Discover Top Commercial DPs in Salinas, California, USA

I have nearly 15 years of professional experience producing, shooting, editing, and directing video. Raised in Sacramento, California, my love for cinematography started at just the age of 17 as a skateboarder. My friends and I would shoot video of each other on our skateboards using a handy cam then used the footage to create VHS tapes. Little did I know those dear memories would foster in me a strong passion to pursue video production for the rest of my life. As I entered my 20's, my shooting skills really began to develop. My classmates paid me to shoot their videos – everything from music videos to short documentaries. I then began to reach out for professional work. Today, I work as a DP/Editor shooting and directing short documentaries, social content, editing commercials for television, and more. I also produce quality still photography and am FAA certified in Aerial Operations.

• Documentary DP
• Commercial DP
• Creative Director
• Drone Operator
• Field Producer
• Sound Mixer
• Video Editor - Commercial
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Motion Graphics Designer
• Production Company
• Production Assistant
• Corporate Videographer
• News Shooter / Video Journalist

Miguel Angel is a freelancer videographer from Santiago, Chile. In the past years, he has collaborated with news media outlets like Fusion TV and AJ+ in San Francisco, Colombia Informa (Colombia), Radio Ambulante (Mexico and SF), along with television channels National Geographic, Link TV, MundoFox, and Señal Colombia. As a filmmaker, he is the associate producer of the feature documentary Voices of Chile, director of A Family's Sanctuary, and director of We're Meant to be Reinas, awarded for Best Documentary at the 2012 Providencia International Film Festival in Santiago, Chile. Currently, he is the DP for the Free CeCe Documentary and Associate Producer of PBS's funded film, Siqueiros: Walls of Passion. He graduated with an M.A. in Social Documentation at the University of California, Santa Cruz. As a freelancer he has produced and edited video for corporations like Twitter, and organizations like the United Nations.

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

Mike is a video journalist with over eight years of video production experience and an MFA in Filmmaking from American University in Washington, DC. He is a visual storyteller with extensive experience operating as an all-in-one producer and videographer in the field. Mike's most recent work was produced for The San Francisco Standard—an upstart digital media company in San Francisco—where he worked as a staff video journalist and contributed his filmmaking skills to the team's coverage of the city and wider Bay Area. Mike's video journalism work at The Standard helped establish and solidify the company's online presence as one of the most active, informative and engaging news organizations in the Bay Area. Mike also has extensive experience as a freelance videographer, Director of Photography and video editor. His work has been published in established media outlets such as Business Insider, CNBC, Bloomberg, Voice of America, 60 Second Docs, Cheddar, and Brut. He has also produced, shot, and edited a variety of independent documentary films which have screened on public television and at film festivals such as the DC Environmental Film Festival, the California Independent Film Festival, Water Docs, the Washington, DC International Film Festival and others. He is passionate about documentary storytelling and bringing ordinary peoples' lives to life through video.

• Documentary DP
• Non-Fiction Film Director
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Field Producer
• Motion Graphics Designer
• News Shooter / Video Journalist
• Corporate Videographer
• Production Company
• Production Assistant
• Grip
• Video Editor - News
• Fixer
• Commercial DP
• Video Editor - Commercial
• Transcriber
• Drone Operator

I am an Emmy winning video journalist and editor. I love to see what's on the other side of the wall. To hear words that shatter all preconceptions. To find connection where all hope seems lost. I am gritty and I do whatever it takes to "get the shot." I am humbled to be allowed into people's journeys of pain and courage, their intimate spaces, and their attempts to survive or build a better existence. This profession gives me a chance to share these experiences with the world, in an effort for us all to understand one another just a little bit more. I specialize in telling stories of social justice issues, people marginalized or misunderstood and the unknown. I have a talent for finding unusual angles and perspectives often overlooked. I am also very adventurous and I love stories that are difficult to get, climbing 100 feet into a tree or trekking through the wilderness. I thrive off getting dirty and risk-taking. I've created news pieces, profile pieces, long-form, human-centered, inspirational stories as well as promotional films and marketing videos.

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

Over the past ten years, I have built strong, principled, and trustworthy relationships with many organizations and companies. As a result of my dedicated work ethic to providing the best media production services possible, I frequently received contractual jobs with excellent customer satisfaction. I have produced over 50 video projects, such as product promotions, media campaigns, TV Commercials, and documentaries. Over the years, I have collaborated with well-known national and international institutions such as USAID, US Embassy-Kabul, Counterpart International, DAI, World Vision, Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, IOM, Afghan Government and Ministries, Roots of Peace, VOA, Newsweek, Discovery Channel, Story Hunter, Newsy, Insider, and UN Organizations.

