Discover Top Documentary DPs in Elgin, Illinois, USA

When I found out that Brian Babylon hosted a weekly comedy show in Bronzeville, I immediately thought that there was an interesting video piece there. The show was something unique for a neighborhood known more for its urban decay than for its entertainment options. I biked out to the heart of Bronzeville twice with a camera and sound equipment in my backpack. I got some great footage and had some good laughs. Then I organized an interview with Brian at his place of work and put together the video in time for the launch of the South Side Weeklys new website. He loved the video, and so did my editors. Many other reporters at the paper had had ideas for video projects but I was the only reporter to follow through with a finished product for publication. A good storyteller has to know how to craft a narrative over multiple mediums. I have taken the effort to gain experience in all aspects of documentary video production, DSLR photography, audio editing for radio, and news writing. Please visit my profile at http://dovebarbanel.wordpress.com/ to view clips of my work in video, photography and radio as well as my written articles. Thank you.

• Documentary DP
• Sound Mixer

My journey as a filmmaker started with a childhood love of Hollywood blockbusters and has matured into a documentary career that blends the personal with the socially conscious. Thus far, my documentaries have examined such issues as the struggles of modern families, the difficulties of transitioning into adulthood and community's impact on our lives. Each of these issues holds a personal importance in my own life, but my films examine these issues not through an autobiographical portrayal, but by looking at the world around me. As I complete my Masters of Fine Arts in documentary film, it is clear that education and social awareness are important aspects in my life. I see myself as a student of the world and of the city of Chicago. I believe it is my duty as a documentary filmmaker to learn as much as I can about our society and to honestly present it to my audience. I believe if you just take the time to listen; friends, neighbors and people you would often overlook can tell you the most extraordinary story. My films aim to capture these tales of individuals and by examining the singular, we as an audience can see how society is impacted as a whole.

• Documentary DP
• Sound Mixer

I am a journalist who has worked in the field of print, documentary and multimedia journalism for over ten years. My work has appeared in the New York Times, the Tico Times, the International Herald Tribune and the Chicago Tribune. And my production work has aired on the History Channel, the Weather Channel, the Outdoor Life Network and PBS. As a print journalist and documentary field producer and reporter, I have a commitment to get every angle of the story by finding the people, places and nuances that matter to help to bring a story to life for the reader or viewer. My proudest accomplishment to date is creating the Through Her Eyes Project, a multimedia project that captures and showcases the stories of girls and women who play sports in the developing world.  I started the project in Ecuador where I interviewed over 100 female athletes of every skill level and photographed and filmed them on courts, fields and streets across the country to demonstrate the benefits that women in developing countries gain from involvement in sports.  In 2012, I was named a Woman of Promise by the YWCA Evanston, and was profiled as a Woman Working To Do Good by the White House.

• Documentary DP

I'm a trained video journalist and writer with an eye for stories that resonate long after they air. Trained at Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, I have work experience in both public radio (at WBEZ, Chicago's NPR station) and public TV (WTTW, Chicago's PBS station). I know how to field produce, as well as shoot and edit video. My passion lies in highly produced, long-form stories that expose viewers to worlds they wouldn't be able to access otherwise. I've received a few honors for my work, including the Roy W. Howard Award for National Collegiate Reporting, the South Asian Journalists Association's Undergraduate Award, the American Scholastic Press Association Award for Best Editorial, and the American Association of University Women Excellence in Writing Award. I'm looking for opportunities to tell stories in the Chicago area, where I currently live, and in New York City, where I plan to relocate soon.

