By Marilyn Miller
In New York City in the late 2000’s, Hector M. Sanchez was making a living as a still life and food photographer.
“I had a friend; he was a little bit further along than I was…he was photographing architecture and interiors. I started assisting him on some of his shoots and I kind of developed a liking for it.”
Hector then began photographing some interiors and architecture on his own, a little bit outside of the normal work he did. He was in New York for 8-10 years.
He started his college education at the age of 28, attending and earning a four-year Fine Arts degree in Commercial Photography from the Rochester (NY) Institute of Technology. He also taught Commercial Photography for a year at RIT. Another teaching opportunity then came up for him in the Middle East. He moved to Oman, where he was employed by the Sultan of Oman (the Omani government) from 2004 until 2007. He was responsible for starting the first photography program there. He shot interiors and architecture for the Grand Hyatt hotel chain on the side.
Back in the United States, he found himself in Birmingham, Alabama photographing for Southern Living. “I was hired as a staff photographer…I was their food photographer,” Hector explained.
Along the way, he began requesting interior shoots. The company would send him to shoots when the other photographer couldn’t make it. “Eventually, that person left and I became the interiors photographer (for Southern Living).”
In 2019, he left Southern Living and became a freelance photographer. He admits that going out on his own was a scary time for him. But he got over it. “That’s pretty much all I do now…photograph interiors and architecture for interior designers and architects and interior design magazines.” Some of those magazines include Southern Living, Country Living, Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, Better Homes & Gardens and many more.
While still working for Southern Living, Hector took notice (via the internet) of Sara McDaniel, founder of the nationally recognized lifestyle and hospitality brand Simply Southern Cottage.
“I liked her page content; she caught my eye (his eyes twinkle). I liked her and I was single. And it appeared to me that she was single. I wanted to meet her, but I didn’t know how, you know? I had to come up with a way that wasn’t creepy.”
“So, I asked her if I could photograph her cottage for my portfolio.” Yes, THAT cottage. The one on McDonald Street in Minden, Louisiana. The one beyond saving. But Sara rescued the 1926 house, and as the cliché’ goes, the rest is history. Sara had admired Hector’s photographic work since 2016 when he was shooting for Southern Living. In 2019 he asked if he could shoot her cottage. She said “Yes.” Then, he asked if, when he came, he could bring his dog, Jax. And she said “Yes.” That was the best “Yes!” He says he remembers being professional while he was visiting. And after he left, they stayed in touch and then started dating. He moved here four years ago. They were married on Sept. 7, 2026.
Hector’s shoots — interior and architectural mostly — are largely confined to the States east of Mississippi, using Fuji cameras and Fuji film. Birmingham, Nashville, Charlotte, Atlanta, and Augusta are his key locations. He has shot everything from Toll House cookies to rapper Pharrell Williams. And everything in the way of houses.
His latest project took on more of a personal note. Past Forward is a beautiful, hardback book described as “Reviving an Old Southern House with Collections, Antiques, and Passion.”
Hector shot the photos for the book, which he says was five years in the making. His partner in the project, Barbara Adkins, says it took six! Past Forward hit the stores nationwide on Oct. 13, 2026 with a pre-release party and book-signing at the Fuller-White house in Minden on Oct. 10. The house was acquired and restored by Sara McDaniel, whose book, The Bright Side of the Other Side: Notes from a Soul Restored was also featured that day.
Barbara and Hector’s book features the history and restoration of her family’s 19th century Greek Revival farmhouse which has been home to five generations of her family. Barbara is an artist, collector and founder of Black Sheep Antiques. She was born and raised in Alabama. She holds a BA in Art from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and has a postgraduate degree in Antique & Fine Art Appraisal.
“We wanted to leave business out of it,” Hector admitted. “The images would convey that it was a bit more personal.” However, the team ended up acquiring publisher, Rizzoli, a major operator in the genre.
Both books are available from all major walk-in and internet book sellers.