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

Over nearly a decade of working in documentary production I've shot and produced documentary work for a range of media outlets including Al Jazeera, CNN, the Guardian, the Intercept, MSNBC, National Geographic, NBC News, the New York Times, TIME among many others. I’ve also DP'd and directed commercial work for companies including Red Bull, AT&T, Google, Facebook, LinkedIn, Oculus, Fox Studios, and many more. Additionally I've directed, produced and DP'd independent films as well as commissioned documentary projects for non-profits and NGOs.

• Documentary DP
• News Shooter / Video Journalist
• Commercial DP
• Production Company
• Drone Operator
• Field Producer
• Reporter / Journalist
• Senior Producer / Project Manager

I'm a documentary cinematographer working out of Los Angeles, the Bay Area, Seattle, and Portland. My work has appeared on The New York Times, The New Yorker, PBS, Frontline, Al Jazeera, Channel 4 (UK), and more, as well as for clients like CNN, AirBnb, and the Oakland Museum of California. I've also produced on series for National Geographic, Netflix, and for feature documentaries like Girl Rising. I own and operate Sony equipment (Fs7, A7siii), with a MavicPro 2 drone, Sigma Art lenses, Aputure lights, and more. See more work at www.derekknowles.com

• Documentary DP
• News Shooter / Video Journalist
• Commercial DP
• Creative Director
• Video Editor - News
• Field Producer
• TV News Producer
• Drone Operator
• Editorial Photographer / Photojournalist
• Mobile Journalist / Livestreamer
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Video Editor - Commercial
• Production Assistant
• Non-Fiction Film Director
• Sound Mixer
• Corporate Videographer

My name is Tri and I’m the founder of Bay Area-based Tri Nguyen Photography and Video Production. My path to this industry was not a straight line, as after getting my B.S. from Carnegie Mellon University and MBA from Johns Hopkins University, I pursued a career in information technology. It was during my time working in corporations that I developed my professional and detailed approach, and I discovered that I really enjoyed the collaborative spirit that comes from teamwork. As my career progressed I realized my true passion was in the creative field, and that my unique background would help me better serve my clients. I don’t think of my subjects as a job, but as a story waiting to be told. Extensive preparation and collaboration are an important part of my approach, and it’s very important to me that you feel comfortable, confident, and excited about our time working together as well as the end result. I’ll provide the talent and leadership to get us there.

• Commercial DP
• Production Company
• Corporate Videographer
• Drone Operator
• Documentary DP
• Fixer
• Production Assistant
• Editorial Photographer / Photojournalist
• Portrait Photographer
• Video Editor - Documentary
• News Shooter / Video Journalist
• Immersive/Spatial Video Capture
• Full-Service Live Production

Crystal Wong is an Emmy-nominated journalist, documentary producer and cinematographer. Born into the Handover period of Hong Kong, her identity is, likewise, fluid and in question. After graduating from the journalism school at CUHK, she relocated to New York City to gain experience in video production. She established herself as a freelance filmmaker by the time she returned to Hong Kong to document the city’s biggest protests in history. She developed a strong interest in long-form documentaries after being an assistant director for an independent documentary, Faceless, which had been screened at various festivals including the Busan International Film Festival 2021. She is currently directing a long-term project addressing the evolving identity of Hongkongers and the Hong Kong diaspora. Crystal currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. She welcomes any type of visual and journalism projects. Her works have appeared on VICE, PBS FRONTLINE, Quartz, RTHK and UnionDocs.

