Meet Gaby | Cinematographer & Assistant Camera

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

Hi Gaby, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
Being anything other than an artist never really felt like an option for me. From a young age, I was fascinated by visual art in all its forms, and it was just a matter of figuring out which medium could truly hold everything I wanted to express. I started with drawing and painting, which taught me how to observe the world, but photography opened the door to a deeper connection. Behind a camera, I realized how powerful lighting, color, and composition could be, not just to create something beautiful, but to tell a story, spark emotion, and make someone feel understood.
While I was exploring photography, I was also falling in love with movies, shows, and theater. When I finally had the chance to film someone in an acting class, everything clicked for me. Cinematography gave me the mix of visual expression, storytelling, and human connection that I had been searching for in every other medium. Being on a set surrounded by people all working toward a shared creative vision felt like the missing piece. It gave me the collaboration and sense of community I never completely got from drawing, painting, or shooting alone. Filmmaking lets me be involved in creating something that resonates beyond just me, and create work that can connect with people. Because of that, I can’t imagine doing anything else.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I always approach cinematography from the perspective of what best serves the story and the characters. Whether I’m working on a comedy, drama, or thriller, my visuals are never just about looking pretty, but about emotionally grounding the audience in what the scene is trying to say. I think it’s important to have range and adaptability as a cinematographer, and the challenge of trying something new always excites me. I first had the chance to grow my skills when I moved to the US to pursue my film career and attended the Los Angeles Film School. Moving to a new country to pursue my goals was sometimes overwhelming and scary, but it has been worth it because of the people I have met, the things I have learned, and the great projects I’ve worked on. I’m proud of all the progress I have made as a filmmaker in my time here, both as a student, and the time I have had as a graduate. During my time at the Los Angeles Film School, I had a great time working as the cinematographer on award-winning student shorts such as “Sybil” directed by Stella Bleau, which won the Silver Award for Best Student Short at the Independent Shorts Awards in 2025, and the short film “Enough”, directed by Maxine Rödiger, which won 14 awards world-wide, including the award for Best Women’s Short Film at the Thilsri International Film Festival in 2025. At that same festival, I also received an award for my poster design on “Enough”. Right now, I am very excited for people to see my cinematography work in my upcoming short films. Starting its film festival run soon is the film “To Shine Again”, a psychological thriller written and directed by Marcell Leon Virágh, a beautiful project where I learned and improved so much as a cinematographer. Also coming soon to festivals is “In Place”, a romantic dramedy written and directed by Stella Bleau. More than anything, I’m excited to keep meeting more artists, and learning and improving my craft as a cinematographer and assistant camera for as long as I’m able to.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my friends were visiting Los Angeles, I would make sure to take them to La Fonda Antioqueña to eat some great Colombian food, and later have a nice bonfire at the beach. Another day, we could go watch a movie at the Chinese Theater, and go for a fun night out at Brickyard Pub. I would also love to spend an afternoon with them at the Academy Museum or the Grammy Museum.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to dedicate my shoutout to my family, who have supported my goals since the beginning, no matter how uncertain and risky they can be. Being the only person in my family to pursue an artistic career, it can sometimes feel scary and overwhelming to think about letting them down, but they always make sure to let me know that they believe in me, and they always cheer me on from thousands of miles away. I also want to thank the incredible group of filmmakers/friends that I’ve had the honor of creating movies with since I moved to Los Angeles. Their support and belief in me means more than they know, and their passion and talent have pushed me to keep learning and improving as a cinematographer and artist. Lastly, I want to thank my boyfriend for always rooting for me and never letting me doubt myself.

Website: https://www.gabymanzanaresdp.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabymanzzanares

Image Credits
Jeremy Bwrede