We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Victor Garcia a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Victor, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
Honestly, my work ethic is a mix of resilience and a touch of chaos. Growing up, I moved around a lot, which taught me how to adapt fast. It wasn’t easy, but it helped me learn how to work hard and stay flexible, even when things felt unpredictable. Coming from a single-parent household, I saw firsthand the importance of perseverance and grit, which shaped a lot of my drive.
I also have to credit my decade of experience in restaurant hospitality. I’ve been working as a server in Charleston, South Carolina, for the last 10 years, and let me tell you, there’s nothing quite like working a busy restaurant shift to teach you about communication, reading people, and knowing how to work a room. My first job was at Wendy’s when I was 16, and from then on, I learned how to juggle tasks, manage stress, and anticipate what people need before they even ask. All of that has influenced how I engage with clients in my photography business. Whether it’s making people feel at ease during a shoot or managing the chaos of a wedding day, those hospitality skills always come in handy.
Then, there’s my ADHD, which gives me these intense bursts of hyperfocus—until, of course, I get bored, the project slows down, or I realize I haven’t eaten in six hours. But when I’m in the zone, it’s all in. Those moments of hyperfocus really push my creativity to new places, even if I occasionally have to pull myself back from distractions.
Ultimately, my community and support system keep me grounded. I have friends and collaborators who constantly inspire me, and having them in my corner motivates me to keep putting my best work out there, even when the distractions come knocking.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I’m Victor Garcia, and I run Victor Garcia Photography, where I focus on capturing conceptual and raw stories through my lens. My journey as a photographer is heavily influenced by my background as a queer person of color and my experiences working in restaurant hospitality for the past 10 years. That has helped me develop strong communication skills and the ability to make people feel comfortable in any setting—whether it’s a busy wedding day or a quiet portrait session.
What I feel is most exciting and special about my work is my focus on amplifying the voices and stories of underrepresented communities. I’m deeply committed to creating an inclusive and equitable creative space, particularly for the LGBTQIA+ community. I’m always looking for new ways to push the boundaries of traditional photography and explore new storytelling techniques. One of my most fulfilling projects was Quarenteen Queens, which focused on Charleston’s drag community during the pandemic. That project sparked my passion for working with queer artists and opened doors to some incredible collaborations.
Right now, I’m focused on expanding my reach and continuing to tell authentic stories. I’ve recently been featured on the Everywhere Is Queer app, which connects people with queer-owned businesses worldwide. It’s been a huge opportunity to connect with people outside of Charleston and to keep building a diverse and supportive creative community.
In terms of what’s next, I’m working on a new series that dives into the personal stories of LGBTQIA+ individuals in Charleston, showcasing their resilience, creativity, and the challenges they’ve overcome. I’m also exploring the possibility of expanding my work internationally, collaborating with artists in other cities, and perhaps even launching workshops that blend photography with activism.
At the heart of everything I do is the belief that photography has the power to connect people and inspire change through emotional connection. My brand is all about using the lens to amplify voices and tell stories that might otherwise go unheard.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
One of the most impactful qualities that shaped my journey is adaptability. Whether it was navigating the transitions between different schools growing up, balancing my photography career while working in restaurant hospitality, or dealing with unexpected changes in a shoot, being flexible has been key. Life throws a lot of curveballs, especially when you’re a creative trying to make your mark. My advice for those starting out is to stay open-minded and willing to adjust when things don’t go as planned. It’s often in those moments of uncertainty that the best opportunities for growth or creativity arise.
Another important area that has been critical to my growth is community-building. Early on, I realized that no journey—whether in art, business, or personal life—is a solo endeavor. Collaborating with local artists, makeup artists, drag performers, and others in Charleston has been instrumental in my success. My project Quarantine Queens is a great example of this, where building relationships within the queer community led to new opportunities and creative breakthroughs. For anyone just starting out, I recommend focusing on building genuine relationships with the people around you. Seek out mentors, peers, and collaborators who push you and challenge your perspective. The creative community is a powerful source of support, inspiration, and growth.
Finally, persistence has played a major role in where I am today. It’s not enough to have a talent; you have to keep showing up, even on the tough days. Whether it’s editing late into the night, taking on projects outside your comfort zone, or learning new techniques when the old ones don’t work, persistence is what keeps you moving forward. For those early in their journey, I’d say this: expect setbacks. It’s inevitable. But it’s how you respond that matters. Keep going, keep experimenting, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes along the way—they often lead to the most unexpected breakthroughs. Rejection is redirection.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
Absolutely! Collaboration has always been at the heart of my creative process, and I’m always excited to connect with like-minded individuals who share a passion for storytelling and creating something meaningful. Whether you’re a fellow artist, drag performer, makeup artist, or a creative looking to explore new ideas, I’m open to collaborating on projects that push boundaries and highlight underrepresented voices. I’m particularly interested in working with other queer creatives, artists of color, and people who have unique stories that deserve to be told through the lens of photography.
I’m also really interested in expanding into more interdisciplinary collaborations—whether that’s blending photography with film, music, or other forms of artistic expression. I believe that some of the most innovative work comes from combining different perspectives and mediums, and I’m always curious to see where those kinds of collaborations can lead.
If you’re reading this and want to collaborate, reach out to me through Instagram: @victorlovesyou. I’m always happy to connect with new people.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://victorlovesyou.com
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/victorlovesyou
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VictorGarciaPhotos
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victorgarcia-chs/
Image Credits
Victor Garcia
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