David Wagreich — Photographer/Director/Cinematographer — was born in Hawaii, raised in New York, and is now based in Los Angeles. These disparate geographic and cultural influences are the basis for an expansive visual vernacular, shaping a visual style that is at once bold and dramatic while also delicately layered and emotionally nuanced.

After studying visual arts and photography at SUNY Purchase, David worked as a focus puller alongside notable directors and cinematographers on films including The Hunger, Dressed to Kill, The Cotton Club, Reds, The Big Chill, Tootsie, and Prince of the City. He describes this period as his “front seat to the greatest film school in the world,” instrumental in developing an aesthetic and practical foundation for his career.

Known for juxtaposing intimate human moments against an epic visual scale, David works fluently across narrative film and commercial advertising. He directed 2nd Unit on the Best Cinematography, Academy Award—winning Legends of the Fall, as well as Little Children, and Leaving Normal. As a cinematographer, his credits include Sleepless in Seattle, The Rocketeer, For the Boys, and the Best Cinematography, Academy Award—winning Glory. He also served as Director of Photography on the series ln Plain Sight and Red Widow.

David’s commercial portfolio spans decades and global brands including Nike, Visa, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Chase, Wrangler, AT&T, Marlboro, Reebok, Miller Genuine Draft, Jack in the Box, KPMG, Merck, Target, Southwest Airlines, Gaz De France, and Merrill Lynch. He is especially recognized for high-end automotive work for BMW, Mercedes Benz, Lexus, Ford, GMC, Nissan, Toyota, Honda, Dodge, Chrysler, Lincoln Mercury, Jeep, Volkswagen, and others, and is highly experienced in helicopter aerials, arm-car work, and underwater cinematography. He is a member of the Directors Guild of America and International Cinematographers Guild.

He is also known for evocative, fashion-oriented portraiture that reflects his cinematic sensibility in still imagery.

David is the founder and former CEO of Astraeus Aerial and Astraeus Aerospace, and the inventor of the patented Virtual Piloting System (VPS), developed from his 35+ years in film and thousands of hours as an instrument-rated pilot. His VPS technology won an Emmy in 2017 and is widely used across major studios, television, and commercial productions. David worked closely with the MPAA and FAA to help establish the original Section 333 Exemption for commercial UAS use in the U.S., and is regarded as an authority in drone-related aerial imaging systems.

He is married with two grown children and enjoys travel, flying, scuba diving, fly fishing, and composing music.

Awards

Academy Award - Best Cinematography, “Glory” 1990 - as 2nd Unit DP
Academy Award - Best Cinematography, “Legends of the Fall” 1995 - as 2nd Unit Director and DP
Emmy Award - for Technical Achievement, 2017

Contact

dwagreich@dwagreich.com