Hire a Gaffer / Lighting in New York City, NY
At a Glance
Assignment Desk provides professional gaffer / lighting services in New York City, NY. Our gaffer / lightings come fully equipped with ARRI SkyPanel, Litepanels Astra, HMI lights and operate on standard 10-hour production days. Available for corporate, broadcast, commercial, and live event productions. Book today for immediate availability.
Book a Gaffer / Lighting in New York City
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What Does a Gaffer / Lighting Do?
A Gaffer is the chief lighting technician on set, responsible for designing and executing the lighting plan to achieve the desired mood and visual quality. They work with a range of fixtures from LED panels to HMIs, shaping light to flatter subjects and create depth in every frame.
Standard Equipment
Common Shoot Scenarios
- Studio interviews
- Product shoots
- Commercial productions
- Film sets
- Green screen setups
Video Production in New York City, NY
New York City is the second-largest production market in the US and the media capital of the world. Network broadcast, financial services, fashion, advertising, and publishing industries generate constant demand for every crew role.
New York offers a 30% film tax credit on qualified production expenditures, with an additional 10% credit for productions in upstate counties. NYC's density means most locations are accessible by subway, and the city's deep union crew base is among the most experienced anywhere.
- 30% New York film tax credit (up to 40% for upstate counties)
- Media capital: NBC, CBS, ABC, Fox, CNN, Bloomberg, and hundreds of networks
- Wall Street and Midtown drive enormous financial services corporate video demand
- Unmatched location diversity: Times Square, Central Park, Brooklyn Bridge, SoHo
Gaffer / Lighting Crew in New York City, NY
View all crew and services in New York City, NY
Meet our gaffer / lightings in New York City in our crew directory.
Gaffer / Lighting Near You in New York City
Searching for a gaffer / lighting near me? Assignment Desk places a vetted gaffer / lighting local to New York City, NY, so your search connects with a real local crew member, not a distant call center or a nationwide dispatch line.
Because our gaffer / lighting network is based directly in and around New York City, we offer same-day availability in most markets, faster confirmation, and lower travel costs than booking crew from out of town. Check local availability or call 312-464-8600.
Production Guidelines in New York City
Standard Day Rate: All gaffer / lighting bookings in New York City are based on a 10-hour production day, which includes setup, shooting, and wrap time.
Overtime: Hours beyond the standard 10-hour day are billed at time-and-a-half. We recommend building buffer time into your schedule for complex productions.
Local Radius: The local production zone covers a 30-mile radius from downtown New York City (381 Knickerbocker Ave #349). Locations outside this zone may include travel time and mileage charges.
Equipment: All crew arrive with their standard equipment package. Custom gear requests (specialty lenses, additional lighting, etc.) can be arranged with advance notice.
Budgeting: See day rates by role and city for real, billing-data-backed pricing before you book.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is crew availability in New York City?
NYC has the deepest crew pool in the eastern US, but demand is also extremely high. We recommend booking 2-3 weeks ahead for standard shoots. Same-day bookings are possible for ENG and single-camera crews, but multi-camera or specialized crew may need more lead time.
What are the busiest production seasons in NYC?
NYC production runs year-round with peaks during Fashion Week (February and September), the UN General Assembly (September), holiday commercial season (October-November), and corporate fiscal year-end (Q4). Pilot season (January-April) also drives demand.
How much does a gaffer / lighting cost in New York City, NY?
Gaffer / Lighting rates in New York City vary based on project scope, equipment needs, and shoot duration. Assignment Desk offers competitive day rates on a standard 10-hour production day. Contact us at 312-464-8600 or visit our booking page for a custom quote.
What equipment does a gaffer / lighting bring to a shoot?
Our gaffer / lighting professionals in New York City typically arrive with ARRI SkyPanel, Litepanels Astra, HMI lights, Kino Flo tubes, C-stands and flags, Diffusion and gel kits. Equipment packages can be customized based on your production requirements.
Is there a gaffer / lighting near me in New York City, NY?
Yes. Assignment Desk places a vetted gaffer / lighting local to New York City, NY whenever possible, so a "gaffer / lighting near me" search connects you with a real local crew member instead of a distant dispatch. We offer same-day availability in most markets, and you can confirm local coverage by calling 312-464-8600 or requesting a quote.
See our gaffer / lighting crews in action on recent shoots. Browse Production Stories →
Book a Gaffer / Lighting in New York City Today
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