Discover Top Portrait Photographers in Santa Maria, California, USA

• Portrait Photographer
• Copy Editor

LA based Director of Photography, Tech Supervisor and Gaffer Experienced in : - Interviews ( Corporate and Documentary ) - Remote Zoom productions - Social Campaigns - International filming

• Production Company
• Documentary DP
• Commercial DP
• Portrait Photographer
• Fashion Photographer
• Digital Content Creator
• Corporate Videographer
• Drone Operator
• Landscape Photographer
• Non-Fiction Film Director
• Senior Producer / Project Manager
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Video Editor - Commercial
• Gaffer

Gary Alvarez is an independent filmmaker based in Los Angeles. He graduated from Chapman University's Dodge College of Film with an M.F.A. in Film Production (Directing) in 2012. Since then he has been working professionally as a writer/producer/director. Born the youngest of three sons to working-class Mexican immigrants in Monterey Park, Gary was raised in the barrios of Bell. At 19 he enrolled in UC Berkeley’s Chicano Studies Program and studied abroad at UNAM before graduating in 2002, after which he returned to Los Angeles and taught for the subsequent 10 years. In 2004 Gary embarked on a journey that changed his career path and ultimately his life: he traveled across Mexico from Tijuana to Cozumel, penning a manuscript that was later adapted into a screenplay. Numerous screenwriting workshops and indie film sets later, he decided to transition into a career as writer/director. Gary’s passion is writing and directing narrative films as well as producing documentaries. With the series boom on Netflix and Amazon Prime, he added writing for television as a personal goal. Currently he is developing a new series, writing his next full-length screenplay and producing a feature documentary based on the Bell political corruption scandal of 2010. From 2015 to 2018, Gary taught screenwriting and film production to young filmmakers from underrepresented communities in Los Angeles and Orange Counties through the Latino Film Institute’s Youth Cinema Project. Since February 2016, Gary has been hosting an internet radio music show called Persistence of Sound every Wednesday evening from Espacio 1839 in Boyle Heights. His aim is to document the stories of local creatives through interviews via the show’s guest DJ segment Patched In.

• Non-Fiction Film Director
• Documentary DP
• News Shooter / Video Journalist
• Commercial DP
• Corporate Videographer
• Production Company
• Line Producer / On-Location
• Senior Producer / Project Manager
• Series Producer / Show Runner
• Production Coordinator / Crewing
• Creative Director
• Field Producer
• Production Assistant
• Translator
• Editorial Photographer / Photojournalist
• Event Photographer
• Landscape Photographer
• Portrait Photographer
• Audio Storyteller

Samantha André is an independent director, cinematographer, and editor with a special focus on women’s rights and social issues around the world. She has directed, produced, or edited projects for VICE, TWITTER, APPLE TV, PBS, RAPHA and THE FRONT. Her work has led her to cover character driven stories such as the LGBT refugees in Europe, police brutalities for the ACLU, climate change in an indigenous Alaskan village, child marriage in Kenya, disability activism in the US, and women's health in professional sports. She is currently working on finishing her first feature documentary, Mary’s Way. Filmed over the course of five years, it is the portrait of one girl’s journey to help bring an end to female genital mutilation and child marriage in her Kenyan community. A short version of her film was screened in New York to raise awareness for FGM in partnership with the United Nations. When Samantha is not working on a documentary, she can be found hiking mountains, biking, or playing soccer. She prides herself in capturing human emotion and intimate moments in her films by creating a real connection with the amazing people in front of her lens.

