Director of Photography for Television, Documentary & Branded Production

 

Great cinematography isn't just about making a beautiful frame. It's knowing what the story needs, anticipating what happens next, collaborating with producers and directors, and making creative decisions quickly when the schedule, location, weather, or story changes.

I've spent thousands of hours behind the camera on network television, documentary series, corporate productions, interviews, travel shows, breaking news, sports, and location-based productions around the world.

That experience means I can step onto an established production and work seamlessly with your team—or help build an efficient crew and camera package around the project from the ground up.

 

WHAT I SHOOT

Unscripted & Documentary

Character-driven documentaries, reality television, travel programming, true crime, lifestyle, outdoor, and vérité production.

I'm comfortable working in unpredictable environments where moments can't be recreated. I know when to move, when to wait, and when to stay out of the way and let the story unfold.

[EXPLORE UNSCRIPTED & DOCUMENTARY]

 

Corporate & Branded Content

Executive interviews, customer stories, internal communications, branded documentaries, marketing campaigns, company profiles, social content, and agency productions.

I bring broadcast-level production standards to corporate projects without turning a straightforward shoot into an unnecessarily large production.

[VIEW CORPORATE WORK]

 

Network & Broadcast Television

Decades of experience working within the expectations, pace, and technical standards of national television.

From field features and magazine-style storytelling to interviews and multi-camera productions, I understand the importance of consistency, communication, speed, and getting the shot when there isn't a second chance.

 

Travel & Location Production

I've spent much of my career working away from traditional sets—mountains, cities, backroads, airports, international locations, boats, helicopters, remote communities, and just about everything in between.

Location production requires more than camera skills. It requires planning, adaptability, logistics, and the ability to keep working when circumstances change.

That's where I'm most comfortable.

 

WHAT I BRING TO YOUR PRODUCTION​

• Cinematic lighting and composition

• Strong documentary and visual storytelling instincts

• Network television and broadcast experience

• Multi-camera interview setups

• Handheld, tripod, gimbal, slider, and specialty camera operation

• Small-crew and run-and-gun production experience

• Professional camera, lighting, audio, monitoring, and support packages

• FAA Part 107 aerial cinematography

• Fast problem solving in changing environments

• Experience collaborating with producers, directors, agencies, executives, and talent

• Domestic and international location-production experience

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Small Crew. Big Capability.

 

Not every production needs a huge crew.

One of my specialties is knowing how to scale a production appropriately.

For some shoots, that means working efficiently as an owner/operator with a compact camera, lighting, and audio package. For others, it means assembling additional camera operators, sound mixers, producers, grips, lighting technicians, drone crews, or production support.

The goal isn't to bring the biggest crew.

It's to bring the right crew.

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Production-Ready Camera & Lighting Packages

 

I own and maintain professional broadcast and cinema equipment that can be configured around the needs of the production.

Camera systems include Sony FX9, FX3 and additional Sony and Canon cinema/broadcast cameras, supported by professional lenses, lighting, wireless audio, timecode, monitors, teleprompter, stabilization, grip, and aerial equipment.

That means fewer rental logistics and the ability to respond quickly when productions come together on short notice.

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SELECTED DP CREDITS

 

My career has included work across network television, documentary, travel, unscripted, corporate, sports, news, and branded production.

Selected credits include:

Xtreme Waterparks — Travel Channel
Director of Photography / Drone Operator — 50+ episodes

Living Alaska — HGTV
Director of Photography / Drone Operator

Cold Case Files — A&E
Director of Photography / Drone Operator

Interrogation Raw — A&E
Director of Photography / Drone Operator

Ancient Aliens — History Channel
Director of Photography

Building Belushi — DIY Network
Director of Photography / Drone Operator

Mission Unstoppable — CBS
Director of Photography

Melissa's Story — Takeda Entertainment
Director of Photography — Emmy-winning project

Studio 58 with Von Miller
Director of Photography / Drone Operator

The Trip — Travel Channel
Director of Photography / Drone Operator

Comcast
Director of Photography — Corporate and branded productions

Xcel Energy
Director of Photography — Corporate, community, and social content

 

Denver-Based. Production-Ready Across Colorado.

 

Being based in Denver puts me within easy reach of productions throughout the Front Range, Rocky Mountains, and Colorado.

I regularly work in Denver, Boulder, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, mountain communities, rural Colorado, and remote locations throughout the state.

Colorado production can mean shooting a controlled corporate interview downtown in the morning and working at elevation, in snow, wind, or rapidly changing mountain weather the next day.

Knowing how to work here matters.

 

Worldwide Production Experience

 

Colorado is home, but my career has taken me throughout all 50 states and more than 60 countries.

I've worked on productions involving international flights, remote locations, tight travel schedules, changing weather, complicated logistics, and equipment moving through airports and customs.

Whether the production is in Denver, somewhere in the Rockies, or on the other side of the world, I show up prepared and ready to work.

 

WHY HIRE CHAD ZELLMER AS YOUR DP?

 

Experience Without the Ego

 

I've spent more than two decades working with producers, directors, correspondents, executives, celebrities, crews, and everyday people.

The job is collaborative. I come prepared with ideas and experience, but I'm there to help execute the creative vision—not make the production about me.

 

Story Comes First

 

Lighting, lenses, camera movement, and composition matter.

But they only matter when they serve the story.

My background in photojournalism and documentary production taught me to listen, anticipate, and recognize moments rather than simply manufacture pretty pictures.

 

Calm Under Pressure

 

Productions change.

Weather changes. Locations change. Schedules collapse. Talent arrives late. The sun disappears. A story suddenly heads in another direction.

Experience means knowing how to adapt without allowing those problems to become the client's problems.

 

Ready to Travel

 

Passport ready, production experienced, and comfortable working far beyond traditional studio environments.

Some of my best work has happened in places where the production plan lasted about five minutes before reality took over.

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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Are you available as a local Director of Photography in Denver?

 

Yes. I'm based in Denver and regularly work throughout Colorado and the Rocky Mountain region. I'm also available for domestic and international travel.

 

Do you provide your own camera and lighting equipment?

 

Yes. I maintain professional cinema, broadcast, lighting, audio, grip, monitoring, stabilization, and drone equipment. Packages can be scaled depending on the production.

 

Can you provide additional crew?

 

Yes. I can work as an individual owner/operator or help assemble an appropriate production crew, including additional camera, audio, lighting, production, and support personnel.

 

What types of productions do you specialize in?

 

My primary work includes network television, documentary, unscripted programming, corporate storytelling, branded content, interviews, travel production, news features, sports, and location-based productions.

 

Are you available for one-day shoots?

 

Absolutely. I regularly work as a local Denver DP for visiting networks, production companies, agencies, producers, and corporate clients who need experienced local production support.

 

Do you travel outside Denver?

 

Yes. I've worked throughout all 50 states and more than 60 countries and regularly travel for productions.

 

Can drone cinematography be included?

 

Yes. I'm an FAA Part 107 certified drone pilot and can integrate aerial cinematography into many productions when location, airspace, weather, and regulations allow.

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Need a Director of Photography in Denver?

 

Whether you're bringing a network crew into Colorado, producing a documentary, shooting a branded story, filming executive interviews, or building a production from the ground up, let's talk about what you need.

Tell me the date, location, project, crew requirements, and deliverables, and I'll help determine the right production approach.

Denver, Colorado
Available Nationwide & Worldwide

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