Sometimes people come from a long lineage of upstanding members of society. They come from families whose professions have been carried down generationally, such as accountants, lawyers, or medical professionals. They don’t break rules or challenge norms; they exist comfortably within them.

I’m not one of those people, nor is my family, and I’m damn proud of it. I come from a long line of artists and outlaws.

Born to Jeanie Black and James Dunning—a bar owner and a bear hunter—I was taught early that my fate was entirely up to me and whatever path I chose to take, I was to take it honestly and with my whole heart. When I was a little boy, my parents handed down to me old 35mm film cameras, and I was instantly hooked. I grew up flipping through old photo albums from when my mom was the lead vocalist in a rock band, and the idea of freezing a moment in time to share with future generations was magic in a bottle. It didn’t take long for me to find something I was blindly passionate about and chase a dream all over the world.

For over a decade, I have been honing my craft as a documentary filmmaker and photographer. I’ve toured with bands, shot weddings overseas, spearheaded outdoor docu-series, and since 2023, after founding directedbydunning LLC, I have been growing my own business and providing innovative video and photo solutions to a wide range of companies and individuals. I’m an experienced creative backed by a powerful network of editors, camera operators, and other creative directors that I am happy to call my friends.

Regardless of whether you are here to work together or just browse my portfolio, thank you for being here.

- Benjamin Dunning