Gaffer Sydney · Film Lighting Australia

Sydney Gaffer &
Lighting Crew
Hire

Experienced lighting crew, equipment and transport for commercials, content, feature films and television across Sydney and Australia-wide.

A gaffer is the head of the lighting department — responsible for implementing the DP's lighting plan, managing crew and equipment, and keeping the production on schedule. Film Lighting Australia is led by gaffer Grahame Dickson, with 5,000+ productions across every major format.
Quotes Within 2 Hours
Fully Insured
Sydney-Based · Australia-Wide
5,000+ Productions

What does a gaffer do on a film or commercial shoot?

Book a Sydney Gaffer

A gaffer is the chief lighting technician on a film, television or commercial production. Working directly with the Director of Photography, the gaffer takes the creative lighting brief and turns it into a working rig — managing crew, equipment, power distribution and safety on set.

On a commercial shoot, the gaffer is responsible for keeping the lighting department on schedule, adapting quickly when creative decisions change, and ensuring the set is electrically safe and compliant at all times.

At Film Lighting Australia, the gaffer role is led by Grahame Dickson — with career experience spanning feature films, television drama, major live broadcasts, music videos and over 5,000 commercials across every major brand category.

We supply the complete lighting department: gaffer, crew, equipment and transport — scaled to your production, schedule and budget.

What a Sydney lighting department looks like in practice

01
Pre-production planning

Power and distribution plan from the tech scout. Kit list confirmed before the first shoot day. No surprises on set.

02
On-set execution

Fast setups, clean turnarounds and a department that runs without the producer having to manage it. First shot on time.

03
Budget visibility

Transparent packages. No unexpected extras. Change-control on any scope variations — nothing spent without approval.

04
Safety and compliance

Qualified electrical work, competent rigging and documented pre-start checks on every shoot day.

05
Crew that scales

From a single lighting technician with a van to a full truck-based department — crew is sized to the job, not padded.

06
DP integration

We work with visiting DPs, offshore productions and DOPs new to Sydney. Pre-shoot workflow call available on request.

Sydney Gaffer & Lighting Packages

All packages include experienced crew, production-tested equipment and on-set infrastructure. Configured per job. Quotes within 2 hours.

Standard Small Van
Content & Indie
From $1,000
Per day + GST · Weekly rates available
  • Lighting technician
  • HMI, LED & tungsten lighting
  • Grip, diffusion & power distribution
  • Carparks, content & indie shoots
Premium Small Van
TVC & Agency
From $1,500
Per day + GST · Weekly rates available
  • Arri SkyPanel S60, Aputure 600c & 300c
  • HMI 1.8kw, Kino Flo, Astera Titans
  • Full grip, silk & diffusion
  • Wireless control & battery systems
Premium Large Van
TVC & Film
From $1,800
Per day + GST · Weekly rates available
  • 2× Arri SkyPanel, Creamsource Vortex 8 & 4
  • Nanlite 1200D, Aputure 600c, 300c, 200x
  • HMI 6kw + M40/M25/M18 range
  • 3-phase distribution, Honda generator
Lighting Truck
Full Department
From $3,000
Per day + GST · Long-form rates available
  • Full crew scaled to production
  • 2× 18kw HMI, 2× Arri S60, Vortex 8
  • Full tungsten range + space lights
  • 400A 3-phase distro + generators

5,000+ Productions. Every Format.

Grahame Dickson has worked across every major production format — feature films, television drama, major live broadcasts, music videos and commercials across Australia and internationally.

Blink-182 Destiny's Child Coldplay Katy Perry Justin Bieber Nickelback Silverchair Guy Sebastian Delta Goodrem Pnau Amity Affliction The Vines
Apple · Google · Qantas · Chanel · Louis Vuitton · Nike · Coca-Cola · Commonwealth Bank · BMW · Mercedes · Toyota · L'Oréal · Woolworths · Heineken · PayPal · Telstra · Meta · Sony · Samsung
Download Full CV (PDF)

Gaffer Sydney — Common Questions

What does a gaffer do on a film or commercial shoot in Sydney?
A gaffer is the head of the lighting department — responsible for implementing the DP's lighting plan, managing crew and equipment, ensuring electrical safety on set, and keeping the lighting department on schedule. At Film Lighting Australia, the gaffer role is filled by Grahame Dickson, with 5,000+ productions of experience across every major format.
How much does a gaffer cost in Sydney?
Gaffer and lighting crew packages in Sydney start from $1,000 per day for a standard small van content package, through to $3,000+ per day for a full truck-based lighting department. Rates vary based on crew size, equipment, call length and locations. Contact us for a specific quote — we respond within 2 hours.
Do you supply crew only or crew plus equipment?
Both. Film Lighting Australia supplies complete lighting departments — crew, equipment and transport together. We can also integrate as crew-only into productions where equipment is being supplied separately. Equipment is not available as dry hire.
Can you work with a visiting or interstate DP?
Yes — and we do this regularly. We're experienced at working with visiting DPs, offshore productions and interstate crews. We offer a pre-production workflow call to understand your style, preferred equipment and working method before the shoot day.
How quickly can I get a quote?
Quotes are provided within 2 hours during business hours, same day always. Call, WhatsApp or email with your date, location, call length and production type and we'll respond immediately.
Do you work outside Sydney?
Yes. Film Lighting Australia is Sydney-based but works Australia-wide and regularly supports interstate and international productions. Travel and freight are quoted separately for work outside Sydney metro.

Quotes Within 2 Hours

Tell us your shoot date, location and scale — we'll respond with a package and price the same day.

WhatsApp

We respond within 2 hours during business hours.