Meet Joel Hinrichs | Freelance Director of Photography

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

Hi Joel, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I’ve taken many risks in my life and to look back now I can see how each of them has transformed my life for the better. I see taking risks as a necessary step in growth.

My first business risk was straight out of college in 2011 when I started Joel David Productions. Without any clients, I took a leap of faith and purchased a video camera and a computer. My gut had this aching feeling that I could do something big with video production. I saw the potential growth in the industry and seized the opportunity.

Taking that risk was a huge turning point. If I had played it safe and gone to work for the news or something my life would be entirely different. I truly believe our inner wisdom and instincts can tell us a lot as to what risks are good ones and which ones can lead us astray. I’ve learned over time to listen more to my heart than my head when it comes to risk.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?

Joel David Productions is a Houston-based video production company specializing in content for documentaries, sports cinematography, corporate commercials, and TV Shows. Our work has been viewed millions of times across the country and globe on over 30 broadcast stations.

We’ve worked with Houston celebrities like José Altuve, Simone Biles, Travis Scott, Carl Lewis, and Booker T to name a few. We’ve worked with numerous astronauts at NASA and even experienced riding in the Mars rover twice! We’ve also worked on a commercial that aired during the Super Bowl in addition to filming on the sidelines at 3 games.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is to drop my ego. After working with hundreds of celebrities I’ve learned that we are all human and equal at our core. Being humble has transformed my life and business in so many ways. A humble attitude improves a deeper connection with others.

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Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Houston is such an amazing city with so much to do! Nature is not the first thing that people of think of here but my go-to place is the Houston Arboretum or the Eastern Glades. They are both at Memorial Park which is my favorite place to visit in the city. They offer a peaceful nature sanctuary to reset and explore. They have gorgeous walking trails with wildlife and water.

Another great place to hang out is POST Houston. It’s the old Houston Post office reimagined as a food court, community gathering space, and rooftop park. I love to attend yoga classes and music events there. There is such a great vibe. It’s so cool that the place where written messages were once sent is now used for a similar purpose of connection.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’ve had countless mentors, friends, and family supporting my journey. I owe them everything.

My college professor Mark Lambert is one of my first video mentors. He failed my first college project and it turned out to be an amazing learning opportunity. I grew so much from his classes and critiques.

My family supported me from day one of starting a video production company. My family means the world to me.

Dave Baker hired me as an apprentice to become a Director of Photography. He taught me a lot about high-end productions and dealing with clients. His guidance and that opportunity gave me so much growth that I’m eternally grateful for.

Website: www.joeldavidproductions.com

Instagram: @jdp.video

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joelhinrichs/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JoelDavidProductions