Meet Tyler Garlej | Arizona & Traveling Lifestyle Photographer

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

Hi Tyler, do you have a favorite quote or affirmation?
My favorite quote is from Ty Holland, “A photograph is the pause button on life.” This quote has always been in the back of my mind while I am capturing special moments in my client’s lives. Life and time are precious moments that pass by so quickly. Whether you are a family wanting to share your family tree, a couple that wants to share their relationship, a graduate in high school or college that is finishing off a huge milestone, or a newly wedded bride and groom that deserves to have their “I DO” moment photographed for the rest of their lives. Each moment is a magical and special one and everyone deserves to have those magical moments to look back on.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
As an Arizona and traveling lifestyle photographer, I get to photograph families, couples, graduates, weddings, and beyond. With every photographer, we all have that distinct “look” or “style” when we take photos. How I would describe my photography style is capturing candid, heartfelt moments with a light and airy, but true-to-color touch! Making each photo personal and professional.

Over the next year, I am excited about what the future has in store for me. I can’t wait to meet more amazing people who trust me to capture the special moments in their lives.

Throughout my life, I have always been involved with anything art-related, from performing as an actor, singer, and dancer on stage to being a visual artist with my drawings in 2D art to creating handmade sculptures in 3D art. However, when I first picked up my Nikon D5000 camera at the age of eleven, I instantly fell in love. I started my photography career first by taking landscape and nature photos. It was not until two years ago, I fell in love with portrait photography. From that moment on, I have been constantly taking photos of families, couples, graduates, headshots, and so much more! I love to capture what is important to me as a photographer, which is showing true emotions and moments through my photography.

I have always loved learning about the art of photography. I have taken photography workshops and classes to always improve my photography. I have taken fundamentals of digital photography, shooting, editing, applications of lighting, and so much more. I have also interned and worked for local photographers during their sessions, to understand other photographer’s way of posing, composition, lighting, and even editing. I would say that without interning and working for those local photographers, I would not be the photographer I am today. They truly inspired me and I hope through my photography that I inspire the next generation of photographers.

I have a passion for telling a story through the art of photography. Through my photography style, I am passionate about showing others to BE PROUD… BE BOLD… BE YOU! Through my deep understanding of posing, lighting, and composition… I can effortlessly showcase what is most important… YOU!

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?
I currently live in Phoenix, AZ! I was born in Tucson, AZ, but recently moved to the Phoenix Metropolitan area to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Business Marketing at the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University. If you were to spend a long trip in Phoenix, Arizona. We would first go get a coffee from my favorite coffee shop in Scottsdale called Daily Drip. Then, we would go to Fashion Square Mall and shop for some cute outfits, I love to shop and Fashion Square Mall has a huge variety of stores and styles to find your perfect fit. Towards sunset time, we would take a walk and hangout around Tempe Town Lake and Tempe Beach Park. I have been their multiple times during sunset time for some sessions and the lighting their is always perfect. Later in the night is when, in my opinion, Phoenix gets exciting. Around scottsdale there are amazing restaurants and events that happen that is always fun for a night out with some of your closes friends and family.

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?
I would like to shout out my parents who have always been there for me and pushing me to be the person I am today. Without their guidance, support, kindness, and countless love, I don’t know where I would be without them. I would also like to give a huge shoutout and special thanks to a few photographers who have also inspired me and taught me all that I know like Jamie Williams Photography and Allison Holstrom Photography. Both of these amazing photographers were gracious and thoughtful for allowing me to be a second shooter and even sometimes assist on some major projects that they were working on. Without them, I would not have had the amazing opportunity to learn how to run a photography business, build my portfolio, or know the basics of the camera.

Website: https://tylergarlejphotography.mypixieset.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tylergarlej_photography/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100059615945219&mibextid=LQQJ4d

Image Credits
Personal Photo – Photo Credit – Jamie Williams Photography Additional Photos – Photo Credit – Tyler Garlej Photography