Paloma Ronquillo

Paloma Ronquillo is a Los Angeles–based cinematographer who discovered her passion for visual storytelling at a young age. Cinematography began in her living room, where she filmed her dog, cat, and cousin on a Cyber-shot Sony digital camera. Even as a child, she documented not only playful moments but also difficult ones, always excited to sit with her mom and watch her laugh and smile at the small creations she made. That feeling of sharing her work and seeing the joy it brought planted the seed for her path as a filmmaker and storyteller.

What started as fun grew into purpose. Somewhere between those homemade scenes and the first time she held a cinema camera, something clicked—a wave of certainty that this was it. She knew she wanted to be a visual storyteller.

Paloma pursued this calling at California State University Monterey Bay, earning a degree in Cinematic Arts and Technology while freelancing and working as a camera operator with Local 611. Determined to refine her craft, she went on to earn an MFA in Cinematography from UCLA’s School of Theater, Film, and Television.

She is a two-time recipient of the Panavision New Filmmaker Grant and a proud associate member of the Society of Camera Operators and Women in Media. Passionate about increasing inclusivity for women in film, Paloma strives to create more opportunities and representation within the industry.

Her goal is to bring not only artistic and technical vision to every project but also a sense of fun to set. She believes the creative process should be collaborative, filled with laughter and positive energy, creating an enjoyable environment for everyone involved. With bold artistry and a commitment to emotionally rich storytelling, Paloma crafts visually compelling narratives that leave a lasting impact.