Discover Top Editorial Photographers / Photojournalists in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA

I’ve always been obsessed with creating through instruments, computers, and cameras. I’m equally comfortable working a specific role, or pioneering a full production. I have completed projects working as a director, dp, editor, and motion graphics artist. I look forward to bringing my passion to your story.

• Documentary DP
• News Shooter / Video Journalist
• Commercial DP
• Field Producer
• Production Company
• Mobile Journalist / Livestreamer
• Video Editor - News
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Video Editor - Commercial
• Production Assistant
• Drone Operator
• Gaffer
• Grip
• Full-Service Live Production
• Editorial Photographer / Photojournalist
• Motion Graphics Designer
• Sound Mixer
• Corporate Videographer
• Graphic Designer

www.alexsharon.com I'm an independent DP and camera operator from Chicago who is curious about the world and the people around me. I approach each project with honesty and collaboration in hopes of creating quality work that moves others.

• Documentary DP
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Colorist
• Editorial Photographer / Photojournalist
• Commercial DP
• News Shooter / Video Journalist
• Drone Operator
• Video Editor - Commercial
• Corporate Videographer

Stephen L. Garrett is a filmmaker based in Chicago, who collaborates with directors, producers, and production companies to develop, shoot, and edit feature-length documentaries, series, and promotional films for organizations large and small. Stephen began his filmmaking career in Madagascar as a third year Peace Corps volunteer in 2007. This experience led him to produce work for various organizations across the US and in 17 countries for clients such as the World Bank, the Ford Foundation, USAID, and the US Institute of Peace. Over his 12 year career in filmmaking, he has helped develop and produce television series that have aired on major television networks. In 2018 he coordinated coordinated post-production teams for 3 feature-length documentaries simultaneously: Nossa Chape debuted at South by Southwest 2018 and aired on Fox Sports; Momentum Generation won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Long Sports Documentary and debuted at the Tribeca Film Festival 2018 and aired on HBO; and Give Us This Day aired on AT&T Audience Network. In addition, he coordinated production and post production teams working in 13 countries for Phenoms, an internationally broadcast 6-episode documentary series about rising World Cup soccer stars for Fox Digital. In 2019, Stephen was the associate producer for Committee Film’s Investigation Discovery series Serial Killer: Devil Unchained. He is currently editing his first feature-length documentary How To Build A School in Haiti for director Jack C. Newell, which will be released in 2020. His short documentary, Mine 21, was awarded the 2019 Austen Riggs Erikson Prize for Excellence in Mental Health Media. Stephen has a BA in Conservation Studies from the University of the South.

• Documentary DP
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Creative Director
• Field Producer
• Video Editor - Commercial
• On-Air Reporter / Host
• Production Company
• Production Assistant
• Reporter / Journalist
• Editorial Photographer / Photojournalist
• Fixer
• Non-Fiction Film Director
• Sound Mixer
• Event Photographer
• News Shooter / Video Journalist

Over 24 years of video production experience. Creative communications professional with extensive knowledge of current and emerging trends in media technology and distribution. Expert on High Definition acquisition and dissemination over multiple broadcast and social media platforms. Professional experience with crisis management, news story development, storytelling-based video production, social media production, commercial production, live streaming, and live broadcast. Accomplished television news photojournalist with multiple regional and national awards. Work seen globally on various cable and regional networks. Specialties: Video Production; Producing/Directing; HD Videography (RED, ARRI Alexa Mini, DSLR); Video editing: Premiere Pro; Visual storytelling; Marketing/Public Relations; Live webcasting (single and multi-camera); Technical Directing; Photojournalism; Field Producer; Television news, sports, and events; Writing news stories; Pitching news stories; and Television broadcasting

• News Shooter / Video Journalist
• Commercial DP
• Documentary DP
• Drone Operator
• Video Editor - News
• Mobile Journalist / Livestreamer
• Production Company
• Immersive/Spatial Video Capture
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Video Editor - Commercial
• Full-Service Live Production
• TV News Producer
• HD Live Operator
• Editorial Photographer / Photojournalist
• Sound Mixer
• Copywriter
• Executive Producer
• Senior Editor
• Social Media Producer
• Creative Director
• Motion Graphics Designer
• Sound Designer

Director/Producer: Esau Melendez studied film & video at Columbia College in Chicago and soon after began working with the Spanish Broadcast Network, Telemundo and WYCC, a Chicago PBS affiliate. Esaú has directed and produced various commercials and music videos with his production company, Clandestino Films. His passion has always been to tell stories regarding social issues that affect the community. The award-winning documentary Immigrant Nation!: The Battle for the Dream was featured on PBS nationwide and was funded by Latino Public Broadcasting in 2009. He was part of WGHB Producers academy in 2013, fellow of Kartemquin diver voices in 2015 and a classic member of New day films. He recently produced a series of short documentaries for WTTW’s project Pilsen: My Neighborhood which illustrates stories of people who lived in Pilsen and make a positive impact in the community. He is now working for Spirt Juice Media as an Editor/Producer making nation documentary productions about the history of Catholics in the United States.

