Meet Eric DeHaven | CEO of DeHaven Camera Rentals – Cinematographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Eric DeHaven and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Eric, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Originally I needed to aquire cameras and lenses for the work I was doing creatively for my professional projects. I quickly realized that I could suppliment the costs of that gear by renting it out. But over time we created some amazing relationships with our customers and it became even more apparent that we could use our company as a hub for knowladge and support of filmmakers. So giving back to our community by hosting free educational events and other workshops also became an important part of our work. This goes all the way down to each and every rental we do. Unlike most of our competitors we dont just hand gear off and hope that the customer knows everything about all the items they have requested or even that they will all work together. Since the gear in our industry is so complex we have focused on assisting each and every customer with the configuration and compatibility but also we are here to assist them in a helpful way if they are unsure or have never used an item in the package. This goes to the heart of our ethos of giving back to an industry that has given us an amazing 30yr career

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
What has really set us apart from other cinema focused rental houses is our customer service. We have put a huge emphasis on a Knowladgeable and Friendly vibe. A place where our customers can feel comfortable and supported for all their projects. Many of our customers call us up with questions on maybe what cameras we suggest, how to best light a scene they have in mind, etc.. We have such a great staff with so much expreience that our clients feel secure in knowing we are here for them. As well we put a lot of time into properly maintaining our gear, which means that it will function as expected when our customers get to their shoot. This is very key as many of our competitors either do not own most of the gear they rent (they sub rent from others) or they do not have a trained tech to service it which leads to inconsistancy and high failure rates. We really go to great lengths to make this this is where we stand out.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
That question is easy. I am outdoorsman and a Coffee and whiskey lover so we would start with a latte at our coffee shop, which resides in a building in front of our rental shop! House Coffee Co. after that a day of Scuba Diving out of Catalina or Rock climbing in Malibu Creek.. Then a nice dinner at Girl and Goat in DTLA and finish it off with some whiskey at Bar Jackalope at Seven Grand in DTLA.. Perfect day for me!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My biggest shoutout is to my wife Nicole. She was a classicly trained Chef of 20 years and choose to quit her job and own dreams to jump in feet first and help run our business. Without her this whole thing would not be possible. She is the first voice you here when you call in to the shop, she greats all the customers and manages most of our orders. Her sacrifice and support is what has made this possible

Website: www.dehavencamera.com

Instagram: dehavencamera

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DeHavenCamera