Today we’d like to introduce you to Julian Moiwai.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I like to say I could be anybody, but that is not the truth. I am me. As a deaf first-generation American born to immigrant parents from Germany and Sierra Leone, I go by Julian Moiwai, or “JuJu” for short.
It all began when I attended Durham School of the Arts, a secondary school in North Carolina where I studied photography and theater. While there, I learned how to shoot film and print photos in the dark room. The process of printing a film photograph was much appreciated back in the day. Little did I know that my interest in photography would turn into something special down the road.
Fast forward to 2017, when I bought my first drone (DJI Phantom 4 Pro) and started taking aerial photos, I got hooked. I knew this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.
That same year, I obtained my FAA Part 107 certification weeks before my first professional drone assignment in The Villages, Florida, capturing countless golf courses for their virtual tour videos. Then from there on, I started bringing my drone with me on every work trip I went on across the country, and I was slowly getting positive feedback and recognition for my work, which gave me the confidence to continue drone flying. To dive into aerial photography deeper, I signed up for a DJI Aerial Photo Academy workshop and watched a bunch of YouTube videos. It is safe to say that I graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree from YouTube University.
Today, my drone work is a part of my videography services offered to wedding clients, corporates and conferences and events. I enjoy every opportunity for making creative shots.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Needless to say, communication barriers. Gotta be thankful for technology that allows me to get around the barriers by email, text or phone using video relay service with an ASL interpreter. I like to look at my hearing loss as “Deaf Gain” reframing “deaf” as a form of sensory and cognitive diversity that has the potential to contribute to the greater good of humanity.
Working alone is not easy. I have learned the importance of collaboration with other artists. It’s critical to growth because you don’t just learn from the other person but also grow from the experience of working together. Through learning from others, you help each other reach your goals.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a creative artist who finds enjoyment in making visual appealing elements happen through photography and videography. I am well known for my drone work and have had the pleasure and honor to fly at Burning Man. I have created a drone photography course at Finding Merakis an online self-paced tutorial program that is accessible through American Sign Language, English text and spoken English VoiceOver.
What sets me apart from others is my knowledge of my aircraft from both my experience and Part 107 certification from FAA. Besides knowing how to operate a drone while following the rules and regulations, I strive to take clear aerial photos and videos and turn these raw images into client-ready deliverables. I value both structure and creativity in my work.
What are your plans for the future?
While I am always looking forward to new challenges and opportunities for new connections, making a short film has been on my mind for some time. I was inspired by “Far West” the short film I was grateful to be part of as an actor, and seeing the process of making a story come to reality from behind the scenes was amazing. Far West ended up being selected by SXSW this year, and it got me craving for more as both a videographer and an actor. I would like to push myself to be in front of the camera as much as I enjoy being behind it.
Other than that, I plan to visit Hawaii next month and look forward to capturing the islands from above. Iceland is my wish because I think my creativity would boom there, thanks to the beautiful landscapes. I would like to shoot for National Geographic around the world.
Contact Info:
- Email: jmoiwai@outlook.com
- Website: www.JulianMoiwai.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/
whatjujusaid/ - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/julianmoiwai
