LADY CAMERA GUY’S STORY

Gretchen Warthen, aka “Lady Camera Guy”, is a cinematographer with over 20 years of experience in documentary, unscripted, and narrative film and television. A fun fact about her is that she was the fourth woman ever hired as a full-time operator in reality TV history. Her impressive credits include Emmy-award-winning television shows, award-winning feature films, and extensive filming experience in over 40 countries worldwide.

Throughout her career, Gretchen has often found herself as the only woman operator on set. Sadly, this continues to be a common occurrence on sets even after 20+ years. Gretchen understands the importance of visibility in this male-dominated industry, stating, “Seeing women operating a camera not only breaks down stereotypes but also makes the crucial connection to consider hiring a woman for that job. Visibility is the first step towards empowering female camera operators and challenging gender norms in the industry.”

In 2017, Gretchen launched the Instagram page @ladycameraguy to showcase and promote women camera operators and operating DPs that she discovered on Instagram. The main objective was to repost and amplify women's photos and stories, increasing visibility for women behind the camera and inspiring a community of women operators. Since then, Gretchen has expanded the IG content to include education, resources, and links to organizations focused on uplifting women and underrepresented individuals in the camera community.

This initiative has led to remarkable connections among female cinematographers worldwide, transcending geographical boundaries from Trinidad to India, Canada to Africa.

@ladycameraguy has now evolved into a global tribute to female camera operators, boasting over 77,000 followers and continuing to grow. This platform presents a unique opportunity to expand connections with more women in the industry while also inspiring the next generation of women cinematographers.

By expanding Lady Camera Guy to include a website, newsletter, and future YouTube channel, Gretchen aims to reach more women around the world and foster an even larger global community.