Today we’d like to introduce you to Jingkun Huang
Hi Jingkun, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My journey into becoming a cinematographer can be described as a natural extension of my passion evolving into a profession. Like many film students, I entered the field driven by a love for cinema. During college, I not only learned film theory but also gained hands-on experience with various camera equipment, shooting numerous short films and student projects, which helped me build a solid foundation.
I constantly challenge myself by working on a variety of projects, from documentaries to narrative films, and from commercials to music videos. Each project comes with its own unique demands, teaching me how to strike a balance between technical precision and artistic vision. As a cinematographer, I believe the most important thing is to always keep learning. With technology and visual storytelling evolving, I aim to improve continuously through practice and innovation.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Like many people entering the film industry, I faced my share of challenges, especially early on. One of the biggest struggles was getting my foot in the door. Cinematography is a competitive field, and when you’re just starting out, it’s hard to find opportunities that pay or provide the kind of experience you need to grow. I spent a lot of time working on student films, indie projects, and low-budget shoots—often with little to no pay—just to build a reel and make connections.
On a personal level, it was also difficult to deal with the uncertainty of freelance work. There are times when the jobs are few and far between, and the insecurity of not knowing when the next paycheck will come can be stressful. It took time to build a steady stream of clients and establish myself in the industry.
Another hurdle was constantly learning and keeping up with the evolving technology. Cameras, lighting setups, and software are always changing, and staying current can feel overwhelming. You need to constantly educate yourself, practice, and sometimes invest in new gear, which can be costly.
But through it all, I think those challenges made me a better cinematographer. The tough times pushed me to be more creative, more adaptable, and more determined. They helped me build resilience and a thick skin, which are essential traits in this industry.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
In my work as a cinematographer, I specialize in visual storytelling that balances technical precision with artistic expression. I’ve worked across a range of projects—short films, documentaries, commercials, and music videos—each demanding its own unique visual language. While I enjoy experimenting with different genres, I’m particularly drawn to narrative films where I can use lighting, composition, and movement to evoke emotion and enhance the story.
One thing I think differentiates me is my background from documentary world. I have spent my whole undergraduate on shooting documentary and short film, which gives me another sense of understanding stories and using lenses. I always believe that there is not a story which can be shot apart from the era and society. Thanks to the experience of shooting documentary, I have deeper and smarted eyes when I started to shoot narratives.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
As a cinematographer who has long worked on documentaries and is now transitioning to narrative films, I believe the most important lesson is balancing “adaptability” with “sensitivity.” In documentary filmmaking, I got used to working in uncontrolled environments, capturing naturally unfolding events and emotions. This taught me how to constantly adjust and seize authentic moments. This experience remains valuable as I shift to narrative filmmaking, but the challenges and demands of fiction films are quite different.
In documentaries, the greatest lesson I learned was how to wait, observe, and use the camera to capture the most genuine emotions and details. When working on narrative films, this experience helps me design shots with a heightened sensitivity to subtle emotional changes. I rely not only on the script or the actors’ performances but also on those spontaneous moments that can visually enhance the emotional depth of the story.
Shifting to narrative filmmaking made me realize that, although we have more control over lighting, scenes, and actors’ movements, the documentary-like flexibility and the ability to capture true emotions remain central to creating a visually compelling language. This means I need to bring the sensitivity from documentaries into narrative films while also learning to use more precise technical methods and carefully designed scenes to serve the overall pacing and emotion of the story.
Through this process, I’ve learned an important lesson: as a cinematographer, whether working in documentary or narrative films, you must never lose sight of the story itself. Cinematography techniques are just tools; what truly matters is how you use those tools to enhance and support the storytelling.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamison_huang_?igsh=NGVhN2U2NjQ0Yg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Other: IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm13849670
Image Credits
Still frames from recent works, Close, Summer Wedding, Cocoon.
