We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Joseph Garcia. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Joseph below.
Joseph, so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.
My confidence first came out when I was in 8th grade. You see I had obtained my first job at that time working at a barbershop and that job gave me the taste of making money but more importantly the taste of that provider feeling. I was the only person around my friends that was actually earning money and that set a higher expectation on myself. I was able to treat my friends and do things on my own. I got to experience the feeling of my work paying off. A moment I’ll never forget was just three months in my job I was able to purchase a birthday gift for my little brother with my own earned money and a week after him opening the action figures I got him; he actually still playing with the toys. I remember tearing up after the hug he gave me for his gifts because it was truly a gift that I on my own was able to provide and that feeling right there has never been beaten. For the first time in my life I felt proud of myself. Just before entering high school during my summer break that feeling was removed. I had gotten fired from that job and for most of my time in high school I placed myself in a hole that I had kept digging myself deeper into. My original feeling of “never being good enough” creeped back into my life. Even though I tried fighting it off by calling myself “legendary” and “the greatest in the world”, it over time became ineffective. Growing up I never amounted to anything, I never felt accepted, I had nothing for anyone in my family to be proud of. With the early realization that my birth was an accident and unwanted, I stayed feeling unwanted and kind of like a loser. I was a loser. Fast forward to my senior year of high school, with me being only a bare minimum student I didn’t have much options for after high school; I was very lucky to discover the California Army National Guard. The guard was what got me to jump out of that hole I dug myself in. While enlisting I was also making my connections for my name in photography “@mostbrokephotographer”. I was back in the lead, back top, No longer the loser that I was born as. The night before I swore into the military I went to someone for advice, I knew that person couldn’t give all the answers but I was hoping for some starters at least. The answers to the question “what should I tackle on first?”; but when I asked for help I broke that person. Constantly only saying “You could do whatever you want” and “You’re a smart kid”. I grew up never having a role model or anyone to look up to. I never saw good examples of what to do but instead what not to do. That feeling of my call for help being in vain reminded me that I was on my own and that I needed to always stand tall. If I felt this way then it would be possible for my siblings to feel the same way unless if I act upon it. If I am to succeed then I need to go above, I need to be better; but not just better, no I need to be the best ever. Why be good enough when I can be the greatest? My mission has and will always be to be a provider for my two younger siblings and eventually to all that I can provide for. Even though my confidence comes off as extremely prideful and egotistical, it is so that way they can learn to be better. Every move I make I intend it to be an example of what to and what not to do. If I prove that I’m the greatest then they’ll actually be able to see the possibilities of what they can also achieve. Yes I will be greatest, but Adrian and Jazmine will be even greater.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
The professions I’m in are professions that are very competitive. I am a photographer, I am @mostbrokephotographer and more proudly to say with being almost 4 years in as a Engineer soldier of the California Army National Guard. I say that these are competitive because recognition is hard to come by in these 2. In photography especially with my name not being known yet, it’s difficult to obtain a potential customer and for them to actually stick with you instead of choosing a different photographer. If you submit your photo to labeled on something, you are being chosen amongst countless others who’s photo just might be better than yours. As anyone who is in the military, there’s always that service member who is stronger, faster, knowledgeable, and more experienced than you. I do love that I even though I serve as a 12W for the National Guard I have the affiliated duty as a Public Affairs Officer, which means I able to utilize my photography into my military career. This task gives me the challenge to advertise and get my entire company recognized. Succeeding at getting an entire military company recognized means more connections and for the possibility of even building my personal name up. What love about my personal photography is that I’m able to share my confidence with my customers. With my charismatic and abstract personality I allow my customers to actually enjoy my nature and be comfortable around me. Gets them a little less camera shy and when they see they’re photos they feel good about how they look and turned out. I’m able to capture people’s special moments. Photography is the literal concept of capturing time in a capsule and I do a great job at it. I give people a better experience. Once the “mostbrokephotographer” name grows bigger I hope to franchise that name branch off to more than photography.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The first lesson I learned with starting off into photography was to learn by getting paid with exposure and connections. It’s the free gigs that you got to start off with but it’s the connections that could pay off. The names you learn and hands you shake could be what gets you paid next time. The second lesson I learned was to learn how to sell yourself, acknowledge your worth. You’ve done several gigs and have made a decent amount with only tips to be able to realize that you are good at what you do. Once you start getting several people requesting you all at once thats when you stand your ground and make someone put more on the table for your end. The third and most important lesson that will always be a learning process is to acknowledge what you have achieved. Give yourself credit to where and when its due. My first wedding gig that I ever scored was a good session that contained all the adorable photos for any couple to cherish and reminisce to and had left my customer satisfied with they’re product. However they did not buy as much as I offered to them. I could’ve made more money out it sure and that still is a bummer; but what I had to realize was that I still scored my first wedding, still made profit, and was able to advertise it afterwards. I am someone is more hard on myself but practice allowing my accomplishments to soak in. It’s ok to always aim for more, but don’t be blind to the milestones that you have already reached.
Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?
I have 2 people in mind, one for my photography career and one for my Military career. For my photography career this would have to go to my old manager to the photography studio I used to work at. I was sure experienced already but I’m someone who always overthinks things. I often come up with the most complicated solutions to the simplest problems. This affected me with posing my customers. I was capable of posing but I didn’t have a consistent flow to go from next pose to the next. I was all over the place and costed too much time thinking instead of acting. My old manager showed me of flow smoothly with each pose. “Start with walking, next with standing, then sitting, and if you have enough time even laying down”. He did also help set me easy if I was unsatisfied with a sale I made.
Now with my military career and even bit into my personal life has to go to a friend that I call “Texas” who at the time was just a recruiters assistant when I met him and now a Special Forces Non Commissioned Officer for the California Army National Guard. He helped as well calm down my overthinking. As someone like myself who’s tries so hard to think of every outcome, possibilities, and all pros and cons; “Texas” seemed to always have the simple answer that I just so happened to oversee. He understood and still understands my mission and my motives. “Texas” is always the one to tell to go for it even when I feeling hesitant. He’s one of the few that sees my potential and believes in my success. In moments when my head is spinning, he sets it straight. My most recent conversation with him he made me realize something that for 12 years I never thought of. I was given a potential opportunity to go on orders into Sacramento in a Marketing position. I tried making excuses but got pinned into having to answer either “yes” or “no”. I knew how great of an opportunity this would be so I answered “yes”. Immediately feeling nervous but excited at the same time I give “Texas” a call. I explain my opportunity and explain why I’m nervous. I was nervous because even I could’ve potentially had left San Diego behind for good. What’s in San Diego for you? My two younger siblings are. “What could I possibly provide if I am not physically there?” Is what I asked him. What his responses was still gives me a feeling that I still don’t fully comprehend. His response was “I understand that you have that hunger to be a provider and that you always feel the need to be there especially for you siblings, it’s commendable, and whats always made you a great guy that stands out from others; but your siblings won’t thank you for holding back for them”. How am I supposed to strive for greatness but allow yourself to be chained to one place? I need to get out there. “Don’t stop yourself from success Joey.” Is what “Texas” said next. Don’t hold back is what “Texas” helps teach me.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mostbrokephotographer?igsh=MXVpdTNpYXg1eW01cA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
Image Credits
Mikey Damom
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