During the beginning stages of production, the DP works closely with the director and other lead members of the crew to determine the look, feel and other visual elements of a project. This process includes selecting a color palette, making a shot list and noting any challenges and goals for telling the story. Related: How To Become a Cameraman. While most film crews will have a location scout and related staff to ascertain where scenes will be shot, the cinematographer is involved in this process to assess the environment for its potential.
The cinematographer will determine the proper cameras, lenses, filters, lighting, digital media and any other equipment needed to contribute to the look. Film and video productions are a team effort, and a large component of the film crew works directly with the DP. The DP is responsible for assembling the camera crew, which can consist of many members depending upon the project and budget.
Crew members assist with lighting, electricity and camera work. The DP will oversee the lighting and camera crew throughout shooting, ensuring they are correctly setting up each shot, while also functioning as a camera operator and working closely with the director to compose shots.
The cinematographer also attends rehearsals to set up blocking for each scene, which determines where actors, equipment and camerawork will be located during shooting. During dailies, the DP helps decide on any compromises that may have to be made or what might be corrected in post. They will also advise the colorists working in post to advise on any needed color corrections. Related: 15 Filmmaking Jobs in the Entertainment Industry.
There are various ways to get into the film industry. Follow these general steps to become a cinematographer:. While there are no degree requirements to become a cinematographer, you need to be highly skilled in your craft, and film school is a key pathway to gain those skills.
Networking with other up-and-coming production talent can also be essential in this competitive industry, where members of a film crew bounce from project to project, often bringing along favored crew members with them. Christopher has worked on a wide range of films and television shows, including London to Brighton , Misfits , Spike Island and Monsters Dark Continent Skip to content.
How do I become a cinematographer? The start searching and applying. Sites like Production Beast is an online resource for connecting people in the film industry. Search for cinematography and filming groups in Facebook and ask to join any groups that stand out to you.
Ask your friends for recommendations on any good groups. Build a reel of your best work. And within those different kinds of reels will be several methods for creating one. For director of photography reels, there are a few things to note. Your reel should showcase your absolute best work. Only include work that showcases your talent as a cinematographer. People want to see your talent in camera movement, lighting, composition, visual creativity, versatility, and, at least, one great moment.
But you should try and show as much of those elements as possible. Your reel should be no longer than two minutes. Two great clips that culminate in forty-five seconds will serve you much better than two minutes of mediocre work. Make a website. Why not put it all on your own website. With websites being extremely easy to make whether you can code or not, more and more industry people have one and expect you to as well.
Go to Squarespace, Wix, Cargocollective, or even Tumblr and make a site for yourself. You should pay for hosting and a customized domain name. The address to your site should be your name.
Put the same effort into your networking tools as you do your art. Your website, especially as a cinematographer, should be beautiful and tell a story. It should be simple and plainly showcase your work. But, it should in a way be a work of art in itself. Promote your films. Upload these films online and host screenings. Put your films up on your website, or, at least, trailers for the films. And upload the films to YouTube or Vimeo. Share links on your social pages.
Host screenings and create events you can invite people to. Submit your work for film festivals. So why not do everything you can to get your name out there? Festivals are a great way to get exposure and network with other professionals and artists. Get your own business cards to exchange and hand out.
Business cards may seem old fashioned. But when someone hands you a business card and you have nothing to hand back, it sends a message and can feel weird. Reach out to contacts. Explain that it was a pleasure to meet and that you'd love to work together or get advice. But you never know when someone will help you out. Everyone in this industry is always looking for work. And people are often willing to help others out. You never know when someone will come to you for a job or advice.
Or when someone who has had success will remember how great you were to work with and call you. Get experience anywhere and anyway you can. Becoming a cinematographer is hard work and will take time to gain some traction and a reputation. Ask your friends, colleagues, teachers, etc. Take anything that gives you experience. Continue learning and shooting things yourself. You should always be creating new work as your talent grows.
Update your resume and reel frequently so that you are always ready to put your best self forward. Experience comes in many forms. There are plenty of ways to create your own content. And in the film industry, you will go through cycles where you may be in high demand for a few months. Then the next several months are quiet.
Learn to accept this flow and take down time to relax. Did you know you can get expert answers for this article? Unlock expert answers by supporting wikiHow. Travis Page. Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer. Not Helpful 0 Helpful 0. The Panasonic Lumix GH4 is great except for the price. The Lumix G7 will do a great job. Not Helpful 3 Helpful 4. Julia Pearse.
Perhaps you could make a schedule. You could spend a couple of hours studying or doing homework, and then spend a couple of hours practicing your cinematography skills. Not Helpful 3 Helpful 2. Nikon and Canon cameras can be good. Using phones to record isn't recommended as they have bad quality, so it is better to use Canon or Nikon cameras. Not Helpful 7 Helpful 4. They determine how each scene of the script is going to be filmed, what type of lens, camera, lighting, and shot angle is going to be used, and more.
They do not usually handle the camera but direct the camera crew on how to shoot certain scenes, which is why they are also popularly known as the director of photography DOP. Keep reading as we get into how you can begin your career in cinematography and make your way into the film industry.
Cinematography is both an art and a science, which means that it has more to it than just hitting the record button on a camera. Anyone can operate a camera; it takes a creative mind to create a narrative out of a series of shots and give a unique look and feel to the film.
It is important for any aspiring cinematographer to have a working knowledge of all the major elements in this field. It covers all the major aspects of cinematography and might just be what you need to start your career. Alternatively, you can read blogs by StudioBinder , which has extensive resources related to filmmaking. Practice makes perfect. Get a basic DSLR camera or camcorder and start filming and experimenting with different types of shots, camera angles, and lighting.
The more you practice with your camera, the more you will understand the device and its creative potential, and discover your own style. In the line of films, a fancy degree is never a compulsion but is quite beneficial, especially with cinematography as there are a lot of technical aspects to it when compared to direction or writing. A proper course in cinematography will provide you with a better understanding of all the technical knowledge you require.
Here, you will be trained by industry experts and will also get a chance to network with professionals and like-minded people. Moreover, you will get to practice your skills with industry-standard cameras, lights, and other necessary equipment. Being an aspiring filmmaker myself, this is one of the ways of learning that I believe in the most.
There is no better way to learn cinematography than watching the work of other established cinematographers.
Nothing can compare to learning on the job. Assisting a cinematographer on a film set will provide you with a lot of exposure and will also give you an inside look into what a career in this discipline looks like.
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