• Documentary DP
• Corporate Videographer
• Non-Fiction Film Director
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Portrait Photographer
• Fixer
• Translator
• News Shooter / Video Journalist
• Creative Director
• Video Editor - News
• Field Producer
• Reporter / Journalist

I am an Indigenous multimedia documentarian born and raised on the Navajo Reservation in Arizona. To date, I have spoken at USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, UCLA, California State Polytechnic University, Pitzer College, Cal Arts, UC-San Diego, UC-Riverside, UC-Irvine, Occidental College, Northwestern University and University of Oregon. My work presents personal stories of contemporary urban Indians in photography and film to commemorate the legacy of the Indian Relocation program, a U.S. federal program enacted to assimilate American Indians in the 1950s. My overall mission is to combat the idea of the static, stereotypical Indian portrayed so pervasively in all media. I want people to know that Indians are many nations with many stories. My photography portraits stand against prevalent stereotypes of American Indians in popular culture. Having grown up on a tribal reservation in Arizona my experience of Indian life was not reflected in popular culture. My work is to produce authentic portraits and stories of the persistence of Indian life in contemporary contexts. As a storyteller, I develops photographic narratives that illustrate the real stories of American Indians within their communities. My multimedia work reflects the perseverance of American Indian cultural identities today. I wish to produce living portraits of American Indians reflected through an indigenous aesthetic lens. I work as a talent consultant for various television networks. I have professionally produced five award winning films for the Southern California Indian Center’s InterTribal Entertainment multimedia program, co-created film workshops for Native youth, produced PSA’s for Fox Studio’s American Indian Summer Institute program, and co-hosted “Bringing the Circle Together,” a monthly showcase of Indigenous documentaries at the Japanese American National Museum National Center for Preservation of Democracy Tateuchi Forum in Los Angeles. Received a BA in American Indian Studies and Film Television from UCLA.

• Creative Director
• Reporter / Journalist
• Editorial Photographer / Photojournalist
• News Shooter / Video Journalist
• Documentary DP
• Production Company
• Audio Storyteller
• Event Photographer
• Portrait Photographer
• Product Photographer

Myron Parran is a freelance Director/Director of Photography. Myron began capturing images on film in 1997. He is known for his creative muse and attention to detail. Myron's works have spanned a range of genres, and they include "Sweet Home Alabama," "The "Wire," "Wolverine," "Pirates of the Caribbean," and "The Expendables." To date he has worked on over 45 feature films covering 3D, Animation, Underwater and Aerial Photography. Myron has combined his background in Prosthetics and film by creating innovative camera platforms for stereoscopic films. Those innovations include remote controled stereoscopic, and aquatic devices used on the films Africa 3D, and Enchanted Kingdom 3D. Myron made his Directorial/DP debut on the series "Infamous," where he was credited with bringing a unique combination of strong visuals and seamless direction to the film. He is a member of the International Cinematographers Guild.

• Commercial DP
• Documentary DP
• Creative Director
• Audio Storyteller
• Sound Designer
• Fixer
• Non-Fiction Film Director
• Portrait Photographer
• HD Live Operator

Yvonne Ng is an international multi-award winning director and filmmaker. Her debut short film ‘Cloud Kumo’ won 12 international awards including the 43rd Student Academy Awards®, CINE Golden Eagle Award, City Vision’s Technical Achievement Award, 2016 New York Women in Film & Television grant, and 3 Best Director Awards in Europe and Asia. She has directed several national TV commercials in the United States and has created moving commercial stories. She also works as a commercial photographer, and has photographed for editorials in Vogue, Glamour, People and Conde Nast Travel among many others. Her photography has won the prestigious International Photography Award, medalled multiple times in the Prix de la Photographie competition in Paris and has been featured on the front page of the New York Times and BBC News. Yvonne received her MFA in Film & Productions from City College in New York and is a graduate of the prestigious Brooks Institute of Photography.

