Who WE ARE
I’m Chris Castillo, the cinematographer behind the lens at Chris Castillo Films.
I’ve been in the film industry since 2007. Since shifting my focus to wedding and corporate films in 2016, I’ve been featured in The Knot and Martha Stewart Weddings.
Being behind a camera has been second nature to me since I was young. Growing up, my brother and I would haul around an oversized video recorder making “movies” to eagerly show off to our parents.
As I grew, so did my love of film. I didn’t know it yet, but cinematography was destined to become my life’s work.
Just out of high school I proudly enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. I was stationed in California, and I served 3 tours in Iraq.
Welcome to Chris Castillo Films, where we bring your cinematic vision to life and showcase the fine points that make you exceptional.
As a Combat Marine, I quickly realized how precious life is.
… And because of this, I picked up my camcorder and began recording everything I could. I wanted to be able to look back on these times and remember them with great clarity.
These were moments that mattered, formed, and shaped me. Today, I’m so grateful to my younger self for capturing these ordinarily special moments.
After my time in the United States Marine Corps, I returned to my hometown of Houston, TX. (Although I consider myself a New Orleanian now!) It was here that I got my first job working in film production with news and media outlets. I even had the privilege of working on set for Montell Williams and Oprah!
But more important than Montell and Oprah, it was during my time in Houston that I met the woman who would soon become my wife. And she would introduce me to the rich heritage and proud traditions of her home, New Orleans.
These days, her hometown is the place I call home, too.
“We loved having Chris as the videographer for our wedding! He made all of our dreams come to reality!
He went above and beyond anything I could have ever imagined! Every special moment from the ceremony, first dances, cake cutting, and more were captured. Oh and he has a drone that can get an aerial view of the venue, which was amazing!
Our video was so worth the wait! We highly recommend Chris to any newly engaged couples, you will not be disappointed!”
We’ve been happily settled in the effortless, yet elaborate, city of New Orleans for over 10 years now.
We have two kids of our own, and one of our favorite pastimes is preparing to ride in one of the largest Mardi Gras krewes each year!
See my work here
The Origin of Chris Castillo Films
Not long after my wife and I moved to New Orleans, we attended her sister’s wedding. The ceremony was stunning, and we relished in the good company of friends and family.
Months later, we gathered at their home for a family dinner. They showed us the video of their wedding and it was captivating. The emotion of the night came flooding back to me and I felt like I was at their wedding all over again.
It was in that moment I knew my career was going to shift to a path of more passion, deeper connection, and of telling the stories that matter to my clients. I decided to use my cinematography skills to create mementos that would imprint a personal, lasting memory.
And Chris Castillo Films was born.
Now I have the privilege of working alongside my clients to unveil transformational stories and turn them into cinematic features to enjoy time and time again. I also take great pride in being one of the only veteran-owned cinematography studios in New Orleans.
Our Values
At Chris Castillo Films, we stand firm in the belief that business & pleasure should merge when composing your personal film.
Our professional philosophy is rooted in these core values:
INTENTIONALITY
Alluring, magnetic films don’t happen by accident.
They are made with intention.
And we pride ourselves on curating films with the moments that matter in mind.
From our very first meeting to the delivery of your final product, you’ll have peace of mind that your one-of-a-kind story is beautifully reflected in your cinematic feature.
AUTHENTICITY
Your face as you get the first glimpse of the love of your life on your wedding day.
The look of joy on a student’s face as they high-five their teacher on the way into the classroom each morning.
The charming character and homey feel of the house that played such an important role in your life.
These are the types of authentic moments that matter. We prioritize capturing them on film so the emotions of the moment resonate every time you watch.
EXPERIENCE
As a professional cinematographer, each film is tailor-made with the very best equipment and industry-leading innovations. After years in the business, our processes are streamlined and through our immersive, personalized experience you’ll be sure to feel connected and informed as we move through the process of crafting your feature. Above all this, the most empowering part of the process for our clients is feeling heard, valued, and receiving a final product that captures their vision.
Let us bring your cinematic vision to life with a timeless film you can share for generations to come.
See Our Cinematic Features
“Chris was awesome. He made a beautiful video for our wedding.
We barely noticed him during the night, he provided tons of great footage, and he really made sure to capture what was important to us.
Before the wedding, he drove all the way to the Northshore to meet me in person and find out what was important to us so he could be sure to make a video we would love. Highly recommend!”