Life through a lens

If you’ve dined at some of Brighton & Hove’s most exciting restaurants, chances are you’ve been drawn in by the captivating food photography by Xavier Buendia.

An award-winning, internationally published photographer, Xavi has spent the last decade establishing himself as a leading creative force in the food, beverage and hospitality industry.

Originally from Mexico City, Xavi’s journey has been anything but conventional. A decade-long career as a sommelier took him across the Mediterranean, New York and the UK, deepening his understanding of food and drink before he pivoted to photography.

At 30, seeking a creative reset, he enrolled at university to study photography. His persistence and vision quickly set him apart, leading to collaborations with renowned chefs such as Monica Galetti, Tom Aikens and Douglas McMaster. Teaching photography in London and working internationally soon followed.

During the pandemic, Xavi expanded his practice beyond food, earning an MA in documentary photography. His work evolved to explore the human potential, capturing physical, intellectual, and emotional depth through portraiture, documentary, architecture, and personal branding photography. His ability to strip away stereotypes and present subjects authentically has attracted diverse clients, from Connected Brighton to PEBE, and The Launchpad Collective. Xavi mostly works with independent businesses and enjoys the challenge of creating powerful visuals that help small businesses grow.

In January 2025, Xavi returned to his food roots but this time as Creative Director, launching Viva La Vida Creative, a collective dedicated to elevating food culture through storytelling and collaboration. Unlike a traditional agency, Viva La Vida Creative brings together independent food and drinks brands, matching them with highly skilled freelancers and offering a dynamic problem-solving approach.

“I wanted to create something that celebrated food culture in a meaningful way,” Xavi explains. “Collaboration is at the heart of everything we do – helping brands tell their stories through photography, film, social media content, newsletters, and PR.”

The collective has already made an impact, working with Ben Walton of On a Plate Growth and Bloody Bens on The Bloody Good Guide to Bloody Marys in Brighton, as well as supporting The Gingerman in its transition to a neighbourhood restaurant model. With a unique blend of artistic vision and strategic thinking, Xavi continues to shape how food, people, and places are experienced through powerful storytelling.

To learn more, visit www.xavierbuendia.com, follow @xavogram and

@vivalavida_creative on Instagram, or email: xdbphotography@gmail.com