Daily Inspiration: Meet Joshua Wordel

Today we’d like to introduce you to Joshua Wordel.

Hi Joshua, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I picked up a camera around 2009 while taking a photography class at a small community college in Iowa. I fell in love with photography and quickly began experimenting with many different styles of shooting. In 2012 after college, my good friend Chase lived with me while I was working in Chicago; we started creating short web-series episodes on the weekends. This spiked my interest in cinematography and we actually ended up creating two full seasons of the show at the time. Around 2015 I moved to Senegal, West Africa, and taught entrepreneurship but also ended up teaching some photography courses to local Peace Corps volunteers. This actually led me down a short path of documentary work where I pieced together a short doc all about the Muslim religion in Senegal. Once back in the States around 2018, Chase came to visit me while I was living in Tucson, Arizona. We shot a short film that did pretty well in a festival run. From then on, I knew that I wanted my full-time work to involve film in any capacity, so my wife and I decided to make the move to LA, where I started working in film as a freelance Cinematographer, Photographer, grip, and gaffer.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has most definitely not been a smooth road. Plenty of rejection, the stress of networking, and the work it takes just to find work in this industry is not easy. But the rewards for sticking it through are worth it, and I’ve met some of my greatest friends in the film and photography world.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I specialize in anything that involves a camera and light. Photography and Cinematography are within the same world for me, and I love being able to do both at different times. I’m proud of every short film I’ve created with my best friend and business partner. What I think sets me apart from others is my ability to quickly learn and adapt I consider myself a jack of all trades of sorts where I can quickly lend a hand in any situation.

So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters most to me is the relationships I’ve created while on set. I truly enjoy being surrounded by like-minded folks who have the same nerdy film mindset that I have. These people inspire me to be my best and create more often.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.joshuawordelphoto.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshua_wordel/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JoshuaWordelPhotography