Cinematographer · Director of Photography · Auckland, NZ
Stories told
in light & shadow.
Leigh Elford — a seasoned Director of Photography based in Auckland, New Zealand. Over a decade shooting shorts, music videos and television, with a story-first approach to composition, light and movement.
Part 01
The Reel.
The finished frames — commercials, music videos and short films delivered between 2022 and now.
03 Selected Works
Part 01 · ii
Selected Stills.
Frames pulled straight from the timeline — no re-touch, no punch-in. Click any to enlarge.
30 Frames
Part 02
Unedited · 35mm scans & on-set polaroids
Behind the Scenes.
Crew calls at 5am. Sandbags, gaff tape, and a half-cup of coffee. The unglamorous middle that makes the polished frames possible.
16 Stills
All images shot on personal cameras — not for client delivery.
Part 03
Who’s shooting.
About — Leigh Elford
Leigh Elford.
Leigh Elford is a seasoned cinematographer and director of photography based in Auckland, New Zealand, with over a decade of experience in the film industry. A graduate of Unitec’s School of Performing and Screen Arts, Leigh has cultivated a diverse portfolio that spans short films, music videos, and television productions.
His approach to cinematography is deeply rooted in storytelling. Leigh emphasises composing each frame to convey narrative, using lighting to achieve dynamic tonality, and employing movement to shape or alter perspective — letting each story flourish visually, and treating every narrative with respect.
Notable works include serving as director of photography for the short films Torn (2020) and Treasure (2019). Leigh is drawn to projects that challenge and inspire, and to collaborators — producers and directors — with a strong focus on story and character.
Auckland
New Zealand · based
10+ yrs
On set
Unitec
Performing & Screen Arts
Story-first
Approach
Recognition
Award Winner
Amsterdam Short Film Festival
2021
Winner · Cinematography
Toronto Fantasy / Sci-Fi Film Festival
2018
Winner · Best Cinematography
ÉCU — The European Independent Film Festival
2015
Selected Credits · via IMDb
Full filmography- 2025Missy: F*ck Marry Kill · CinematographerMusic Video
- 2025Missy: Boss · CinematographerMusic Video
- 2024Little Knight · Director of PhotographyShort
- 2024Illuminati Castrati · CinematographerShort
- 2024Shadows · Director of PhotographyShort
- 2023Good Men · CinematographerShort
- 2023Love is Dead · CinematographerShort
- 2023Hudson Hemisphere · GafferShort
- 2022The New Rich Family Grudge · CinematographerTV Mini Series
- 2022The Volcano: Rescue from Whakaari · Lighting · NZ UnitFeature
- 2022Sui Generis · Gaffer · Best BoyTV Series
- 2021Shadows · CinematographerShort
- 2021My Life Is Murder · LightingTV Series
- 2019The Waiting Room · CinematographerShort
- 2019Treasure · CinematographerShort
- 2018Between the Parallel · CinematographerShort
- 2017Stay · CinematographerShort
- 2016Duck Duck Goose · CinematographerShort
- 2016Loss · CinematographerShort
- 2016Distraction · CinematographerShort
- 2015Abandoned · Camera Dept · Focus PullerFeature
- 2014Housebound · Lighting TechnicianFeature
Get in touch
Have a film in your head?
Let’s shoot it.
Currently booking projects for Q1 & Q2 — Music video, brand, short film.