DoP
| Highest | $9,000 / mo · United States |
|---|---|
| Experience | 5+ yrs |
| Degree | Required |
| First paycheck | First paid shoot through a micro-budget music video or indie short |
Pay in the destination countries
Monthly, in US dollars. Each country is an Imora admission package — open one for that route's fees, language requirement and deadline.
| Country | Monthly |
|---|---|
| United StatesTOEFL 80–100 · $10–70k | $9,000max |
| Hong KongIELTS 6.0–6.5 · HK–200k | $7,400 |
| SingaporeIELTS 6.5 · SGD 18–35k | $7,400 |
| United KingdomIELTS 6.0–7.0 · £11–38k | $7,400 |
| CanadaIELTS 6.0–6.5 · CAD 20–40k | $7,000 |
| AustraliaIELTS 6.0–6.5 · AUD 30–50k | $6,500 |
What does the day look like?
A DoP's day depends on the stage of production. In pre-production, about 30% of the cycle, you break down the script with the director, build lookbooks, inspect locations for power and sunlight, and test camera packages at rental houses: Arri Alexa 35, Arri Alexa Mini LF, Red V-Raptor, Sony Venice 2, plus Cooke Optics, Zeiss Supreme, or Angenieux EZ lenses. Shot lists and storyboards may be built in ShotDesigner or Cinetracer.
Shoot days are about 60% of the cycle, and you are usually on set for 12-14 hours. You direct the gaffer and key grip, take readings with a Sekonic L-858D, frame shots through Arri Artemis Pro or Cinteq viewfinders, and monitor exposure on SmallHD or Sony Trimaster screens using false color and waveform. The glamorous part, actually operating a camera, is about 15% of the job; the other 85% is logistics, waiting, weather, budget compromise, power limits, and managing people. Night shoots and 16:00-05:00 split shifts are normal.
Where does this lead?
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