• Non-Fiction Film Director
• Portrait Photographer
• Documentary DP
• Production Company
• Product Photographer
• Fixer

Augusto graduated with a master's degree in cinematography from the American Film Institute (AFI) from which he received a scholarship from Audi USA on behalf of the AFI Awards television series The Mandalorian. During the time in Los Angeles, Augusto has filmed as a Director of Photography, different short films in digital and film format in 35mm. Augusto is an associate member of the Society of Camera Operators (SOC). Augusto has been involved as a cinematographer in different projects, from music videos and publicity to fiction/narrative and documentary short films, leading him to win different awards among which stand out: Best Cinematography in a Mexican Short Film at the Cristal Screen festival in 2017 with the short film "Desaparecido", the Diosa de Plata for best fiction short film in 2018 with “Getsemaní Ego Sum Lux Mundi” and the audience award for best fiction short film at the Morelia International Film Festival in 2019 with “Hierba Mala”. In July 2022, Augusto filmed the feature documentary “La Raiz de Mi Ombligo” in Oaxaca, Mexico. This project was accepted for the mentorship program “Talent Demo” part of the Camerimage film festival in November 2022 at Toruń, Poland. His mentors were the documentary filmmaker Jon Kasbe and award-winning cinematographer at Cameraimage, Alejandro Mejía AMC. Currently, he is in the pre-production of a narrative short film and a feature film project for the end of the year 2023

• Documentary DP
• Commercial DP
• News Shooter / Video Journalist
• Creative Director
• Editorial Photographer / Photojournalist
• Landscape Photographer
• Portrait Photographer
• Product Photographer
• Fashion Photographer
• Corporate Videographer

Noel Maxam, and having directed, written, or produced over 3700 hours of television (CBS, NBC, Disney and Nick-at-Nite) is also Founder of Emagispace and has taken his patented modular building block system to market. "The On-Demand Economy calls for ever-changing use of space, but pre-determined interior spaces are rigidly built making change difficult, expensive, and time consuming. Emagispace® is an adaptive, reusable, modular building block system that allows you to create, reconfigure, and repurpose your spaces while saving time, increasing efficiency, and maximizing your budget. Now anyone can build almost anything, anywhere, anytime!" Noel is also freelance producing, directing, consulting for startup media companies, and investing. He has worked as Co-Executive Producer, Supervising Producer and Director on NBC’s "Days of Our Lives". He was brought on board to modernize the shows production, optimize the budget, and raise the ratings. During Noel’s tenure, "Days of Our Lives" was produced for ½ the budget, climbed to number three in the ratings, and was renewed through 2013. In 2009, "Days" was nominated for two DGA Awards, and 13 Emmy nominations. In 2012, "Days" was nominated for 15 Emmy Awards. While at "Days", Noel transitioned the show to HD and oversaw the first 3D Daytime Drama production. Previously, Noel was a Director/Associate Producer for "The Young and the Restless" where he won four Emmy Awards (8 Nominations) and was twice nominated for a DGA Award. While at "Y&R”, Noel modernized their post production and helped transition them to HD. In addition, Noel was nominated for an Emmy as a staff writer for "As The World Turns" and has written/optioned three television series, four screenplays. He also wrote the intro to Virgin Interactive's CD-Rom "Circle of Doom" and wrote Activision's "Dark Reign". Noel is a graduate of the Interlochen Arts Academy, Carnegie Mellon University (B.F.A.) and the USC (M.F.A. in Film and Video Production).

• News Shooter / Video Journalist
• Senior Producer / Project Manager
• Product Photographer
• Copywriter
• Production Company
• Line Producer / On-Location
• Non-Fiction Film Director
• Creative Director
• Editorial Photographer / Photojournalist
• Event Photographer
• Audio Storyteller
• HD Live Operator
• Corporate Videographer
• Series Producer / Show Runner
• Landscape Photographer
• Portrait Photographer