• Documentary DP

Im a One Man Band, Backpack Journalist, Video Journalist, Multimedia Reporter, Digital Journalist, Preditor (Producer/editor). Call me what you want, maybe except the last one. Whatever the title is, I do the majority of the production myself. From setting up lights, sound, shooting, reporting, editing, producing and writing. Just a few weeks after my 22nd birthday I moved to Chicago. My friend was a stockbroker and we decided to head out here together. Most people told me I was crazy. Photojournalists rarely start their careers in a market as large as Chicago. Almost eight years later Im still here. Ive worked for Tribune, NBC Universal, and Im now with ABC. As for my style, you name it, I've done it. News, features, special projects, documentaries. I pride myself on being versatile. I've also had a great deal of experience in documentaries. In 2009 I directed my first doc, Under The Ice. It did well and aired on PBS stations in Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota. It went on to win two Chicago/Midwest Emmys in 2010. I have been a reporter, photojournalist, video editor, producer and writer. In my heart I'm just a storyteller. Thanks for reading.

• Documentary DP

Shatterglass Studios is an award winning new media development and film and video production company dedicated to producing high-quality, high-impact media that resonates with the modern and multi-sensory appetite of today’s culture. Shatterglass Studios is a creative agency of passionate filmmakers who pride themselves on understanding the intricacies of influential and meaningful new media, video production and film. With a subtle balance of design, composition and emotion, we create television commercials, corporate branding videos, industrial videos, promotional videos and films. We’ve had the honor of being recognized for our work with awards such as a Regional Emmy from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Throughout all of it, we try to keep one concept at the forefront: Emotional impact through storytelling.

• Commercial DP
• Documentary DP
• Sound Mixer
• Translator
• Video Editor - News
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Video Editor - Commercial

Dale is a cinematographer with over 20 years experience specializing in documentary and testimonial driven campaigns. His company, Crossroads Productions, operates as a full-service production company. With a national network of trusted creative partners, we are able to facilitate any size video production. From national spot work to live streaming events, Crossroads Productions has been a trusted ally for agencies, independent producers and broadcast clients. He has the pleasure of working with major brands such as American Family Insurance, Keen Footwear, Sub-Zero and Wolf Appliance Company, Harley-Davidson, Mazda and Duluth Trading Company capturing honest and beautiful images that convey a powerful message. He has an extensive list of broadcast clients such as ESPN, Discovery, Big Ten Network, PBS and PBS Kids.

• Documentary DP
• Commercial DP
• Corporate Videographer
• News Shooter / Video Journalist
• Fixer

Open Fire Media provide turn-key video production services for companies such as Lexus, NFL, Tennessee Tourism, Inkbox and many others with a speciality in creating visuals that are distinctively authentic. Whether you’re looking to create a corporate video for your next tradeshow, a short commercial to send out to all your clients, or a video for online distribution that tells your company’s amazing story – we're dedicated to helping you get the very most for your money by creating a video that’s exactly what you’re looking for – and then some. From 3,000 feet in the air to 100 feet under water – and everything in between – the scope of our filming capacity is extensive. Because we have the right film tools – and the creative horsepower to maximize their potential – we create durable videos that work for you.

• Production Company
• Documentary DP
• Fixer
• News Shooter / Video Journalist
• Commercial DP
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Video Editor - Commercial
• Production Assistant
• Corporate Videographer

I have worked with video from a early age gaining most of my valuable skills through hands on professional experience. I have worked in many different positions in various sizes of production. I'm interested in finding stories that inspire people to look at social and cultural affairs in a different light. I'm confident that once I find a story I'm passionate about it, I will be able to contribute a valuable and substantial perspective on the most relevant and crucial topics. I'm very much interested in economic inequality and the people who do their part to work to resolve it. I also believe in addressing environmental concerns. My passion for art creates great interest in the ways technology is constantly challenging artists and developing artistic techniques. I also am aware of the influences political actions have on any of the preceding interests.

• Documentary DP
• Sound Mixer
• Commercial DP
• Creative Director
• Production Company
• Production Assistant
• Video Editor - News
• Video Editor - Commercial
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Mobile Journalist / Livestreamer
• HD Live Operator
• Immersive/Spatial Video Capture
• Editorial Photographer / Photojournalist
• Audio Storyteller

I am a highly skilled, high performance worldwide storyteller and videographer (Film, Video and Multimedia Content Producer) specializing in real time delivery of film, video and multimedia content. I have special expertise in full service video production for the Unionized Electrical and Construction Industries. Through film, video, and multimedia content I create a compelling visual impact and emotional connection with audiences while blending today's digital world with real personalities, events and experiences in first person and in real time. I develop creative high quality film, video and multimedia content, which is designed to send a message, influence and engage with audiences. I am an entrepreneur of exceptional ability, a musician, and a creative graphic design artist. I am fluent in both Spanish and English and hold a Bachelor’s degree in Business and Economics.

