20% off ends TODAY
If you’re still winging it behind the camera—especially when it comes to lighting or building scenes—and secretly dreading what the footage will look like after… this is your invitation to take back some control.
Right now, documentary filmmakers are being squeezed from all sides.
More of us are stepping behind the camera out of necessity. The bar for production value keeps rising—on branded jobs, corporate shoots, editorial projects, and pitches. And those of us already doing it are being asked to deliver more with less.
If you want to grow—and feel proud of what you’re making—you need more than instinct.
You need structure. You need practice. You need people who get it.
That’s why I created Doc House Summer Studio.
It’s built around three things:
Learning. Doing. Community.
You’ll get:
— Cinematography lessons that pull back the curtain
— Tiny creative experiments that help you apply what you learn
— Weekly group workshops for feedback, prompts, and momentum
— A live cohort and growing alumni community that actually stays connected
Past students are:
— Practicing lighting together in NYC
— Hosting screenings in D.C.
— Restarting their creative practice after years of feeling stuck
We also have two guest masterclasses this summer:
Rita Baghdadi on vérité and presence
Rose Bush on lighting and visual design across a whole film
Live sessions start Tuesday, July 22.
Join us for 3 weeks or 6, depending on how deep you want to go.
I’ve been shooting premium documentaries for 14 years—HBO, Netflix, Disney+, Sundance, TIFF, Tribeca. But I didn’t come up through the traditional camera ladder. I never had high-level mentorship. I figured it out the hard way—through mistakes, trial and error, and way too much self-doubt.
I built this program so you don’t have to.
If you’re ready to stop guessing and start building the skills—and the creative support—that will carry you forward, I’d love to have you in the Studio.
DM me if you want the details. Or click link in my stories.
🎬 New drop!
@elizabethbklo 's mini masterclass just landed inside the Shorts Summit — and it’s streaming free through July 1. In this sessions, she pulls back the curtain her process in Hotel 22 and Mistress Dispeller.
She also breaks down the “low risk, high reward” mindset that jumpstarted her momentum — and why small films can lead to big breakthroughs.
🎟️ Watch instantly, join here → link in bio to join us #shortsummit #filmmakinglife #shortdoc #creativecourage #documentaryshorts #doccommunity #docfilm #filmmakers #documentarycommunity #shortsfilmmaking #creativeprocess
The Summit Starts Now!
We kick off today. And the energy is already palpable.
If you’ve been stuck in the waiting — for funding, a greenlight, a clearer idea — this is your sign to start anyway.
Shorts make that possible.
It’s not too late to join us. Send me a DM and I will send you the sign up link
#ShortsSummit #DocHouse
Introducing DOC HOUSE! Currently enrolling for the next cohort of the 8-week online Documentary Cinematography Intensive with Vanessa Carr @vancarr Link in bio!
Documentary DPs “rarely come together and talk frankly, honestly, openly about our process.” Get your questions answered at a special IN-PERSON cinematography workshop this Friday, April 26 at NYC’s @ifccenter .
Cinematographer Vanessa Carr (ON POINTE) invites you to this immersive day-long workshop, where clip analysis provides insights into the creative process and techniques used by filmmakers. Joined by Vanessa is our panel of cinematographers Jeffrey Johnson (@_athousandcuts ), Nausheen Dadabhoy (@anactofworship ), and Alex Pritz (THE TERRITORY), who help you discover new and innovative ways to film interviews, and learn how to use different camera angles and lighting techniques to create dynamic and engaging footage. This workshop will be highly interactive with a vibrant audience Q&A throughout. PLUS, join us at a post-workshop happy hour where attendees will be treated to great conversation and a free drink!
Spots are limited for this special in-person session, reserve yours now at the PRO link in our bio!
#docnyc #docnycpro #documentary #documentaryfilmmakers #filmmakers #filmmakersofinstagram #cinematography #cinematographer #dp #directorofphotography #filmworkshop #masterclass #cinematographersofinstagram #emergingfilmmaker #studentfilmmaker #ifccenter #thingstodoinnyc #nycfilm #reelsvideo #reelsinstagram #explore
The season premiere of @nytimes new tv show @theweekly is tonight June 2 at 10pm on @fxnetworks and tomorrow June 3 on @hulu . I was lucky enough to DP the first episode with an amazing team. Please tune in!!!
