Bio + Contact

Lara Aqel is an Atlanta and New York based female cinematographer / director of photography. Her specialties include: narrative films • commercials • music videos • branded content • documentary • lifestyle

photo by Alice Plati

Lara is an ARAB-AMERICAN CINEMATOGRAPHER AND DIRECTOR. SHE spends most of her days trying to craft, find, and photograph moments THAT FEEL HUMAN. She adores ambitious directors, creative challenges, and opportunities to play with genre.

“A director’s DP,” she puts character and story first when she collaborates and FOCUSES ON BUILDING IMMERSIVE VISUAL WORLDS ACROSS GenreS. HER IMAGERY IS grounded in emotion and a sense of place. HER favorite thing is capturing a powerful performance.

LARA HAS BEEN AT THE HELM OF AWARD-WINNING WORK, INCLUDING A Cannes Bronze Lion for FACEBOOK’S “Black Makes a Way” BrANDED VIDEO, a Best Short Film award for SHORT FILM “Pozole” at the Oscar-qualifying Cinequest FILM FESTIVAL, and A CMT COUNTRY MUSIC Female Video of The Year AWARD for Lainey Wilson’s “Heart Like A Truck” music video.

Lara was born in Jordan AND GREW UP IN the US. SHE attended film school ABRoAD in the Czech Republic and Australia. Her often-”new kid” status HAS helped develop her deep empathy and her skills as a photographic observer. 

Lara NOW rESIDES IN THE SOUTHEAST WITH HER FAMILY AND WORKS LOCALLY IN BOTH ATLANTA AND NEW YORK. SHE IS HAPPILY AVAILABLE WORLDWIDE.

ASSOCIATIONS

International collective of female cinematographers [ICFC]

cinematographersXX

PERSONAL CONTACT

LARA@LARAAQEL.COM

973-902-1494

REPRESENTED BY

ALEXANDER CREATIVES

REUBEN STAUBER

reuben@alexandercreatives.com

516-509-8776

SELECTED AWARDS INCLUDE:

WINNER, CMT AWARDS - FEMALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR - LAINEY WILSON “HEART LIKE A TRUCK” DIR. ELIZABETH OLMSTEAD

CINEQUEST - WINNER, BEST NARRATIVE SHORT: COMEDY - “POZOLE” DIR. JESSICA MENDEZ-SIQUEIROS

LAS CRUCES - WINNER, BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY, BEST NARRATIVE SHORT - “ADELINE THE GREAT” DIR. JESSICA MENDEZ-SIQUEIROS

CANNES LIONS - WINNER, BRONZE - “BLACK MAKES A WAY” DIR. J.M. HARPER

photo by Danny Scott Lane