Young, ambitious, and obsessive—all of the qualities that make up an emerging creative force can be found in Khalid Mahtaseb. From lensing National Geographic's Killing Lincoln to Killing Kennedy, Khalid is getting noticed for his surgical precision of camera and lighting—and it didn't take him long. In a great interview with The Music Bed, Khalid reveals just how natural the transition to the professional world was for him.

"After being enrolled in the [Full Sail] film program for six months, I took a leave of absence to work on a few commercials in NYC. Those commercials led to a lot more work and a consistent income. I realized I was learning way more out in the field than I was in the classroom."

Driven by his self-motivated attitude, Khalid created a production company and creative collective with the help of fellow collaborator, Jon Bregel.

"Jon and I knew we had the potential for so much more. We also knew we worked really well together and wanted to start something where we would work together more frequently."

Khalid has used the RED EPIC for commercial work, but has received much attention for the personal work he's shot with it as well. According to him, it is often his personal projects that get him more jobs.

"It sounds crazy that we're getting work through Vimeo, but we definitely are. It's such a huge marketing tool for filmmakers not only for marketing your own content, but also for discovering other people's work and networking with filmmakers who share a similar passion and vision."

Cinematographers will come and go, but when it comes to those who will be remembered there is no question that hard work and self-discipline will always be rewarded when you have natural talent. Khalid Mahteseb has set the bar high but insists that it is through collaboration that true success is found.

"It's easy to look past all of these things when you first start shooting. But that's only because you don't realize that all of these factors are what filmmaking is all about."

For more of Khalid's work, be sure to check out his website.