Meet Dakota Lim | Director, Videographer, Photographer

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

Hi Dakota, what is the most important factor behind your success?
The most important factor behind my success is my friends. My friends always push me to dig deeper in all aspects of my life, whether creatively, physically, or mentally.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I think my experience is what sets me apart.

I first started taking photos on family trips. I was hella into landscape and urban photography. Later in high school, I started vlogging and that was the start of my video journey. I filmed my first music video, a rap video, when I was 15. Fun fact, the rappers waved a gun into my camera and at me. From that day on, I became a certified rap music video director. Jokes aside, I learned so much from doing music videos like how to be an entrepreneur, how to edit, and how to make good looking images.

Around this time, Tyler Casey, a Bay Area music video director, invited me to my first official music video set. It opened my eyes to the world of film production, and showed me that there was more to video than just pointing a camera. Throughout high school, I continued to explore videography and photography.

Toward the end of high school, I met Hokage Simon and Jammy, both amazing music artists, who introduced me to the Bay Area music scene. I graduated high school during the pandemic, and during that time I sharpened my skills in directing, cinematography, videography, and photography. It hasn’t been easy to get where I am, but like I said earlier I’m only here because of the friends and people around me.

I think the most important thing I’ve learned during my creative journey is to keep the kid in me who loves to create alive.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m from American Canyon, which is between Vallejo and Napa. I’m all about going outdoors so we’d have to hit up some of my favorite spots like Point Reyes, Mill Valley, Lake Berryessa, the redwoods, and of course, SF.

We’d also have to hit the Purdue house in Davis where all my close creative homies and college friends go to kick it.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to shout out my dad, who bought me my first camera, a Nikon 1 J3, and my mom, who is the best mom in the world. I love you ma.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bydakotalim/?hl=en

Youtube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZbuYTfV78Z49d77PLtRxo0T_L_Pf6r1W&si=T07i41CeZcHrwTBI

Image Credits
Ange Shao
Miguel Mallari
CAL-A
Samuel Han
GP