The Role of Director of Photography

The Director of Photography, (DP, Cinematographer) is a key creative and technical professional in a video production shoot. They are primarily focused on the visual aspects of the production. Their duties and responsibilities are as follows: 

VISUAL CONCEPTUALIZATION:
The DP works with the director to ensure the overall creative visualization is communicated effectively throughout the production process.

SHOT COMPOSITION:
Planning each shot takes careful consideration of factors such as depth of field and framing.

LIGHTING DESIGN:
Captivating cinematography relies heavily on professional lighting. The DP will design the lighting for each scene, considering various factors such as time of day, location and mood. They may require various lighting techniques to achieve the ideal effect, such as dramatic shadows, or softening/emphasizing features.

CAMERA OPERATION:
The camera may be operated by DP, or they may be supervising a camera crew, making sure all shots are executed exactly according to the storyboard or shot list.

LENS SELECTION:
The DP will choose the appropriate lenses to achieve the best results for the shot. Things that need to be considered are perspective, distortion, depth of field, as well as location and speed of action.

TECHNICAL EXPERTISE:
The DP has extensive knowledge of camera technology, lighting and other technical equipment. This position requires ongoing education of the latest advancements in the video production industry.

PROBLEM SOLVING:
The DP must be resourceful, adaptable and able to work around challenges such as adverse weather conditions, equipment malfunction and unexpected changes to the schedule. By finding creative solutions, they are able to maintain the quality of the video. 

To summarize, the Director of Photography develops a visual story, working closely with the director and other key members of the production crew to bring the concept to life.