Spotlight On David García-Tlahuel - Photographer & Owner Of Arsvida

I first met photographer extraordinaire David García-Tlahuel through my realtor friend Jolie (long before I became a realtor myself) and was immediately blown away by his talent. Before long, I started seeing him everywhere—at Emerge Palm Springs events, Buena Matcha’s grand opening, and capturing countless happenings across the Valley. So when I discovered we were both part of the Leadership Coachella Valley Class of 2026, I was thrilled. Getting to know him throughout the program has only deepened my appreciation for his skill, his creativity, and the person behind the lens.

These days, David is my go-to for listing photos, and it is not hyperbole to say he’s the absolute best of the best. If you’ve ever stopped scrolling because a desert home on Zillow caught your eye, there’s a good chance David was behind the camera. His eye is unparalleled—he sees things most people miss and has an incredible ability to capture everything from homes to people to landscapes in a way that tells a story.

That same eye was on full display throughout our 10 months in LCV, during which David served as our unofficial class photographer. It was such a treat watching him chronicle our journey so beautifully…often climbing into the most precarious positions to get the perfect shot.

A Coachella Valley native, David is deeply invested in the community he has called home his entire life. In addition to running his photography and branding business, Arsvida, photographing homes for Teigen Media, and participating in LCV, he volunteers with Friends of the Desert Mountains and is a graduate of both the Palm Desert Civic Academy and the Visit Greater Palm Springs Ambassador Program.

Because of his seemingly innate talent, I assumed he’d been born with a camera in hand and was shocked to learn that he didn’t take up photography until college—all because of a fortuitous mishap. Read on to learn more about his journey and the story behind his art.

All photos below are courtesy of David, except the shots of Tacos Gonzalez and Keedy’s, which were very obviously taken by an amateur photographer (aka me!).

XO, Lindsay

What was it like growing up in the Coachella Valley?

Being born and raised here in the Coachella Valley, I have my whole life been surrounded by doors filled with opportunities and connections — people I never would have met otherwise — all offering tips, advice, or access to things my mom knew were hard to obtain. I was always pretty social growing up, but that really took off from my last year of college to now. I’ve been doing things that, in my words, make it feel like “social anxiety is scared of me.”

I’m 27 years old, and most of my life so far has been shaped by my experiences in school. Growing up, I was always curious, always looking for what else was out there, and paying attention to what makes our world diverse — people, places, food, culture, and everything else that makes the world what it is. What makes us… us?

What first sparked your interest in photography

This might sound kinda funny, but it’s an astute observation: I know I’m brown. That said, there’s no way I can look orange with a dash of pink, right? Well, that’s exactly what happened with the portrait the photographer at my university took of me. I was like, “There’s no way on God’s green earth that I switched color palettes,” but hey, apparently that was accurate somehow.

I didn’t like the photo, obviously. I’ve always had an idea or perception of how I should look; I just never knew how to actually get there—but that’s a convo for another time.

Fast forward a couple of months: Black Friday came, and I made the impulsive decision to buy a camera with the little money I had because, you know, we’re kids and financial literacy may not be our forte (and maybe that’s still true to this day). I bought my first camera… and then didn’t use it for three years.

You have such a distinct eye behind the lens. How did you learn the art of photography — and how has your style evolved over time?

There are things that are innate and things that are acquired. For me, I’ve had an eye for detail—from the way my papers needed to be formatted to the way I need to organize my stuff. There’s a certain order I’ve always needed to have to make things look appealing.

That really came into practice when I started doing photography. At first, it was a lot of playing around, but after I told the VP of my university that he needed to do a better job of photographing our satellite campus, CSUSB – Palm Desert Campus, he suggested I take it on as a personal project.

I didn’t know how long I was going to commit to it, but I did, and I ended up photographing the campus – branding, events, portraits, you name it – for an entire year, specifically my last year of college. By the time I graduated in 2022, I had technically completed one full year of photography.

Some things haven’t changed—especially my editing process. What has changed is how I’ve begun to observe the world.

When did you realize photography could be more than just a hobby?

It was during college that I realized there are people who do this professionally as their own trade. I had a friend who, as she was getting ready to graduate, kept begging me to take her photos. I didn’t feel comfortable at first, but after a lot of persistence, I finally gave in.

It was the first $50 I ever made from a photoshoot, and it made me think that maybe I could do more with this. But that alone wasn’t enough to convince me. During my last year of college, I started researching more. I talked to another university photographer about his freelance life and how it was possible — he told me you just have to hustle.

I also started looking up photographers on YouTube who were making a name for themselves. That’s when I began to realize that if I really honed in on my skills a bit more, I could actually do something with photography.

What gave you the confidence to take the leap and pursue it full-time?

Yelp! Well, when you get fired from a previous job, and all you have is a camera — with no portfolio and no real intention of becoming a freelance photographer — it makes you stop and think, “Yeah, I should do something about this. Maybe this is a sign photography is my thing.”

One thing I learned is that you can’t expect opportunities to come to you; you have to work for them. I had no income coming in, but I was constantly going to mixers and events, betting that I could maybe land a few gigs here and there. It still wasn’t enough to fully pay the bills.

I started working at Lowe’s to help alleviate the financial burden, but I was strategic about it. I only worked afternoons and evenings so I could pursue my main thing — photography — during the day.

During the summer of 2023, I began training in real estate photography. In the freelance world, you don’t get paid until you do the work, so a lot of that time was just showing up, learning how everything worked, and figuring out how to navigate it all. That process took about four months.

You can imagine how not working consistently for that long can quickly drain your bank account. But I know myself: when I really want something, I’ll make it happen. Through consistency, I made real estate photography work with the media company I’m with now, and I was able to leave Lowe’s pretty quickly — I was there for about seven months.

