The following women have been recognized for their contributions to cinematography and have been invited to join the ASC:

1. Brianne Murphy, ASC

• Achievements: First woman invited to join the ASC (1980). First woman to serve as director of photography on a major studio film (Fatso, 1980). First woman to join the cinematographer’s guild (1973). First woman to win a Daytime Emmy Award for Best Cinematography (Five Finger Discount, 1978) and first woman nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Cinematography for a Single-Camera Series (Breaking Away, 1981). Won an Academy Award for Scientific and Engineering Achievement (1982)1.

2. Nancy Schreiber, ASC

• Achievements: Fourth woman voted into the ASC. First woman to receive the ASC Presidents Award (2017). Nominated for an Independent Spirit Award and an Emmy16.

3. Ellen Kuras, ASC

• Achievements: First woman to be honored with the ASC Lifetime Achievement Award (2022). Known for films like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and _The Betrayal_16.

4. Mandy Walker, ASC, ACS

• Achievements: First woman to photograph a feature with a budget over $100 million (Australia, 2008). First woman of the Motion Picture Academy’s Cinematographers Branch elected to the Board of Governors (2017)1.

5. Rachel Morrison, ASC

• Achievements: First woman nominated for the ASC Award for Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Theatrical Releases and the Academy Award for Best Cinematography (Mudbound, 2017)18.

6. Kira Kelly, ASC

• Achievements: First Black woman invited to join the ASC (2020). First Black woman cinematographer nominated for an Emmy Award (13th, 2017) and first Black cinematographer nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Cinematography For a Single-Camera Series — Half-Hour (Insecure, 2020)1.

7. Sharon Calahan, ASC

• Achievements: First cinematographer invited to join the ASC based solely on work in animation (2014)1.

8. Patti Lee, ASC

• Achievements: First Asian American woman invited to join the ASC (2018). First woman nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Cinematography for a Multi-Camera Series (Superior Donuts, 2018)1.

9. Natasha Braier, ASC, ADF

• Achievements: First Latin American woman invited to join the ASC (2018). Nominated for the ASC Spotlight Award for Honey Boy (2019)18.

10. Cynthia Pusheck, ASC

• Achievements: First woman to serve as ASC vice president (2017). Co-founded the ASC Vision Committee (2016)1.

11. Tami Reiker, ASC

• Achievements: First woman to win an ASC Award (Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography for a Movie, Miniseries, or Pilot for Television) and first woman nominated for Carnivàle (2004)1.

12. Amelia Vincent, ASC

• Achievements: Awarded the ASC Cinematography Mentor of the Year Award by the International Cinematographers Guild for mentoring women in the entertainment industry (2018)1.

13. Polly Morgan, ASC

• Achievements: Noted for her work in films like A Quiet Place Part II and The Woman in the Window. She worked her way up from a production assistant to a cinematographer10.

14. Alice Brooks, ASC

• Achievements: Known for her work on In the Heights and Wicked (2025). Nominated for the ASC Award for Theatrical Feature Film for Wicked (2025)7.

15. Zoë White, ACS

• Achievements: Nominated for the ASC Award for Limited or Anthology Series or Motion Picture Made for Television for Hold Your Breath (2025)7.

16. Catherine Goldschmidt, BSC

• Achievements: Nominated for the ASC Award for Episode of a One-Hour Regular Series for House of the Dragon (2025)7.

17. Laela Kilbourn

• Achievements: Emmy Award winner for Outstanding Cinematography for Girls State. Member of the International Collective of Female Cinematographers6.

18. Autumn Durald Arkapaw, ASC

• Achievements: Known for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and Loki. Nominated for the ASC Award for Limited or Anthology Series or Motion Picture Made for Television for Masters of the Air (2025)67.

💡 Key Context:

• The ASC has historically been male-dominated. As of 2019, only 18 of its 390 members were women (approximately 4%)810.

• The ASC Vision Committee, co-founded by Cynthia Pusheck and John Simmons in 2016, works to advance underrepresented cinematographers and promote inclusivity in the industry12.

• Efforts to increase diversity include mentorship programs, educational initiatives, and advocacy for more inclusive hiring practices210.

For more details on the ASC and its members, you can refer to the ASC Milestones page and the ASC Vision Committee Origins page.