Aaron Smith ACS is a multi-award winning cinematographer, director and producer working on documentary, drama, comedy and commercial productions. A cinematography Masters graduate of the Australian Film Television & Radio School, he has collaborated with a diverse range of respected, innovative and awarded producers throughout Australia and across the world. Aaron was accredited by the Australian Cinematographers Society (ACS) in 2021.
Aaron was director of photography on John Farnham: Finding The Voice, the highest grossing Australian feature-length documentary of all time. He was the DOP on the AACTA and Walkley award winning documentary Hitting Home and the ACS and Walkley award winning series Revelation. He shot the Walkley and AACTA nominated investigative documentary The Queen and Zak Grieve and captured interviews on the Logie award winning Unbreakable: The Jelena Dokic Story. Aaron was the set up cinematographer on ABC/Netflix’s Love On The Spectrum and cinematographer on the AACTA winning Employable Me. He was the DOP on the Walkley nominated observational documentary series Addicted Australia and the landmark ABC Arts programs Books That Made Us, Creative Types with Virginia Trioli, Making Muriel and Matilda & Me.
Aaron co-created, produced, directed and shot the groundbreaking factual series You Can’t Ask That, winner of Rose d’Or, AACTA and United Nations Association of Australia awards. With over a dozen international remakes in nine languages (including French, Italian, Spanish, Polish, Dutch, Norwegian, Hebrew and Arabic), and over 50 international sales, the format is the ABC’s most successful format ever. With the same creative team he co-created the factual format I Was Actually There and shot two series of the show for ABC. He helped adapt the ABC’s Take 5 with Zan Rowe from radio to television, directing and shooting over 15 episodes in Australia, USA, England and New Zealand. He directed the ABC entertainment series The Checkout, The Hamster Wheel, Myf Warhurts’s Nice and Hungry Beast; and ABC2’s provocative documentary series Dumb, Drunk and Racist and Head First. For The Michael Cassel Group and ABC TV, Aaron directed the multi-cam concert A (Very) Musical Christmas featuring Casey Donovan, Eddie Perfect, Cody Simpson, Justine Clarke, Jay Laga'aia and the casts of Hamilton, Titanique and Dear Evan Hansen.
Aaron was director of photography for the dramatic reconstruction scenes on SBS’s The Jury: Death on the Staircase. He was the cinematographer on Stan’s narrative comedy series Plonk, the narrative comedy ABC Fresh Blood: Be Your Own Boss, ABC’s How Not To Behave and the AACTA nominated lockdown comedy series At Home Alone Together. Aaron has shot narrative short films selected for Flickerfest, Melbourne International Film Festival, Cleveland International Film Festival and Palm Spring International Shortfest. He was the cut-scene director of photography on the groundbreaking video game LA Noire, produced by Rockstar Games and Team Bondi.
Aaron was a finalist in the National Portrait Gallery's National Photographic Portrait Prize. His portrait photography has circulated in an official Australia Post stamp series and on the cover of The Green Guide and The Australian newspaper. He has shot commercial content for brands including The London Symphony Orchestra, The Sydney Opera House, The Commonwealth Bank, Samsung, Optus, Citibank, JP Morgan, IBM, Blackmores, Mitsubishi Electric, Vic Roads, Alzheimer's Australia and Lipton; and collaborated on productions for National Geographic, TEDx Sydney, ACMI, GetUp, Griffith University, The Queensland Government and Destination NSW.
Aaron is an RePL certified drone pilot and holds a Remotely Piloted Aircraft Operator’s Certificate (ReOC) and Aeronautical Radio Operator Certificate (AROC).
