“I ended up filming Kanye West’s house in LA completely by chance,” says 29-year-old Jonathan Maoz, who moved from Jerusalem to LA about a year and a half ago to pursue a career in filmmaking.
“Kanye bought the house in 2021 to be close to his ex-wife, Kim Kardashian, and their children — North, Saint, Chicago, and Psalm — who live nearby. But that only lasted a short while, because he sold it two years later, in 2023, for what’s considered a laughably low price in that area: just $4.5 million."
The house Kanye West sold for “Peanuts” — and underwent a major renovation
(Photo: Jonathan Maoz)
“Kim’s house is right next door, and Kanye’s place had a direct view of it, although it’s hard to actually see her home because it’s guard-gated. The developer who bought Kanye’s place demolished it, redesigned it, and put it back on the market for $17 million.
"I loved filming it because the design was unique. It was done by Jae Omar, known for his bold style and beautiful work, so it was a real honor. The spacious home has high ceilings in the living room, hardwood floors throughout, a glass wine room in the center, and a long swimming pool.”
The minimalist look of the house that Kanye and Kim shared during their marriage was replaced by a rustic-style home Kanye bought just next door.
It’s not ordinary for a young man from Jerusalem to end up filming multimillion-dollar luxury homes in LA, while some of them are owned by celebrities and major industry players.
Maoz, a graduate of Bezalel Academy at the screen-based Arts department, where he earned his first degree (BFA) in filmmaking, has shot campaigns, commercials, and branded content. But since arriving in the U.S., he’s found himself filming opulent estates for developers, designers, and real estate firms. One of the homes, as mentioned, belonged to West and is located in the upscale Hidden Hills neighborhood of Calabasas.
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The Living Room with the Fireplace; the vaulted ceilings remained
(Photo: Jonathan Maoz)
How did you end up filming luxury real estate?
“Honestly, I never intended to get into real estate photography.
"One day, I was shooting a private event in the Hollywood Hills, which was a closed launch party for a luxury product with some big names in the industry. It was the first time in my life I’d ever seen a property like that.
"I was thinking about how to capture the power and presence of the house in my shots. Someone there saw me filming and struck up a conversation. He asked if I shot real estate, and without thinking twice, I said yes, even though I was completely a novice."
Maoz, who had no prior experience photographing homes, explained to the man — who turned out to be the developer of the property — how he views each house as having its own story, which he tries to express through his lens.
"The developer was so impressed that he invited Maoz to return a week later to shoot the home, both in stills and video.
Letting the house play the lead role
That chance encounter launched Maoz’s new path in luxury home photography. Word of his work spread quickly among real estate agents and interior designers looking for more creative, cinematic approaches to showcasing high-end properties.
“Real estate firms were looking for something different — not just another standard house photo for websites and social media,” Maoz says.
He has since filmed homes ranging in value from $4 million to $40 million across LA’s most exclusive neighborhoods. Interestingly, many of the developers and contractors behind the projects he shoots are either Jewish or Israeli.
As a director at heart, Maoz treats every house shoot like a film production. “I show up to set around 2 or 3 p.m.,” he says.
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The back of the house — Outdoor kitchen and entertaining yard
(Photo: Jonathan Maoz)
How do people find you?
“People love behind-the-scenes content from shoots. I post videos to social media, and they often go viral, reaching hundreds of thousands of views — which brings a lot of attention to the property."
Despite his immersion in LA’s luxury real estate scene, Maoz hasn’t lost sight of his original dream: filmmaking.
Alongside his busy schedule with agents, developers, designers, and contractors, he continues to work on personal projects. He’s currently shooting a new short film he wrote and directed and is developing ideas for future films.
“Filming these homes took me into a world I never planned to enter,” he says. “But it has opened doors I never imagined.
"I look at each property like a character in a movie — with its own story, atmosphere, and personality. My ultimate goal is to direct full-length feature films and succeed here in Hollywood. And maybe, one day, even buy a home like the ones I shoot now.”
In the meantime, he continues filming high-end listings and documenting glittering launch events, including one with Paris Hilton.