We love working with businesses and individuals to create story-driven and compelling content. From a 30-second reel to a 30-minute brand documentary, we believe every video has the possibility to leave a lasting impact and inspire your audience to take action.
Filmed in Austin, Texas, and produced, shot and edited by Creativity Lives Here, Unseen Connection is a brand documentary for Papa, the companion-care company. Papa member Stephen, who is visually impaired, shares how his Papa Pal Marcel, a retired veteran, helps him overcome loneliness and isolation.
Filmed in Austin, Texas, this short brand film for HarmonyCares tells the story of the Century Club, a group of nurses and doctors who celebrate their patients over 100 years old by visiting them wherever they live.
Filmed at Austin FC's stadium in Austin, Texas, this vertical social campaign for Michelob Ultra and Univision featured René Salinas as camera operator, capturing social-first footage and behind-the-scenes content on a Sony FX3 with a DJI gimbal.
Over two days at the Pérez Art Museum Miami in Miami, Florida, we covered Papa's Pathfinders Summit, delivering an event highlight reel, keynote recordings and event photography.
At Austin Community College's main campus in Austin, Texas, we covered ATX DAO's pitch competition with a highlight reel and event photography.
Filmed at the firm's office in Austin, Texas, this homepage video for Ramos James Law is built around an interview with one of the firm's attorneys about why she does this work and who she fights for.
This homepage video introduces Contigo Technology, an IT company that supports well-known healthcare, engineering and financial firms in Austin and across the country.
Shot in the Texas Hill Country, this brand story for Vault Prep, an Austin-area education company, features the tutors, teachers and former students behind its success. We edited the footage closely around the team's feedback.
RePipe Specialists, based in Burbank, California, brought us on site in Austin, Texas, to film “Our Process” at The Independent, one of Austin's tallest skyscrapers. The 10-minute video walks customers through how a repipe job works, from start to finish.
We edited client testimonial videos for Homebot, shaping customers' stories into clear, compelling testimonials.
A short documentary portrait of Peter Dusan and his mission with Mosaic Church.
Award-winning cinematography and festival-recognized storytelling across documentary, public health, and independent film.
Maggie Magic Fingers, directed by Jennifer Smith, with René Salinas as Director of Photography and Leah Salinas as Casting Director.
Read the story →"I loved working with Creativity Lives Here! They managed to complete a film project on a super tight turnaround and produced really high quality work—exactly what I needed! Highly recommend and will definitely be working with them again in the future!"
"Working with René was an absolute pleasure. He’s a master of light, perspective, and storytelling; the kind of videographer who can turn even simple moments into something cinematic. His attention to detail, calm professionalism, and intuitive understanding of what a brand or person is trying to express make the entire process seamless. René doesn’t just capture visuals; he captures essence. Anyone lucky enough to work with him will walk away with work that makes you feel as good as it looks."
"Rene and Leah have been absolutely phenomenal to work with. Our team filmed a promotional video for our education company in the Austin area, and they brought a perfect balance of professionalism and creativity to the project. Their editing work was outstanding—seamlessly weaving together our footage while thoughtfully incorporating our feedback. The final product exceeded our expectations, and we couldn’t be happier. We’ll definitely be partnering with them again!"
"We had the pleasure of working with Rene and his lovely wife, Leah. They were professional, talented, prepared, patient and very knowledgeable. They took the time to understand what’s at the core of our business and capture our passion for our clients and their fight for justice. We cannot recommend them enough!"
Production, editing and event coverage, all handled in-house by the same two people from concept to delivery.
Cinema-grade production for corporate marketing videos, brand documentaries, testimonials, online courses and live events.
Editing, color grading, audio cleanup, and delivery, all in-house using industry-standard tools. Quick turnaround without compromising on quality.
Professional event coverage and headshot booths for corporate events, captured with the same cinematic eye and attention to detail we bring to every project.
We believe story is what makes a video compelling. We always find the underlying storyline and weave in cinematic techniques to leave a lasting impact.
Our team has a background in the entertainment industry and we run professional sets to ensure your project's success.
We get that you don't want to wait months to get your final edit. We deliver your videos as quickly as possible without compromising on quality.
You work with René and Leah directly, from the first call to final delivery. Looking after our clients is one of our top priorities.
Trained at the American Film Institute (AFI) and the University of Southern California, paired with 10+ years of field experience.
We deliver polished, professional content through a streamlined and collaborative production process. Direct communication and personalized creative support are at the heart of everything we do.
Straight answers to what clients ask us most. Anything else, ask us on a free intro call.
As a starting guide, on-site production begins at $150 per hour for René as a one-person crew, which includes travel to your location plus our professional camera package and lighting kit, and editing begins at $75 per hour. Every project is different, and shoots that need additional crew are quoted per project. After a free 30-minute intro call, we send a written estimate so you know the total before we start.
We're based in Austin and work across the metro, including the west side: West Lake Hills, Rollingwood, Bee Cave, Lakeway, Dripping Springs, Spicewood and Lago Vista, plus Cedar Park, Leander, Round Rock, Georgetown, Pflugerville, Kyle, Buda and San Marcos. We also cover events in San Antonio, Dallas and Houston, and travel for projects anywhere.
Brand documentaries and brand stories, corporate and executive interviews, client testimonials, event highlight reels and keynote recordings, online course videos, vertical social content, and YouTube editing. We also photograph events and run on-site headshot booths.
It depends on the scope, and we agree on a timeline before we start. We're known for quick turnarounds, and same-day delivery is available for select event packages.
Yes. We film multi-day conferences, galas, pitch competitions and company events, and we can add event photography and a headshot booth to the same booking. You can see recent events on our event coverage page.
You work directly with René and Leah Salinas from the first call to final delivery. We're a husband-and-wife team, not an agency, so there's no account manager in between. For larger shoots we bring in collaborators we know and trust.
Yes. We offer editing, color grading, audio cleanup and motion graphics in Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve, with review and feedback through Frame.io.
Yes. Creativity Lives Here Ltd. Co carries general liability insurance, which many venues and corporate clients require.
Book a free 30-minute intro call. We'll talk through your idea, your timeline and whether we're the right fit. No pressure, no sales pitch.
Photo by Miranda Kelton PhotographyBased in Austin, Texas, we make cinematic, story-driven films for businesses, nonprofits and brands, and we care about every one of them. From concept to final cut, every project is handled in-house with personal attention.
Film school gave us the craft. Years of working directly with clients gave us the instinct to know what a story needs to land.
Photo by Miranda Kelton PhotographyRené is an experienced, story-driven videographer, video editor, and film producer. He began his career at the Austin Film Society (AFS) and earned his MFA from the American Film Institute Conservatory (AFI) in 2017. His brand documentary, Unseen Connection, was a Final Selection at the American Public Health Association Expo and Project Unlonely Films Season 8. Building on his documentary work, René has expanded into narrative filmmaking, serving as director of photography on Maggie Magic Fingers, winner of Best Inspirational Film at the 2026 Los Angeles Film Awards. He also produces the After Film School Podcast, interviewing colleagues worldwide. René is a passionate storyteller who thrives on collaborating with others to bring their stories to life.
Photo by Miranda Kelton PhotographyLeah is a Producer, Director, On-Camera Coach and Actress by trade. She received her B.A. in Theatre and Social Sciences from the University of Southern California, and has appeared in numerous theatre and film projects. Thanks to her background in performance, she is uniquely skilled at helping her clients feel confident and at-ease on camera. She loves collaborating with other human beings in creative settings, and believes that everyone has a meaningful story to tell. She cast the award-winning short Maggie Magic Fingers.
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