Hire a Camera Crew
Assignment Desk staffs professional video production camera crews in 24+ US cities. Book a Director of Photography, audio tech, gaffer, or full crew, same-day availability, confirmed in under 60 minutes.
Used by ESPN, CNN, HGTV, NFL Network, Bloomberg, and Fortune 500 production teams. One vendor handles crew, contracts, and payroll, no agency markup.
Camera Crew Near Me
Assignment Desk places a vetted, local camera crew in 50+ US cities, so “camera crew near me” means a real local team, not a national dispatch desk. Every DP and camera operator lives in or near the market they shoot, with same-day availability confirmed in under 60 minutes.
Browse every market we cover or jump straight to a local camera crew page: Chicago, Dallas, or Atlanta.
Camera Crew for Hire, Including ENG and Broadcast Teams
A camera crew for hire from Assignment Desk can be a single operator or a full multi-camera team, built around whatever the shoot needs. Every crew is available on a day-rate basis with no long-term contract: book a Director of Photography and audio technician for an interview, or scale up to a multi-camera broadcast setup for a live event.
For news, live shots, and fast-turnaround field work, our dedicated ENG crews arrive as a self-contained run-and-gun unit, camera operator and audio tech, ready to shoot within the hour. They cover the same broadcast and multi-camera work that goes into a full film crew hire, scaled down to a fast-deploying two-person team.
Every camera crew for hire is quoted on a transparent day rate, confirmed within 60 minutes. See current camera crew day rates by role and market before you book.
How to Hire a Camera Crew
Three steps from brief to booked, most confirmations arrive in under 60 minutes.
Submit Your Brief
Fill out the Hire a Crew form with your shoot date, city, positions needed, and any equipment or style notes. Takes under 2 minutes.
We Match Your Crew
A coordinator reviews your brief and matches qualified, vetted crew from the local market. You receive a confirmation with crew names and credentials, typically within 60 minutes.
Shoot Day
Your crew arrives on-time, professional, and prepared. Assignment Desk handles all invoicing, contracts, and payroll so you only deal with one vendor.
Crew Positions Available for Hire
Book one position or a full crew. All positions available in major US markets.
Director of Photography
Most HiredStaff DPs with full Sony FX9 camera package, cinema lenses, and wireless audio. Available in all 24+ markets on W-2.
Audio Technician
High DemandSound recordists skilled in boom, lavs, mix minus, and IFB. Handle multi-source mixing for interviews, events, and broadcast.
Field Producer
On-the-ground producers who oversee story execution, manage talent, and keep productions running on schedule.
Gaffer / Grip
Lighting specialists who rig, run cable, and shape light for broadcast interviews, corporate productions, and live events.
Production Assistant
Set-ready PAs who handle logistics, talent wrangling, prop management, and anything else the DP or producer needs.
Drone Operator
FAA CertifiedFAA Part 107 certified drone pilots delivering licensed aerial footage for sports, real estate, events, and branded content.
Need a position not listed? Contact us and we staff over 20 crew roles for broadcast, corporate, and documentary productions.
Camera Crew Day Rates
Real day-rate ranges from Assignment Desk's billing data across 36,000+ bookings.
| Role | Day Rate Range |
|---|---|
| Director of Photography (DP) | $900–$2,400/day |
| Videographer / Camera Operator | $650–$1,400/day |
| Audio Technician | $600–$1,200/day |
Based on real billing data from 36,000+ Assignment Desk bookings. See the full rate guide by role and city →
Hire a Camera Crew by City
Staff crews available in 24+ US markets. Click any city for local crew profiles.
What Clients Say About Hiring Through Assignment Desk
“Everything went really well! Crew was fantastic and the end result was great. Thanks for the collaboration as always!”
AKA Media
“Thank you for everything with our two days in Brooklyn, and for rolling with the situations and added needs that sprung up during our two shows”
Stadium
“Thank you and your team for all of their hard work. Especially our last minute requests.”
Brunswick Group
Hiring a Camera Crew: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I hire a camera crew through Assignment Desk?
How do I hire a camera crew through Assignment Desk?
Submit your shoot details on the Hire a Crew form, date, city, shoot type, and crew positions needed. An Assignment Desk coordinator reviews the brief, matches qualified crew from the local market, and confirms availability. Most bookings are confirmed within 60 minutes. Same-day crew is available for urgent shoots.
What positions can I hire through Assignment Desk?
What positions can I hire through Assignment Desk?
Assignment Desk staffs Director of Photography (DP), Camera Operator, Audio Technician, Field Producer, Gaffer, Grip, Production Assistant (PA), Teleprompter Operator, Makeup Artist, Drone Operator, Still Photographer, and Editor roles. You can book a single-person crew or a full multi-position team for the same shoot.
How much does it cost to hire a camera crew?
How much does it cost to hire a camera crew?
Crew rates vary by market, position, and shoot type. ENG/news camera operators typically range from $500–$900/day; Directors of Photography with full equipment packages run $800–$1,500/day depending on market. Audio techs, gaffers, and PAs are priced separately. Assignment Desk provides transparent itemized quotes, no hidden fees. See our Rates page for market-by-market breakdowns.
Can I hire a camera crew for same-day or next-day shoots?
Can I hire a camera crew for same-day or next-day shoots?
Yes. Assignment Desk maintains an active network of 4,200+ crew members in 24+ US markets. Same-day crew availability is common for major markets like New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, and Atlanta. Short-notice bookings are submitted through the Hire a Crew form and routed to the on-call coordinator for immediate matching.
Does the camera crew bring their own equipment?
Does the camera crew bring their own equipment?
Assignment Desk staff DPs come with a full broadcast-quality equipment package: Sony FX9 or equivalent cinema camera, prime and zoom lenses, wireless audio, LED lighting, and grip gear. Freelance crew can bring their own kit or operate on client-supplied equipment, specify your equipment preference on the booking form. Equipment details are confirmed before shoot day.
Is there a camera crew near me?
Is there a camera crew near me?
Yes. Assignment Desk staffs a vetted local camera crew in 50+ US cities, so most searches for a camera crew near me land on a market we already cover with full-time and freelance crew. Check the Locations page for your city, or submit a brief and a coordinator confirms your closest available crew.
How fast can you book a camera crew?
How fast can you book a camera crew?
Most bookings are confirmed within 60 minutes of submitting a brief, and same-day camera crew is available in most major markets. Submit your shoot date, city, and positions needed on the Hire a Crew form, and a coordinator matches you with the closest vetted local crew.
What does it cost to hire an ENG crew?
What does it cost to hire an ENG crew?
An ENG (Electronic News Gathering) crew, typically a camera operator and audio technician working as a self-contained field unit, runs $500 to $900 per day depending on market and equipment package. The rate covers a full run-and-gun kit: camera, wireless audio, and lighting. Request a quote through the Hire a Crew form for an exact price in your market.
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Ready to Hire a Camera Crew?
Submit your brief, crew confirmed in under 60 minutes across 24+ US markets.