Discover Top Editorial Photographers / Photojournalists in Costa Mesa, California, USA

Alexis Duran is an award-winning filmmaker and educator. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Film+Digital Media from the University of California, Santa Cruz and an MFA in Film and TV Production at San Diego State University. Alexis has a background in TV news broadcasting where he's worked for NBC San Diego 7 as an operations technician. As a freelance filmmaker and the founder of Oxford and Claire Productions, he’s filmed and directed documentaries and episodic content for: Al Jazeera(AJ+), BBC Three, USA Today, Quicktake Bloomberg, Wall Street Journal, Barcroft Media, Business Insider, Facebook, OnlyGoodTV, Future, Truly, Voice of America(VOA), PBS and TED Talk. As a writer/director on short narrative films, his films have screened at numerous film festivals around the world. His 2018 film, Bye Luna, was selected at over twelve festivals, won two awards in the U.S., and was invited to screen at the Short Film Corner at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival. His current film, Forgetting Caroline, is in the festival circuit and was recently selected and screened at the San Diego International Film Festival and Austin Film Festival. Alexis is an adjunct professor in the Film, Television & Media Arts department at Southwestern College. • Remote Pilot Certificate Part 107 • Covid-19 Compliance Officer Certificate

• Documentary DP
• Non-Fiction Film Director
• News Shooter / Video Journalist
• Commercial DP
• Corporate Videographer
• Production Company
• Creative Director
• Editorial Photographer / Photojournalist
• Event Photographer
• Landscape Photographer
• Product Photographer
• HD Live Operator
• Fixer
• Production Assistant
• Field Producer
• Sound Mixer
• Drone Operator

Nic Davis is an Emmy award winning director, cinematographer, and producer. He has directed and co-produced a variety of feature documentaries, which included theatrical releases across North America and distribution across major streaming platforms like Amazon, Apple TV, and PBS Passport. Nic’s work has amassed hundreds of millions of views for companies like The BBC, Disney, Live Nation, Daimler-Benz, Discovery, Cadillac, and Hulu. He has worked with high level musicians and actors including Jennifer Garner, Seth Rogen, Josh Hutchinson, Dave Matthews, Pearl Jam, Jason Mraz, Ciara, and Megan Thee Stallion. Nic graduated from the Journalism School at The University of Montana. He is currently based in Los Angeles, and travels around the world for projects through his company, 4:08 Productions.

• News Shooter / Video Journalist
• Documentary DP
• Commercial DP
• Creative Director
• Production Company
• Fixer
• Field Producer
• TV News Producer
• Production Assistant
• Video Editor - News
• Video Editor - Commercial
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Music Composer
• HD Live Operator
• Immersive/Spatial Video Capture
• Reporter / Journalist
• Editorial Photographer / Photojournalist
• Audio Storyteller
• Gaffer
• Drone Operator
• Production Coordinator / Crewing
• Post-Production Manager
• Series Producer / Show Runner
• Corporate Videographer
• Portrait Photographer

Journalist, documentarian, digital archivist. I've worked for Reuters and Agence France Presse as a video news journalist as well as with Fatherly, AJ+ and Simple Most for social media video. I've filmed and covered breaking news in more than six countries (India, Kosovo, Panama, Mexico, Japan and the USA) and produced 100s of news pieces. I've interviewed A-list Hollywood celebrities, Indian breakdancers and Japanese anti-nuclear protesters but the interview I'd most like to do is with my mother when she was my age (if I had a time machine!) My speciality is producing or video editing for news but I sometimes work on commercial projects or television programs as creative director or production manager. My personal interests include boxing, cooking gluten free dishes and digital archive management. I love to collaborate and I believe firmly in 100% risk, 100% reward.

