Tony Waweru - Director of Photography & Cinematographer
Tony Waweru is a New York City-based cinematographer working across independent film, branded content, and digital media. His technical expertise and visual storytelling have made him a go-to DP for major brands, emerging filmmakers, and established talent.
He recently shot Celeste O'Connor's genre-bending short "Heart Eaters" and is currently DP on her upcoming horror feature "The Kept," directed by Mecca McDonald. Tony also produces and shoots Guitar Moves, the popular web series featuring intimate sessions with legendary guitarists like Keith Richards, Billy Gibbons, Dan Auerbach, and Josh Homme. He took over full production when the series went independent from Vice Media in 2023.
His documentary work includes serving as DP on META's African Diaspora project in Ghana, where he led a month-long production capturing cultural stories with Sony Venice 2 systems. For Citadel Securities, he handled both cinematography and media production on a multi-city documentary commercial series. His client roster includes Tidal, Verifone, and other major corporate accounts.
Tony was Director of Visual Storytelling for two seasons of The Pigeon Explains!, working with Emmy-winning director Ben Lehmann on 24 episodes using Alexa 35 cameras. He's also shot for Sesame Street at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, demonstrating his range across entertainment and educational content.
Before focusing on cinematography full-time, Tony worked as Media Production Specialist at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs, and as Content Production Director at Swerve Fitness, where he managed production for 12 daily live broadcasts with a team of camera operators.
His background includes years as a music producer, working with artists like Eminem, Wiz Khalifa, and Rick Ross. That musical foundation still influences his visual work, particularly in how he thinks about rhythm and pacing in camera movement and editing.
Tony studied Aerospace Engineering at Virginia Tech, which gave him an analytical approach to technical problem-solving on set. His aesthetic draws from classic Hollywood, film noir, and European cinema, filtered through modern digital workflows. He works across RED Komodo, ARRI Alexa, Sony Venice systems, and compact rigs like the Sony FX3 for run-and-gun situations.
Whether it's an emergency DP call requiring fast creative thinking or a meticulously planned multi-camera production, Tony brings both technical precision and collaborative energy to every project.
