Today we’d like to introduce you to Irwin Garrett.
Hi Irwin, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Man How I started,…I guess you can say it all started from the love of Skateboarding. It all started from that sport. From the videos, to the magazine photos. Skaters, Bikes, and Rollerbladers, all hitting big handrail, gaps, staircases, etc. In the media aspect of it all, I was in love with the covers, and videos. For example, you have, in my scene at the time, a skater hitting this 10 stair handrail, doing a Kick-flip Backside Tail-slide (skater-lingo) its dope!, but highlight that with the synced flash from the photographer, hitting single shot or burst shots, you have an added element of coolness on both sides of the lens. I always struggled finding someone to shoot my videos of photos because the guys either didn’t know how to work the camera, hold the camera, find angles, light, need I go on. So I kinda took control of that whole aspect of our team. I Shot edited 98% of photos and videos that we had on our social medias, and DVDs at the time.
I guess you can say deep down the photographers and videographers played a major role in my skating career. Without those photos and videos being so artistic and shot they way they were I highly doubt I would be so in love with the sport and love of the camera.
During my time in college I was renting cameras from the schools library over the weekends to video and photograph stuff and skating videos. Occasionally I’d take the camera and shoot nature shots of ducks, geese, because I lived very close to the Sacramento River. While in college I had video and photography classes that I absolutely loved because it went hand and hand with my skating. My teacher Scott Wreyford Sr was the coolest teacher and really made those classes fun and understandable. I was so pumped I invested in my very own DSLR. On April 14, 2014 I bought a Nikon D3100 with the 18-55 Kit Lens. immediately fell in love with it, and started ordering another lens, a fisheye, top mount flash, lights, wireless triggers, shotgun top mount boom mic. I was all in! Before college I had one of those point and shot Coolpix cameras didn’t think much of it but I liked how the photos came out. I wish I still had it. it was a good camera.
I eventually lost a lot of my camera equipment in storage because my mother and I got behind on the rent so they had to auction off our stuff. THANKFULLY I kept my camera, either with me most of the time or it was at home. Fast-foward 10 Years later. I still have that same camera and still continue to shoot with it every weekend at my local cars and coffee it has not served more purpose in my life than now. It is my best friend. If I could take it everywhere, I would. I’ve unfortunately just dropped it and cracked the body about 3 weeks ago since writing this interview. April 5th 2025. I will never forget the day! because there’s a piece missing on the bottom of my camera.
In a nutshell you can without a doubt say the photographers from my skating years have played a huge roll in my love behind the lens. Atiba Jefferson, Grant Brittain, and Mike Blabac, those are My top 3 skateboarding photographers. Thank You for inspiring me to pick up the camera and capture what I love.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
No it hasn’t been a smooth road. I would like to photograph and video cars and motorcycles full-time and leave my 9-5 job. I want to travel the world doing what I love before its to late. I say to late because you never know when you’re going to go and there is so much to see so much to capture. i can’t wait to get to a secure place financially in my life to pursue that dream even harder.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
As my 9-5 I work for Alcon with is a Laser Eye Surgery manufacturing plant in Orange County. I am a Laser Technician, my job is to pre-build the laser module to an efficient state, test the laser engines, and components to make sure everything is working and passing as well as clean and efficient to release to the doctors for their patients surgical needs.
I used to be known for having a Bower back pack at South OC lol but i had to change that up to a more professional look. My photography isn’t known just yet but im slowly building my brand and my portfolio. I’d like to think I have my own editing style with the darker background and highlighted object but of course a lot of original people will think its trash but the beauty behind everyones photography is its not for everyone.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
Make connections with people. Don’t always look to make a quick buck look for genuine people to network with and befriend. There’s a lot of snakes and haters out here. Don’t get played and don’t work for free.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.shotsbygarrett.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sbg_foto
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/sbg_foto
