Toby Birney is an Emmy nominated cinematographer with a diverse body of work spanning feature films, scripted and unscripted television series, music videos, commercials, and more. He is a highly skilled drone operator and has extensive expertise in specialty camera work, including underwater cinematography, handheld operating, and operating remote camera heads. Toby has honed his abilities and skills to craft visually compelling stories across nearly every genre.
Throughout his career, Toby has worked on projects across the globe, including all 50 states in the U.S. (Hawaii, Alaska, and Puerto Rico included), as well as England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Russia, Finland, the Cook Islands, Australia, Mexico, Costa Rica, Latvia, and Lithuania. In recent years, Toby has expanded his repertoire by organizing, coordinating, and directing large-scale multi-camera productions, managing up to 16 cameras simultaneously.
Toby’s cinematography earned him an Emmy nomination in 2016 for his work on the critically acclaimed documentary series, “Intervention.” He has collaborated on numerous award winning projects (including two Primetime Emmys and two Critic’s Choice awards) and has been a member of the Lithuanian Association of Cinematographers (LAC) since 2006.
Major Awards and Nominations
Primetime Emmy nomination: Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program “Vanderpump Rules” 2023
Critics’ Choice Real TV Award: Best Unstructured Series “Vanderpump Rules” 2023
MTV Movie and TV Award Nomination: Best Docu-Reality Show “Vanderpump Rules” 2023
Primetime Emmy Award: Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program “United Shades of America” 2018
Primetime Emmy Award: Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program “United Shades of America” 2017
Primetime Emmy nomination: Outstanding Cinematography for a Reality Program “Intervention” 2016
Primetime Emmy nomination: Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program “Intervention” 2015
Critics’ Choice Award: Best Reality Series “Push Girls” 2013
Selected Credits
Wild Wild Ranch (TV Series- Netflix) Director of Photography (8 episodes: 2024)
Smillia’s Sense of Snow (TV Miniseries- Constantin Film) Camera Operator (1 episode: 2024)
Vanderpump Rules (TV Series- Bravo) Director of Photography (31 episodes: 2022-2023)
How to Build a Sex Room (TV Series- Netflix) Director of Photography (8 episodes: 2021)
Southern Hospitality (TV Series- Bravo) Camera Operator (8 episodes: 2021)
Breaking Bobby Bones (TV Series- Disney+) Director of Photography (16 episodes: 2020-2021)
The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City (TV Series- Bravo) Camera Operator (13 episodes: 2019-2021)
United Shades of America (TV Series- CNN) Camera Operator (24 episodes: 2017–2019)
Unanchored (TV Series- Bravo) Camera Operator (9 episodes: 2018)
Growing Up Supermodel (TV Series- Lifetime) Camera Operator (8 episodes: 2017)
Cake Masters (TV Series- Food Network) Director of Photography (3 episodes: 2016)
Intervention (TV Series- A&E) Director of Photography (13 episodes: 2015–2016)
Make Me a Millionaire Inventor (TV Series- CNBC) Camera Operator (8 episodes: 2016)
Cesar 911 (TV Series- NatGeo Wild) Director of Photography (12 episodes: 2015)
You Can't Lick Your Elbow (TV Series- NatGeo) Director of Photography (6 episodes: 2015)
Eric & Jessie (TV Series- E! Entertainment) Director of Photography (6 episodes: 2014)
Push Girls (TV Series- Sundance Channel) Director of Photography (14 episodes: 2013)
The Great Food Truck Race (TV Series- Food Network) Camera Operator (7 episodes: 2013)
Impulsive (Short Film) Director of Photography (2012)
Little People, Big World: Wedding Farm (TV Series- TLC) Director of Photography (6 episodes: 2012)
Tanked (TV Series- Animal Planet) Director of Photography (7 episodes: 2011)
Decoded (TV Series- History) Director of Photography (23 episodes: 2010-2011)
Phantom Font (Short Film) Director of Photography (2010)
Slice of Pie (Short Film) Director of Photography (2009)
Defiance (Feature Film) Camera Operator (2008)
The Palace (TV Series- ITV) Camera Operator (4 episodes 2008)
War and Peace (TV Mini Series- Rai 1, France 2) Camera Operator (3 episodes: 2007)
The Amazing Race (TV Series- CBS) Camera Operator (2 episodes: 2007)
The Dark Ages (TV Movie- The History Channel) Camera Operator (2007)
Mimoza (Short Film) Director of Photography (2007)
Sūrininkas (Short Film) Director of Photography (2006)
Snapphanar (TV Mini Series- Sveriges TV) 2nd Unit Director of Photography (3 episodes: 2006)
Trips - Die Freischwimmerin (Indie Feature) Director of Photography (2006)
Surviving Disaster (TV Mini Series- BBC) Camera Operator (2006)
Ratten 2 - Sie kommen wieder!” (TV Movie- ProSieben) Camera Operator (2004)
Other People (Short Film) Director of Photography (2004)
Special Forces (TV Movie) Camera Operator (2003)
The Dogwalker (Feature Film) 2nd Unit Director of Photography (2002)
Déjà Vu (Short Film) Director of Photography (2002)
Mackenheim (Short Film) Camera Operator (2002)
DJ Games (TV Series) Camera Operator (2000)
Backyard Dogs (Indie Feature) Camera Operator (2000)