Meet Fernando Phillipi | Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Fernando Phillipi and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Fernando, why did you pursue a creative career?
I feel like I’ve always been a creative person. As a kid, I loved playing with Legos and would take apart all my toys to create something new and unique. I was also raised watching movies, which had a lasting influence on me and played a big part in my decision to move to the U.S.

After earning my bachelor’s degree in business, I came to the United States on an exchange program and discovered my love for photography on the streets of New York City—it felt like I was living in a movie.

I returned to Brazil to work in logistics and foreign trade, but over time, I realized I wasn’t happy in the corporate world, and it started to affect me mentally. I knew my true passion was photography, so I decided to leave my corporate job and pursue this path.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I started my professional journey in photography in 2014, working as a fashion and portrait photographer in Brazil. I also tried other creative areas until I became a surfing photographer in San Diego in 2018. In 2023, I had the pleasure of shooting stills for a film by the Ray Sisters called Spit it Out. That’s when I fell in love with being on a movie set—it was love at first sight.

It hasn’t been easy, and honestly, I don’t think it ever will be. Being an artist and staying true to yourself and your values takes a toll and comes with many challenges. But after more than 10 years on this path, I feel more confident that I’m heading in the right direction. My business background and humble beginnings have helped me stay organized, especially with my finances, which has been crucial in sticking with this career. It’s easy to feel discouraged, so having a safety net is very important to me.

I focus on telling stories with my photos. Whether I’m working on personal projects, capturing life through documentary photography, or shooting on movie sets, my goal is to make every moment in and out of the frame count.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
One thing I’ve always enjoyed is Sunday Fundays with friends in different neighborhoods around San Diego. Each neighborhood has its own vibe and hidden spots. I like to start with brunch, then walk around looking for cool bars and record stores, followed by coffee and some local ice cream. And, as a good Brazilian, I love açai bowls! My friend Lisi makes the best ones at her coffee shop, Liquid Bean, in Del Mar.

Also, the farmers market in Ocean Beach on Wednesdays is a must—great food, interesting people, and a lot of fun for street photography.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
This shoutout could be very long because I’ve had many mentors throughout my life, all of whom I’m very grateful for. I’ll focus on the most recent ones:

My documentary photography professor in Brazil, Osvaldo Santos Lima, who has been photographing and teaching for over 38 years. I feel lucky to have been part of the most respected photography school in Brazil.

Also, my friend, author, and photographer Michael Rababy from Los Angeles, who helped me a lot with my first coffee table book, A Day at PB Drive. I spent over five years documenting Pacific Beach in San Diego and took more than 500,000 photos of PB Drive, the surf spot at the end of Pacific Beach Drive. It’s a coffee table book I’m proud of, and I still have a few copies left; you can find it on www.pbdrv.com or Amazon.

Most recently, I was lucky to meet the Ray Sisters, Austin and Westin, two talented filmmakers who trusted me to take stills and behind-the-scenes photos during their latest film, Spit it Out, starring Eric Roberts.

And finally, I’m grateful to the legendary photographer David James (Schindler’s List, Saving Private Ryan, Mission: Impossible, Star Wars), who has been very generous in sharing his knowledge about still photography and the film industry.

Website: https://www.fernandophillipi.com

Instagram: @fernandophillipi

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fernandophillipi/