Grips/Gaffers — Professional Video Production Services
Lighting and rigging that elevate every frame
At a Glance
Assignment Desk provides professional grips/gaffers in 24+ US cities. All crew are W2 employees with full equipment packages, workers' compensation coverage, and same-day availability. Book grips/gaffers for corporate, broadcast, documentary, sports, and commercial video productions nationwide.
About This Service
Grips and Gaffers are the unsung heroes of professional video production. The Gaffer (chief lighting technician) designs and executes the lighting plan to achieve the desired mood and visual quality, while the Grip handles all rigging, camera support, and light-shaping equipment on set. Together, they transform ordinary locations into professional-looking sets with precise control over light, shadow, and visual depth.
Assignment Desk provides experienced Grips and Gaffers who arrive with their own lighting and grip equipment — from LED panels and HMI lights to C-stands, flags, silks, and diffusion frames. They work closely with the Director of Photography to bring the creative vision to life, whether the shoot is a studio interview, a product commercial, a multi-day film set, or an outdoor event.
For larger productions requiring extensive lighting rigs, Assignment Desk can coordinate additional equipment rentals and crew scaling. Grips and Gaffers are booked as independent contractors (1099) through our Vendor ICA, with full administrative support and invoicing handled by Assignment Desk.
Equipment & Tools
Common Use Cases
Available in 24 Markets
Book grips/gaffers in any of our nationwide markets. Click a city to learn more about our local crew and services.
Austin
TX
Atlanta
GA
Boston
MA
Charlotte
NC
Charleston
SC
Chicago
IL
Cleveland
OH
Dallas
TX
Denver
CO
Detroit
MI
Houston
TX
Las Vegas
NV
Los Angeles
CA
Miami
FL
Minneapolis
MN
Nashville
TN
New York City
NY
Phoenix
AZ
Salt Lake City
UT
San Francisco
CA
Seattle
WA
St. Louis
MO
Toronto
ON
Washington
DC
Philadelphia
PA
San Diego
CA
San Antonio
TX
Jacksonville
FL
Indianapolis
IN
Columbus
OH
Fort Worth
TX
Portland
OR
Memphis
TN
Oklahoma City
OK
Baltimore
MD
Milwaukee
WI
Albuquerque
NM
Tucson
AZ
Sacramento
CA
Kansas City
MO
Pittsburgh
PA
Cincinnati
OH
Orlando
FL
Tampa
FL
Raleigh
NC
New Orleans
LA
Louisville
KY
Richmond
VA
Buffalo
NY
Hartford
CT
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a Grip and a Gaffer?
A Gaffer is the chief lighting technician who designs and places lights according to the Director of Photography's vision. A Grip handles rigging, camera support, and light-shaping equipment like flags, silks, and diffusion frames. On smaller shoots, one person may handle both roles; on larger productions, they are separate positions.
Do I need a Grip or Gaffer for my corporate interview shoot?
For simple interview setups, your Director of Photography typically handles lighting with their own kit. A dedicated Gaffer or Grip becomes valuable for multi-setup shoots, large-space lighting, product commercials, or any production requiring precise lighting control beyond a standard three-point setup.
Do your Grips and Gaffers bring their own equipment?
Yes. Our Grips and Gaffers arrive with professional lighting and grip equipment including LED panels, C-stands, flags, diffusion, and basic rigging gear. For large-scale productions requiring extensive lighting packages, we can coordinate additional rental equipment.
Can you provide a Grip and Gaffer for a multi-day shoot?
Absolutely. Assignment Desk regularly staffs Grips and Gaffers for multi-day productions, including television series, commercial campaigns, and film projects. These roles are booked as 1099 independent contractors, with all logistics, invoicing, and payment processing handled by Assignment Desk.
What types of lighting do your Gaffers specialize in?
Our Gaffers are experienced with LED panels (ARRI SkyPanel, Litepanels), HMI daylight fixtures, tungsten instruments, Kino Flo tubes, and practicals. They handle everything from soft interview lighting to dramatic cinematic setups, green screen key lighting, and large-venue event illumination.
See how our grips/gaffers teams deliver on real productions. Read Production Stories →