Meet Alec Garza of Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Alec Garza.

Hi Alec, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’ve always had a love for capturing moments and memories and watching films. I used to record my shenanigans as a kid with my friends and watch movies with my dad every weekend. I think that combination gave me a great foundation for how to use cameras and how to tell stories visually. I was the first in my family to go to a 4 year university got my film and digital media degree from Baylor University in Waco, Texas. I didn’t have the confidence yet to start a business but I started shooting with various wedding film and photo companies and that taught me a lot about the industry. I learned from each company I freelanced for and it gave me the confidence to start my own photography business. It took time to build my portfolio and to get a consistent client base but it was worth it. Creating valuable connections with my clients was so worthwhile. Not just companies but with people too. I’ve shot personal profile photos for a client to use on dating apps and social media. That client got a date from those pictures. I then photographed his proposal to that girl years later. Then their engagement party. Then their wedding. Then their pregnancy reveal and newborn photos. It’s more than just a job for me. It’s capturing the beauty of life for me.
I’ve shot more than 100 weddings and every time I do it I tell myself how lucky am I to capture the best day of these people’s lives.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It wasn’t all smooth. I had to eventually depend on other shooters and expand. I learned not every shooter knows what I know so of course I had to teach them but the problems would come from if they didn’t listen, or made a mistake, or even I made a mistake. You can’t make mistakes on someone’s wedding day and if you do you better have a backup plan or way to make it up. I also had to buy more equipment and have doubles of everything in case anything broke. It wasn’t all smooth but luckily I had learned how to make it smoother for me through working with other companies and learning from them what to do and not to do. Also working with the right clients makes a big difference and proper communication and expectation setting.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Now that I’m in LA my hustle has leveled up. Right now for work I specialize in creating social media content, marketing, photograph, videography, and believe it or not acting and modeling.
I’m most proud of how much I’ve evolved as a business person and as a human being. In my 20’s, I was so worried about being perfect and never making mistakes. In my 30’s, that weight is gone because I’ve been through it all and always come out on the right side.
I’m most proud of never settling with the position I’m in and wanting more.
Growing up as a film lover, I’m so proud to be working with major movie studios such as Paramount just through making social media content. I love doing photography though and will never let that go. Right now I have just opened another door with acting, modeling, and social media that has been very rewarding.

Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
That problems will arise. Nothing is perfect. And the most important lesson is to be ready for that or to adapt to that when something goes wrong. Don’t give up and power through to a solution. Because there is ALWAYS a solution and it’s never the end of the world.

Pricing:

• Portrait Session $300
• Wedding $4000+
• Social Media Video $400
• Headshots $200
• Grad Session $450

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ajgworks.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alecjuliangarza?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@alecjuliangarza?si=_oFKLmALXfICxibB
• Other: https://beacons.ai/alecjgarza

Image Credits
AJG Works
Taste Salud