• Commercial DP
• Fixer
• Documentary DP
• Video Editor - News
• News Shooter / Video Journalist
• Editorial Photographer / Photojournalist
• Translator
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Video Editor - Commercial
• Field Producer
• TV News Producer
• Production Assistant
• Mobile Journalist / Livestreamer
• Reporter / Journalist
• On-Air Reporter / Host
• Production Company

A filmmaker and cinematographer based in Los Angeles and New York, I've worked on several high-profile feature documentaries concerning a wide variety of topics My work has been released theatrically, as well as being aired on HBO, A&E, Showtime, PBS, ESPN, and other networks. Coming from a motion picture background, I've also worked as a cinematographer on feature films, music videos and commercials. I've worked all over the world, and look forward to travel as well. I'm passionate about social and political issues, and apply a heavy sense of motivation and work ethic to every project I undertake.

• News Shooter / Video Journalist
• Commercial DP
• Documentary DP
• Video Editor - News
• Editorial Photographer / Photojournalist
• Translator
• Reporter / Journalist
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Video Editor - Commercial

Sanchez Media produces commercial and short-form documentary for consumer retails brands, tech companies, and digital media. We shoot on everything from cell phones to large cinema cams. Our production capabilities are designed to be robust and scaleable from modest budgets to larger ones. Visit our website to learn more: www.sanchez.media

• News Shooter / Video Journalist
• Commercial DP
• Documentary DP
• Video Editor - News
• Sound Mixer
• Fixer
• Editorial Photographer / Photojournalist
• Reporter / Journalist
• Creative Director
• Field Producer
• TV News Producer
• Production Company
• Mobile Journalist / Livestreamer
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Video Editor - Commercial
• Production Assistant
• Corporate Videographer
• On-Camera Talent
• Gaffer

I’m a passionate documentary DP/Camera Operator with 12 years of continuous experience working in the documentary and commercial world. I’m skilled in having a creative eye for detail and extreme dedication to quality of work and have an in-depth understanding of digital cinematography, camera builds and movement. I’m a collaborative team player who excels in challenging, fast-paced environments.

• Commercial DP
• Documentary DP
• Video Editor - News
• Editorial Photographer / Photojournalist
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Video Editor - Commercial
• News Shooter / Video Journalist
• Corporate Videographer
• Sound Mixer
• Field Producer
• Fixer
• Production Company

Director, Cinematographer and Producer with 10 years experience in Documentary, Commercial, Travel and Television. Produced and DP'd the Sundance nominated and Magnolia distributed documentary Whose Streets on the Ferguson uprising. Have shot and directed for Condé Nast, Viacom, MTV, RevoltTV, Verizon, Complex and more.

• Documentary DP
• Commercial DP
• Creative Director
• Production Company
• Drone Operator
• Field Producer
• Fixer
• Production Assistant
• News Shooter / Video Journalist
• Senior Producer / Project Manager
• Video Editor - Commercial
• Video Editor - News
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Colorist
• Editorial Photographer / Photojournalist
• Portrait Photographer
• Product Photographer
• Corporate Videographer
• Non-Fiction Film Director

Alexis is a versatile entertainment professional with over 9 years of experience in physical production, creative development and managing content strategy. She specializes in creating premium content, both scripted and unscripted - including short and long form branded, lifestyle and docu-series programming. Alexis is a Writer, Editor (+ motion graphics), Shooter and Producer.

• Documentary DP
• Commercial DP
• Video Editor - News
• Sound Mixer
• Editorial Photographer / Photojournalist
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Video Editor - Commercial
• Line Producer / On-Location
• Senior Producer / Project Manager
• Post-Production Manager