I am from Milan, Italy, and I immigrated to the US in 2009. In Milan, I achieved my bachelor's in Advertising as a copywriter then won a grant to join one of the finest film companies at the time, Central Productions. After a few steps in commercials, I joined a Post facility (Rumblefish) where I worked as an AVID editor (commercials, documentaries, TV Shows, you name it) in the pioneering years of NLE, the mid-'90s. After three years immersed in Post, I began to freelance and merge my advertising studies with my tech skills. I evolved professionally as a writer, video, and convention director across Europe for Fortune 50, as well as filming documentary footage in Tibet. Relocating to the US was a major change in my life. I went through a long immigration process and health challenges. From the time I arrived in the US to the time I received a life-changing green card, I endured years of unemployment due to Visa restrictions, and battled cancer at the bone marrow while being a stay-at-home dad to my newborn daughter. Such experiences shaped my approach to work in new ways– I’ve learned the literal meaning of resilience, increased my empathy, and try to make days meaningful and joyful. In 2016, I wrote and directed my first US short film called Thank You Rebbe. In 2017, at the age of 44, I received my green card and returned to collaborating and volunteering with film projects. Soon, I was helping nonprofits meet their filmmaking needs, and in 2018, I accepted a full-time position as a video director at the Jewish United Fund of Chicago. The first project I wrote and produced was a video raising awareness about anti-Semitism in the US. In 2020, I received a Silver Telly Award and a Midwest EMMY nomination for this video. In 2021, my short film Thank You Rebbe won the Best Jewish Film Award at the Cannes World Film Festival - Remember The Future competition. My professional expertise includes developing creative strategy, managing creative and production teams, and developing content for Arts, Broadcast, Corporate, Entertainment, and Non-Profit initiatives. My passion for storytelling led me to wear multiple hats, from founding niche social networks to directing videos and conventions. I love to travel and have developed projects in China, the Czech Republic, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Russia, Tibet, and the USA.

• Non-Fiction Film Director
• Editorial Photographer / Photojournalist
• Translator
• Creative Director
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Senior Producer / Project Manager
• Portrait Photographer
• Content Strategist
• Video Editor - Commercial
• Production Company

Roham Rahmanian Roham Rahmanian is a cinematographer and director, who is obsessed with storytelling. His passion for adventure and photography has led him to shoot and operate in the air, underwater and everywhere in between. Most recently, Rahmanian shot the cover of TIME Magazine’s June 2018 Drone special that won the prestigious 2019 ASME award for best business and technology cover. The image is the first in the magazine’s history shot with a drone, and features 958 ​Intel Shooting Star drones in a 328-foot-tall version of the iconic red logo and border. Alongside two colleagues, he is a founder of The Astronaut's Guild, a visionary production company that blends high technology and virtual reality. over the past decade, Rahmanian has lensed thousands of commercials for clients including Sony, Mercedes Benz and Coca-Cola. This year he also traveled the world with DP Paul Cameron, ASC shooting Apple’s most recent commercial campaign. Rahmanian has also worked extensively with cinematographer Ben Seresin, with whom he shares a passion for aeronautical formation flying and YAK jet trainers. For the past four years, he has also worked with the Oscar nominated-DP Greig Fraser, ASC, ACS on numerous commercials as his digital technologist. In 2017, Rahmanian received the International Cinematographers Guild (ICG)’s prestigious Emerging Cinematographer Award for his film ​Break the Will,​ which screened at the renowned Camerimage International Film Festival in Poland. Also in film, Rahmanian worked with Matthew Libatique, ASC on ​Straight Outta Compton​ as camera operator and underwater operator; and on director Doug Liman’s ​Chaos Walking​ as on set colorist. His work on music videos includes directing and underwater cinematography on outstanding clips, such as ​My Willing Heart​ for James Blake starring a pregnant Natalie Portman and Guy Pearce’s ​Golden Heart​. After graduating from USC's School of Cinematic Arts, Rahmanian’s experience with cameras allowed him to find work as a Digital Imaging Technician for film, TV, and commercials. He is Canadian and currently resides in the U.S.A. While Rahmanian has always viewed life through the lens of a camera, he also has his sights set on becoming an astronaut. Given that he gained his pilot license by age 26, he may well become the world’s first astronaut cinematographer. He is a Local IATSE Guild member in both Los Angeles, California and Vancouver, British Columbia.

