Est. 2014
Our Story
Before Camera Ambassador, I was in San Francisco buying and selling used camera gear, everything from Hasselblads to Leicas. I loved the equipment side of it, but something was missing. I'd ship off a camera and usually never hear from that person again. I never got to find out what was made with it.
When I moved to Chicago, friends started borrowing gear between sales, and in 2014 we started Camera Ambassador rentals. That was the part I'd been missing: seeing what people make, and getting to know the people making it.
Twelve years and two shops later, we're one of only a few women-owned rental houses in the country, and the only one in the Midwest. I'm on the ground at the shop, I know a lot of our clients well, and I'm always listening for ways to do this better. It's been a wild ride, and I'm grateful for every single person who's been part of it.
Erica Duffy, CEO & Founder
More than a rental house
A one-stop shop.
We carry everything from cameras and lenses to grip trucks and specialty items like unique filtration and gimbals. What sets us apart is our commitment to being more than a rental facility: we host workshops, feedback sessions, screenings, and educational opportunities that help filmmakers grow and thrive.
Our team of experienced technicians provides real support, from equipment recommendations to technical troubleshooting. And we're always looking for a better way to do things, not just the way they've always been done.
We also have an expendables store right in the shop, with every size and color of tape, so you can grab what you need at pickup. And our in-house service team takes care of lens evaluations, cleaning, repairs, and custom 3D-printed parts, for our gear and yours.
The team
Real people who know the gear.
Erica is the mama bear of the whole operation. She loves connecting with clients, collaborators, and people alike. She is very active in the Chicago film community and spent five years as Executive Director of the Midwest Film Festival. Along with being an aerial yoga enthusiast, she is an incredible trip planner and was likely a world-renowned travel agent in a former life.
Follow her on IG @hello.erica.duffy
Ellen is the smiling face and warm voice of Camera Ambassador. She's a master organizer who loves to help clients find the best combination of gear within their budget. When she's not at Camera Ambassador, she enjoys arts of many mediums including drawing, painting, designing handmade cards, and decorating.
Follow her on IG @ellen.rose.partain
Matt is a cinematographer based out of Chicago. He has had the pleasure of directing photography on a wide variety of narrative projects as well as collaborating with artists and brands like Wilco, Iron & Wine, Fender, NPR, and Fontaines D.C. When he's not at Camera Ambassador or on set, he enjoys making wet plate photographs and playing video games with his cats, Pepper, Phoebe, and Rocky.
Follow him on IG @MattCarrollDP
Nate brings his technical expertise and precision to maintaining our extensive lens collection. His passion for visual storytelling drives him to help cinematographers and photographers discover their unique aesthetic through equipment choice. When not working with lenses, Nate explores infrared photography, crafts cocktails, immerses himself in gaming culture, and embraces his self-proclaimed status as a "gluten glutton."
Katie got their start in Columbus, Ohio, filming mock weather reports and recruiting family members as witness interviewees. These days they split their time between assisting camera on set and keeping the shop humming as our Rental Associate, where they're the friendly face at the front desk and can usually be found picking Nate's brain about optics. Off the clock, Katie is shooting 35mm film, building a home darkroom, and forever perfecting a cookbook. Spot them at a local brewery with a good book, fueled by an iced oat milk latte (lavender, if they're feeling silly).
Follow them on IG @katie.cahal
Named for her cool and creamy vibes, Cashew is Camera Ambassador's mascot and pup-in-charge. As a connoisseur of Chicago's film industry, Cashew knows just what filmmakers need while in the studio: a hot doggy breath full of love and some of the best cuddles this city has to offer.
Follow her on IG @cashewsworld
The Rental Home philosophy
Welcome to your Rental Home.
“Rental Home” started as one of Eric Silver's dad jokes when he was our lead tech, and it stuck. In 2023 we made it official, because it says exactly how we want people to feel here: cared for and comfortable. Come for the prep, test the glass, stay for the coffee, and ask us anything.
Welcome to our shop
11,000 square feet at CineCity Studios.
We moved into CineCity in June 2025, after eleven years in our original shop just across the alley. Erica designed the new space herself, down to the layout. It has four motorized MYT Works prep bays with room to work even when all four are full, a lens projection room, a makers space, and a full kitchen for events. There's a record player too, so bring a record.
- Complimentary camera prepExpert technicians
- Coffee + cold brewAlways in stock
- Snack bar and client loungeHigh-speed internet
- 3D printerCustom solutions + mods
- Expendables storeEvery size + color of tape
- Record playerBring your own record
- Pool tableStay a while
Take the tour
Walk through the shop.
A quick walkthrough of our home at CineCity Studios, from the front counter to the prep bays.
- Front counterCheck-in + expendables
- MYT Works prep baysFour motorized bays
- Lens projection roomEvery lens checked
- Client loungeCoffee + a pool table
Client work
See what our clients have made.
Past initiatives
The Community Builders Grant
From 2019 to 2023, our $20,000 film fund backed 15+ completed projects with cash, gear credits, and resources.
The Call Sheet Magazine
Our magazine with Cinema Femme, written by an all-femme and non-binary team about emerging voices in Chicago film.
Matters of the heart & soul
What we stand for.
How we work
Ask us anything. The basic questions are just as welcome as the nerdy ones, and we'll go through your build with you and test the glass together until you feel good about it.
We care a lot about access. That means gear, but also information, mentorship, and introductions, which is why we offer student pricing, internships, workshops, and crew referrals. The more people who can get into this industry and stay in it, the better it gets for everyone.
We also try not to do things just because that's how they've always been done. That's how we ended up with motorized prep bays, and it shapes how we build packages too. And you'll always get a straight answer from us, including when something isn't right for your shoot.
Our team
Everyone here works in the industry, and we encourage our team to keep making their own work. It keeps us sharp, and it means the person helping you has probably used that lens on set.
We also believe you don't have to sacrifice your personal life to do meaningful work. Burnout is real in this industry, so we build schedules with room for family, rest, and our own creative projects.
Interested in joining us? Learn about our Tech Internship and how to get involved.
Everyone belongs here
As a women-owned shop, we know what it feels like to walk into a room that wasn't built for you. We want this to be the opposite: a place that's welcoming to people of every gender, race, ethnicity, age, ability, sexual orientation, and background, whether it's your hundredth rental or your first.
We don't tolerate discrimination, harassment, or bullying from anyone. If something doesn't feel right, or you have ideas for how we can do better, please tell us.
Lighter on the planet
We try to make the greener choice the easy one, with digital paperwork instead of printed forms, LED lighting, reusable cases instead of plastic, and energy-efficient gear recommendations when you ask. Going digital alone has saved more than 19,900 pages of paper.
Community resources: Eco Fixr · Chicago Film Office Film Sustainability · One Earth Film Festival · Filming Off the Grid
Get in touch
Let's work together.
Send us your gear list and shoot dates and we'll put a quote together. Not sure what you need yet? We can help with that too.