It's my passion to bring your video vision to life. I work with clients to plan and produce high-quality videos that exceed expectations for all news, marketing, and branding needs. I am the President of DBS Ent. Productions. I’ve worked with multiple Emmy Award winners including Katy Temple [formerly of Fox5 San Diego, Olympic Network, and more], and Andy Edwards [World of Dance, America’s Got Talent, The Amazing Race - Australia - for which his team won an International Emmy]. I am happy to bring one or both of them onto the right project through Storyhunter, or I can work solo. My latest project produced by Andy Edwards, Newport Beach Film Festival Honors, aired nationally on PBS in March 2022, and won a Silver Telly Award in General TV - Live Events. Interviews include Harvey Keitel, Ray Liotta, Simon Rex, Jeffrey Wright, Rosanna Arquette, Regina Hall, and more. NBFF HONORS celebrates outstanding achievement in film and television including the contributions of seasoned performers as well as recognizing emerging talent in the field. I was a cameraman, drone pilot, and editor. I produced my first video in 2008 for SkopeMag.com covering Billboard charting recording artist Unwritten Law. Since then I have filmed, produced and/or edited several hundred videos. I have worked as a qualified creative partner for Yelp and Zillow advertisers. Those programs have allowed me to produce videos for Berkshire Hathaway Real Estate, Frank Subaru, Toyota of El Cajon, and more. I also apply my skills to passion projects, such as the Mt. Baldy Fire Department fundraising video in my profile, produced by Andy Edwards. As well as a series of videos for a San Diego food pantry called It's All About The Kids Foundation, which has served over 3 Million meals to needy people in since 2017. Some of that footage has made Fox5 News and KGTV News broadcasts in San Diego, as well as included in a segment by Mike Rowe on Returning the Favor, which now has 2.4 Million plays on Facebook. My specialties include all stages from concept to writing as well as pre-production to filming, and post production. I have hundreds of hours operating the DJI Ronin-M and Ronin-S... As a FAA 107 licensed drone pilot, I have hundreds of hours flying the DJI Phantom 4, with experience on the Inspire 1 and Matrice 600 Pro. I also have a background in marketing with strong knowledge of social media, SEO, etc.... I own all the camera, lighting, sound and editing equipment needed to create great content.

• Production Company
• Drone Operator
• Video Editor - Commercial
• Fixer
• Commercial DP
• Production Assistant
• Creative Director
• Sound Mixer
• Motion Graphics Designer
• Corporate Videographer
• Senior Producer / Project Manager
• Post-Production Manager
• Documentary DP
• Video Editor - Documentary
• News Shooter / Video Journalist
• Field Producer
• Editorial Photographer / Photojournalist

Having worked with distinguished news organizations including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, NPR, MarketWatch, PBS, PRX, Public Radio International, and American Public Media, I have considerable experience producing dynamic audio stories that reach a large audience and illustrate diverse subjects through engaging narratives.   Fluent in all aspects of production: digital, audio & video.  Earned a degree in Journalism & Communications from San Diego State University and completed graduate fellowship programs at the University of Southern California, the University of California at Berkeley and Columbia Graduate School of Journalism. As a lifelong animal advocate, I lend my support to rescue, rehabilitate and re-home abandoned cats and dogs. You can also find me on my bike, cycling from San Francisco to Los Angeles to raise money for HIV/AIDS services for the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center.

• Field Producer
• Sound Mixer
• Reporter / Journalist
• Audio Storyteller
• Immersive/Spatial Video Capture
• TV News Producer

Bret Hamilton, born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, has always been passionate about creating captivating entertainment for those around him. Pursuing this passion, he left his hometown to study cinematography at Columbia College Chicago. In September 2016, Bret moved to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (formerly Saigon). There, he served as the Digital Content Director for local media start-up Vietcetera, producing and directing numerous short documentaries. He later became the Director of Photography for the Webby-winning Best Ever Food Review Show, where he scaled the visual and editorial direction of the channel from 300k subscribers to 3.5 million, earning almost half a billion views from a diverse, global audience. In the fall of 2019, Bret relocated to Los Angeles, bringing his unique skills and experience to a new market of brands, digital outlets, and content creators. When the pandemic hit, Bret adapted seamlessly, transitioning to virtual production as a Technical Director for commercial and documentary shoots operated entirely over Zoom. More recently, he worked with clients such as Rolling Stone Magazine, Salesforce, New York Times, and Meta.