• Commercial DP
• Editorial Photographer / Photojournalist
• Documentary DP
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Video Editor - Commercial
• Production Company
• Field Producer
• News Shooter / Video Journalist

Patricia Nabong is a visual journalist who is dedicated to breaking stereotypes, covering untold stories and serving communities through visual journalism. She is currently a photojournalism fellow at City Bureau, a civic journalism lab in Chicago. In the past, she worked as a fellow at The Medill Justice Project, where she produced an interactive visual investigation of Washington D.C.’s vacant properties, which was a finalist for the 2017 Peter Lisagor Award. She was also a student fellow at the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting, which funded her short documentary and photo essay about the psychological toll of the drug war in the Philippines. Her photos, articles and videos have appeared in the American Documentary Film Festival, The Weather Channel, Seeker, Chicago Magazine, Chicago Reader, Chicago Defender, WBEZ Chicago, City Bureau, Narratively, The A.V. Club, The Riveter, Climbing Magazine, Balitang America and Medill Reports, to name a few. She is one of the 2018 nominees for the World Press Photo Foundation's Joop Swart Masterclass. She earned her master's degree in journalism at Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism where she received the Harrington Award for Videography/Broadcast. She also won a Chicago College Emmy for a video she produced there.  Prior to starting her graduate studies at Medill, she worked as a freelance multimedia journalist for online news sites Rappler, Union of Catholic Asian News and ABS-CBN News and as a part-time photography teacher at St. Paul College, Pasig. She graduated summa cum laude as the batch valedictorian of the class of 2015, with a degree in Film from the College of Mass Communication of the University of the Philippines. She is a member of Kappa Tau Alpha, the national journalism honor society; the Photojournalists’ Center of the Philippines; and the Tokwa Collective.

• News Shooter / Video Journalist
• Commercial DP
• Video Editor - News
• Video Editor - Commercial
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Reporter / Journalist
• Editorial Photographer / Photojournalist
• Documentary DP
• Sound Mixer
• Music Composer
• Fixer
• Sound Designer
• Translator

Since the dawn of his photography business in 2008, Ryan Southen has traveled the world pursuing his passion: capturing people and environments. In particular, Ryan draws viewers into moments of easy intimacy in his portraits, and introduces his audience to lesser-known artistic feats in Detroit, MI and far beyond. Ryan cares deeply about forming lasting relationships with his clients, which translates into creative shoots, painstaking editing, and striking finished products -- whether for your special day or your next ad campaign. In addition to shooting weddings, Ryan has delivered high-quality commercial images for large businesses, foundations, and architecture firms throughout the Midwest. Despite becoming an award-winning photographer (The Knot 'Best of' Hall of Fame), Ryan wants you to know that he's a true Midwesterner (read: friendly and approachable). He looks forward to collaborating with clients on projects to ensure they leave not only with a visual story that exceeds the industry standard, but also with a positive experience from Ryan Southen Photography. Select Clients: The Kresge Foundation Mort Crim Communications Inc. Detroit Economic Growth Corporation City of Detroit Detroit Water and Sewerage Department Comerica Bank Eastern Market Corporation MGM Grand Casino Detroit Henry Ford Hospital Iron Ridge Holdings Fives Group Interscope Records + Eminem The German Marshall Fund Architectural Clients: Gensler Synecdoche Design Harley, Ellis, Devereaux 2MArchitects Hopkins Burns Architects A3C Architects Walbridge Published: BBC Architectural Record HOUR Detroit DBusiness Magazine Metro Detroit Bride Coney Detroit Nikon World Magazine

• Editorial Photographer / Photojournalist
• Drone Operator
• Commercial DP
• Event Photographer
• Landscape Photographer
• Portrait Photographer
• News Shooter / Video Journalist

Jim Vondruska (b. 1989) has been working as a freelance photographer/photojournalist since 2013. Born and raised on the west side of Chicago, Jim saw first-hand the corruption and associated trauma that persists still today within the United States’ third largest city. This circumstantial introduction sparked his initial interest into researching and understanding the underlying issues surrounding conflict and its victims. More importantly, it invoked his personal emotional connection to them. With no traditional schooling in photography he dropped out of college and quit his job to pursue his dream of being a photographer. Over time, he began to craft his unique style of shooting and found joy in showing life at its most intimate and unadulterated form through photography. He has since discovered love with this form of work and a passion in telling stories whether they come from conflict zones, everyday life, or simply a brief glimpse into someone’s day.

