Meet Zhihan Zhang | Cinematographer & Director of Photography

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

Hi Zhihan, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
My career really started after graduating from the Savannah College of Art and Design in 2016 with my first master’s degree. I was fortunate to begin working on fashion films, commercials, short films, and documentaries, collaborating with brands like Dior, Gucci, and Fendi, as well as platforms such as Nowness, while working back and forth between China and the United States. Those early projects gave me valuable experience and the chance to understand how different styles and cultures could come together through cinematography.

Later, I continued my studies at AFI, where I graduated in 2025 with my second master’s degree in cinematography. It was a time to focus more deeply on narrative filmmaking, to challenge myself, make mistakes, and grow alongside peers who were just as passionate about storytelling and the craft of cinematography.

Looking back, I’ve tried to approach each stage not just as a job, but as a step toward finding my own voice as a cinematographer. I still feel I’m in the process of learning and refining, but each project has brought me a little closer to the kind of images and style I hope to create.

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.
As a cinematographer, my work is about finding poetry in images — not just capturing what’s in front of the lens, but creating a visual language that can evoke memory, emotion, and atmosphere. I’ve always been drawn to the balance between technical precision and a romantic, almost fragile sense of beauty. That balance, I think, is what sets my work apart. In many ways, I’ve been deeply influenced by the films of Wong Kar-wai and the novels of Haruki Murakami — both show how mood, memory, and longing can become a narrative in themselves, often more powerful than plot. My professional journey has been shaped by moving between China and the United States. After graduating from SCAD in 2016, I began working on fashion films, commercials, and documentaries, collaborating with brands like Dior, Gucci, and Fendi, and platforms like Nowness. Those experiences taught me how style and culture influence the way we see, and how important it is to develop a visual identity that feels authentic. Later, at AFI, I had the chance to focus more deeply on narrative filmmaking, working with mentors like Stephen Lighthill, ASC, and learning alongside peers equally devoted to the craft.
It hasn’t always been easy — working independently means facing uncertainty, financial pressure, and the challenge of proving yourself again and again. But those challenges taught me resilience and the importance of trusting my instincts. I’ve also learned that collaboration is everything; every director, producer, and crew member I’ve worked with has left an imprint on how I approach the work.
What I hope the world sees in my cinematography is a voice that blends Eastern and Western sensibilities, technical discipline with emotional openness. I want my images to linger, to feel like a memory — fleeting yet unforgettable.

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 came to visit, I’d want to show them the city the way I experience it — through coffee, film, books, and small moments that feel cinematic.

We’d start most mornings in Pasadena, where I live. I’d take them to Jones Coffee Roasters or Republik Coffee for a slow morning, maybe Lavender & Honey if we want something sweeter. Afterwards, we’d walk through Old Pasadena, browsing vintage shops and small bookstores — places where I often find unexpected inspiration.

One day we’d make it a film day: a visit to the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, or catching a screening at the American Cinematheque or the New Beverly. I’d want them to feel the history of cinema that runs through this city. Another day, we’d escape to the coast — driving along the Pacific Coast Highway to Malibu, stopping at Malibu Seafood for lunch, and ending with the sunset at El Matador Beach. It’s one of those places that always feels like a scene from a film.

In the evenings, we’d explore LA’s food. Korean BBQ in Koreatown, ramen in Little Tokyo, and maybe one night at Musso & Frank Grill to soak in that old Hollywood atmosphere. On quieter nights, I’d stay local in Pasadena — a relaxed dinner, maybe followed by a walk through the neighborhood — or take them to Griffith Observatory to look out over the whole city glittering at night.

For me, LA is a mix of energy and stillness. The vintage stores, the cafés, the ocean, the old theaters — they’re all different layers of the same city. That’s what I’d want my friend to experience: not just the landmarks, but the feeling of living inside a film, where every detail can become a memory.

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 first to my parents, who have always supported me unconditionally and given me the confidence to pursue this path. I’m also deeply grateful to Stephen Lighthill, ASC, and the other faculty members in the AFI cinematography discipline, whose guidance has shaped the way I see and approach the craft. Studying and growing alongside my fellow cinematographers at AFI has also been an invaluable part of my journey.

I want to especially thank Bill Bennett, ASC. Over the years, I’ve written countless emails to him with questions about cinematography, and he has always taken the time to respond with patience and generosity. His advice has guided me in both my artistic and professional growth.

I also want to acknowledge my friends, especially the fashion directors I’ve worked with in Shanghai, whose creativity and vision have influenced my aesthetic and made me realize the importance of developing a personal style. And finally, I’m thankful for all of the collaborators I’ve had the chance to work with, both in China and the US — every project and every partnership has left an imprint on me and helped me grow as an artist.

Website: https://www.zhihanzhang.work

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