Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeffrey Herberger.
Hi Jeffrey, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I am a video post-production specialist and editor, a career path that grew out of a lifelong involvement in still photography and motion pictures.
My journey began in 1978 when I joined the U.S. Navy as a Photographer’s Mate. During my enlistment, I served two tours: one with a combat camera team out of Norfolk, Virginia, and another with a P-3 squadron based in Brunswick, Maine, which deployed to Iceland. While the Navy initially trained me in still photography, they later sent me to motion picture schools in Florida, followed by a year at the University of Southern California (USC) Film School.
After completing my service, I returned to Maryland and joined Video One in Reisterstown, where our primary client was WWF Wrestling. I spent a few years there working as both a cameraman and an editor. From there, I went on to work at several other production houses around the Baltimore area before moving to Washington, D.C. In D.C., I worked in the television studio at the Democratic Congressional headquarters, serving as a camera operator, lighting technician, and editor.
In the early 1990s, I transitioned to independent work. Since then, I have operated as a freelance cinematographer, director of photography, and editor, focusing primarily on independent motion pictures. Currently, I balance my independent film work with federal contracting, providing post-production editing services for the Farm Credit Administration.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Challenges—there are always challenges. Right now, I’m 69 years old, and that seems to be a challenge in itself. Looking back, you don’t make a lot of money in the military, and working in the independent film world doesn’t bring in a heck of a lot either. But you always make enough to get by. Surprisingly, though, the federal contract I have right now is pretty daggone good.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
As far as work goes, I guess the work I’m most proud of is the work I’ve done in the independent film world. I’ve made three feature-film westerns with Wayne Shipley: Day of the Gun, One-Eyed Horse, and Bill Tilghman and the Outlaws. I served as both the director of photography and the editor on those three pictures. I’ve also done a lot of work with Lee Doll Film Productions on numerous films and TV shows, including The Adventures of Luana Lee and The Fixer I also work with Willy Meaux of Longthrow media in Washington DC where we have produced various documentary films including the baseball film The Game Comes Home and Bridge To Italy. and I also do work for Connie Lamothe and CCL Productions.Virtually all of my work is available in the streaming world now, and I’m very proud of that.
I’m extremely proud of my family, my wife Sue we have been married for 48 years,and my two daughters Sarah and Mallory and my grand kids Elaina, Caroline and Izzy
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
When it comes to risk, I think it plays a part in most people’s lives, whether it’s on a small or large scale. Some might talk about taking risks in the creative process, but honestly, that’s not much of a real risk at all. Real-life situations are entirely different. In the real world, the stakes are genuine, and sometimes you simply have to take those risks to move forward.
Contact Info:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jeff.herberger.7/?viewas=100000686899395
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jeffLLC
- Other: https://vimeo.com/jbhvideo
