How To Get Into Cinematography
As you can probably tell, cinematography is an expensive hobby! Luckily, there are many ways to get into this field cost-effectively. Starting with stills photography, moving onto video production or even filming your own movie using a smartphone as a tool is possible and affordable.
The best way to start investing in equipment (cameras, lights, etc.) is by buying cheap ones and improving them over time. Don’t spend thousands of dollars unless you have that money to invest!
There are several sites where you can find free and low priced gear. Looking through these sites is one of the best ways to begin developing your camera skills. By trying out different settings and modes, you will learn how to make creative use of the equipment for efficient shooting.
Furthermore, most big cities have at least one cinema venue that offers screening services for independent movies. These venues typically offer discounts to those who work in the film industry, so gathering some experience under your belt is not too costly.
This article will go more in depth about all of these tips and strategies.
Find a film school
Many cinematographers start their career by attending a professional filming or production degree program. These programs are typically very expensive, which may deter some potential candidates. However to be clear, these programs are not necessary for becoming a successful cinematographer!
Some of the best filmmakers never attended formal schooling in filmmaking. They instead learned the ropes through years of experience as well as collaborating with other professionals. So even if you don’t attend college, there are many ways to learn the basics and improve your craft beyond going into it full-time.
There are several options available to those who want to pursue education in cinema photography. Some offer bachelor degrees while others offer master degrees or even doctorate levels. No matter what level you choose, remember that each one is unique and can help you advance your career as a filmmaker!
These courses usually focus heavily on lighting, camera operation, exposure, color science, photoshop, storytelling, editing, and more. While some may emphasize video production over stills, both are important parts of being a great cinematographer.
Choose a cinematography subreddit
Choosing a good cinema photography or cinematographic lens is like choosing your favorite movie! There are so many types, brands, and categories of lenses out there, it can be hard to know where to start. That’s why having a good starting point is important.
Luckily for you, we have done some work for you by creating this article full of helpful information about the best cinema camera brands, gear, and settings. Along with that, we created an easy way to get into cinematography via reddit.
By actively participating in the community, you will gain knowledge and pick up tips from other users who are working on their own projects. These people will also likely give you advice if you are struggling to find your footing as a filmmaker.
That being said, let's take a look at our top choice which is...
Join the community
Starting your journey as a cinematographer can feel very daunting with there being so many ways to pursue it. There are lots of sites that offer free resources, tips, and lessons for beginner photographers, filmmakers, or even just people looking to learn how to do something creative.
By joining other members’ blogs, you get exposure to the inner workings of the craft which is an excellent way to pick up tricks and insights. Some of the best cinematographers in this industry have made their name by sharing their knowledge and tools with others.
There are also plenty of communities out there where aspiring cinematographers gather to talk about gear, share experiences, and inspire each other. By participating in these conversations, you will gain valuable insight into the field which no course or book can teach you!
Furthermore, some cinematographic competitions ask participants to be part of a team, and most teams consist of at least one photographer. Try reaching out to those individuals to see if they would like someone to work alongside them on a project.
Make videos
A lot of cinematographers start their career as filmmakers. Whether you are a novice filmmaker or not, creating movies is one of the most fundamental ways to get into film photography.
Making movies is much harder than taking pictures, but there are many great resources available these days for anyone to learn how!
All it takes is motivation to invest in yourself by reading books and tutorials, talking to experienced professionals, and investing in production equipment (e.g., camera, tripod). Many universities also offer courses that focus on filmmaking so if you are already educated, try exploring those opportunities.
There’s no need to be super fancy when starting out either. You can use your own smartphone with good quality software such as Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom to create movie stills and videos. Or use free software like Google Photos or Microsoft Live to add some effects and music before sharing via YouTube or other platforms.
Getting started shooting video does not require very expensive gear either. My favorite affordable option is the Canon Vlog-Series Camera and lighning kit which costs around $500-$600.
Be consistent
Consistency is one of the most important things to be as a cinematographer or aspiring cinematographers. If you are consistently putting in an effort into learning your craft, then people will notice!
If you want to see more opportunities, if you want to earn more money, you have to put in time beyond just being hired for a job. This includes seeking out education, networking, sharing your knowledge and experience, and keeping up with all the latest trends in the industry.
But don’t forget about what makes you special too! Don’t lose sight of who you are as an artist. Keep studying art and developing your creative side so that you can remain relevant as the medium of film evolves.
Gain reputation
As mentioned earlier, to get into cinematographic filmmaking you need to have an understanding of how film is put together. This includes filming styles, coverage, depth of field (DOF), and more!
There are many sites with user created content or videos that can help teach you this. Some of these sites include TheFilmSchoolRevealed.com, FilmMakingTutorialsVideos.com, AndrèaMedia.net, and MoreThanYouKnew.org.
These sites contain very educational content and are full length courses or at least very long videos which give you a lot of information. They’re definitely worth your time if you want to truly master the art of cinematography!
Gaining experience as a filmmaker is also important so there are some free online tools available to do just that! Many people use YouTube to gain new knowledge and it has plenty of tutorials and vlogs for all kinds of things.
Participate in the community and contribute what you know! It will help you hone your skills and hopefully inspire others to learn too.
Encourage others
As we already mentioned, being a cinematographer doesn’t just mean filming beautiful shots and working in tight deadlines. Being a cinematographer means shooting smartly, knowing how to use light, developing your craft as a filmmaker, and producing quality content that people will watch.
Your technical skills are only half of what makes someone call themselves a cinematographer; the other is marketing yourself and promoting your work.
Marketing yourself includes posting videos and stills of your works online, creating a profile on all major social media sites, and responding to comments and messages about your career (yes, even if you don’t feel like it).
Interacting with other filmmakers, sharing knowledge, giving talks, hosting events - anything that gets you exposure, grows your audience, and helps them connect with you is worth its weight in gold.
And while all of these things may sound tedious or time-consuming, they’re not. There are plenty of ways to produce quick results by using technology and the internet to help you out.
Connect with the director
A lot of cinematographers start their career as aspiring filmmakers, taking screenwriting courses or other production classes. This is great because they get to learn about writing stories!
In addition to that, many film schools offer either filmmaking courses or camera operation courses. Not only do these teach you the craft, but also how to use the equipment, which can be helpful later in your career when you need to find employment.
These opportunities are very common and valuable whether you end up choosing cinema as a medium or not, so don’t pass them by!
There are several online communities where professional photographers and cinematographers hang out to connect, discuss gear, share tips and tricks, and inspire each other. Some of the most popular ones include:
Cinemagram
Imgur
Photoshopforum
Flickr
GIPHY
You should definitely take some time to look through all of the profiles to see what kind of content people are sharing and what types of pictures they have going on. It’s an excellent way to pick up new techniques and inspiration!
Another good thing to do would be to leave comments - even if you aren’t completely sure of the technicalities yet. People who already know a certain technique might give you some input that could help you figure things out on your own.