We recently connected with David Kaufman and have shared our conversation below.

Hi David, thanks for joining us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

I’ve come to know and begin to understand the craft of filmmaking and cinematography through many different avenues since I started down this path. I think what I’ve come to realize and really love about it, is that it’s alway changing, so their’s always a new problem to tackle, technique to learn, and new people to meet. I’m also fascinated with the idea that it is an art form and a craft but and art form or craft cannot be mastered. Somebody may be considered a master of their craft because they’ve achieved many great works, but there is aways going to be something new to learn or idea to explore. It can just keep going.

Knowing what I know now, I’m not 100% sure I’d do a whole lot different. One thing that I always wanted for myself, but never really found was a mentor to study and learn from; specifically cinematography. I learned most of what I know today from watching and reading information online and doing and doing and doing and doing…

Skills I find most essential is communication and articulation. Being able to communicate and articulate a vision is a skill I’ve had to learn and I’m still learning, but I find it to be the most important skill in what I do; more so than any technical skill.

The greatest obstacles are all mental. FOMO and social media can wreak havoc on a young cinematographer or filmmaker in a small market. It wasn’t until I began to realize that the only person I should be competing against was myself. Once I was able to wrap my head around that concept, work has become more enjoyable and a little less stressful. All of the stress is just on me to do the best I can given the circumstances I’m given. Don’t get me wrong, I still have to pull myself out of that jealously trap from time to time, but I’m able to make that transition much quicker.

David, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is David Kaufman and I’m a Director of Photography and Senior Editor for Outrider in Kansas City, MO. Outrider is a content agency comprised of highly talented artists and some of the best people I’ve ever had the pleasure to work with. It’s all about collaboration and creativity and it’s awesome. Check us out at theoutriders.com.

Explaining how I got into the industry is always hard because I’ve done so many different types of film work, but I will say what has kept me in the industry is that I’ve fallen in love with the process or making films and the community that surrounds it.

Through my experience running cameras I’ve discovered that one of my strengths is knowing how to react in most situations in order to capture what is happening in a way that elevates the story being told. I think that comes from filming sports very early on in my career. That’s probably also why I’m so drawn to documentary work. I love to work with what already exists and do my best to make it look awesome.

My ultimate goal is to be the best at working with the least (amount of resources). Knowing how to take something the way it is or someone the way they are and capturing that moment in the best way in order to tell the story that needs to be told. That may sound a bit subjective, but I’m talking about it in the context of working with a team on a collective vision. That means I’m forever capturing images and studying why they look the way they do, so I know how to replicate that action the next time I need to. Luckily this will be something I’ll be working on for the rest of my life.

A skill I’ve had to learn, is how to create something from nothing in order to look a certain way. This is something I’ve been getting better at, the more commercial work I shoot, but I feel like it’s still an insecurity for me on some level. That’s probably all due to experience and pressure I put on myself. I try not to let that creep into my mental space too much and try to think of it as improving my creative toolset.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

What is helping me build a reputation within my market is my work ethic and flexibility. Always giving my best and my ability to step onto all different kinds of sets and be a reliable player on that team. And I’d consider myself to be a nice person. Don’t be an asshole. That’s good advice for just about anything.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist or creative is to see the joy that my work brings to other people. I thoroughly enjoy using my skillset to benefit others. Again, another reason I think I’m so drawn to documentary work. Giving a voice to those who might not have the means to do it themselves.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.theoutriders.com
• Instagram: @davesthename
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100084567165823
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/davidkaufman-outrider
• Other: Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/theoutriders