SELECT CREDITS:
CINEMATOGRAPHER or DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
DONNA HAY CELEBRATES 4 x 60min food series — DOP
Dir: Benjamin Jones Prod: Donna Hay Productions and Disney+CREATIVE TYPES WITH VIRGINIA TRIOLI s2 6 x 30min arts documentary series — DOP
Dir: Jane Manning and Sophie Weisner Prod: ABC TVI WAS ACTUALLY THERE s1-2 6 x 30min documentary series — DOP
Dir: Kirk Docker Prod: Docker Media and ABCTHE JURY: DEATH ON THE STAIRCASE 5 x 60min documentary series — DOP dramatic reconstructions and obersvaetional scenes
Dir:Tosca Looby & Ben Lawrence Prod: Northern Pictures and SBSUNBREAKABLE: THE JELENA DOKIC STORY feature-length documentary — Cinematographer, interviews
Dir:Ivan O’Mahony and Jessica Halloran Prod: In Films
Winner — Logie Award for Best Factual or Documentary Program 2025TAKE 5 WITH ZAN ROWE s1-4 6 x 30min arts interview series — Director and DOP
Prod: Nikita Agzarian and ABC TV
Winner — Australian Cinematographers Society Award (Silver — Entertainment/Magazine) 2022
Winner — Australian Cinematographers Society Award (Silver — Entertainment/Magazine) 2024
Nominee — AACTA Award for Best Factual Entertainment Program 2024
Nominee — Logie Award for Best Entertainment Program 2024BETTER DATE THAN NEVER s2 7 x 30min documentary series — Co-DOP
Dir:Mariel Thomas Prod: Northern Pictures and ABCJOHN FARNHAM: FINDING THE VOICE feature-length documentary — DOP
Dir: Poppy Stockell Prod: Produced by Beyond and Sony Music
Winner — AACTA Award for Best Documentary 2024
Winner — Logie Award for Best Factual or Documentary Program 2024
The highest grossing Australian feature-length documentary of all timeTHE ABC OF… WITH DAVID WENHAM s1-2 30min interview series — Director & DOP
Prod: Guesswork Television and ABCTHE ENDANGERED GENERATION feature-length documentary — Cinematographer
Dir:Celeste Geer Prod: Sweetshop & GreenMEET THE PENGUINS 60min documentary — DOP
Dir: Karina Holden Prod: Northern Pictures and ABC
Winner — Australian Cinematographers Society Award (Gold — Wildlife and Nature) 2022SOUTHERN OCEAN LIVE Cinematographer, Shy Albatross and Penguin sequences
Dir:Karina Holden Prod: Northern Pictures and ABC
Winner — Australian Cinematographers Society Award (Silver — Wildlife and Nature) 2022BOOKS THAT MADE US 3 x 60min documentary series — DOP
Dir: Sally Aitken Prod: Blackfella Films and ABC
Winner — Australian Cinematographers Society Award (Gold — Entertainment/Magazine) 2022
Nominee — AACTA Award for Best Documentary or Factual Television Program 2022ADDICTED AUSTRALIA 4 x 60min documentary series — DOP & Shooter/Director
Dir:acob Hickey Prod: Blackfella Films and SBS
Nominee — Walkley Documentary Award 2021REVELATION 3 x 90min doco series, DOP
Dir: Nial Fulton and Sarah Ferguson Prod: In Films and ABC
Winner — Australian Cinematographers Society Award (Gold — Documentary) 2020
Winner — Walkley Documentary Award 2020
Nominee — AACTA Award for Best Cinematography in a Documentary 2020
Nominee — Walkley Award for Camerawork 2020AT HOME ALONE TOGETHER 8 x 30min comedy series — Shooter/Producer
Prod: ABC TV
Nominee — AACTA Award for Comedy Series 2020YOU CAN’T ASK THAT s1-4 10 x 30min factual/entertainment series — Producer/Director & DOP
Dir:Kirk Docker and Aaron Smith Prod: ABC TV
Winner — Rose d'Or Best Reality and Factual Entertainment Program 2017
Winner — AACTA Award for Best Factual Entertainment Program 2019
Winner — 3 x United Nations Association of Australia Media Awards 2017
Winner — Media Diversity Australian Walkley Award 2019
Nominee — AACTA Award for Best Documentary or Factual Program 2018
Nominee — AACTA Award for Best Direction in Non-Fiction Television 2018
Nominee — Logie Award for Most Outstanding Factual or Documentary Program 2018
Nominee — Australian Human Rights Awards 2018
Nominee — MIPCOM Diversify TV Excellence Awards 2019
Nominee — Television Business International’s Content Innovation Awards 2019ABC FRESH BLOOD: BE YOUR OWN BOSS 30min narrative comedy — DOP
Dir: Henry Stone Prod: Giant Dwarf and ABCBIRD NERD: THE ART OF LEILA JEFFREYS 30min documentary — DOP
Dir: Poppy Stockell Prod: 3rd Gen Productions and ABCTHE CROWN AND US 3 x 60min documentary series — DOP
Dir: Bernice Toni Prod: Fredbird Entertainment and ABCTHE QUEEN & ZAK GRIEVE 6 x 13min documentary series
Dir: Ivan O'Mahoney Prod: In Films and The Australian
Nominee — Walkley Award for Television/Video Camerawork, 2017
Nominee — Walkley Award for Production, 2017
Nominee — Australian Screen Producers Awards - Documentary Series Award, 2017
Nominee — AACTA Award for Best Documentary or Factual Program, 2018
Nominee — Logie Award for Most Outstanding Factual or Documentary Program, 2018EMPLOYABLE ME 3 x 60min documentary series — DOP
Dir: Cian O'Clery Prod: Northern Pictures and ABC
Winner — AACTA Award for Best Documentary or Factual Program, 2018