• News Shooter / Video Journalist
• Documentary DP
• Commercial DP
• Corporate Videographer
• Video Editor - News
• Video Editor - Commercial
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Animator / Visual Effects Artist
• Production Company
• Line Producer / On-Location
• Senior Producer / Project Manager
• Series Producer / Show Runner
• Production Coordinator / Crewing
• Creative Director
• Post-Production Manager
• Sound Mixer
• Fixer
• Production Assistant

Teddy "Waffles" Wachholz is a cinematographer, producer, and editor with an Emmy Award to his name. Teddy's film & video journey commenced in his early years, blossoming into a passion that guided him to Columbia College Chicago. Since then, His focus has been on an array of projects, including commercials, documentaries, and corporate and branded content. Notable clients and organizations entrust Teddy with their vision, a list that includes Red Bull, SC Johnson, Speedway, Wells Fargo, MB Financial Bank, The Chicago Bulls, Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and even the White House. Specializing in comprehensive A-Z video production, Teddy enjoys the process from the inception of an idea to the delivery of the final cut, ensuring each project is a hit in its own right.

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

I'm Fran, 28, Philosophy Major and Film MFA, with an interest in story telling, be it still images or 24fps. I've been doing principal cinematography for several projects in the west area of Puerto Rico, Chicago, and New York. Received a couple of National Awards for Best Cinematography in a short film, and recently curated my first photographic series titled 'Darklight'. Lately I've been focusing more on directing, since I wanna employ my cinematographic skills in telling my own stories. Occasionally I work with Discovery Communications LATAM hand picking stock images for their web platforms, and encoding selected media. On my free time I volunteer as a Barista at a local coffee shop, since I find that the best stories to tell often come from the people around us.

• Commercial DP
• Fixer
• Editorial Photographer / Photojournalist
• Documentary DP
• Sound Mixer
• Translator
• Video Editor - News
• News Shooter / Video Journalist
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Video Editor - Commercial
• Creative Director
• Production Company
• Production Assistant
• Gaffer
• Grip
• Sound Designer
• Mobile Journalist / Livestreamer
• Audio Storyteller

I tell public health stories that shape a vision for improving the health of our neighborhoods. Public health has increased human life spans by 25 years in the last decade. This accomplishment was achieved with really simple changes - toilets, clean drinking water, vaccines, seat belts, smoke-free air. So why does this story take a back seat to stories of disease, hospitals, and insurance coverage? Behind each simple public health intervention is a group of invisible public health heroes. Together, they literally changed the trajectory of our lives. I find these storytellers, celebrate them, and add their story to a master narrative of health and wellness. We can make our communities healthier, we've done it, and we will do it again.

• Documentary DP

Hello! My name is Colette Ghunim, and I have shot and edited multiple corporate, nonprofit and event videos internationally, as well as a feature length documentary that I am currently directing. I directed, produced, and edited multiple documentaries, including The People's Girls, an award-winning documentary about sexual harassment in Egypt. Here are the steps I can get done: 1. Schedule call to discuss scope of project 2. Propose video outline based on call 3. Film & send edited video for review 4. Complete any necessary edits 5. Finalize and send video Here is my portfolio as well: www.coletteghunim.com I look forward to working together! Please let me know when we can set up a time to talk more about your project requirements. Sincerely, Colette

• Documentary DP
• Non-Fiction Film Director
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Commercial DP
• Fixer
• Production Assistant

I’ve been a visual journalist for ten years, five of which were spent at a newspaper in the Midwest. Recently, World Press Photo and Pictures of the Year International honored my work. I was also named the 2014 Great Plains Photographer of the Year. I've done quite a bit of combined video and still work for newspapers and websites as well as multiple day projects for Gannett and the Lurie's Children's Hospital in Chicago. Most recently, I wrapped on a national video and still project for UPS. I love to share stories of people and communities, and I’m in luck because there’s never been a better time to connect with audiences. With my camera, I can capture a singular moment of beauty or a narrative of experience through video.

