Conversations with Hyeryeong Song

Today we’d like to introduce you to Hyeryeong Song.

Hi Hyeryeong, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I began my career as a cinematographer in Seoul, South Korea, working on several feature films. Alongside filmmaking, I work in commercial videography and pursue photography as a personal creative practice.
Over time, I realized that my passion isn’t simply about making films, but about understanding how people see the world—and translating those perspectives into cinema. I came here to encounter meaningful stories, collaborate with the people who bring them to life, and continue growing as an artist within a community that shares my love for storytelling.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Life as an artist—often as a freelancer—rarely offers stability, and the uncertainty can be painful and challenging, but it has never discouraged me from pursuing my path. Coming to Los Angeles meant leaving behind the people and spaces I love, which was difficult, yet it also pushed me into an entirely new world.
There are challenges, of course, but there is also a quiet joy in embracing the unfamiliar. Being here—focusing solely on cinema, thinking deeply about what belongs inside the frame and what remains outside of it—is a time I truly cherish.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
The light in LA is incredibly warm and intense, spreading wide enough to shine almost everywhere, sometimes asserting itself regardless of people’s moods. In contrast, the light in Seoul is carved by tall buildings, often streaming like a single narrow line into small rooms. Have you ever thought about the people who grew up under that light?
As a cinematographer, my job is to decide how to place people within these lights and spaces, and how to capture their stories. Growing up in Seoul during that specific time, surrounded by experiences very different from here, has shaped how I see the world—and how I approach my work. I take those pieces of my world and, while navigating the realities of filmmaking, aim to turn them into something vibrant and impactful for audiences everywhere.
My work requires not just technical knowledge of camera and lighting, but also a broader aesthetic sense, drawing inspiration from painting, literature, and other arts to shape the visual arc of a story. I strive to understand directors’ visions and bring them to life. Having started in the industry relatively early, I’ve also learned how productions run and how to operate sets efficiently, which gives me a practical edge.
At the same time, I’ve seen many people fall into familiar patterns, compromising with the realities. I’m still in that phase of staying alert, soaking up inspiration from new surroundings, and figuring out how to bring it into my work—and that’s something I’m proud of.

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
A few weeks ago, I worked on a personal project that I started later than planned and prepared rather hastily. While I was still debating whether to move forward, my mind was filled with worries—whether I could finish on time, manage all the paperwork on my own, or even afford to take on a personal project at all.
There is a saying I deeply appreciate: “If you think it’s too late, then it’s already too late—so start immediately.” Once I actually began, my urgency to make the project happen started solving problems one by one.
What I learned is that, in the end, the choice to begin, and the responsibility to follow through, ultimately belong to me. Whether others say something is too late or not, it matters to consider where those opinions come from—and whether they truly reflect my situation, or their own. I also realized that worrying doesn’t actually help move the work forward; solving the challenges is ultimately up to my own decisions and abilities.
At the same time, I learned something equally important: I should not credit the outcome solely to myself. I want to hold deep gratitude for the colleagues who endured that anxiety alongside me, and to remember that this work was only possible because of their support and trust.

Pricing:

• Cinematography
• Videography
• Photography
• Color Grading

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.hyeryeongsong.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cin.hrsong