At the same time, I was building my own client base, shooting for businesses on the side, which has been my main passion since college.

For the everyday person who wants to take better photos, what are a few simple tips that make the biggest difference?

Quality over quantity—but with intention, quantity can lead to quality. Be intentional with every photo you take and ask yourself why you took it that way.

You also have to remember, and this applies to pretty much everything: we didn’t grow up knowing it all. So find someone to teach you the trade or skill that interests you. That’s the reason mentorship exists.

I know so many people who get scared to make that ask, but you can’t be a teacher at something when you’re still technically crawling before you even walk. Question every action you take, see if it’s the right one, and get a mentor—someone you can genuinely learn from.

Since most of us are using our phones these days — what are your best tips for taking better photos with an iPhone?

Since iPhones already do a lot of editing for you, I think the best thing to learn is how to be creative with your compositions and angles. Also, I know you can zoom in and out by pinching with your fingers, but I highly recommend only using the preset zoom lengths as they are: 5x, 1x (1.25x and 1.5x exist on certain models by tapping or double-tapping on 1x), and any other fixed lengths you have. That way, you get the full photo, since pinching to zoom just crops the image and reduces its quality.

What do you most love to photograph — events, homes, landscapes, people, or something else entirely?

It’s a mix of whatever location I’m at and the people using that space, with a hint of motion blur. I find it so cool to see how you can really show what something looks like in use while also showcasing people’s daily lives. Kinda like documentary, street photography-esque.

Do you have a favorite camera, lens, or piece of gear you swear by?

Just my favorite brand is Canon — that’s it. It can only be RF lenses and their bodies, cause the quality is amazing. I’m loyal to the soul.

Your photography has given you access to so many incredible places. What has been your favorite spot in the desert to photograph so far?

I think the best place I have shot is at the Thermal Club. Those houses are nuts, and with the view of the cars racing, it’s so awesome!

I’ve seen you climb ladders, squeeze into tight spaces, and do just about anything to get the right shot. What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done to capture a photo?

For a while, I liked taking photos of houses on fire. It definitely feels hotter than you’d expect once you get close.

You’re incredibly involved in the community. What inspired you to become so connected and engaged here?

I mean, I get bored sometimes, haha, but I like being with people, meeting new people, and collecting awards just for the hell of it—because why not?! But no matter how many certificates you get, they’ll never equal the value of meeting new people and building real connections with them and their networks.

I’ve taken my involvement to another level by volunteering with nonprofits, especially my church. I’ve logged so many hours at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, with Friends of the Desert Mountains because I love nature, and at the annual Flying Doctorsevents that provide free medical care to those in need. That kind of work gives me a real sense of purpose and meaning in helping the community.

Learning about the community through the programs I’ve mentioned has made me more knowledgeable about what this valley we call home offers—and how to pass that knowledge on to others. You can live doing things on your own, which is totally fine, or you can live knowing you did something for others. One way or another, whatever I do will affect someone.

On top of everything else, you sing! Tell us about that side of your life.

I’ve been in the church choir since 2019, I believe, and at the time I didn’t really know what I was doing. It wasn’t until 2023 that I joined the Spanish choir at my current parish, since I go to Spanish Mass. The difference there is that my choir director (shout-out to Guillermo Delgado) has many years of experience in guitar and in music theory.

That’s where I finally had a music and guitar instructor to help me fine-tune my voice, but much of the homework still falls on me to improve. My voice wasn’t great, and I wouldn’t say it’s amazing now—it can be good if I really try—but it’s a huge difference to see the improvement that happens when you’re being intentional.

Then in January 2025, during our Vietnamese Lunar New Year event at my church—we have four different communities—the choir director asked me, “Do you want to join the choir? We’re hiring.” I passed on the offer, which was really sweet of them, but I didn’t know the language. Six months later, I said, “F* it,” and joined the choir, which ended up being the best decision ever.

I thought I would leave after maybe a month or so just to be able to say, “Hey, I did it!” But nope—today I’m still there, to the point where I now play guitar for them and really feel like I’m one with them.

What has been the most rewarding part of starting and growing a business in the desert?

I think the most rewarding thing is when people recommend or refer you to others. It shows they like your work, and seeing your business grow that way is, in some cases, a real relief. Then, when you notice the type of clients you’re getting—each one closer to your dream client—it’s confirmation that you’re doing well. There may be no clear sense of speed, but there is at least a clear sense of direction.

What advice would you give to someone who is just starting out — whether as a photographer, creative, or new entrepreneur?

What part of desert living brings you the most joy?

The number of diverse hiking trails out here in the valley is astonishing. Just head up to the mountaintops, look out over the valley, and see how much you can achieve. It’s a great thing to reflect on.

When you’re not working, where might we find you on a perfect desert day?

Honest answer, I’m home — I need some time to rest! But if I want some me time, catch me 45 minutes into hiking the Art Smith Trail, sitting on a rock watching the sunrise, and then maybe heading to Keedy’s Fountain & Grill for breakfast!

Best meal in the desert?

If there’s a place that has a torta with beef tongue, that’s my go-to, preferably from Tacos Gonzalez.

Other Valley favorites?

RUTINA COFFEE!!! I absolutely love them and who they are, their mission, everything! They love their community so much, and honestly, that’s what makes any business strong: their constant involvement with the community. Oh yeah, their coffee is bomb too!

Thank you, David…

…for giving us a glimpse into your journey and the story behind your art. Your ability to capture the beauty, people, and places of the Coachella Valley is a gift and I’m lucky to call you both a friend and a trusted creative partner.

Spotlight On David García-Tlahuel – Photographer & Owner Of Arsvida