The Founder Story
How a kid who loved drawing
became the founder of TGX Creative.
Photography, filmmaking, branding, creative direction — they were all different expressions of a passion that started in childhood.
Before cameras, brands, or businesses,
creativity was already part of who he was.
Long before photography, before filmmaking, before branding — there was drawing. Sketching. Painting. Making something from nothing, just because it felt like the most natural way to see the world.
Colors. Ideas. Imagination. A fascination with how things could look different if you just tried. Not because anyone told him to. Not because it was a hobby. It was simply how he saw things.
Every creative journey starts somewhere. This one started with a pencil, a blank page, and a child who couldn't wait to fill it.
Before I ever picked up a camera, I picked up a pencil.
— Chris Diaz
New York sparked the dream.
Charlotte gave it room to grow.
Between 2015 and 2017, Chris returned to New York — and everything changed. He wasn't there for the nightlife or the spectacle. He was there for the streets.
Artists painting murals on sidewalks. Photographers documenting everyday life. Musicians performing on street corners. Entrepreneurs building dreams from almost nothing. Street art. Architecture. Diverse cultures. Creative energy everywhere he looked.
New York became proof that creativity could become a career. It expanded his perspective and inspired him to dream bigger.
Then Charlotte became home. Not just a city — a community. A place where inspiration turned into action. Where ideas evolved into businesses, relationships, creative projects, and opportunities to serve the local community.
"New York sparked the dream. Charlotte gave me the space to build it."
No mentor. No roadmap.
Just curiosity and countless hours.
Photography wasn't the beginning — it was the next chapter. Late nights watching tutorials. Teaching himself everything. No roadmap. No mentor. Just curiosity, determination, and countless hours of practice.
It was relatable to anyone who has ever tried building something from nothing. Not special training. Not a degree. Just a kid who refused to stop.
Then something slowly happened. Chris realized that people weren't hiring him because they wanted photography.
They were trusting him with their dreams.
Businesses wanted to grow. Artists wanted to be seen. Nonprofits wanted to make an impact. Entrepreneurs wanted someone who believed in their vision.
Photography became the tool. Helping people became the mission.
They weren't hiring me for photos. They were trusting me with their dreams.
— Chris Diaz
Everyone has a gift
worth sharing with the world.
Building TrulyGifted — a personal brand — was a natural extension of Chris's belief in creativity. It reinforced one simple idea: everyone has a gift worth sharing with the world.
Through apparel, events, podcasts, magazines, and community involvement, creativity became more than art. It became a way to inspire and empower others to believe in themselves.
What started with a sketchbook
became a creative home for dreamers.
Over time, Chris realized creativity wasn't limited to one medium. What began with drawing, sketching, and painting eventually evolved into photography, video production, branding, marketing, design, storytelling, and creative strategy.
Those experiences led to one realization: there wasn't a place where creators, artists, nonprofits, entrepreneurs, and businesses could find all of these creative services under one roof.
So he built the resource he always wished existed. That became TGX Creative.
What started with a sketchbook eventually became a creative home for dreamers.
— Chris Diaz
Every vision eventually grows
beyond one person.
Meet Joel Sorto — Co-Founder and Business Operations Lead.
While Chris leads the creative vision and storytelling, Joel brings operational excellence, systems, and strategic leadership. He ensures the company grows while continuing to serve clients at the highest level.
Together they aren't simply building a company. They're building a creative home for people with ideas.
Areas of Expertise
Joel Sorto
Co-Founder
Creativity has always been
at the center of my story.
TGX Creative isn't simply a creative agency. It's a place built for people with ideas.
The mission is to give people the creative support, strategy, and confidence they need to bring meaningful ideas into the world.
Creativity has always been at the center of my story. Today, TGX Creative exists so it can become part of yours.
— Chris Diaz