Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristel Gomez.
Hi Kristel, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My name is Kristel Elizabeth Gomez and I am a cinematographer based in Los Angeles. I was born and raised in a Texas border town called Laredo. Growing up I was surrounded by so much creativity due to my family being very artistic in many different mediums. From music, food, to photography and film. My father, who is an avid photographer, was the person who introduced me to photography. He had an amazing collection of vintage cameras and gave me my first 35mm film camera at the age 11. My sister and cousins became my muses and my neighborhood became my landscape. It was then that I discovered my passion for photography. Around my junior year in high school is when I discovered director David Lynch’s work and I knew right there and then that I wanted to work in film. His work was so abstract, I didn’t know films could be like that, it was so was fascinating. I graduated from the University of Incarnate Word in San Antonio Texas in 2009 with a B.A. in Communications & Video Production.
At that time I had no idea women could be cinematographers so I was aiming toward producing. Shortly after graduating I moved to Los Angeles where I P.A. for multiple projects in different departments while freelancing in photography by doing headshots and corporate events. I couldn’t figure out where I fit in the industry, frustrated I decided to pursue a different career and that is when I migrated into the fashion industry. My sister, who is a fashion stylist in Los Angeles, and I decided to open a showroom called Proveer, where we sold sustainable clothing from Latin America. We wanted to support our heritage as well as promote sustainability in the fashion industry. It was a great experience and we were lucky to be featured in magazines like Elle and Marie Claire. As we both grew busy with other ventures we decided it was best to say goodbye to Proveer. I went back to school where I was able to attain my M.F.A in Cinematography at Mount Saint Marys University in Los Angeles. It was there that I was able to fully embrace what I felt was my calling. Photography wasn’t just a hobby or a part-time job anymore, it was a career and even better when I could make my photos come to live.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No, It defiantly has not been a smooth road. I was always jealous of those people that always knew what they wanted to be when they grew up and followed a linear path to achieve it. Sadly, I was not one of those, I had to find myself by doing a little bit of everything and that’s ok. Everything has been a learning experience and I don’t take any of it for granted. My biggest struggle has been learning that people, especially in this industry, are going to say no to you and reject you many times, but it should never stop you from moving forward.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a still photographer and cinematographer. I work on clothing campaigns, short narratives, documentaries, and music videos. What helps my process is that I treat each project as an individual and don’t focus on putting my stamp on them as much as what I need to accomplish to move the story forward. Whether that is through lighting, lenses, shot styles, etc. I feel like I don’t have a defined style because of that, I focus on the story and what works for it not on how to make it my own. One of the many reasons I love working as a DP is that I get to collaborate with people. The meeting of minds coming together to create something is so fulfilling to me, and I am proud at what I have accomplished in these short three years of my career.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
That I own over 1000 blu rays and dvds that I use as references for my work. I’m in my mid-30s so I grew up actually buying hard copies. Before streaming you needed to buy or rent these films, especially the rare criterion ones. I could spend hours at Ameoba’s film section just browsing. There was this certain rush you got when you finally got your hands on a rare copy. One of my favorite purchases is “The Conformist” by Bernardo Bertolucci. Vittorio Storaro’s cinematography in that film is superb, the shadows and symmetry is so inspiring. Now you have access to all these films online, but I kept all my films and still use them as references and inspiration.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.kristelegomez.com
- Instagram: @kristel_elizabeth
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristel-elizabeth-gomez-b83a0826
- Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3894000/
