What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director of Photography position at Mad Realities?
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Director of Photography
Company: Mad Realities
Location: New York, NY
Job Type: Full-time or contractor, depending on experience and fit
Hiring Manager: Clare Naughton
About Mad Realities
Mad Realities is defining the future of TV, bridging the gap between culture born online and television-level production. We partner with creators to make original episodic content that you can experience on all social platforms.
- Lead the visual and technical execution of Mad Realities shoots, including camera, lighting, coverage, and on-set workflow
- Translate the Creative Producer / Director’s vision into a clear, efficient, and executable plan for the shoot
- Manage camera operators and support crew on set, making sure coverage is coordinated, consistent, and production-ready
- Operate camera when needed depending on the scope and needs of the shoot
- Design and enable lighting setups that elevate the look of each format while staying realistic for lean, fast-moving productions
- Determine camera, lens, lighting, grip, monitoring, and support needs based on the specific creative and logistical demands of each shoot
- Communicate clearly with production ahead of each shoot around gear needs, rentals, crew needs, setup time, power, space limitations, and potential production constraints
- Oversee on-set camera workflow, including camera placement, framing, exposure, focus, movement, and continuity across multiple angles
- Maintain a calm, organized, and efficient set while helping production stay on schedule
- Adapt quickly to changing shoot environments including studios, apartments, restaurants, public spaces, events, and uncontrolled lighting conditions
- Stay current with short-form video aesthetics across TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and creator-led digital entertainment
Qualifications
- 3 years of experience as a Director of Photography, camera department lead, lead camera operator, or comparable production role
- Strong reel demonstrating polished visual work across social-first, documentary, unscripted, branded, commercial, or creator-led productions
- Proven ability to lead camera operators and support crew on fast-paced sets
- Experience building lighting setups that are visually strong, practical, and efficient for lean production environments
- Strong communication skills, strong on-set leadership, and calm decision-making under time pressure
- for experience with multi-cam shoots, studio builds, man-on-the-street formats, or documentary-style productions
- for experience shooting short-form viral content, creator-led series, or digital entertainment formats for TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube
Specifications
- Engagement type: Full-time or contractor, depending on experience and fit
- Rate / Salary: TBD based on experience
- Typical shoot length: Half-day 6 hours, full-day 10 hours
- Location: New York City
- Reports to: Director of Operations & Production, and Creative Producer / Director on set
✉️ To apply, please send an introduction, resume, and portfolio of relevant work to jobs@madrealities.tv with the subject line titled: Director of Photography.