Meet Gregory LeFevre

Today we’d like to introduce you to Gregory LeFevre.

Hi Gregory, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I think my journey began during Mardi Gras, my freshman year of high school. I was getting ready for an event when I stumbled upon MOULIN ROUGE on the television. I was immediately captivated by the music, the visuals, and the overall energy that I sat down and watched the entire movie! It was the moment that I became fully aware that movies are made. That moment led to exploration of all things film, and I began playing around with photography and making little films with friends. That led me to going to UNC School of the Arts where, after two years of a general film education, I majored in cinematography. I moved out to LA shortly after graduation and worked my way up through the lighting department, where I worked as a Chief Lighting Technician for several years. During that time, I would take any opportunities to shoot little projects and build a reel. After a few years of splitting my time as a gaffer and a shooter, the pandemic hit, and although it wasn’t an easy decision, I took a leap of faith and put all my energy into shooting full-time. I haven’t looked back since. 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Like most things in life, the journey has been smooth at times and very rocky at others. The first real struggle I encountered was just getting started. I moved to LA shortly after the financial crash and the 07-08 writers’ strike ended. My network was small, and it didn’t seem like there was much work to go around period. The next real struggle was transitioning from an established CLT to a full-time DP. It was really a five-year process for me to make that change. I would have a good year of shooting a lot of projects, but it wasn’t very financially fruitful, and I would go back to gaffing. It always felt like it would take another year to get back to where I left off, and the cycle would continue. Once you’re established in a role, people instinctively put you in a box. It takes a tremendous amount of effort to reinvent yourself and to get people to see you in that new light. Now that that struggle has been put to bed, my path is filled with new obstacles as I work towards new goals. 

Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a cinematographer who predominantly works on short-form projects like commercials and music videos, but my long-term goal is to work in film and television more regularly. It’s hard to pick one project that I’m most proud of. Each shoot is unique based on the creative intent, the challenges you face, and the people you collaborate with. With that said, I recently shot a short film that isn’t quite out in the public yet, but we had incredible actors and a very strong director. It was such a treat to support their strong performances. I worked hard to create imagery that was invisible to the audience versus trying to make the photography as picturesque as possible. It was a fun challenge for me as a cinematographer. 

I wouldn’t say I have a specific visual style per se, but I tend to approach every shoot from a similar place: what I call Romantic Realism. I always want to start from a place of reality and believability, but I also try to infuse a heightened emotional response to the image that resonants with the core of the piece. As a cinematographer, I’m one part of something larger, and I want to harmonize with the other players. 

How can people work with you, collaborate with you, or support you?
People can find my work and contact info on my website. I’m always looking for new people to collaborate with. If my style aligns with your vision, reach out and let’s have a chat. 

Contact Info:

• Website: gregorylefevre.co

Image Credits
Will LeFevre
Matt Luem
Mike Bowes
Ariel Ramon