Joe “Jody” Williams is a Director of Photography based in Chicago BUT working everywhere.

No matter the camera or format Joe ‘Jody’ Williams has used it to help craft clear and powerful images. For the past 20+ years he has worked on an immense range of shows from indie ”freebies”, docs, to major studio projects with Craig Brewer, Spike Lee, Ron Howard, and Lee Daniels.

Jody’s expertise behind the camera began as a film loader fresh out of film school on a movie called “Telling Lies in America” by DoP Rey Villalobos. He moved up the ranks as an assistant then for a 15 year run as an Operator on critically acclaimed projects like 25th Hour, BOSS then on to DP one of FOX’s top-rated shows ever Empire. It was on Empire where he sharpened his DP chops thru the day-to-day grind of episodic tv.

Other notable works as a Director of Photography include the Emmy award-winning documentary Paper Trail- 100 Years of The Chicago Defender, Coming 2 America, and Power Book IV Force.  He has been highlighted in The International Cinematographers Guild magazine, interviewed for various articles, and sat on numerous panels for filmmaking and the likes. He also puts in work as a mentor to aspiring filmmakers. Peruse his body of work – his ability to adapt to different environments while embracing technological evolution is evident.

“My aim is to always execute and compliment the director’s vision. My job is to manage the visuals and inform the director using the knowledge base from my experience on how best to get the story told, using our available time and resources. I have a healthy respect for the sensitive process of crafting a story, so listening and conversing respectfully are important tenants of mine”.

While he will always consider himself a student of filmmaking Jody is also qualified to teach its finer points. Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio he went on to earn his MFA in Film with an emphasis in Cinematography from Ohio University. He has taught classes and workshops at Xavier U., Ohio U., Cleveland State, and lectured at Harvard.

Jody is based in Chicago and is the father of 3 young men.