Sherrie Garcia
WHAT DO YOU DO?
“I’m a film photographer. ”
Currently, my work consists mostly of portraiture and BTS content for music videos.
WHAT STEPS DID YOU TAKE TO GET TO WHERE YOU ARE NOW?
I started by reaching out to random people for test shoots. I would scout people on social media and would take photos of my roommates and friends; I just wanted to be shooting and learning as much as possible. From that point on I started to focus on refining my style and building my portfolio-- to this day I am still continuing to do both of those things, and learning to put myself out there despite how intimidating that can seem.
How do you stand out in your field?
I make a conscious effort to make my clients feels as comfortable as possible right off the bat -- I believe this helps create a more light and fun environment, which naturally leads to better productivity. Some of my favorite images I've captured were the result of a subject that felt comfortable with me and was having a good time; it's always a priority of mine to make sure that my clients are enjoying themselves!
WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON RIGHT NOW?
Currently, I'm in the process of making a treatment for a 'zine that I will be releasing next year; it's still in early development, but I'm super excited as this is something I've been dreaming of for quite some time.
WHAT'S YOUR STYLE/PERSPECTIVE/TASTE? DO YOU HAVE A PROJECT THAT REPRESENTS THIS?
I feel like my style is ever changing, but I tend to be drawn towards minimalistic fashion editorials. I think @minhyunwoo_ perfectly depicts the style that I'm referring to.
WE ARE ALL SLASHIES WITH MULTIPLE SKILLS, WHICH ONE DO YOU WISH YOU COULD DO MORE OFTEN?
I definitely want to refine my skills in the more technical things, like lighting. I shoot mostly in natural light, but my goal is to eventually be able to fully shoot with artificial lighting, if needed.
WHAT IS FRUSTRATING YOU RIGHT NOW?
The uncertainty that we are all living in right now is weird-- but I'm grateful for all the time I now have to work on the things that are most important to me.
IF YOU COULD HIRE SOMEONE FOR $20/HR, WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE THEM DO TO MAKE YOUR DAY EASIER?
I'd have them help me with day-to-day tasks, such as: dropping off rolls of film for processing, organizing files, assisting with location scouting, model scouting, creating and sending out call sheets, Assisting on shoots.
LET'S BRING OUT THE TIME MACHINE. WHAT DO YOU WISH YOU COULD HAVE TOLD YOURSELF, WHEN, AND WHY?
I wish that I could go back and tell my 18 year old self to continue making art and not get discouraged by how competitive people told me the creative world is; I let this scare me into quitting photography for a while, because I didn't think I was good enough.
IF YOU COULD TALK TO AN EXPERT TO GAIN MORE INSIGHT ON SOMETHING, WHAT WOULD IT BE ABOUT?
I would like to hear about their creative process and how they stay inspired on their most challenging days.
WHAT KIND OF OPPORTUNITIES/PROJECTS ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?
I'm currently looking for freelance gigs; BTS for music videos, ad campaigns, cover art for artists, social media content.
DESCRIBE YOUR IDEAL JOB/CLIENT/COLLABORATION.
One of my favorite shoots I ever worked on, I worked alongside the most supportive and open minded people. Everyone was able to communicate and collaborate in such a way that it felt seamless; there was a mutual respect that everyone had for each other and because of this, there was no micromanaging or belittling. We bounced ideas off of each other and in turn, ended up with a project that we were all proud of.
WHAT IS YOUR HOURLY RATE, RETAINER, OR SALARY RANGE?
My rate varies per project!
HOW SHOULD SOMEONE APPROACH YOU ABOUT WORKING TOGETHER?
Just shoot me an email!
HOW DO YOU STAY CREATIVE?
Don't think about it too much :-)
This member profile was originally published in January 2020, Updated July 2020.