Today we’d like to introduce you to Nova Garza.
Hi Nova, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My name is Nova Garza, and I was born and raised in Laredo, Texas. Growing up, I spent much of my childhood watching sci-fi and dark fantasy films, which left a lasting impact on my imagination. I started making tons of short films at a young age, and that passion eventually led me to study film at Full Sail University in Orlando, Florida.
After graduating, I moved to Louisiana, where I spent a couple of years working in the film industry. Eventually, I decided to move to Austin to be closer to family while continuing to pursue opportunities in film. That’s when I began shifting my focus toward photography. I realized that I could still tell stories and bring the worlds I imagined to life through photographs, just as I had done with filmmaking. From there, everything started to fall into place, and the rest is history.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Funny enough, one of the biggest challenges I’ve been dealing with is actually a very modern problem: AI. With how advanced AI-generated images have become, people have assumed my photography is AI-generated. It’s frustrating because I put so much time and effort into creating these images, from costumes and props to lighting, locations, and editing. Everything you see in my work is something I’ve put together with the help of a talented team of creatives who bring these ideas to life. It’s definitely a strange challenge for a photographer to convince people that what they’re looking at is real.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I specialize in cinematic portrait photography, blending dark fantasy and science fiction to create original characters and bring imaginary worlds to life. Much of my work centers on worldbuilding, where each character has their own story, personality, and place in a larger universe I’ve been building for years.
What sets my work apart is my approach to photography. I treat each photoshoot almost like a film production, incorporating costume design, props, lighting, locations, and collaborating with other creatives to create images that feel like stills from a movie. I want people to look at my photographs and feel like they’re getting a glimpse into a much larger story.
Some of the work I am most proud of includes two of my photo series, Saints and Vampire Night Out. I feel they represent different sides of my personality and pull from my love of religious symbolism, dark fantasy, and gothic horror. These projects have pushed my creativity in new ways and let me explore the kind of storytelling I’ve always loved.
At the end of the day, I don’t just want to take beautiful portraits. I want to create characters and worlds that people can get lost in.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
Something that might surprise people is that I work with a lot of people who have never modeled before. I actually really enjoy photographing people who have no modeling experience. Many of the people in my portraits are chefs, writers, managers, or just everyday people with completely different careers. I love taking someone who has never stepped in front of a camera and transforming them into a character from another world. It’s always fun seeing people step outside their comfort zones and become part of something they might never have imagined themselves doing.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.novagarza.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nova_garza/