• Editorial Photographer / Photojournalist
• News Shooter / Video Journalist
• Event Photographer

I am a filmmaker and photographer with eight years of experience in short film production, promotional video work, documentary production, event photography, interviewing, and script writing. I am the founder and President of EHFAR Films, which I established in March of 2013. My experience as a videographer and photographer has granted me the opportunity to travel and film internationally, specifically across Italy, Turkey, England, and Rwanda. My team (ft. Award-winning DP Alex Halstead and Director Laura Martinelli) has partnered with DePaul University, Big Picture Learning, Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE), Southern New Hampshire University, The Met, The Adventures of Mr. Clown, Paul Mitchell of N. New England, YMCA, MassChallenge, WEI and has shot a combined 40 short films.

• News Shooter / Video Journalist
• Documentary DP
• Commercial DP
• Creative Director
• Production Assistant
• Video Editor - Commercial
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Reporter / Journalist
• Editorial Photographer / Photojournalist

Alex Goetz is a documentary filmmaker and photographer and co-founder of Running Wild Media, a production company specializing in stories of wildlife and conservation. He has contributed to outlets such as National Geographic, BBC, PBS, CBS and was a winner of the National Geographic "Wild to Inspire" film competition. An Ohio native, some of his extensive travels have taken him from the countryside of Tasmania filming Tasmanian devils, to boating throughout the vibrant Marshall Islands, and road-tripping around four amazing African countries filming wildlife and conservation efforts. Alex is a 2019 Emerging Wildlife Conservation Leader, 2019 NAAEE 30 under 30, TEDxToledo 2017 speaker, and a 2013 graduate from Bowling Green State University, with a degree in Film Production and Environmental Science

• Documentary DP
• Non-Fiction Film Director
• Fixer
• Commercial DP
• Video Editor - Documentary
• On-Air Reporter / Host
• Field Producer
• Senior Producer / Project Manager
• Digital Content Creator
• Drone Operator
• Landscape Photographer
• Editorial Photographer / Photojournalist

Joe Hoffman founded Hoffman Media in 2006. A talented and dedicated Director of Photography, Joe works alongside numerous broadcast, agency, and corporate clients. Recently working as the series Director of Photography for 50K Three Ways and Windy City Rehab. Other notable credits include DP for the series In the Bedroom with Dr. Laura Berman, and Wrecked: Life in the Crash Lane. Many other satisfied clients from networks like NBC, HGTV, PBS and NatGeo, agencies such as Euro RSCG, Leo Burnett and Edelman, and corporations like Home Advisor and Rust-Oleum. Joe is enthusiastic on set and loves working with his clients to achieve the goals they set out for their productions. Joe has an eye for making things look natural and beautiful on screen while running his crews to the best of their potential.

• News Shooter / Video Journalist
• Commercial DP
• Documentary DP
• Drone Operator
• Editorial Photographer / Photojournalist
• Mobile Journalist / Livestreamer
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Video Editor - Commercial

I am a freelance photographer based in Chicago, Illinois. I started out my photography career seventeen years ago as a staff photojournalist for the Laredo Morning Times in Laredo, Texas after earning my BA in photography/journalism at Columbia College Chicago. I began freelancing in early 2008 and have photographed news, editorial, events, portraits, and more. While at the Laredo Morning Times I went through hostile environment training where I also learned CPR. I understand beginner French and Spanish.

• Editorial Photographer / Photojournalist
• Portrait Photographer

Joel Van Haren is an award-winning journalist and Emmy Award®-nominated cinematographer. Their cinematography has been featured extensively on Al Jazeera's Emmy Award®- and Peabody Award-winning program, Fault Lines. Joel's work has been featured by BBC, The New York Times, The Players' Tribune, PBS, and VICE.

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

Yijun Pan is a Chicago based photographer and cinematographer. She graduated from DePaul University with a degree in Master of Science - Cinematography of Film & Television Production in 2019. Yijun's works focus on portrait and food photography and videography. She also tells stories with narratives and documentaries.