• News Shooter / Video Journalist
• Commercial DP
• Documentary DP
• Video Editor - News
• Reporter / Journalist
• Mobile Journalist / Livestreamer
• On-Air Reporter / Host
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Video Editor - Commercial
• Creative Director
• Field Producer
• Production Company
• Editorial Photographer / Photojournalist
• Gaffer
• Grip
• Sound Mixer

My work and skills are ever evolving and hard to pin down. I take on a wide variety of projects in the visual world. From documentary & commercial video to product & portrait photography. I have a team of experts that can be hired for big productions when needed. We have a production studio near downtown San Diego. But, do not be fooled by that, 70% of the time my shoots are in the field. My website bio reads: --> Drew McGill carves awe-inspiring portraits and adventure imagery. Drew has been shooting photographs and video for over 15 years. His love for imagery and stories started in high school, and has only multiplied since then. Shooting motivates him and keeps him inspired through its fluid, ever-changing, and never mundane nature. After earning a BA in Photojournalism from Brooks Institute, Drew’s professional career has taken many different paths. His diverse experiences have influenced a craving to shoot environments and people from all walks of life.

• News Shooter / Video Journalist
• Commercial DP
• Documentary DP
• Editorial Photographer / Photojournalist
• Video Editor - News
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Video Editor - Commercial
• Creative Director
• Production Company
• Colorist
• Portrait Photographer

The worlds a big wide place and Dija’s a fan of it. Over the course of her professional career Dija has worked across a variety of platforms and disciplines, specifically those in the visual arts. A native Southern Californian, her affair with cinema started at a young age, followed by a sense of wonder for traveling, and the unknown. An accomplished Producer, Director and documentarian, Dija has worked globally. While Producing and co-directing Post Oak Bluff (a documentary delving into the world of online Poker and using it as a metaphor for American Politics) She interviewed some of the Poker world’s top players- amongst them: Doyle Brunson, Annie Duke Phil Laak and Annie Duke, as well several Senators and powerful government officials. As a journalist on KCET’s Emmy winning SoCal Connected she covered a myriad of human interest stories with passion and enthusiasm. Her stories have been featured on the Huffington Post, amongst other syndications. Dija’s background as a Producer, Director and Journalist create a golden ratio of ascetic certainty, and attention to detail. Enabling her to produce content that’s new, fresh, and beautiful. While finding an individual voice for each clients brand.

• News Shooter / Video Journalist
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Reporter / Journalist
• On-Air Reporter / Host
• Documentary DP
• Creative Director
• Mobile Journalist / Livestreamer
• Editorial Photographer / Photojournalist
• Audio Storyteller
• Fixer
• Production Assistant
• Field Producer
• Production Company
• HD Live Operator

Noah DeBonis was born in the Philippines, raised in Japan, and eventually settled in Miami, Florida where he received his BSC in Communications and an MFA in Film Production both from the University of Miami. Noah has directed, edited, and shot several award winning documentaries and short films. His documentary film “Do Tell,” won the Best Documentary Award at the University of Miami Film Festival and screened at Paramount Studios. “Do Tell” also screened at the Miami Short Film Festival, The Miami International Film Festival, where it won “Best Documentary” in the CinemaSlam Category. His Latest Film, Posthumous, has played at over 20 film festivals, winning best short film at 5. Posthumous has been nominated for a College Television Award, the student branch of the Emmy awards. Noah runs his own video production company and has worked continuously with such clients as the Miami Art Museum, Herzog and De Meuron, The Mardis Gras Casino, University of Miami, and many more

• Documentary DP
• Video Editor - News
• Fixer
• News Shooter / Video Journalist
• Commercial DP
• Editorial Photographer / Photojournalist
• Sound Mixer
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Video Editor - Commercial