• Documentary DP
• TV News Producer
• News Shooter / Video Journalist
• Commercial DP
• Creative Director
• Production Company
• Production Assistant
• Video Editor - News
• Video Editor - Commercial
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Reporter / Journalist
• Editorial Photographer / Photojournalist
• Fixer
• Field Producer
• Corporate Videographer
• Gaffer
• Grip

I’m a film director/producer, musician, and video journalist based in Oakland, CA. For CALIFORNIA Magazine, I've written, shot, and edited around twenty short form documentary pieces, including a 3-part video series called “Bugged,” and am also a frequent contributor to the print magazine. An avid traveller, I have worked, trained, and performed all over the world, including Russia, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and West Africa. I have a degree in Arabic and Russian Literature from UC Berkeley, and am the artistic director of Radix Troupe Productions, which I founded in 2013. Since finishing my studies in Arabic and Russian at UC Berkeley in 2013, I've been actively directing and producing original work, including multiple short films, music videos, short form documentaries, and promotional work. My most recent short film "Zoey and the Wind-Up Boy" produced by RADIX, won Best Fantasy Film at the 2017 Roswell Sci-fi Film Festival, was a finalist for Best International Short at the Ithaca Fantastik Film Festival, 2017, and won runner up for Best Film at the Carcosa Film Festival, 2018. Another film I produced, "All We Left Behind" won Best International Film at the 48Film Project Festival, 2018. In 2016, I was also one of the aspiring female directors to be selected to shadow BAFTA award-winning writer/director Amma Asante on the shoot of her soon to be released film, Where Hands Touch (2018). As a singer and cellist, I regularly perform with the award-winning band, MAD NOISE, and my newest musical/visual project called Girl Swallows Nightingale.

• News Shooter / Video Journalist
• Documentary DP
• Creative Director
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Reporter / Journalist
• Motion Graphics Designer
• Production Assistant
• Music Composer
• Fixer
• Commercial DP
• Video Editor - Commercial
• Series Producer / Show Runner
• Non-Fiction Film Director

I’m a New York-raised Californian, filmmaker, photographer, partner and dad. My first foray into independent filmmaking was aboard a 4-seat Cessna, documenting impacts of the 2010 BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin, I spent several years in New York working and learning as a Production Assistant and later a Cinematographer and Editor in collaboration with networks and brands including ABC, American Eagle and the MSG Network. Since moving to the Bay Area in 2015, I’ve focused on developing my voice through the stories I was drawn to in the beginning, about the natural systems around us and the spectrum of relationships humanity has with them. And I’ve continued to collaborate with other filmmakers, organizations, and brands including Bloomberg, Netflix and the Biden/Harris campaign. My latest effort, don’t feed the coyotes, began screening at film festivals across the country earlier this year. Through the observations of two starkly-different naturalists, the half-hour documentary chronicles several years in the intertwined lives of San Francisco’s urban coyotes.

• Documentary DP
• Commercial DP
• Creative Director
• Production Company
• Field Producer
• Video Editor - Commercial
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Editorial Photographer / Photojournalist
• News Shooter / Video Journalist
• TV News Producer
• Video Editor - News
• Reporter / Journalist
• Non-Fiction Film Director
• Mobile Journalist / Livestreamer
• Corporate Videographer

Sara Lafleur-Vetter is a multimedia journalist with a passion for telling stories of the underdog and the underbelly of society. As a videographer, photographer, writer, and radio journalist, she’s covered everything from social orphans in Russia to Native resistance camps at Standing Rock. She holds an interdisciplinary degree in Anthropology and Russian from Reed College. Lafleur began her journalism career in St. Petersburg, Russia, where she documented local NGOs including an organization for the homeless, a kid circus, and an institution for the disabled. Afterwards, she lived in Luxor, Egypt documenting ancient temple blocks for the American Research Center in Egypt. She received her Masters from the Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism in 2015, where she won a Dorothea Lange Fellowship for her photography. She spent over half a year covering the Native-led resistance camps at Standing Rock Reservation in North Dakota, which she is working to develop into a feature length film.

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

Vatsala is a cinematographer and director based out of San Francisco and Los Angeles. Her films have premiered in competition at Sundance, Tribeca, AFI Docs, Cinequest, Doc Fortnight: Museum of Modern Art (NY), and on platforms such Netflix, Amazon, PBS, CBS etc. Clients include Facebook, Google, Sony, Eventbrite, HBO Docs, MTV Films, VICE/ Refinery 29, Good Company, Godfrey Dadich Partners, Attn: Inc, Tribeca Studios, Firelight, ITVS, TIME, BET, AwesomenessTV, Salesforce and 23andme. Her work is informed by years of experience working across narrative and documentary film, photojournalism and fine art, as well as from her dual cultural identities as an Indian and queer woman of color living and working in the United States. Vatsala is a recipient of the American Society of Cinematographers' Vision Mentorship program (2020) and is a member of the International Collective of Female Cinematographers. She received her MFA in Cinematography from the Film and Television Institute, India.

