Unscripted & Documentary Director of Photography

Story First. Always.

 

Great unscripted cinematography isn’t about making every shot beautiful.

It’s about recognizing the moments that matter.

A glance between two people. A reaction nobody planned. The quiet moment after the interview. A detail in the room that tells you more about the character than another question ever could.

My background in news photojournalism taught me to anticipate moments before they happen. Years of documentary and unscripted television taught me when to slow down, observe and give those moments room to develop.

I’m always thinking about the edit-sequences, transitions, natural sound, reactions, geography and the visual details that help turn hours of real life into a story an audience wants to follow.

The goal isn’t simply coverage. It’s giving the editor something to tell the story with.

Built for Unscripted Television

 

Unscripted production rarely follows the plan exactly.

Schedules change. Characters change their minds. Weather moves in. Access disappears. The scene suddenly happens in the wrong room with terrible light.

That’s part of the job.

I’ve spent decades working in unpredictable environments where the crew has to adapt quickly without disrupting what is happening in front of the camera.

I’m comfortable working on:

• Character-driven reality and lifestyle television
• True crime and investigative programming
• Documentary series and films
• Travel and adventure programming
• Home, renovation and building shows
• Food and competition programming
• Field interviews and recreations
• Follow-doc and observational shooting
• Multi-camera scenes
• Small-crew and one-person field production

Whether I’m leading the camera department or working as part of a larger team, I bring a calm, collaborative approach and stay focused on what the story needs.

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True Crime & Investigative Storytelling

 

True crime requires a different visual language.

Interviews need to feel intentional without becoming distracting. Locations need atmosphere. Details need meaning. Recreations and B-roll need to support the story without overstating it.

My true-crime and investigative credits include productions for A&E, Oxygen and other national networks, with work ranging from intimate interviews and documentary coverage to cinematic location photography and aerial imagery.

I understand how to create visual tension while respecting the real people and real events behind the story.

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Documentary Interviews That Feel Human

 

A great interview begins long before the camera rolls.

I pay attention to the environment, background, light, eyeline and camera placement, but the technical setup should never become more important than the person sitting in front of the lens.

My goal is to create an environment where the subject can forget about the production around them.

Depending on the story, that may mean a carefully controlled multi-camera setup or a lightweight interview in a location where we have only minutes to work.

Either way, the result should feel polished without losing authenticity.

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Small Crews. Big Stories.

 

Some of my favorite productions have been made with very small teams.

Smaller crews can move faster, travel farther and create a more comfortable environment for characters — but only when everyone on that crew can do more than one thing.

In addition to Director of Photography and camera operation, I bring experience with:

• Field producing
• Lighting
• Location audio
• FAA Part 107 drone cinematography
• Still photography
• Multi-camera production
• Remote interviews
• Production logistics
• International travel and carnets
• Editing and post-production workflows

That versatility allows productions to scale the crew around the story instead of building unnecessary layers around the production.

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Built for the Road

 

Unscripted television has taken me across all 50 states and more than 60 countries.

I’ve worked from airports, boats, helicopters, mountain roads, construction sites, waterparks, private homes, crowded cities and remote locations where simply getting the cameras into position was part of the production.

International and remote production requires more than knowing how to shoot.

It requires understanding baggage logistics, customs, carnets, transportation, local crews, changing schedules, weather and how to keep working when the original plan stops working.

I travel prepared, keep my equipment field-ready and understand that the crew still has to deliver regardless of the location.

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Network & Television Experience

 

My unscripted and documentary work has included productions for networks and platforms such as:

A&E • HISTORY • DISCOVERY • TRAVEL CHANNEL • HGTV • DIY • OXYGEN • FOOD NETWORK • BRAVO • PBS • CBS • ANIMAL PLANET

Selected productions include:

Cold Case Files
Interrogation Raw
Taking the Stand
Ancient Aliens
Accident, Suicide, or Murder
Xtreme Waterparks
Southern Charm
Returning the Favor
Living Alaska
Tiny House Big Living
Building Off the Grid
Building Belushi​

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A DP Who Thinks Beyond the Frame

 

On an unscripted production, being technically good with a camera is only part of the job.

You also have to understand characters, producers, schedules, locations and the larger story the production is trying to build.

I’m constantly asking:

What does the editor need?

Where is this scene going?

What haven’t we covered yet?

What is the character doing when nobody is asking them a question?

Where is the moment likely to happen next?

That thinking comes from thousands of hours in the field.

It allows me to work independently, communicate clearly with producers and contribute creatively without slowing down the production.

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Denver Based. Worldwide Ready.

 

I’m based in Denver, Colorado and available for documentary and unscripted productions throughout Colorado, the Rocky Mountain region, across the United States and internationally.

Whether you need a DP for a multi-week series, a local camera crew for a Denver episode, an interview team or a small travel-ready unit, I can scale the approach around the production.

Real people. Real places. Real moments.

Let’s tell the story.

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