do, but not sure if they can execute it like me with my attention to detail and direction.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I wish i knew how divisive this industry is but of course that is something you will learn how to navigate through so for me i have been opening up my own avenue that separates me from the rest in my creative journey. To me the goal is always be the best but right n0w im busy working in ways where i can keep representing for my community and breaking barriers to not only have a seat at the table but to shake it up and finally do something about it .

Contact Info:

• Website: https://germanvazquez.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/g.vazquezphoto/?hl=en
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/german-ayala-vazquez-04226313b/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/GermanVazPhoto