• Commercial DP
• Documentary DP
• News Shooter / Video Journalist
• Field Producer
• Corporate Videographer
• Event Photographer
• Line Producer / On-Location
• Non-Fiction Film Director
• Editorial Photographer / Photojournalist
• Portrait Photographer
• Fashion Photographer
• Product Photographer
• Creative Director

I am a documentary photographer and videographer currently based in Northern California. I possess a solid background in photojournalism and specialize in the long-term narrative. My documentary work focuses on social justice, health, environmental conservation, and identity. I am passionate about utilizing the visual narrative as a tool to inform, engage, and impact social change. As a multimedia journalist and storyteller, I have experience working as a producer, visual creator, editor & curator, and project manager. I am proficient in image editing software, studio lighting, video and audio capture, and various array of photography including reportage, portraiture, editorial, travel, corporate, and commercial. I am conscientious, resourceful, and welcome any challenging assignments. Selected Clients & Publications: ActionAid, Asian Development Bank, Bloomberg Businessweek, BuzzFeed News, Clinton Health Access Initiatives, Courrier International, Der Spiegel, Facebook, Fair Trade, Financial Times, Getty Images, Global Citizen, Greenpeace International, The Guardian, Instagram, International Monetary Fund, The New York Times, T: The New York Times Style Magazine, Open Society Foundations, Oxfam, ProPublica, Sactown Magazine, San Francisco Chronicle, UN-REDD, USAID, USA Today, TripAdvisor, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post.

• News Shooter / Video Journalist
• Documentary DP
• Non-Fiction Film Director
• Field Producer
• Portrait Photographer
• Senior Producer / Project Manager
• Creative Director
• Editorial Photographer / Photojournalist
• Commercial DP
• Corporate Videographer
• Translator
• Event Photographer
• Landscape Photographer
• Product Photographer
• Fashion Photographer
• Fixer
• Production Assistant
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Reporter / Journalist
• Post-Production Manager

Evan is an award-winning documentary and commercial producer and cinematographer based in Oakland, CA. He loves crafting original and captivating stories, focusing on authentic human experiences and natural beauty. Evan’s work has taken him across the U.S. and abroad: from Guam to Guantanamo Bay, reservations to wildfires, stash houses to state houses, and well beyond. He thrives in challenging environments and loves connecting with people on the fringes of societies. Evan is a veggie-eating, adventure-seeking nomad originally from Texas. He has a journalism degree from the University of Missouri, is HEFAT certified and brews a mean kombucha. Clients include: VICE News Tonight, VICE on HBO, Al Jazeera, AJ+, ESPN, CBS News, NBC News, Dateline, Travel Channel, Square, Samsung, Channel One News, True/False Film Festival, Innocence Project, Hewlett Foundation and more. instagram.com/egrolled twitter.com/egroll917 x

• News Shooter / Video Journalist
• Commercial DP
• Documentary DP
• Drone Operator
• Video Editor - News
• Sound Mixer
• Editorial Photographer / Photojournalist
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Video Editor - Commercial
• TV News Producer
• Field Producer

Hello! I am a documentary film maker based in the Bay area. I shoot on Sony, Canon and Black Magic. My full portfolio can be found at www.ekfproductions.com.  Here is a link to my general video portfolio - https://youtu.be/T09E9hpCebk       Additionally I am a FAA drone certified pilot  My equipment includes pro audio and lighting and is listed on the bottom of this email.       Thanks! Kent Kessinger   ~~ Equipment List ~~ Cameras: 3x Sony A7siii BlackMagic 6k Canon 6D Sony A7iv DJI Mavic Air 2s Drone Lenses: Sony 50mm f1.4 Sony 20mm f1.8 G Sony 35mm f1.8 Sony 85mm 1.4 GM Sony 24-70 2.8 Sony 70-200 2.8 Sony 90mm macro Audio: Tascam x8 32 bit audio 4 cahnnel Zoom H6 - 6 track digital recorder Sennheiser MKE-600 shotgun mic 2x Sennheiser G3 wireless Lav Misc Video: 4x tripods & Dolly 4 point light setup (2 softbox) with three backdrops (key green, white & black) DJI RS2 Pro Gimbal with Raven eye for remote controlling DJI RSC2 Gimbal         

