Senior Video Producer โ Pinterest, Shorts, Reels & TikTok
Hey There! Iโm Ethan Brooks
Culinary Video Producer | Visual Story Architect | Storytelling Addict | Age 29
Los Angelesโbased creator who believes food videos should be simple, emotional, and irresistibly watchable โ even without saying a word.
My Story
I wasnโt supposed to end up behind a camera.
In fact, as a kid growing up in San Diego, my world revolved around skateboarding videos, DIY editing software, and a cheap camera I practically glued to my hands. My friends and I would spend weekends filming tricks, cutting clips, adding music, and sharing our creations online.
I didnโt know it then, but I was training for the world I live in now โ short-form storytelling.
My love for food came later.
During college, money was tight, so I learned to cook out of necessity. What started as simple meals turned into an unexpected passion. I found myself filming my recipes the same way I filmed skate tricks โ close-ups, action shots, dramatic angles, slow-motion flourishes. People loved it.
One video went viral.
Then another.
Then brands began reaching out.
Thatโs when I realized:
Food + film wasnโt just a hobby โ it was my future.
The Turning Point
My career changed the day I was hired as a junior editor at Food Network Kitchen.
I went from filming in my dorm to shooting on real sets, working with chefs, stylists, and producers who had decades of experience.
I learned the rhythm of food videos:
the sizzle, the pour, the crunch, the reveal.
One afternoon, during a hectic shoot, the lead producer handed me full control of a recipe videoโunexpected, unplanned, and honestly, terrifying. I leaned into everything Iโd practiced for years: tight angles, clean transitions, crisp edits, and storytelling driven by rhythm rather than words.
The video exploded.
Millions of views.
More importantly, it taught me I could see food through a lens in a way that connected emotionally.
From there, I shot videos for food creators, restaurants, and national brands. Then I transitioned to full-time culinary video production, specializing in vertical content that performs on Pinterest, TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and Instagram Reels.
What I Learned the Hard Way
Short-form food content looks effortless.
But behind the scenes?
It takes patience โ and a lot of trial and error.
I made mistakes:
- Videos where the lighting ruined the recipe
- Angles that made gorgeous dishes look flat
- Shots where steam fogged the lens at the worst moment
- Audio tracks that didnโt match the pace
- Transitions that felt clunky or forced
But through every failure, I learned the science of what makes viewers stop scrolling:
โจ Motion
โจ Texture
โจ Timing
โจ Rhythm
โจ Emotion
What works isn’t just technique โ itโs storytelling.
My Approach Now
Today, I create videos designed to look effortless but engineered to perform.
My approach is simple:
Tell the story of the recipe in 15โ30 seconds, using visuals people can almost taste.
I focus on:
- Hands-only cinematic close-ups
- Smooth transitions and seamless cuts
- Perfect lighting for food texture
- Crisp ASMR audio
- Eye-catching edits for Pinterest & TikTok
- Visual rhythm that makes people watch again
Whether itโs melted cheese stretching in slow motion or a knife slicing through a crispy crust, I seek the moment that makes viewers say:
โOkayโฆ I NEED to make this.โ
What I Believe
๐ฅ Food videos should be short, beautiful, and full of emotion.
๐ฅ The best storytelling happens without a single spoken word.
๐ฅ Good lighting is everything โ itโs the difference between โmehโ and โwow.โ
๐ฅ Simple ideas, done well, perform the best.
๐ฅ Every recipe has a hero shot โ your job is to find it.
How I Can Help You
At Easy Cooking US, I produce:
- Pinterest Idea Pins (high-performing, step-by-step vertical recipes)
- TikTok & Reels videos optimized for virality
- YouTube Shorts with pacing built for retention
- Hands-only demos and ASMR-style edits
- Behind-the-scenes prep shots
- Seasonal video campaigns
My mission is to make every recipe look:
easy, delicious, and impossible to scroll past.
A Little More About Me
When Iโm not filming, youโll find me:
- editing at a coffee shop
- hiking around Southern California
- experimenting with new camera gear
- eating tacos (a lot of tacos)
- learning new transitions just for fun
Iโm obsessed with natural light, clean aesthetics, and storytelling that feels warm and modern.
Oh โ and Iโm still a skateboarder at heart. I just trade wheels for cameras now.
Letโs Connect
If youโre a food creator, brand, or business looking for scroll-stopping culinary videos, Iโd love to collaborate.
Find me on TikTok & Instagram: @EthanCooksFilms
Or contact me at: [email protected]