When people say urban city, Chicago always comes to mind thanks to its stunning sights and attractions. Add that to its historically rich architecture and dozens of impressive skyscrapers, and Chicago becomes a place to be — especially for filming videography.
Today, we’re spilling the top 15 videographers who have mastered their craft and made a significant mark on Chicago's video production scene. Whether you're organizing a corporate event or need a stellar promotional video, this list will introduce you to the creative minds behind Chicago's excellent videography!
1. Bry Visuals
Credit: Instagram @bryvisuals
Bry Visuals is a talented videographer based in Chicago who specializes in creating marketing videos for bars and clubs. He loves teaching others how to improve their videography skills by sharing camera tips, giving mobile filming ideas, and demonstrating ways to create striking visual effects. Connecting with Gen Z is his expertise, effortlessly showing it through his videos online with fluid camera movements and seamless scene transitions.
2. Chicago Lg
Credit: Instagram @chicago.lg
Driven by her passion for creating memorable travel experiences, Chicago Lg is a dedicated videographer who captures the hidden places of Chicago. Her inspiring reels make every corner come alive with a warm color palette and dynamic storytelling. Expert in advanced drone navigation and aerial cinematography, Chicago Lg captures stunning footage from unique and often overlooked angles, sparking viewers a desire to explore.
3. Luke Kranenburg
Credit: Instagram @lukekran
Luke Kranenburg, the visionary behind Waveland Media, skillfully blends photography and videography to craft captivating advertising content and leave clients spellbound. He’s a passionate storyteller behind the lens who transforms simple ideas into breathtaking cinematic experiences. Luke expertly brings out the essence of Chicago through captivating montages, enhanced with harmonious tones and vivid color grading.
4. Famouss Tae
Credit: Instagram @famouss.tae
In hip-hop, Famouss Tae stands out as a multi-talented artist who combines skills in filmmaking and rapping. His music videos are rich with flashing lights and bold visual effects, often exploring themes of guns and money. Editing every frame of his videos with vibrancy and meticulous color grading is what he excels at the most.
5. Maria Ermakova
Credit: Instagram @mariaa__rmk
With three years of professional videography experience, Maria Ermakova brings a deep passion for her craft to every project. Her expertise extends beyond capturing moments—she also shares her knowledge by teaching photography and ensuring others can craft their own visual stories. Through detailed consultations with her clients, Maria transforms abstract ideas into captivating emotional journeys, making every frame resonate with the intended mood and atmosphere.
6. Max Williams
Credit: Instagram @maxwilliamsvideo
Max Williams is a music videographer who brings a hands-on approach to every detail of video production, from the initial shoot to the final edit. For seven years, he’s navigated the ups and downs of cinematography, delivering high-quality live recordings while leading the video team at Sofar Sounds Chicago. Don’t let your music go unfilmed—work with Max and let him turn your performance into a timeless visual experience.
7. Kelly LaFleur
Credit: Instagram @ k.lafleurfilms
With a flair for capturing unforgettable moments, Kelly LaFleur leads an all-female cinema team dedicated to immortalizing love stories through stunning wedding videos. Their portfolio boasts over 150 films that beautifully frame heartfelt promises and intimate details of ceremonies. Branded as emotionally intelligent filmmakers, they bring every laugh, tear, and tender moment to life with accurate color grading and clear dialogue recording.
8. Shawn Brooks
Credit: Instagram @brookssmedia
As a Chicago-based videographer, Shawn Brooks mainly films commercials and in-depth interviews. He offers insightful advice about production gears and techniques online, helping fellow creators sharpen their skills. By sharing behind-the-scenes of his creative process, Shawn reveals the magic behind compelling storytelling and production design.
9. Heather Layne
Credit: Instagram @layne_ferd
Captivated by skyline views, Heather Layne turns bustling streets and towering buildings of Chicago into visual poetry. With her drone and Fujifilm X-T3, she never misses a detail of the breathtaking urban landscapes. Once you scroll through her feed, you'll experience the city's charm through her expertise in cinematic color grading.
10. By Danielsd
Credit: Instagram @by_danielsd
When looking for a cinematic view of the Chicago skyline, By Danielsd is the expert. He finds joy in exploring every inch of the city through an aerial shot or bird's eye view. With proficiency in drone videography, he highlights the city's architectural beauty and intricate urban patterns through high-resolution footage
11. Way Welling
Credit: Instagram @waywelling
Way Welling is a drone videographer whose success in the filming industry earned a feature in Trope Publishing Co.'s upcoming book. Nikon USA recognized him as one of their top 100 emerging photographers, and his talent also caught the eye of Uproxx for an insightful interview. Way showcases a keen eye for balanced composition and dynamic angles with his skillful use of slow motion and precise color correction.
12. Elisa Lupu
Credit: Instagram @elisa.lupu
Elisa Lupu, a Chicago-based videographer who was originally from Europe, tells compelling stories through ambiance and evocative visuals. She captures growth and life's realizations in motion, blending dramatic music with relatable captions. Elisa's consistent use of dark themes proves that vibrant narratives can bloom even in moody aesthetics.
14. Xropho
Credit: Instagram @vass_visuals
Beyond his love for photography, Vass Visuals is a versatile videographer known for documenting exceptional portraits and covering cosplay events. He makes his projects more appealing and captivating through rich color grading. Vass’ portfolio shines with smooth transitions and mesmerizing effects, making all his videos an actual work of art.
15. Sky Kim
Credit: Instagram @_sky.kim_
Sky Kim's journey took an unexpected turn from pre-medicine studies at the University of Illinois to the bustling world of videography in Chicago. What started as a dream of becoming a doctor evolved into a full-blown passion for creating captivating content. Driven by the mantra "community comes before competition," Sky crafts inspiring videos and shares valuable production tips while showcasing his skills in drones.
That ends our list of the top 15 exceptional videographers in Chicago. But the journey doesn't end here – whenever you need insights about them in navigating your creative projects, you can always return to this page. This blog is your gateway to the city's most skilled visual artists, each offering a distinct lens on how they view Chicago.
Here's a plus: if you're an aspiring content creator needing help editing your raw clips, Jumper Creation is your guy for transforming visuals into world-class post-prod masterpieces.