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

J.P. Dobrin is a multiracial Korean American documentary filmmaker based in San Jose, California. He's a two-time Emmy nominated producer/director of photography that frequently works with news outlets, documentary production companies, and corporate clients. J.P.’s projects have revolved around themes of immigration, wealth disparity, and criminal justice, often portrayed through the experiences of ordinary individuals. Notably, he co-directed the Al Jazeera Witness documentary "Irse - Leaving Venezuela" in 2020, delving into the Venezuelan exodus by focusing on the narratives of two expectant women. In 2022, he directed "The Lookout," his latest film presented on World Channel/PBS, offering an Asian American outlook on deportation issues. His directorial work has been supported by SFFILM, the Berkeley Film Foundation, the Center for Asian American Media, the Video Consortium, and the Asian American Journalist Association. He’s been commissioned to make documentaries for Verizon, Capital One, Voice of America, and Vox / Eater. His educational journey led him to study photojournalism at the Academy of Art San Francisco before pursuing documentary filmmaking at U.C. Berkeley's Graduate School of Journalism.

• Documentary DP
• Editorial Photographer / Photojournalist
• News Shooter / Video Journalist
• Video Editor - News
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Video Editor - Commercial
• Commercial DP
• Production Company
• Field Producer
• TV News Producer
• Mobile Journalist / Livestreamer
• Drone Operator
• Event Photographer
• Corporate Videographer

To see my work and more about me please visit my website: MatthewCaton.com Matthew sees his craft of filmmaking and cinematography as an adventure. He loves to inhabit new places, explore new cultures, and share unique stories with the world. Matthew’s documentary work has taken him around the globe for acclaimed films including Jose Antonio Vargas’ “White People,” which was recently nominated for an Emmy award, and “Assault in the Ring” which won an Emmy award for Outstanding Sports Documentary. His other documentary work has aired on HBO, ESPN 30 for 30, Sundance, CNN Intl, MTV, and others. Filming everything from native villages in the Amazon, to Neo-Nazis in Germany, to eunuchs in India, Matthew prides himself in blending easily into different cultures and allowing the story to unfold naturally. Matthew’s television work includes “100 Days of Summer,” where he directed two crews with six cameras total, and “Ultimate Road Trips,” where he traveled Route 66, the Mississippi Delta, and the Florida Keys (shooting extensively underwater). His television credits include everything from travel, to fashion, to home building and decorating -- and a bit of drama, too. His work has aired on NBC, Bravo, Travel, A&E, HGTV, and Smithsonian. With past technical experience as a gaffer, Matthew knows how to light any situation or style including commercials and music videos, which he has shot for many years. His national commercial credits include JC Penney, Glade, Pringles, Nokia, to name a few. Matthew’s passion for music has extended into shooting both music videos and live music events including some of his favorite artists: Common, Spoon, Bon Iver, and Sigur Ros, among others. He has also shot at music festivals including Bonnaroo and Outside Lands.

• Documentary DP
• Commercial DP
• Corporate Videographer
• Fixer

I’ve been working in the visual arts for more than 20 years constantly learning lighting and composition styles that I love. My work has brought me to nearly every continent and the passion I have for creating beautiful visuals continues to grow. I run a small production company that handles many small projects every year focusing on multi cam, interview-based narratives supported by cinematic b-roll. My small grip truck stores all the lighting, audio equipment and filmmaking gear needed for these small shoots allowing me to easily travel throughout California and beyond to work on projects. I am an FAA licensed and insured drone operator and own a drone shooting high quality 4K content. On a team I usually find myself in the role of principal Director and/or DP, and I’m happy to lend my experience to larger projects.

• Commercial DP
• Drone Operator
• Video Editor - Commercial
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Documentary DP
• Corporate Videographer
• Production Company

Jesse Rosenberg has been working as a freelance director and cinematographer since graduating from New York University Tisch School of the Arts in 2014. He is currently based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Since January 2016 he has been working as a camera operator on a trekking series for television, with shoots completed in 16 countries over six continents. He is producing and directing a series of short documentaries titled 1 Minute 1 Life, showcasing the stories inspiring people, each in one minute. Two episodes have been completed: Susan Helmrich, featuring a three-time cancer survivor who found healing and solace through swimming; and Elizabeth Jameson featuring a lawyer who became an artist after she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, transforming her brain scans into pieces of art that challenge how the viewer perceives the brain, disability, and illness.

• Documentary DP
• Commercial DP
• Production Company
• Creative Director
• Fixer
• Production Assistant
• News Shooter / Video Journalist
• Drone Operator