Today we’d like to introduce you to Tyler Balderas.
Tyler, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I was first introduced to photography through video games, ironically. I “befriended” this kid, from New York, on Xbox Live and he owned a Canon Rebel T3i. He would post his street captures on Tumblr… this had to be back in 2010/2011. I was already into video editing, at the time, so photography just seemed like the next step for me, creatively speaking. I ended up getting my first camera, for my 16th Birthday, courtesy of my grandparents.
I’m originally from a pretty small-town, in The Central Valley, which isn’t very glamorous… but I was taking photos of anything and everything I could. I eventually developed a few-thousand person following, on Twitter, while in high-school. The account ended up getting hacked, but that gave me a sense of validation…. made me feel as though I might actually be onto something with photography. Being that my hometown didn’t have a very tight-knit, active, or supportive creative community, I felt super claustrophobic and that I needed to experience a new setting, new people, and new ideas.
In 2014, I moved to San Francisco, CA, to pursue a degree in Film at San Francisco State University. While in the Bay Area, I was primarily shooting landscapes and doing street photography. I shied away from portraits because I was super insecure growing up, I hated photos of myself and was fearful of taking a photo that would make someone feel negatively about themselves. In a sense, I think being so self-conscious, subconsciously, played a part in me being behind the camera. Despite the fact that I only attended SFSU for three semesters, I learned so much about photography and met some of the most creative and inspirational people there.
After the Fall semester, in 2015, I decided to leave SFSU and get back to my roots in music. Prior to photography, I had been a musician my entire life. I started playing drums when I was 7 years old. While in college, I fell in love with music production. My housing plans fell through, a couple days before I had to move out of my dorm, and I ended up couch-surfed around the Bay Area for 6-8months just to stay in area. Eventually, I moved back to my hometown, where I stayed for a year, honing my craft as a producer. This was the beginning of what turned out to be a three-year hiatus from photography.
Afterwards I moved to Chicago, with some of my best friends since middle school, for a job opportunity. I lived there for a Summer, moved back to Northern California for a few months, and then back to my hometown, once again. Now– whether it be by coincidence or divine intervention– music began to get stale for me and photography was becoming exponentially more appealing, day-by-day.
In January of 2019, I decided to re-invest in camera gear and have been shooting concept/editorial portraiture ever since.
Congrats on reinvesting in gear, betting on yourself is a smart move. Talk to us a bit about the path you’ve had to getting to where you are today.
It’s been far from a smooth or linear path, but it’s been well worth it and makes for an interesting narrative. A lot of lessons have been learned and, in my experience, adversity has only sharpened my tools as a creative / given me more inspiration and subject matter to explore, artistically.
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
Simply put, I’m a portrait photographer. I work with aspiring models, building portfolios. I work with agencies, giving models a professional book and experience. I work with brands, showcasing their products, and work with professionals by supplying quality imagery for their social media handles.
I think my clients and peers, within the industry, would say I’m known for my attention to detail and work ethic. These mirror the things I am most proud of and are what sets me apart from others. I’m obsessive when it comes to delivering a product. The standard I set for myself is nothing short of perfect, coupled with extremely quick turnaround times for images.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I’d argue that there is no better place for young / up and coming creatives to start a business. While the internet has made geographic location secondary, the access to collaborate with like-minded individuals is unparalleled.
Contact Info:
- Website: tylerbalderas.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: instagram.com/tj.balderas
Image Credit:
Models Featured: Alexis Unger, Hayley Stokes (Freedom Models), Jennifer Flores (Look Models), Nick Chen (MP Management), & Zenia Gizelle
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