Nathan Haugaard is a Los Angeles based cinematographer and director of photography working across narrative features, commercials, documentaries, and music videos.
HAUGAARD
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cinematographer — los angeles
April X
Dir. K-Michel Parandi — Starring Connor Storrie
Good Bad Things
Dir. Shane Stanger — Slamdance Grand Jury + Audience
Instakill
Dir. Garrett Warren
Elton, Touched by Gold
Dir. Toby Trackman
Ford Lightning
Dir. Nicholas Maggio
Fragile
Dir. & DP Nathan Haugaard
ADHD
Dir. Chris Scott
Cap
Dir. Taj Stansberry
Helmet
Dir. Sean Crampton
Dead in the Water
Dir. Nanea Miyata
Ooh Girl
Dir. & DP Nathan Haugaard
The Street Cowboy
Dir. Sean Crampton
Say Less
Dir. Taj Stansberry
Rosewood Residences
Dir. & DP Nathan Haugaard
Vendetta
Dir. & DP Nathan Haugaard
Fool4Love
Dir. ayodeji
Lionne Blanche
Dir. Ashley Avis
Day of Joy
Dir. Rob Bralver
Like a Motherless Child
Dir. Rob Bralver
The Fastest Woman on Earth
Dir. Chris Otwell & Graham Suorsa — Additional Cinematographer
Moby Doc
Dir. Rob Bralver
100 Degrees
Dir. & DP Nathan Haugaard
I believe cinematography should be invisible when it's working — the audience should feel the image before they think about it. Every project starts with the story's emotional core. I operate my own camera. I light with intention.
My credits include the Elton John documentary Touched by Gold, additional photography on James Cameron's Avatar sequels, the Slamdance-winning feature Good Bad Things (streaming on Hulu), the award-winning sci-fi feature April X shot on location in Bucharest, the action short Instakill with Garrett Warren, and commercial campaigns for Rosewood Hotels, Ford, Toyota, and Verizon.
I've been making images since I was ten. What started with obsessive curiosity about light became a career across features, commercials, music videos, and award-winning independent cinema.
Currently in pre-production on my directorial feature debut, The Immigrant — a contemporary western set in Arizona. Actively booking cinematography for 2026.
"Nathan has an extraordinary eye and an even better instinct for when to push the image and when to let the story breathe."— Shane Stanger, director of Good Bad Things
"From the first conversation about the look, Nathan understood the soul of the film. He didn't just light scenes — he built worlds."— K-Michel Parandi, director of April X
Let's make something together.
IATSE Local 600