Although artistically inclined from a young age, Tommy Garcia’s talents and interests were primarily devoted to athletics until the age of 18. However, when it became clear that a multi-million dollar contract with the NFL or MLB was not in his future, he began directing his energy elsewhere. In hopes of earning an “easy A” at a local community college, he enrolled in an introductory photography course. To his surprise, it turned out to be one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of his life. Within weeks of picking up a professional camera for the first time, he was well on his way to a career in commercial and editorial photography.
Now with a BFA in photography and digital imaging from Cal Poly SLO, Tommy’s natural eye for artistic composition has been masterfully refined into a technical expertise. His ability to utilize both studio and available light renders his work with a truly powerful aesthetic, most evident in his portraiture, which highlights the atmospheric relationship between subject and environment.
He has worked with and been mentored by the likes of Jill Greenberg, Justin Stephens, Art Streiber, Matthew Rolston, Frank Ockenfels, James White, Chapman Baehler, George Holz, and Martin Schoeller, and is quickly making his own mark in the industry.
Some of Tommy’s recent clients include DirecTV, NBCUniversal, SyFy, Bravo, Time Inc, Defy Magazine, Big Picture Group, Toyota, Saatchi & Saatchi, Interscope Records, Spyder Paintball, Obey Giant, and Studio No. 1. He was a Hollywood Reporter Key Art Award recipient in 2007, and also received academic accolades throughout his formal education. Tommy continues to take on new creative challenges, an ever-expanding list of clientele and, when he has time, continues to crush baseballs at the batting cages. With the passion of a true artist and the technical skill of a seasoned pro, he is sure to become a tour de force in his own right.