Meet VEDANT DAVE | DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY

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

Hi VEDANT, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
For me, choosing a creative career wasn’t just about following a passion, it felt like answering a calling. From a young age, I was drawn to cameras, light, and the magic of storytelling. What started as making fun YouTube videos with my best friend slowly grew into a lifelong pursuit of visual expression.

I pursued this path because I’ve always believed that art has a unique power to connect people, to break cultural barriers, and to make someone feel seen. Growing up in Mumbai, filmmaking wasn’t considered the “safe” or “traditional” career choice, but I couldn’t ignore the pull I felt toward it. Every time I picked up a camera, it felt like I was closer to understanding myself and the world around me.

The creative field allows me to merge both sides of my personality, the technical and the emotional. As a Director of Photography I get to shape light and images in a way that feels both precise and poetic. That balance is what keeps me inspired. I pursued this career because I want to tell stories that linger, images that carry emotion, and films that spark conversations long after the credits roll.

At the end of the day, filmmaking is more than a profession for me, it’s the language I use to express empathy, curiosity, and joy. That’s why I chose this path, and why I can’t imagine doing anything else.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My art lives at the intersection of storytelling and emotion. As a Director of Photography, what sets me apart is my ability to use lighting and composition not just for aesthetics, but to amplify what the characters are feeling. I lean toward naturalistic, grounded visuals that immerse the audience in the story without distracting from it. I’m most proud of creating images that feel subtle yet impactful, where the emotion lingers longer than the shot itself.

The path to where I am today has been anything but easy. I started in Mumbai with no clear roadmap, just curiosity, a camera, and the willingness to learn. Convincing my family about filmmaking as a career was the first challenge; rebuilding my network and career from scratch after moving to Los Angeles was the next. At times, I struggled with communication anxiety and cultural differences on set, but over time I turned those challenges into strengths, learning to listen, collaborate, and lead with empathy.

The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that growth in this industry comes from patience, persistence, and genuine collaboration. Opportunities often come from showing up consistently, being reliable, and caring about the story more than your own spotlight.

What I want the world to know about my work is that it’s rooted in empathy. I approach every project with the intention to listen, whether that’s to the director’s vision, the energy of the set, or the emotional truth of the story. For me, filmmaking is not just about visuals, it’s about connection. That’s the foundation of my brand, and the reason I hope people walk away from my work feeling seen, moved, and inspired.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend was visiting LA for a week, I’d give them the perfect mix of film, food, and adventure.

On the film side, I’d take them to the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, a studio tour at Warner Bros., and a night screening at The New Beverly Cinema or American Cinematheque, because watching films in LA has its own kind of magic.

Food-wise, we’d stay close to my favorite spots around Koreatown and Silver Lake. I’d take them for late-night Korean BBQ, hole-in-the-wall taco joints, and some of the coolest coffee shops and bars in Silver Lake. We’d definitely hit a couple of clubs in that area too, the nightlife there has such a creative, laid-back vibe.

For adventure, we’d go snowboarding up in Big Bear or Mountain High and then switch it up with a surfing day in Pacific Coast. That’s what I love about LA, you can literally go from snow to surf in the same week.

LA is a place where art, culture, food, and nature collide, and that’s exactly what I’d want my best friend to experience.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to dedicate my shoutout to my friend Dharam Joshi, who was there with me when this journey first began. We started making videos together back in school, and today he’s building his career in the Indian film industry. Even from across the world, his support and encouragement have meant a lot to me. I also want to recognize Casey Neistat, his energy and creativity during my YouTube days inspired me at a young age to pick up a camera and start telling stories, which ultimately led me to where I am today.

Website: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm16005191/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vedantxdave/?igsh=ZDd4amRzOWZ5bmw3&utm_source=qr#