In addition to being the CEO of JYC Llc, an immersive journalism production company, Jean Yves has worked as a VR / 360 Producer for The New York Times and serves as the Executive Producer and Director of VR at the Global Editors Network. His freelance work has been featured internationally in publications such as the Washington Post, Discovery's VR brand Seeker and AJ+. Chainon is a French and American digital entrepreneur, photographer, writer, journalist and filmmaker. He's worked as a photojournalist and now specializes in virtual reality and 360 video immersive journalism. He has directed and produced a number of 360 news documentaries (including co-productions with Immersiv.ly) in North America, Europe and Latin America. Since 2015, he has been leading training workshops with news organizations on the subject of Virtual Reality, 360 Video and Immersive Journalism. He is also the founder of OOAworld, a website dedicated to creative, original and qualitative multimedia storytelling: http://www.ooaworld. His full bio is available here: http://jychainon.com

• News Shooter / Video Journalist
• Documentary DP
• Video Editor - News
• Sound Mixer
• Reporter / Journalist
• Editorial Photographer / Photojournalist
• Immersive/Spatial Video Capture
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Video Editor - Commercial
• Commercial DP
• Creative Director
• Drone Operator
• Production Company
• Motion Graphics Designer
• VR / AR

My name is Justin Nijm and I am an Arab-American filmmaker. I specialize in directing as well as producing features and videos. I recently completed a short horror film for 20th Century Digital called "The Hug" and am currently in development on the feature. "Grasshoppers" is an indie feature I produced starring Saleh Bakri and premiered at the Bend Film Festival in Oregon. It plays next at the Bahamas International Film Festival and Cinequest. I worked as a staff director, writer, and editor for Funny Or Die for three years. I co-directed 2 seasons of the IFC show Stan Against Evil, now streaming on Hulu. My work has been featured on Comedy Central, Hulu, Funny Or Die, YouTube Red, The History Channel, Adult Swim, Jimmy Kimmel, The Super Serious Show, and more. I love projects that let me use genre to tell stories in visually compelling ways, and I try to incorporate activism and social commentary into everything I do. I am advanced in Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, Photoshop, InDesign, After Effects, and more. I own my own editing bay which I built myself and camera package that includes a Canon C500 MK II and (2) Sony a7s III's. I believe strongly that no project is worth hurting your crew. I believe in the power of a strong personal vision unified with thoughtful collaboration. I strive to create an environment on every set that is inclusive, safe, and fun.

• Production Company
• Video Editor - Commercial
• Line Producer / On-Location
• Production Coordinator / Crewing
• Non-Fiction Film Director
• Creative Director
• Video Editor - News
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Editorial Photographer / Photojournalist
• Event Photographer
• Portrait Photographer
• Sound Mixer
• Commercial DP
• Motion Graphics Designer
• Colorist

I have told the stories of evicted illegal immigrants, the trials of recovering drug addicts, and the efforts of an entire community to end gang violence. I have documented the struggles and triumphs of homeless teens in Chicago. I have even reported across language barriers to tell the story of religious intolerance amongst Buddhist monks in Myanmar. I'm an editor, photographer, and producer. I mostly cut in Premiere, and I have a solid working knowledge of motion graphics through After Effects. I thrive under tight deadlines, and as a jack-of-all-trades, I am comfortable with all things media and editorial. I am a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University, where I spent four years developing my talents in documentary style media production and multimedia storytelling. Nowadays I'm a freelance editor at VICE, having worked on Emmy-nominated series Gaycation, Emmy-nominated VICE on HBO, and Weediquette, amongst other shows.

