Meet Jasmine Denisse Garcia | Engineer & Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jasmine Denisse Garcia and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jasmine Denisse, any advice for those thinking about whether to keep going or to give up?
I work as an engineer in my day job for a manufacturing company alongside trying to build my photography career. There have been many times when I’ve felt like I’m falling behind in my photo career because my time is so stretched to other activities. I see others progressing at a faster rate than I am (getting hired by festivals, coverage in publications, touring, etc.), and it does bring the thoughts of “why am I investing so much time, money, and energy into this if I’m not going anywhere with it?” It’s so easy in this day and age to find yourself comparing your career to others and feel like you’re not getting the same opportunities as them. I saw something on Instagram a few years ago that I always try to keep in my back pocket. It was someone in a video sharing a way to combat those feelings of falling behind or jealously by looking at those ahead of you. They’re proof that the thing you want is even possible in the first place! Instead of envy, what is something I can take from seeing others’ careers play out? What their journey can do is show you some guiding points along your own path, which is something I’ve learned to be grateful for. And truth of the matter is, I know to keep going because I always find myself answering the question with: “I’m doing this because I just simply love it.” I leave every shoot or show feeling so grateful for being able to capture a moment in time. I’m learning to get comfortable with the rate of my growth. I still find myself having fun – what other reason do I need to keep doing something I love?

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m still early in my career, but looking at the last few years, it’s so insane to think how far I’ve come. I think I’ve gotten where I am by being as friendly as possible, and by saying yes to as many things as I could. A majority of my jobs have come from me just saying hi and sparking a conversation with strangers. It’s not easy – some people don’t respond well to a random person trying to chit-chat with them, and that’s okay! But you don’t know who you’ll meet. Who knew a fellow photographer in a photo pit of my favorite band would be looking for a San Diego photographer for an upcoming event? And then that event became a recurring gig where I’d meet more folks and get hired because I was a friendly face at the show. I ended up shooting a wedding of someone who was in a band I now work with, Bristol To Memory. I met that band by photographing their set at an event in San Diego called Through Being Cool. I started photographing that event because a friend referred me. That domino effect fell into place because I try to be a positive interaction with everyone I come across with. And I try to carry that into every job – I want those in front of my lens to leave the experience having fun. I’ve really learned that I don’t have to be the best photographer to have people want to hire me, but I do want to be the person they know will show up with a good attitude and a smile.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
San Diego is the best city. The beaches and outdoor activities are unbeatable. The ramen, boba, or Korean BBQ on Convoy are delicious. The bar hopping in Pacific Beach can get messy, but always a good time. Taco Tuesday in Old Town is a must. I can never get enough of the coffee shops and fun shops throughout North Park and Hillcrest. You can always have a good time seeing the Padres at Petco Park in downtown, especially if you grab a bite and drink nearby. You can always stroll the adorable shops found at Seaport Village. Little Italy – need I say more? It’s the most glorious carb overload. And I know I haven’t even seen the best San Diego offers because there’s always somewhere new to try to explore.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d love to shoutout the photographers who aim to give back to the community. One in particular is my friend Adam Elmakias. He’s a music photographer from Southern California, and has poured his heart into creating blogs, videos, workshops, and even podcasts with advice and tips on starting your career in music photography. He is always willing to bring others to grow with him, and I admire his humble attitude when it comes to the job of a photographer. He’s since started an agency to help artists find photographers and videographers for gigs (first3 Agency), and his podcast (Don’t Sh*t On The Bus) helps creatives learn about the different careers within the touring community. He’s great!

Website: JasmineDenissePhoto.com

Instagram: Instagram.com/JasmineDenisse

Facebook: Facebook.com/JasmineDenissePhoto