Nominee — Australian Human Rights Awards, 2018
Nominee — Logie Award for Most Outstanding Factual or Documentary Program, 2019MAKING MURIEL 60min documentary — DOP
Dir: Nel Minchin Prod: In Films and ABCHITTING HOME 2 x 60min documentary — DOP
Dir: Ivan O'Mahoney Prod: In Films and ABC
Winner — Walkley Documentary Award 2016
Winner — AACTA Award for Best Television Documentary 2016
Winner — Amnesty International Media Award 2016HELLO STRANGER 10 x 20min documentary series
Dir: Aaron Smith and Kirk Docker Prod: ABC TVMATILDA & ME 60min documentary
Dir: Nel Minchin Prod: In Films and ABC
Nominee — AACTA Award for Best Television Documentary 2016OPTUS: IN THE POOL WITH IAN THORPE branded content Rio Olympics — DOP
Dir: Craig Melville Prod: JunglePLONK series 1-2 6 x 30min narrative comedy — DOP
Dir: Nathan Earl Prod: One Stone Pictures and ITV AustraliaI’M YOU, DICK HEAD short film — DOP
Dir: Lucas Testro
Official selection — Flickerfest, Melbourne International Film Festival, Fantasia International Film Festival, Austin Film FestivalSTOP LAUGHING… THIS IS SERIOUS s1-2 6 x 60min documentary series — DOP
Dir: Stephen Oliver and Craig Anderson Prod: Screentime and ABCHOW NOT TO BEHAVE 6 x 30min sketch comedy series — DOP
Dir: Craig Anderson Prod: Screentime and ABCWHAT’S THE CATCH 3 x 60min documentary series — DOP
Dir: Stephen Oliver Prod: Essential Media and SBSCOUNTRY TOWN RESCUE 6 x 30min documentary series — DOP and Shooter/Producer
Dir: Debbie Cuell Prod: Zapruder's Other Films and ABCL.A. NOIRE cut scenes video game
Prod: Rockstar Games and Team Bondi
DIRECTOR , PRODUCER or SHOOTER/DIRECTOR
TAKE 5 WITH ZAN ROWE s1-4 6 x 30min arts interview series — Director s1-4, Series Producer s3
Prod: Nikita Agzarian and ABC TV
Nominee — AACTA Award for Best Factual Entertainment Program 2024
Nominee — Logie Award for Best Entertainment Program 2024A (VERY) MUSICAL CHRISTMAS 90min musical theatre concert, Director/Producer
Prod: The Michael Cassel Group and ABC TVTHE ABC OF… WITH DAVID WENHAM s1-2 30min interview series — Director & DOP
Prod :Guesswork Television and ABCADDICTED AUSTRALIA 4 x 60min documentary series — Shooter/Director
Dir:Jacob Hickey Prod: Blackfella Films and SBS
Nominee — Walkley Documentary Award 2021AT HOME ALONE TOGETHER 8 x 30min comedy series — Shooter/Producer, Segment Director
Prod: ABC TV
Nominee — AACTA Award for Comedy Series 2020YOU CAN’T ASK THAT s1-4 10 x 30min factual/entertainment series — Producer/Director & DOP
Dir: Kirk Docker and Aaron Smith Prod: ABC TV
Winner — Rose d'Or Best Reality and Factual Entertainment Program 2017
Winner — AACTA Award for Best Factual Entertainment Program 2019
Winner — 3 x United Nations Association of Australia Media Awards 2017
Winner — Media Diversity Australian Walkley Award 2019
Nominee — AACTA Award for Best Documentary or Factual Program 2018
Nominee — AACTA Award for Best Direction in Non-Fiction Television 2018
Nominee — Logie Award for Most Outstanding Factual or Documentary Program 2018
Nominee — Australian Human Rights Awards 2018
Nominee — MIPCOM Diversify TV Excellence Awards 2019
Nominee — Television Business International’s Content Innovation Awards 2019
Most watched non-fiction show on ABC iView 2016
ABC’S most successful international format everHELLO STRANGER 10 x 20min documentary series — Director/Producer
Dir/Prod: Aaron Smith and Kirk Docker Prod: ABC TVFILTHY, RICH & HOMELESS 3 x 60min documentary series — Shooter/Director
Prod: Blackfella Films and SBSTHE FULL BRAZILIAN Sketch comedy segments — Producer/Director/Cinematographer Brazil
Prod: CJZ and SBSMAKING FAMILIES HAPPY 3 x 60min documentary — Shooter/Director
Prod: Heiress Pictures and ABCTHE CHECKOUT s1-2 10 x 30min factual entertainment series— Director
Prod: Giant Dwarf and ABC
Nominee — AACTA Award for Best Light Entertainment TV Series
Nominee — Eureka Prize for Science JournalismHEAD FIRST 5 x 45 min documentary series — Series Director and Cinematographer
Prod: Mushroom Pictures and ABC
Nominee — United Nations Association of Australia Media Peace AwardDUMB, DRUNK & RACIST 6 x 30min documentary series — Series Director
Prod: Cordell Jigsaw and ABCTHE HAMSTER WHEEL 8 x 30min sketch comedy series — Director
Prod: The Chaser and ABC
Nominee — AACTA Award for Best Light Entertainment Television Series
Nominee — Logie Award for Most Outstanding Entertainment ProgramYES WE CANBERRA 6 x 30min comedy series — Director
Prod: The Chaser and ABCMYF WARHURST’S NICE 6 x 30min documentary series — Series Director
Prod: Guesswork and ABCHUNGRY BEAST s1-3 10 x 30min factual entertainment series — Shooter/Director
Prod: Zapruder's Other Films and ABC
Winner — Walkley Award for TV Current Affairs (under 20 minutes) 2011
Nominee — AFI Award for Best TV Light Entertainment
Nominee — United Nations Association of Australia Media Peace Award