• Commercial DP
• Production Company
• News Shooter / Video Journalist
• Documentary DP
• Corporate Videographer
• Drone Operator
• Line Producer / On-Location
• Senior Producer / Project Manager
• Non-Fiction Film Director
• Creative Director
• Post-Production Manager
• Gaffer
• Translator
• Colorist
• Event Photographer
• Landscape Photographer
• Portrait Photographer
• Product Photographer
• Fashion Photographer
• Mobile Journalist / Livestreamer
• HD Live Operator
• Full-Service Live Production
• Immersive/Spatial Video Capture
• Reporter / Journalist
• Audio Storyteller
• Fixer

Justin L. Stewart is an independent visual journalist from Jackson Hole, Wyoming who is currently based in Los Angeles, California. Justin earned his Master of Arts in Journalism from the Missouri School of Journalism at the University of Missouri and his Bachelor of Arts in Film & Photography from Montana State University - Bozeman. He likes to work on projects that utilize his videography and photography skills - or any that give him a reason to fly his drone. Justin's work has been published in The Atlantic, TIME's Lightbox, Al Jazeera, ESPN, The New York Times, The Guardian, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The Boston Globe and many other outlets. He contributed to Spike Lee's "2 Fists Up," documentary about the protests and unrest on the University of Missouri's campus during the fall semester of 2015.

• Editorial Photographer / Photojournalist
• News Shooter / Video Journalist
• Documentary DP
• Sound Mixer
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Sound Designer
• Reporter / Journalist
• Commercial DP
• Drone Operator
• Production Assistant
• Video Editor - News
• Audio Storyteller
• Fixer
• Corporate Videographer
• Non-Fiction Film Director
• Portrait Photographer

Mogli owns and operates his own multi-media production business called, The Mogli, where he creates compelling visual content for hotel/resorts, businesses, non- profits, and media outlets, as well as local artists and musicians for passion projects. In addition, he's an avid traveller, very adaptable and have experience shooting photos and videos in many different environments, including the Amazon jungle, Peru, West Africa, Asia, Philippines and many others. Experience being on set in short and feature length films as; Cinematography, 1st & 2nd AC, DIT and On Set Photography. Mogli’s work has been featured in outlets such as Business Insider, Quartz, California magazine, placed work at the de Young Museum, SF and many more.

• Production Company
• Music Composer
• Sound Designer
• Documentary DP
• Creative Director
• Sound Mixer
• Grip
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Production Assistant
• News Shooter / Video Journalist
• Commercial DP
• Gaffer
• Editorial Photographer / Photojournalist
• Fixer
• Colorist
• Landscape Photographer
• Audio Storyteller
• Portrait Photographer
• Event Photographer
• Fashion Photographer
• Video Editor - Commercial
• Product Photographer
• Drone Operator

Jordyn is an award-winning documentary filmmaker, director and cinematographer. She grew up in the Rocky Mountains of Santa Fe, NM where she spent most weekends racing down the Rio Grande or hiking for fresh powder. From this innate need for exploration, her passion for filmmaking was born. She’s created work for brands including Specialized Bikes, GoPro, and Sierra Nevada. Her most recent film, We Are Like Waves, was released with The Los Angeles Times. Her films have premiered at Oscar qualifying festivals, won jury and audience awards, and played in over 20 countries around the world. Through her creative endeavors, she aims to amplify the voices of diverse women in the outdoor industry.

• Documentary DP
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Portrait Photographer
• Non-Fiction Film Director
• Fixer
• News Shooter / Video Journalist

I'm a film student currently attending school at University of California, San Diego with a minor in Literature/Writing. I was born and raised in Saigon, Vietnam and currently based in Anaheim and San Diego. I got into filmmaking because I am both intrigued by the creative writing process and I have a deep passion for photography/cinematography. When I combined these two elements together, I realized that I could make something meaningful with it, and I decided to pursue this field. So far, I have written and directed two short student films as part of a production program called Triton Television, in which I am also a producer for. Although I am film student, I'm looking to build my experiences as an artist and as a person wanting to know more about the creative industry.

