Description
Design and lead the visual storytelling of film and television productions, directing camera and lighting to realize the director’s vision while supervising camera, grip, and electric teams.
- • Define the visual style, tone, and color palette with the director and production designer.
- • Compose and frame shots, controlling light, lenses, filters, and camera settings to achieve the desired look.
- • Select cameras, sensors, recording formats, frame rates, and aspect ratios to suit story and post-production needs.
- • Choose lenses, filtration, diffusion, and specialty optics to shape depth of field and image character.
- • Design shot lists and coverage with the director and assistant director; plan blocking and camera movement.
- • Supervise camera, grip, and electric crews, assigning duties and ensuring clear communication.
- • Instruct camera operators on setups, angles, distances, movement, and start/stop cues.
- • Determine and deploy support systems such as tripod, dolly, crane, gimbal, Steadicam, handheld, or drone.
- • Plan and execute lighting schemes with the gaffer, creating lighting plots and power distribution plans.
- • Scout locations and stages to assess lighting, sun path, rigging, power, and logistical needs.
- • Set and maintain exposure using light meters, waveform, zebras, and false color, managing dynamic range.
- • Build and apply show LUTs and ensure calibrated monitoring and a consistent color pipeline from set to post.
- • Adjust camera and lighting to solve issues such as flicker, moiré, rolling shutter, or color contamination.
- • Collaborate with the VFX supervisor on greenscreen, tracking, HDRI, plates, and camera data capture.
- • Oversee media management with the DIT, including backups, metadata, slate information, and camera reports.
- • Review dailies for continuity and quality, communicating notes to editorial and post teams.
- • Test and evaluate cameras, lenses, filters, and rigs; document results and compute exposure and filter factors.
- • Coordinate equipment rentals, prep, and maintenance; troubleshoot and arrange repairs as needed.
- • Manage department schedules and budgets while enforcing safety standards for lighting and rigging.
- • Collaborate with sound, art, and wardrobe to avoid visual and technical conflicts on set.
- • Participate in color grading with the colorist to finalize the look and ensure creative intent through delivery.
- • Stay current with cinematography techniques, tools, and emerging technologies.
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Related Pathways
Arts, Entertainment, & Design
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Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
