Team Sergio

FW11b 
February 10-14, 2013

Team leader: Sergio
Mentors: David Pullum + Katrina Wallace
Assistant: Dexter Lo

We asked former students of each team leader to provide honest descriptions of their experiences so that you can make a well-informed decision when you are deciding on a team leader.

CAROLINA RIVERA (FW10 in 2012):
Loved every second of my Foundation Experience and could not have picked a better leader. Sergio was so dedicated to each and every student, and you can feel his energy throughout the day and long nights. Aside from his sense of humor that kept us going, he is passionate about photography and that made me more passionate and enthusiastic about the process. Sergio is attentive to detail and it really shows in the editing process at night – made me really sit back and think to myself about accepting pictures into your own weddings that you might think just make the cut.. I have started to look at wedding edits in a whole different way.

One of my favorite things about Sergio is his drive, and his dedication to pushing us to be the best. When Sergio came to visit me on the last night of my assignment, I really felt like he cared so much and was right there with me pushing me to the next level – made me see past all of the inhibitions I had in front of me to create these images, and just pushed me to get into position and just DO it instead of thinking about it so much. It’s the YES! attitude that really drives Sergio and that’s the kind of team leader that makes you want to do things even more and with more passion.

Because Sergio makes sure to take his time with each student, we were generally up editing until about 3am every night, and got started at around 8pm, so know that you won’t be sleeping too much. Sergio seems like a softie when you look at him and his sense of humor, but he is just the opposite – he is a harsh critic but will let you know in the right way to make you push yourself to be better, and he is always super focused – and that’s what I loved, but of course he’ll lighten up the moment with a joke at the end, and his quirky accent

SCOTT MCQUARRIE (FW10 in 2012)
Sergio has a way of knowing how you need to be pushed, which direction you need to be pushed and how to get you there. He has a clarity about how he teaches and how he sees things. Again, he sees past what is going on with you technically (although he will of course teach you tons about that) and will push you as a person, which will inspire you to be a better photographer. Sergio’s insights will direct you in ways far beyond what you originally expected. I thought that I would be going in to make better photographs, I came out being a better person, and therefore a better photographer. I am not sure that I would have had that same experience with any other team leader. I would jump at the chance to learn from Sergio again.

Should you choose Sergio, expect to be pushed, expect to work your ass off, expect to be humbled – settling for mediocre isn’t acceptable. And you can expect to be a better photographer, but more importantly a better person. And have fun doing it.

There is so much that could be said, and in written form it is challenging to express my experience and appreciation for Sergio. But trust him, trust the process, fully sign on, and I would be surprised if you were disappointed.