How To Build A Career As A Cinematographer

On a film set with tens or even hundreds of crew members, there is only one head of department role of director of photography. In this competitive environment what are some of the ways that you can increase your chances of landing this job and sustaining a career as a DP?

MERCH:

SOCIALS:

GEAR:

MUSIC:
Doug Kaufman - 'Preservation'
Warmkeys - 'Penance'
Magoksolo - 'Taito'
Dear Gravity - 'The Kingdom'
Rotem Cinamon - 'Dreaming about Summer'
Ziv Moran - 'Elastic Vibe'
Kevin Graham - 'Curiosity'
Sean Williams - 'Wake'
Michael Drake - 'Solstice'
Chill Winston - 'The Truth'

0:00 Introduction
0:52 Started From The Bottom
3:40 Film School
5:10 Squarespace
6:10 Shooting Your Way Up
7:48 Path To Success
11:05 Conclusion

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[DSLRguide]

really appreciate the acknowledgment of supply and demand right at the beginning. It’s so significant, but we often only hear about how to improve our skills and network.

[waleedsokkarofficial]

Definitely had to do all 3 things to become a DP, started in film school, went on to become an Focus puller, then began shooting personal work, got festival recognition, then finally was given the chance to start DPing, it took about 4 years since finishing film school. Def no quick way to jump start it, and you need the time to gain the experience.

[sadetwizelve]

My film school experience helped me out a LOT with my non film school friends. They don't know anything about cinematography and when I showed up with my lights, tripods, slider, clamps, diffusion, gels etc they were amazed at how much it made a difference and how I set and operated the camera

[xx]

currently in film school, definitely true that the people you network with will help build your career.

[MattAitia]

Love this, definitely need more videos like this on the internet! As someone who's trying to become a DP and working my way up the latter, I've learned to fall in love with the process. I work on set as a spark a lot of the time and I shoot my passion projects on the side to flex that muscle and get my name out there as a DP. But I've also learned so much in the lighting department over the past 4 years and met so many techs that are now my friends and will come help me on my passion projects. There's no straight path to becoming a DP, everyone's is different and it will definitely take time but learn to love the process as well!

[NetherReactorCore]

I’m sooo ready for thissss! Thankyou for all the time you put into carefully explaining the film world 🌎

[joanamaebuenaseda]

i love love that you put autumn arkapaw as your example! her works are honestly one of my favorites! 😭 the female gaze is always captured when she's the one behind the camera

[LycanVisuals]

I'm learning composition and stuff taking lots of still photographs. They're complete ass but eventually I should get better...I hope. If money wasn't a problem I'd definitely apply to USC or the AFI Conservatory.

[iennefilm]

this is without a doubt one of my favorite channels

[mrdfwproductions]

Thank you for this video! I'm in the beginning of my journey to becoming a cinematographer and just trying to be a part of any film set that I can. I currently practice using my camera as much as I can and do freelance photography to get me by. It can definitely be daunting at times but SO exciting when an opportunity arrives.

[FALLIFE]

Great video not just for budding DPs but most HoD roles in film

[theowlfromduolingo]

I think it can be pinned down to networking and (professional) experience

[__________________]

Even if you gain all the knowledge you could possibly acquire and work hard on your skills and take every opportunity you could find you would still fail 100% if you can't network well.
This is the first thing you should know before walking into this business.

[demetrizuev]

It's a great video, but it omits a fourth path and one major factor besides supply and demand.

The fourth path mentioned is commercials. Especially during the past 5-7 years, numbers of cinematographers who started in commercials have been transitioning to narrative film work. Commercials have a tendency to be a very stressful but fruitful environment for a DP since you get to try and master so much tech and learn fast with considerable budgets backing your work. It is also easier to break into commercials in a number of markets than trying to break into film right away.

The factor is the actual country and market you work in. In developing markets such as Eastern Europe, the transition from short form to doing feature films and shows can be much faster than in fully developed markets like US and UK. I have personally witnessed several DPs who started in commercials and in 5 years were shooting features because the market is a lot smaller and there is high demand for "fresh blood". Some of these people later move west as an already "accomplished" cinematographers. This would take them probably twice as much time if they would start their journey in a developed market. So you should clearly understand how an industry in your particular country works and use it to your advantage.

[alfredbassDoP]

this is awesome, its kinda exactly what i have been telling to the boys that are stidying or they just finished their career in film school, its better to shoot lots of short films, in different positions, than just get uut and try to make a full lengt film. the experience, knowledge, capacities and relations you achieve witih all this projects its fundamental for level up your CInema Game.

i´v been working in varrious short films, as a Gaffer, BTS shots, and props or scenography construccion, its really realy Fun!! and also learning every day something new is Awesome! cinema is awesome, at any level.

[WhySteve]

I'm actually curious to know if you've been a DP on some big projects? You've mentioned in a lot of videos about "how you prefer to shoot" I would actually love to see some of your work!

[blainemarcano]

Thank you for this. It’s very encouraging.

[DANAMIONLINE]

How are you choosing which 1 or two films to use in your videos?

[robertobuatti]

What I'd like to know why isn't there any Filmschool's for people with mental or physical disabilities, I have several learning disabilities + I deal with OCD and high anxiety everyday since I was 12 and I would love to learn cinematography or anything behind the scenes but I don't know where to start, I'm 41 and it feels like this dream of mine of becoming a Filmmaker will never come true which I've had for over 25 years now, it feels like this industry is really for people who are really smart and have a high I.Q. which I do not, I have a very low I.Q but I love the art of photography/cinematography but would also love to learn being a director in visual storytelling and editing.

[shootermcgavin]

Can you please do a similar video but for a director?