DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY

About Dan Wagner
Dan Wagner is a Cincinnati-based cinematographer, director, and founder of Wagner Media — a full-service production studio specializing in commercial, documentary, and action-driven storytelling.

Dan works primarily as a Director of Photography for agencies and production companies, while also serving as a creative partner and director for emerging brands. Whether stepping into an existing production or building one from the ground up, he brings a solutions-first mindset, technical precision, and a calm, confident presence to every set.

His creative instincts were shaped early while living in Paris, France, where carrying a camera everywhere evolved into a deep understanding of light, movement, and visual rhythm. Influenced by European architecture, classical art, skateboarding, graffiti, and street culture, he developed a visual style that blends refined composition with raw, kinetic energy — cinematic, intentional, and grounded in authenticity.

Dan studied Digital Cinema at DePaul University in Chicago, focusing on cinematography, lighting design, and visual effects. That technical foundation now supports complex commercial productions, branded content campaigns, and dynamic documentary storytelling — allowing him to move fluidly between controlled studio environments and unpredictable real-world conditions.

From 2014–2018, Dan served as the personal cinematographer and photographer for Olympic and X Games medalist Nick Goepper, traveling internationally to document World Cup skiing competitions, training camps, and behind-the-scenes life at the highest level of the sport. Working in extreme alpine environments sharpened his ability to operate at speed on skis with a camera, manage high-risk scenarios, and adapt quickly in remote locations.Today,

Dan shoots national campaigns and branded content for clients including P&G, Old Spice, Pampers, Tide, Pantene, Fidelity Investments, Spotify, Kroger Health, Wild Turkey, Bicycle Playing Cards, and more.

Beyond traditional commercial work, Dan specializes in high-speed and action-based cinematography. He covers media production for Drift Appalachia and Formula Drift, with extensive experience operating at speed, rigging cinema cameras to performance vehicles, and capturing dynamic motorsports environments. He is equally comfortable skiing with a camera in remote mountain terrain, mounting cameras to drift cars at triple-digit speeds, or lighting controlled studio interviews with precision.

Wagner Media operates from a studio space at The Warehouse Collaborative in Cincinnati, featuring a cyc wall, grip and lighting support, post-production capabilities, and scalable crew resources. Dan collaborates with agencies, in-house marketing teams, athletes, and production companies nationwide — traveling wherever the story requires.