• Creative Director
• Portrait Photographer
• Documentary DP
• Fixer
• Commercial DP
• Production Assistant
• News Shooter / Video Journalist
• Editorial Photographer / Photojournalist
• Product Photographer
• Colorist
• Art Director
• Event Photographer

A Filmmaker turned Humanitarian, I have spent the last 14 years working in all aspects of the film industry. My work has been in the United States and India. Must recently starting a non-profit to teach youth to create their own documentary films. I still take time for my own projects. I'm currently traveling along the United States - Mexico border for a documentary series about Asylum Seekers.

• News Shooter / Video Journalist
• Documentary DP
• Corporate Videographer
• Non-Fiction Film Director
• Creative Director
• Grip
• Editorial Photographer / Photojournalist
• Commercial DP
• Mobile Journalist / Livestreamer
• Audio Storyteller

Thomas Yau is a multimedia journalist currently based in Hong Kong, China. He graduated from Medill School of Journalism, Northwestern University. His work focuses on human rights and current events in the Asia-Pacific region.

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

DP / Producer based out of Chicago, IL, available for travel. Alexa Mini, Sony FX9, Mavic Pro 2 (FAA certified), 3 Sony Lav Mics, 1 Sennheiser Shotgun, Slider, Tripod, Full Range of Canon Lenses etc. Vaccinated against Covid-19 Regular Clients Include: New York Times, VICE News, Al Jazeera Fault Lines, CNN ERIK LJUNG is a 2-time Emmy Award winning freelance Producer and Director of Photography currently based in the midwest. His debut feature length documentary The Blood is at the Doorstep had its world premiere at the 2017 SXSW Film Festival where it earned a critics pick from The Hollywood Reporter. Most recently he is a series DP for Al Jazeera’s “Fault Lines”, and was a DP on BET’s “Disrupt & Dismantle” w/ Soledad O’Brien . His other work includes Director of Photography duties on Netflix’s Making a Murderer pt. 2, shooting and producing content for the New York Times, VICE News, Travel Channel, PBS Frontline and CNN. In 2016 he won a midwest Emmy for his work on public television's Wisconsin Foodie. As a Director of Photography, he has worked with some of the world's largest brands and ad agencies to produce commercial content, including a Cannes Titanium Lion winning campaign for Boost Mobile. He is a former Nohl Fellow, a three-time Brico Forward Fund recipient for his documentary work, and a 2020 Finalist for the Creative Capital grant for his multi-disciplinary visual artwork. Erik is currently available for freelance assignments domestically and internationally.

• Documentary DP
• Editorial Photographer / Photojournalist
• Fixer
• News Shooter / Video Journalist
• Video Editor - News
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Video Editor - Commercial
• Field Producer
• Creative Director

Yana Kunichoff is an award-winning, Chicago-based journalist covering inequality, urban issues and social movements. She's covered stories from the Arab Spring protests in Bahrain to a chronicling of the human casualties of rapidly disappearing affordable housing in Chicago for news organizations including Al Jazeera America, DemocracyNow! and In These Times. She is currently a producer for Scrappers Film Group, which provides film production work to journalistic, documentary, and socially motivated clientele using cinéma vérité and naturalistic techniques. Scrappers Film Group takes their name from their inaugural documentary Scrappers, which chronicles the story of two men who collect scrap in Chicago’s alleyways and was named one of Roger Ebert’s best documentaries of 2010. Most recently Scrappers Film Group created Central Standard, a web series about America’s institutions in transition for PBS Digital Studios.

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

I'm Donna Gehl, owner and CEO of Image Studios. We are a full service, award winning video production company located in the midwest specializing in broadcast and corporate productions. We're well equipped for location productions as well as offering 20,000 square feet of studio space. With high speed cameras from drones to movi's and various formats of video and photography gear. We can offer post production capabilities from retouching to video editing, even script writing and storyboarding. Please call or email to learn more. x

• Commercial DP
• Fixer
• Editorial Photographer / Photojournalist
• Reporter / Journalist
• Documentary DP
• Sound Mixer
• Translator
• Video Editor - News
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Video Editor - Commercial
• Corporate Videographer
• Executive Producer

I have a passion for visual storytelling. I cut my teeth in photography by covering sports for a small newspaper in Chicago. But I didn't do it by covering prep sports...I spent two years traveling the country covering the UFC. A few years later, I found myself at the Medill School of Journalism honing my video skills and added a new dimension to my passion. While I love sports, I'm not a one-trick pony. I'm a journalist...the world interests me. Everything from social justice to technology...I don't want to limit myself to just one beat.

• News Shooter / Video Journalist
• Documentary DP
• Video Editor - News
• Reporter / Journalist
• Editorial Photographer / Photojournalist
• On-Air Reporter / Host
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Video Editor - Commercial