ABOUT ME

Hello, and thank you for visiting my website!

My name is KJ Halpern, and I’m a cinematographer based in New York. In December 2025, I graduated from Emerson College with a B.A. in Video Media Arts and a minor in Deaf Studies. In the summer of 2024, I had the opportunity to study at FAMU in Prague, Czechia—one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious film schools.

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Over the years, I’ve explored many roles of the filmmaking: directing, cinematography, intimacy coordination, gaffing, assistant camera work, script editing, and color grading. I love every part of the craft, but cinematography is my true calling. I’m drawn to the full arc of cinematography, from early planning and shotlisting to capturing the final shot. I believe that intentional preparation, through storyboards, lighting design, and thoughtful visual strategy, is just as important as the shot itself.

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In the past seven years, I’ve had the privilege of working on more than 50 short films, 5 music videos, 4 commercials, and one feature. While I enjoy all forms of visual storytelling, I’m especially inspired by psychological horror, drama, and period pieces.

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 My visual style is inspired by Italian Baroque and Renaissance art. I’m drawn to frames within frames, wide lenses, leading lines, and extreme close-ups that emphasize texture and detail. Some of the cinematographers who inspire me most include Roger Deakins, Lol Crawley, and Linus Sandgren.

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Filmmaking is my expression, my therapy, and my greatest joy.

Let’s create something together!