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

Telling stories through film constantly pushes me to move, innovate and create. More than that, though, it allows me to work with others who refuse to sit still and to help push them toward their goals with what I create. I’ve been around the world chasing stories and finding adventure in people that might otherwise go unnoticed. I've been on tall ships and crammed inside prop planes, in ruins and on top of volcanoes. I’ve seen films I’ve produced lead to strengthened relationships, families finding safety, record level fund raising, small businesses reaching more people and views of the world around us drastically changed. After seeing how I can make peoples’ worlds a better place, how could I do anything else?

• Documentary DP
• Creative Director
• Field Producer
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Commercial DP
• Production Company
• Video Editor - Commercial
• Fixer
• Production Assistant

This March I went to the Florida Keys as an instructional associate for a climate change reporting class, but I had the chance to do some in-depth reporting of my own. I never expected to come across Stuart Pimm, one of the most revered conservation biologists of our time, on a little island in the Dry Tortugas. He rolled out of bed, one of the few in the secretive dorms inside Fort Jefferson, and agreed to an on-camera interview. He looked like a shipwrecked sailor. There I was, asking him about the fate of the place we were standing. I love reporting and using multimedia to tell stories, especially stories about the environment. I also have a passion for editing with Final Cut X. For those reasons I am applying to be a storyhunter.

• Documentary DP

Hi, I'm Carlee. I'm a 2016 graduate of Columbia College Chicago where I earned my BA in television. Since I have worked as a freelance videographer on a wide range of projects. I joined the media team as a producer and editor on Research Vessel Sikuliaq, where my team and I documented the research and discoveries being done by scientists from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. I've worked with musicians in Denver and currently create content for a local Chicago band. I have worked with clients including All Hands and Hearts disaster relief nonprofit, Mainstay Therapeutic Farms, and Decoma Day Camp.

• Field Producer
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Non-Fiction Film Director
• Documentary DP
• Corporate Videographer
• Line Producer / On-Location
• Production Assistant
• Video Editor - News
• Video Editor - Commercial
• Portrait Photographer
• Commercial DP

Casting a shadow from 6’ 8” and bringing 23 years of a professional video career, my passion is creating compelling visual stories. I’m a highly collaborative, detail-oriented, creative professional who thrives in both a team setting and flying solo. I have experience in all aspect of video production: producing, directing, shooting, and editing. My heart beats fast for causes that effectively fight poverty and injustice. Through extensive video experiences in international, remote, and underserved areas, I’ve played lead roles in award-winning videos that tell deeply personal stories of individuals transformed by inspiring nonprofit organizations.

• Documentary DP
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Video Editor - News

Theresa Campagna is a journalism and documentary producer, and instructor to high school journalists. Ms Campagna earned her degree in Journalism and minor in Sociology from Loyola University Chicago. Her area of coverage includes: education, global warming, racism, immigration, and state violence. She has a b1 level fluency of the French language and limited working proficiency of Tagalag. Her work has appeared on WYCC PBS, Hyphen Magazine, Xojane, Getty Images, and Free Speech Radio News. She has co-produced a number of award winning documentaries. Currently in pre-production is her latest, a film docu series, Ang Aming Palay, about the rice farming crisis in The Philippines.

• News Shooter / Video Journalist
• Documentary DP
• Senior Producer / Project Manager
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Non-Fiction Film Director
• Fixer
• Commercial DP
• Mobile Journalist / Livestreamer
• Video Editor - Commercial
• Production Assistant
• Transcriber
• Sound Mixer