Camera crew in Washington, DC
Filming in Washington, DC? I’m Umit Gulsen, a Director of Photography with 20+ years behind the camera, and I arrive as a complete camera crew: two-camera interview package, lighting, grip and a production van, with a gaffer or sound recordist from my regular DC crew when the shoot calls for it. Interviews, documentaries and brand films for The Wall Street Journal, BBC, Netflix and AARP, and for visiting and international productions.
Your camera crew
in Washington, DC.
Producing from New York, Los Angeles or overseas? I work as the local Director of Photography or camera operator for out-of-town and international productions. I arrive with a two-camera interview package, lighting, grip and a production van, and bring in a gaffer or sound recordist from the DC film crew I work with regularly when the shoot calls for it.
I know how shoots run on Capitol Hill, at the White House and inside federal agencies: security screening, escorts, tight load-ins and a hard out. I’ve filmed U.S. stories for broadcasters and producers from Germany, Switzerland, Brazil and Singapore, including NZZ and Channel NewsAsia.
Washington shoots have their own rhythm: a cabinet secretary with a short window in their day, a conference room at an agency with a security escort, a scientist who has never been on camera. My job is to bring a high-end, cinematic look to those rooms: a lit, composed frame ready before the subject walks in, and a calm set once they do. When the schedule is tight, the van and carts let me set up efficiently without cutting corners on the image.
I’ve filmed Fed Chair Janet Yellen at the Federal Reserve, Climate Envoy John Kerry, Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and Education Secretary Linda McMahon for The Wall Street Journal, Nobel laureate John Mather at NASA Goddard for Quanta Magazine, and documentaries for AARP Studios, HBO and WETA PBS.
I hold an MA in Film and Video from American University and am a member of WIFV, Washington’s film and video association. Because I own and maintain everything I shoot with, you book one person and get a complete, tested package — no rental pick-ups, no surprises on the day.
- Based in
- Washington, DC
- Freelance DP since
- 2015
- Covers
- DC, Northern Virginia, Maryland
- Cameras
- 2× Varicam LT, EVA-1, Ronin 4D
- Lighting
- Nanlite Forza, Pavo tubes
- Transport
- Mercedes Metris production van
- Phone
- 703-349-9125
Interviews, documentaries,
brand films.
Interview cinematography
Two-camera interviews for newsrooms, nonprofits and agencies — cabinet secretaries, executives, scientists and first-time interviewees, lit and framed before they walk in. The interview package →
Documentary cinematography
Character-led documentary for AARP Studios, Quanta Magazine, HBO and international broadcasters, in the DMV and on the road.
Brand & nonprofit
Recruitment films, commercials and mission videos for organisations across DC, Maryland and Virginia — like WAEPA and Kaeser Compressors.
Shooting in DC
Do you bring your own camera and lighting?
Yes. I’m an owner-operator: two Panasonic Varicam LTs, an EVA-1, a DJI Ronin 4D, Angenieux EZ zooms, Nanlite lighting, a dolly and grip all arrive with me in a custom-built Mercedes Metris production van. See the full gear list.
Which areas do you cover?
All of Washington, DC, Northern Virginia (Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax, Reston) and Maryland (Bethesda, Silver Spring, Rockville, Greenbelt). I also travel for shoots across the US and abroad.
Have you filmed in federal buildings and institutions?
Yes — at the White House for a TIME interview series produced by Blue Chalk Media, at the Federal Reserve with Fed Chair Janet Yellen, at the Federal Trade Commission for The Wall Street Journal, at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center for Quanta Magazine, at Carnegie Science, in the U.S. Capitol and the House office buildings, and in many other federal buildings and cabinet departments. I’m used to security screening, tight load-in windows and small rooms with a hard out.
Do you shoot interviews for news outlets?
Regularly. I film sit-down interviews in Washington for The Wall Street Journal — including Climate Envoy John Kerry, Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and Education Secretary Linda McMahon — as well as for Channel NewsAsia, NZZ and WETA PBS. See the broadcast work.
Can you crew a DC shoot for an out-of-town or international production?
Yes. I regularly work as the local DP or camera operator for productions based outside Washington, from U.S. networks and agencies to broadcasters in Germany, Switzerland, Brazil and Singapore. I bring the camera, lighting and grip package and can add a gaffer or sound recordist.
Can you bring a crew?
Yes. For larger shoots I bring in a gaffer, grip or sound recordist from the DC crew I work with regularly, so you can book the whole camera department with one call.
How much does a Director of Photography cost in DC?
Every shoot is quoted to the job: DP only, or DP with the full camera, lighting and grip package. Send your dates, location and a short brief and I’ll reply within one business day. Check availability.