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Hi, I’m Russell Swanson, an Emmy-winning cinematographer with 25+ years behind the camera across TV, feature films, documentaries, commercials, music videos, and branded content. I’m known for thoughtful collaboration, precise lighting, and a calm, organized approach on set, whether I’m in a location shoot or a studio. I bring strong technical skills, creative storytelling, and a collaborative mindset to every project I work on. My work has spanned HBO, Netflix, and major networks, including long-running series like Last Week Tonight, feature films, TV shows, comedy specials, and a wide array of commercials and music videos. I’ve earned Primetime Emmys for technical direction and camerawork on Last Week Tonight and continue to pursue bold, visually compelling storytelling through every frame I shoot.…Hi, I’m Russell Swanson, an Emmy-winning cinematographer with 25+ years behind the camera across TV, feature films, documentaries, commercials, music videos, and branded content. I’m known for thoughtful collaboration, precise lighting, and a calm, organized approach on set, whether I’m in a location shoot or a studio. I bring strong technical skills, creative storytelling, and a collaborative mindset to every project I work on. My work has spanned HBO, Netflix, and major networks, including long-running series like Last Week Tonight, feature films, TV shows, comedy specials, and a wide array of commercials and music videos. I’ve earned Primetime Emmys for technical direction and camerawork on Last Week Tonight and continue to pursue bold, visually compelling storytelling through every frame I shoot.

Russell Swanson

Director of Photography, Cinematographer, Camera Operator, +3

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Hi, I’m Russell Swanson, an Emmy-winning cinematographer with 25+ years behind the camera across TV, feature films, documentaries, commercials, music videos, and branded content. I’m known for thoughtful collaboration, precise lighting, and a calm, organized approach on set, whether I’m in a location shoot or a studio. I bring strong technical skills, creative storytelling, and a collaborative mindset to every project I work on. My work has spanned HBO, Netflix, and major networks, including long-running series like Last Week Tonight, feature films, TV shows, comedy specials, and a wide array of commercials and music videos. I’ve earned Primetime Emmys for technical direction and camerawork on Last Week Tonight and continue to pursue bold, visually compelling storytelling through every frame I shoot.…Hi, I’m Russell Swanson, an Emmy-winning cinematographer with 25+ years behind the camera across TV, feature films, documentaries, commercials, music videos, and branded content. I’m known for thoughtful collaboration, precise lighting, and a calm, organized approach on set, whether I’m in a location shoot or a studio. I bring strong technical skills, creative storytelling, and a collaborative mindset to every project I work on. My work has spanned HBO, Netflix, and major networks, including long-running series like Last Week Tonight, feature films, TV shows, comedy specials, and a wide array of commercials and music videos. I’ve earned Primetime Emmys for technical direction and camerawork on Last Week Tonight and continue to pursue bold, visually compelling storytelling through every frame I shoot.

Available to hire

Hi, I’m Russell Swanson, an Emmy-winning cinematographer with 25+ years behind the camera across TV, feature films, documentaries, commercials, music videos, and branded content. I’m known for thoughtful collaboration, precise lighting, and a calm, organized approach on set, whether I’m in a location shoot or a studio. I bring strong technical skills, creative storytelling, and a collaborative mindset to every project I work on.

My work has spanned HBO, Netflix, and major networks, including long-running series like Last Week Tonight, feature films, TV shows, comedy specials, and a wide array of commercials and music videos. I’ve earned Primetime Emmys for technical direction and camerawork on Last Week Tonight and continue to pursue bold, visually compelling storytelling through every frame I shoot.

Skills

DaVinci Resolve Studio

Experience Level

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

DaVinci Resolve Studio

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Language

English

Fluent

Work Experience

Director of Photography at HBO’s Last Week Tonight with John Oliver

January 1, 2014 - January 1, 2025

Cinematographer seasons 1-12 on field shoots and studio segments, including 3 Prime Time Emmy-winning segments in the 'Outstanding Technical Direction, Camerawork, and Video Control for a Series' category.

Director of Photography at "Here’s... Yianni!"

January 1, 2022 - January 1, 2024

Cinematography on the feature film Here’s… Yianni! featuring Julia Ormond, Rosanna Arquette, Kevin Pollack, Eric Roberts (2024 release).

Director of Photography at Netflix’s Iliza Schlesinger Sketch Show

January 1, 2019 - January 1, 2019

Cinematographer on episodic comedy series, season 1.

Director of Photography at HBO’s Wyatt Cenac’s Problem Areas

January 1, 2019 - January 1, 2020

Cinematographer on episodic social commentary/comedy series, seasons 1 & 2.

Director of Photography at Netflix’s The Who Was? Show

January 1, 2018 - January 1, 2018

Cinematographer on Emmy-winning children’s episodic sketch series, season 1.

Director of Photography at Various Commercials and Music Videos

January 1, 1995 - Present

Cinematography on hundreds of commercials and music videos.

Assistant Cameraperson at IATSE Local 600

January 1, 1987 - January 1, 1994

1st Assistant Cameraperson on feature films, episodic TV and music videos.

Studio Manager, Production Assistant, Camera Assistant at Luckafilm

January 1, 1985 - January 1, 1987

Managed Midtown Studios bookings and maintained Camera, Grip, Lighting, and expendable inventories. Edited company showreels and Staff Camera Assistant to Director/Photographer Klaus Lucka.

Director of Photography / Cinematographer at HBO’s Last Week Tonight with John Oliver

January 1, 2014 - January 1, 2025

Director of Photography for HBO's Last Week Tonight, seasons 1-12 covering field shoots and studio segments; contributed to three Prime Time Emmy-winning segments in the Outstanding Technical Direction, Camerawork, and Video Control for a Series category (2020: 'Fu*k 2020'; 2021: 'Eat Sh*t, Bob'; 2022: 'Unions').

Director of Photography at Here’s... Yianni!

January 1, 2022 - January 1, 2024

Cinematographer on the feature film Here’s… Yianni! featuring Julia Ormond, Rosanna Arquette, Kevin Pollack, and Eric Roberts (2024 release).

Director of Photography at Various (Commercials & Music Videos)

January 1, 1995 - Present

Cinematographer on hundreds of commercials and music videos.

Studio Manager / Production Assistant / Camera Assistant at LuckaFilm

January 1, 1985 - January 1, 1987

Managed Midtown Studios bookings and maintained Camera, Grip, Lighting, and expendable inventories. Edited company showreels and served as Staff Camera Assistant to Director/Photographer Klaus Lucka.

Director of Photography at Here’s… Yianni!

January 1, 2022 - January 1, 2024

Cinematographer on feature film Here’s… Yianni! featuring Julia Ormond, Rosanna Arquette, Kevin Pollack, Eric Roberts (2024 release).

Director of Photography at Freelance / Various Commercials & Music Videos

January 1, 1995 - Present

Cinematographer on hundreds of commercials and music videos.

Cinematographer at Various Commercials & Music Videos

December 31, 1994 - Present

Cinematographer on hundreds of commercials and music videos (1995–present; listed on website).