Profile: A Conversation with Parker Schmidt
Los Angeles based Director and Photographer
Meet Parker
Parker Schmidt is a director based in Los Angeles, whose work captures the intimate, the cinematic, and the quietly profound. Whether he's on set in the Middle East or sharing a coffee with collaborators, Parker brings a grounded sensibility to storytelling that elevates everyday moments into something emotionally riveting.
I first met Parker during my freelancing days at House of Spoils—a photography and culture hub in Venice, CA (where select prints of his are available). We crossed paths at one of the car-and-gallery events, and from there, our creative paths kept intersecting.
We ended up working together on a Free People Movement production and rebrand, then found ourselves on set again for a passion project that felt more like an artful car film than a commercial. Most recently, we teamed up for Aero’s first brand film. We always seem to find a rhythm when we’re making things together.
When we caught up, Parker had just returned from a shoot in Dubai with a new car company - the edit was released last week. In this conversation, we delve into his evolution from professional downhill skateboarder to filmmaker, exploring how research and collaboration fuel his creative process, and what it means to live artfully, even when your schedule is chaotic.
Interview
At what point did you realize that filmmaking was your true calling, and how did that transition unfold?
When I was younger, I competed in downhill skateboarding for about six or seven years, and part of that world was creating videos and photos for our sponsors. That’s really where it started—documenting our own stories became my first real entry into creative work, beyond the scrappy, fun films I’d make with friends. I’ve been wanting to bring some of that raw energy back into my personal projects lately.
When I started to veer away from downhill skateboarding, I interned at a commercial production company who I had the opportunity to do by way of Kolin Quick, a good friend who we knew one another from the downhill space and took a chance on me. From this, I was encouraged to go to an art school in Berlin where I studied an emphasis in Art Direction while starting to shoot for brands such as Leica Camera, Porsche’s Type7, Corona Beer and Nike.
Some of Parker’s earlier work with Leica, Porsche, and André Lotterer
I’d say it was the right surrounding of people at the right time — knowing when it wasn’t the right time or place for something to happen and not pushing opposing forces together.
This is where I love to experiment with new collaborations of people to see what sort of recipe we get from say combining a Colorist from Brazil and Sound Designer from Germany — creative cocktails.
Your work is known for elevating everyday moments through intimate narratives and impressionistic imagery. Do you have any rituals or routines that help you get into flow?
A hobby of mine is research — this can be from art history or current event commentary articles or fictional writing that I see could be relevant in the work I do. You never know when a brief for a project could pull an idea from your third ring of memory.
Otherwise I’m a frantic planner and communicator on a project. I love citing out every step of the project and knowing everyone involved when possible. Usually I carry the heaviest hand in post-production while having a close ally as my Director of Photography. This usually grants me enough recourse to approach a project self assured that I can realize it with the right support needed.
What’s one creative challenge that’s pushed you outside your comfort zone?
International productions and foreign correspondence is the most taxing to my psyche. It disrupts any routine you wish to set, often leading to taking onboarding calls or pitching meetings at the wee hours of the morning. This is one hurdle I’m not totally sure how to find a solve for other than tolerance and having more leverage in working hours. Though I’m a young director still earning his stripes so for the time being — it’s all a part of the game.
What does ‘artful living’ mean to you, and how do you bring that into your daily life or personal projects?
Constant reading, visual discovery, and rewiring how I see the world. Anything by Yuval Harari helps with that.
Is there a brand or creative whose storytelling you admire right now?
I admire brands that create their own reality. You’re not bound by real-world physics in this kind of work. Brands like Ka-Yo, 66North, O2, ON, and LOEWE all approach storytelling in that way—and it’s endlessly inspiring.
What does an ideal day look like for you? How do you balance creativity, life, and everything in between?
Gravel cycling, tennis and surfing take up most of my time while I’m fortunate enough to do so with my partner and friends who are all in the film industry. We can all lean on one another for advice or when things start to weigh on you — most times all it takes is a bike ride or run while talking it all out to have the sun shine again.
Rapid Fire Questions with Parker
Q: One item in your workspace you couldn’t live without?
A: Milanote
Q: Favorite film or visual storytelling piece that’s stayed with you?
A: Alien, Stalker, Silo, Dune, Come and See, Dark Matter, Sapiens
Q: If your work had a soundtrack?
A: James Blake, ØneHeart, Emilie Mosseri, Paris Texas
Q: Top 5 daily must-haves?
A: Diana Luong coffee mug, Trader Joe’s green juice, a good bagel, pasta with loved ones, lüften
Q: Favorite place to work or get creatively energized?
A: Bodega, Santa Monica
Q: One habit that keeps you grounded?
A: V60 Coffee Brew
Q: Tool that changed how you work?
A: Still Milanote
Q: Favorite cities for inspiration?
A: LA for the weather, NY for the food, Berlin for the art, Boise for the outdoors
Q: Fuel of choice?
A: Coffee
Q: Best advice you’ve ever received?
A: There’s always someone doing more with less.
Thank you, Parker, for sharing your journey, your vision, and the thoughtful approach you bring to storytelling. Your ability to blend artistry with intention is endlessly inspiring, and I’m grateful we got a glimpse into your world.
To my readers: if you know someone with a story, talent, or vision that deserves to be highlighted—or if that someone is you—reach out. I’m always eager to discover and feature the creative minds shaping our Art & Brand world.
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