Lorca studied accounting at the Liceu Acadêmico de São Paulo. He started his own accounting business in 1952. However, his interest in photography led him to a group of photographers in 1959, called Foto Cinema Clube Bandeirante. This club included the likes of Thomaz Farkas and Chico Albuquerque.[2][3] In 1954, he was official photographer of the celebration of the 400th anniversary of São Paulo.[4]
In 2006, a retrospective titled Pinacoteca I de São Paulo was exhibited in Lorca's honor.[5] In 2018, another retrospective honored 70 years of his photographic career.[6] The Museum of Modern Art possesses several of his photographs today.[7]
German Lorca died in São Paulo on 8 May 2021 at the age of 98.[8]