• Documentary DP
• Video Editor - News
• Editorial Photographer / Photojournalist
• Reporter / Journalist
• News Shooter / Video Journalist
• Sound Mixer
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Video Editor - Commercial
• Production Company

Steven Gute is a filmmaker who has worn many hats in his now 20-year career. Gute works as a director, producer, writer, cinematographer, journalist and editor, and already has a long resume of credits stretching across a multitude of formats. While his origins lay in narrative films, he eventually worked on a number of documentary films, including: Leonardo Di Caprio's 11th Hour; followed by Radicalized, a portrait of millennial resistance during the Occupy movement; ongoing front-line documentation of protests at Standing Rock and Black Lives Matter; and ultimately, leading a team to the Arctic to film glaciers in decline for HBO’s Ice on Fire. He has worked as a journalist for institutions like The Young Turks and Red Canary Collective. His current series about water (Confluence) has taken him to 48 states thus far. Steven is a one man studio and hopes to continue to shine light on the truth.

• News Shooter / Video Journalist
• Documentary DP
• Drone Operator
• Non-Fiction Film Director
• Field Producer
• Editorial Photographer / Photojournalist
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Sound Mixer
• Mobile Journalist / Livestreamer
• Reporter / Journalist
• Video Editor - News
• Production Coordinator / Crewing
• Landscape Photographer
• Senior Producer / Project Manager
• Post-Production Manager

Mitchell Arens is a cinematographer based in Los Angeles working across multiple genres and moving image mediums. He holds an MFA from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. Throughout his career, Mitchell has been fortunate enough to work behind the camera on commercials, documentaries and narrative films all over the world, shooting everywhere from Borneo to Siberia. He recently returned from the Middle East where he was serving as the cinematographer on a documentary about Hyperloop development in the UAE. His credits include Dandelions (directed by Basil Mironer), an unreleased docu-series about a Russian refugee tracking down his long lost father; Kate Nash: Underestimate The Girl (directed by Amy Goldstein), about the rise and fall of the controversial pop star; and Oh Lucy! (directed by Atsuko Hirayanagi), which received the International Short Jury Award at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival and 2nd prize in the 2014 Cinefondation category at Cannes. In addition, Mitchell has shot commercials for clients such as Chevy, Hyundai, and Mobil1 as well as music videos for an array of artists including Dorothy and Natasha Beddingfield.

• News Shooter / Video Journalist
• Commercial DP
• Documentary DP
• Editorial Photographer / Photojournalist
• Non-Fiction Film Director
• Corporate Videographer

Sam Slovick has been, or is, a writer, photographer, actor, recording artist, freelance journalist and indie documentary director/shooter/producer. His stories, photos, video series and docs have been distributed in a variety of ways including theatrical, indie-online and print media like Details, Vibe, Interview, Giant, Good, Tar, L.A. Weekly, Huffington Post, Neon, Nylon, SLAKE, The Face, LA Yoga Magazine, The Advocate, Curve, Mission & State, Angelino and a few others. His first feature release, Radicalized (2016) has been called the definitive voice-of-a-generation millennial protest film. His next doc, Tear Down Babylon is slated for a 2018 release. His videography and written work in the Yoga and Devotional realms over the last decade has established his voice in the terrain. Initially making a splash as a singer/songwriter in bands in the 80’s New York club scene, he received an unconventional education under the tutelage of established writers and artists in lieu of formal education. He’s appeared in television shows and films including Jodi Foster’s Home for the Holidays and John Milieus’ Red Dawn. As a singer/songwriter (BMG) his major label releases include Louie Says (RCA records) featured in films and TV. As a journalist, his ability to access subjects and deliver stories has garnered credibility, enabeling his transition to director with series, On Skid Row (Reason Pictures) and Scenes From The New Revolution (Participant Media). His long form on the 2010 encampment at City Hall in L.A. for SLAKE, Big Tent Theory, has emerged as a defining piece on the Occupy movement. Recent long form journalism for Mission & State and other work posted on collectivemedia.la are representative.

• Mobile Journalist / Livestreamer
• Documentary DP
• Production Company
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Music Composer
• Reporter / Journalist
• Editorial Photographer / Photojournalist
• Fixer