Cinematography Career Research : Job Scope and Required Skills

The Cinematographer

“Your job is to utilize all the tools available to create with light and the smart exploitation of camera position and movement to further the script’s story and ensure the director’s vision. You are a “recorder of movements” which is the Greek basis of “cinematographer” (from kinema “movements” and graphein “to record”).”

When researching for skills required to become a cinematographer, I found multiple sources,

https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/job-profiles/director-of-photography

https://www.ucas.com/ucas/after-gcses/find-career-ideas/explore-jobs/job-profile/cinematographer

http://www.theartcareerproject.com/become-cinematographer/

http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/cinematographer2.htm

all of them giving almost identical information on what a cinematographer does and what skills are required, which is nicely summarised below :-vc

Knowledge and ability to setup and operate a range of camera equipment such as lenses, filters, and film stock, and knowledge and experience in lighting and filming techniques such as cameras on dollies, hand-held cameras, the Steadicam, and blue screen are the technical skills required to work in industry. Ability to communicate and collaborate with others and having a good eye for photography are also skills which are very important in this field.

As cinematographer John Schwartzmann phrases it in the book “100 Careers in Film and Television,” “The most important skill that you need to be successful in the film business is to be able to play well with others.”

Cinematography Career Research : BFI Film Academy Advice

http://www.bfi.org.uk/education-research/5-19-film-education-scheme-2013-2017/how-do-i-become-cinematographer

In this webpage the British Film Institute gives advice from a selection of UK’s best cinematographers on “How do I become a cinematographer?”

“If you really want to understand what cinematography does, pick your favorite film, pick a scene from it, turn the sound off, and really watch it. Where’s the camera? How’s the choreography? What’s the light doing? How does it make you feel? How is it working? Then you’ll get more of an understanding of what actually is the cinematography doing as opposed to all the other things.” -Nina Kellgren (Young Soul Rebels, Solomon and Gaenor)

“Get together with other people and make your mistakes”

“Loving cinematography and working as a cinematographer is not the same, and the only way to find out is to get on set. Camera trainee(work) is ideal, then you really understand what the job is, then is you still really love it, then go and be a cinematography” – Nina Kellgren

“What you really need to make films about, is your life, what you know, what interest you”

Cinematography Career Research : Raindance Basic Cinematography workshop

To find out what knowledge or skills I’m required to get entry-level work, I looked at the learning outcomes of the Raindance Film Festival Basic Cinematography workshop.

https://www.raindance.org/courses/basic-cinematography/

This will serve as a good checklist for the equipment, camera technique, theoretical and technical information I’d have to learn before applying for entry-level jobs or work placements in industry..

Photography Career Research : Most Lucrative Photography Jobs?

Researching on photography careers, what I understood from a number of sources can be summarised in a few paragraphs here from Adorama Learning Center’s website on The Highest Paying Photography Jobs (And How You Can Land One) :-

“Photography is one of the most over-saturated industries the world. In addition to boasting a severe shortage of job opportunities and no guarantee of a stable paycheck, it is one of the hardest professions to break into and survive. That’s not pessimism, it’s just a fact.”

The New York Film Academy  also has an article on Photography Jobs: Average Salary & Career Path Glossary. According to them, Fashion, Fine Art, and Medical photography seems to be highest earning photography jobs, and also the most difficult to break into.

But they seem to be quite uncertain about all the photography jobs mentioned, just less uncertain about Fashion and Fine Art.

Photoworkout also has an article. They also mention the importance of business skills and have a list of photography jobs and the clients for the jobs

All websites I’ve found giving information about photography careers seem to be quite uncertain about their knowledge in the areas. They also categorize jobs differently, and have almost no sources. Although what they seem to all have in common is advising the importance of business skills in addition to photography skills, and that the highest paid photographers are mostly freelance, in any field. My dream client the National Geographic Society certainly seem to only hire freelance photographers who already have their name out there.

How to become a Nat Geo Photographer

Working on an assignment for National Geographic has always been the highest aspiration in photography for me. It is the documentary, journalistic and story-telling aspect of photography that inspired me to pursue a career in this field. And this National Geographic does best.

http://help.nationalgeographic.com/customer/portal/articles/1409678-how-can-i-be-a-photographer-for-national-geographic-

“Our editors and photographers agree that it is important to complete a degree in a discipline other than photography.”

 

In another article by National Geographic as well : http://intelligenttravel.nationalgeographic.com/2013/06/14/how-to-become-a-nat-geo-photographer/

“There are very few full time salaried photography jobs. All the photographers who take pictures for National Geographic Traveler are freelance independent business owners.”

“Our editors are constantly looking at magazines, books, newspapers, and online for photographers who deliver compelling pictures time and time again. Once they start to see a photographer’s name over and over associated with good work in different media, then they might reach out to those individuals and ask if they have any good story ideas.”

” It’s not enough to just be a good photographer. To make it at National Geographic you have to have interesting stories to tell.”