No second takes.

Live sports. The glitz and the glamour. The human stories behind the athletes. All this adds up to one of the most popular forms of entertainment in the world.

Who I’ve worked with

UFC, Bleacher Report, ESPN Magazine, FOX Sports, College Gameday, FIGHT! Magazine

live sports

 
 

  • When action moves at the speed of sport, a practiced steady hand helps to get the shot that goes from documenting to storytelling.

  • Using BlackMagic and vMix software in tandem allows streams to use graphic overlays and instant replays to enhance the story.

  • I love to be at the helm of live broadcasts, deciding what shots to take and when, directing camera ops, and troubleshooting while a show is going on.

With 247 Fighting Championships, I’m responsible for introducing the fighter to the audience.

I run a steadicam rig for the walkouts, in-ring introductions, and post-fight decisions and interviews. Everything that isn’t in-cage action is solely on my shoulders.

I run backward maybe 50 times, capturing people getting into a fight in a few moments, all the while framing a shot in changing lighting conditions with half a dozen bodies moving in close quarters.

It gets cozy and busy.

Before the show, I produce the show with talent and directors, fighters and coaches, management, and the athletic commission officials to ensure everyone knows their choreography for the entrance.

@dansweeneyvideo Hi TikTok 👋🏻 wanna see what a wireless camera operator does during an MMA PPV in a deck hockey arena? We did this for every single bout! The top is the live program feed on @247 Fighting Championships #BitB20 show Saturday February 24th at the @MSZ in Murrysville, PA. The bottom is from my old @GoPro Hero4 - shot 2.7k and downscaled. I'm running a @Sony Alpha #a7r4 on a @DJI Official #roninrs2 with a Sony 24-70mm G2 locked at 24, locked into a @DF Thanos SE vest and tension arm. We broadcast live online so we're all shooting 1080p60. I'm running through a Hollyland Cosmo wireless transmitter. Follow 247 everywhere for updates on the next card in April! #livesports #broadcasting #cameraman #cameraoperator #mma #ufc #jiujitsu #walkout #steadicam #steadicamoperator #localmma #submissiongrappling #knockout ♬ original sound - dansweeneyvideo
 

It all started when…

I volunteered to be a runner for FOX Sports at a West Virginia University Mountaineer football game. From there I’ve worked my way through shooting and directing football, basketball, volleyball, gymnastics, collegiate wrestling, baseball, MMA, and most recently professional wrestling.

Working with so many kinds of outlets, networks, and promotions has taught me the importance of a brand’s vocabulary. What story does a baseball game tell? How does it compare to a basketball game? A pro wrestling match?

Of course, the pressure of a live environment leaves little room for nerves and even less for error. This has made me a more confident decision-maker and storyteller because there’s only ever one chance to nail the shot.