• Non-Fiction Film Director
• Creative Director
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Editorial Photographer / Photojournalist
• Landscape Photographer
• Portrait Photographer
• Fashion Photographer
• Fixer
• Production Assistant

Ben Dorger is a filmmaker, photographer and visual journalist based in Ventura, California. Ben has a Masters in New Media Photojournalism from the Corcoran College of Art and Design and has a BFA in Media Art from the University of Tennessee. His work has been published in USA Today and The Washington Post and he was the Senior Video Editor at Stone Soup Films in Washington, DC. Ben was an award-winning multimedia journalist at the Standard-Examiner newspaper in Ogden, Utah. He has had multiple independent documentary films screen in several film festivals. His latest independent film, "Shad Run," an environmental film chronicling the American Shad fish, is making its rounds in film festivals and aired on public television.

• News Shooter / Video Journalist
• Documentary DP
• Commercial DP
• Corporate Videographer
• Drone Operator
• Production Assistant
• Video Editor - News
• Video Editor - Commercial
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Editorial Photographer / Photojournalist
• Event Photographer
• Landscape Photographer
• Portrait Photographer
• Non-Fiction Film Director

Eilish is an award winning American documentary filmmaker and photographer based between New York City and Atlanta. She was inspired at a young age by aunts and uncles working in conservation with state and federal agencies. Eilish has been fortunate to be mentored by National Geographic, Emmy Award-winning director and writer Kevin McCarey (a recent inductee to the Explorer’s Club). She is passionate about the environment and presenting issues to inspire people’s awareness and desire for change. Eilish has also spent many years as a freelance illustrator and graphic designer, creating custom pieces for individuals as well as children’s books.

• Documentary DP
• News Shooter / Video Journalist
• Senior Producer / Project Manager
• Non-Fiction Film Director
• Creative Director
• Field Producer
• Fixer
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Social Media Producer
• Editorial Photographer / Photojournalist
• Event Photographer
• Landscape Photographer
• Portrait Photographer
• Product Photographer
• Content Strategist
• Sound Mixer
• Production Assistant
• Grip
• Senior Editor

Zadi Diaz has extensive experience creating non-fiction shows and docu-series for companies including Disney, Dreamworks Animation, and Google. She has developed and produced over 500 episodes of shows distributed across digital and streaming platforms. As an independent filmmaker, her current work centers on BIPOC narratives, nature, and technology. She's a member of the Producers Guild of America, the International Academy of Arts and Sciences, and has won several Webby awards for her online work. Zadi is based in Los Angeles, California, was born and raised in New York City, and is of Dominican descent.

• Non-Fiction Film Director
• Series Producer / Show Runner
• Editorial Photographer / Photojournalist
• Landscape Photographer
• Portrait Photographer
• Digital Content Creator
• Executive Producer
• News Shooter / Video Journalist
• Production Company
• Documentary DP
• Creative Director
• Senior Producer / Project Manager

Capturing and crafting images since a young age Mark aims to bring a story to life by bringing a perspective that is shaped by an earnest examination of the subject. Bringing a clear, honest, direct viewpoint to let the images come alive and speak for themselves. With over 15 years of experience shooting mostly commercial, corporate, and non-profit videos for brands ranging from Adventist Health, Abbott Labs and ALDI to Capital One, Choose Chicago, and Blue Cross Blue Shield. Mark will bring a creative eye to your project while helping to cultivate a collaborative environment.

• Commercial DP
• Portrait Photographer
• Product Photographer
• Corporate Videographer
• Documentary DP

Documentary filmmaker based in Los Angeles California. I'm most comfortable holding the camera or coloring the footage but I enjoy doing the entire documentary process in my own work. I enjoy verite and observational projects that question the status quo and explore the freedom in form that Documentary film allows for. After studying multi-media storytelling in undergrad I got my masters from Chapman's Dodge Film School in Documentary Film Production. To watch my thesis film please go to https://vimeo.com/547764049 password:waterislife

• Non-Fiction Film Director
• Video Editor - Documentary
• Documentary DP
• Senior Producer / Project Manager
• Sound Mixer
• Portrait Photographer
• Fixer