What is a cinematographer and how to become one

Key steps to become a cinematographer

1. Explore cinematographer education requirements

   Most common cinematographer degrees

   Bachelor's

   73.3 %

   Associate

   12.8 %

   Master's

   5.7 %

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2. Start to develop specific cinematographer skills

   Skills	Percentages
   Video Production	15.19%
   Cinema	11.34%
   Music Videos	11.25%
   DSLR	10.29%
   Adobe Creative Suite	7.40%

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3. Complete relevant cinematographer training and internships

   Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New cinematographers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a cinematographer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real cinematographer resumes.

4. Research cinematographer duties and responsibilities

   • Manage equipment setup and on-site DVD sales.
   • Manage all principal photography and editing.
   • Used DSLR, macro, and underwater camera equipment to film wildlife in wood settings.
   • Create promotional videos for viewing on the Lily.B website, Facebook, YouTube, and other social networking sites.

5. Prepare your cinematographer resume

   When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your cinematographer resume.

   You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a cinematographer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

   Choose from 10+ customizable cinematographer resume templates

   Build a professional cinematographer resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your cinematographer resume.
   

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6. Apply for cinematographer jobs

   Now it's time to start searching for a cinematographer job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

   1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
   2. Consult your professional network
   3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
   4. Watch out for job scams