Meet Dmitry Zhitov: Filmmaker and Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dmitry Zhitov and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dmitry, what is the most important factor behind your success?
Visual art is a big part of my life and I have always enjoyed storytelling. When I was a child growing up in Siberia my mother gave me my first camera and I started a wonderful journey of photography. I was fascinated by everything around me: nature, animals and especially people: my family, friends and neighbors. Magic was freezing a moment with a camera and in a red room printing that moment on paper. That’s how my passion for visual art began. When I moved to Miami in 2003 I attended broadcasting school to become a news reporter but found that being behind the camera was most intriguing. I started making documentaries that soon won many awards both nationally and internationally. I believe success is not just winning awards and being recognized but also finding and following your passion. When you do what you love you will always succeed. A very important factor to my success is doing what I love. From documentaries to music videos, portraits to street photography, I love storytelling and hope to tell your story with my lens. You can find some of my work on my website DmitryZhitov.com

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Although interested in photography since i was a child, it wasn’t until my mid-20s when my career as a documentarian began. I earned accolades with my first film, South Beach on Heels. The success of this film inspired me to venture into other fields within the cinematic world. I have published a multi-sensory Coffee Table Book “Faces and Voices of Cuba” with a Soundtrack which got a lot of recognition nationally and internationally. I have exhibited my work in the USA, England, Italy and Russia. I love people and enjoy Portrait Photography. I find it very therapeutic for me and a person in front of the camera. I try to capture what is inside of the person, the spirit / the soul / the energy – whatever you want to call it, rather than just an image of the person’s appearance. I understand that not everybody can afford a private portrait photo session, so I created a monthly event called “Portrait Day Miami” where I create Portraits and Headshots. We offer a great deal for a photoshoot and makeup and hair by my talented friend Abrahan Urbina. This event is so much fun, it is like a photoshoot gathering and networking event.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I aways have friends from different states and countries visiting me in Miami. Miami is known for its multi cultural population and especially Cuban culture and the beaches. My first stop would be the beach and Calle 8 which has amazing choices of all kind of food. You can enjoy the music and dancing on the weekends right on the street. The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Susan Ford Collins – the founder and CEO of the Technology of Success

Website: DmitryZhitov.com
Instagram: Instagram.com/DmitryZhitov
Facebook: @dmitryzhitovofficial

Image Credits
Dmitry Zhitov