I am a motivated, insightful storyteller, filmmaker, and still photographer with award-winning projects across television, film, and documentary. I thrive on turning complex ideas into compelling visuals and connecting audiences with authentic moments. I bring 25+ years of experience in entertainment, serving as a liaison between corporate and production teams, cultivating strong, collaborative relationships, and delivering timely results in fast-paced environments. I advance production solutions, manage teams, and maintain a sharp creative eye to capture iconic images for diverse audiences.

Janet Van Ham

I am a motivated, insightful storyteller, filmmaker, and still photographer with award-winning projects across television, film, and documentary. I thrive on turning complex ideas into compelling visuals and connecting audiences with authentic moments. I bring 25+ years of experience in entertainment, serving as a liaison between corporate and production teams, cultivating strong, collaborative relationships, and delivering timely results in fast-paced environments. I advance production solutions, manage teams, and maintain a sharp creative eye to capture iconic images for diverse audiences.

Available to hire

I am a motivated, insightful storyteller, filmmaker, and still photographer with award-winning projects across television, film, and documentary. I thrive on turning complex ideas into compelling visuals and connecting audiences with authentic moments.

I bring 25+ years of experience in entertainment, serving as a liaison between corporate and production teams, cultivating strong, collaborative relationships, and delivering timely results in fast-paced environments. I advance production solutions, manage teams, and maintain a sharp creative eye to capture iconic images for diverse audiences.

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Language

English
Fluent
German
Intermediate

Work Experience

Photographer at Home Box Office
January 1, 2003 - January 1, 2020
Behind the scenes, episodic, gallery studio sessions, location shoots, produce and hire teams for photo sessions, Digital Capture images, media and files, deliver weekly images/files to Associated Press and client libraries.
Director/Cinematographer/Producer at Don’t Close Your Eyes (Award-Winning Documentary Film Short)
January 1, 2014 - January 1, 2023
Directed 11-minute award-winning documentary; utilized street verite cinematography; managed writers, editors, audio, composers, colorist and legal; edited rough draft and assembled footage; managed assets and prepared folders; coordinated festival submissions and post facilities.
Photojournalist at Real Time with Bill Maher
January 1, 2003 - January 1, 2020
Planned production strategies for photo department; photographed insightful portraits and BTS; delivered retouched images to AP weekly; built relationships with AP and media relations; maintained equipment and software; stage assistance for talent.
Photographer at Home Box Office (HBO)
January 1, 2005 - January 1, 2021
Photographed portraits, behind the scenes, episodic for Emmy and Academy Award-winning projects; managed digital assets, metadata, editing, process, approvals and delivery; collaborated with editors and producers for creative artwork and licensing.
Photographer at NBCUniversal / Bravo / MTV / Oxygen / Nickelodeon / Human Interest Films
January 1, 2007 - January 1, 2020
Traveled to locations to document talent and shows; sourced technicians and team for cast photo shoots for marketing; collaborated with art directors for marketing ads, billboards, magazines; edited and delivered high-resolution images; managed team and asset delivery.

Education

High School at Wellesley Senior High School
January 1, 1975 - April 23, 2026
No degree at Massachusetts College of Art
January 1, 1976 - January 1, 1977
Interactive German language study at Beverly Hills Lingual Institute
January 11, 2030 - April 23, 2026
Pandemic Art Series lectures at UCLA
January 11, 2030 - April 23, 2026
Humanities, Modern Language, Political Science, History of Film in the 50’s at Santa Monica College
January 11, 2030 - April 23, 2026
Philosophy, Gene Roddenberry, Studies of culture and morality; Geology Lab at Santa Monica College
January 11, 2030 - April 23, 2026
Sex, Gender, Racism, Brown vs Board of Education, Civil Rights; Music Appreciation at Santa Monica College
January 11, 2030 - April 23, 2026
Intern, post production, editing, assistant to director at Roger Spottiswoode/HBO, And The Band Played On
January 11, 2030 - April 23, 2026
Black and white custom printing, ACLAB, printing papers, chemicals, enlargers at ACLAB
January 11, 2030 - April 23, 2026
Apprenticeship, AFI student production, directing, scripts, lighting, sound, assistant to production at AFI
January 11, 2030 - April 23, 2026
Apprenticeship, Norman Seeff Photography, celebrity album covers, lighting, camera, assistant to production at Norman Seeff Photography
January 11, 2030 - April 23, 2026
Studied production, location lighting, hands-on cinematography at Los Angeles City College
January 11, 2030 - April 23, 2026
American History, Emphasis on Slavery, Civil War, Government at College of Marin
January 11, 2030 - April 23, 2026
Fritz Lang, the history of film, German Expressionism and Film Noir, lighting techniques; Speech course at Immaculate Heart College, Charter College for Women
January 11, 2030 - April 23, 2026
Art History, History of Photography, emphasis on people, street photography at Massachusetts College of Art
January 11, 2030 - April 23, 2026
Photography apprenticeship, Rembrandt Lighting Techniques at Charles Whitcomb Photography
January 11, 2030 - April 23, 2026

Qualifications

Intern, Post Production – And The Band Played On
January 11, 2030 - April 23, 2026
Photography Apprenticeship – Norman Seeff Photography
January 11, 2030 - April 23, 2026
Black and White Printing – ACLAB
January 11, 2030 - April 23, 2026

Industry Experience

Media & Entertainment, Professional Services, Education, Other