Director of Photography Duties & Responsibilities

The role and function of a Director of Photography includes the following duties and responsibilities:

  • Developing a film's visual style.
  • Determining lighting requirements on set.
  • Deciding on the best camera angles and frames for scenes.
  • Determining camera aperture settings.
  • Controlling natural or artificial lighting conditions.
  • Liaising with electricians to ensure adequate electrical supply.
  • Ordering and testing lighting and camera equipment.
  • Supervising a camera crew and directing camera movement.
  • Selecting the appropriate film stock.
  • Determining elements such as filters, shutter angles, focus, depth of field and camera distance.
  • Editing visual elements in post production.

Note that this is not an exhaustive list of Director of Photography duties and responsibilities. Job functions for specific Director of Photography roles may vary, depending on the industry and type of employer.