Design

You can get into this job through:

• a university course
• a college course
• working towards this role
• specialist courses run by private training providers

University

You can do a foundation degree, higher national diploma, degree or postgraduate qualification in a relevant subject. Examples include:

• photography
• art
• drama
• film making or film studies

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• a foundation diploma in art and design
• 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
• 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

For more information

• equivalent entry requirements
• student finance for fees and living costs
• university courses and entry requirements

College

You can take a college course to develop your camera skills before looking for work. Relevant courses include:

• Level 2 Diploma In Creative Media Production and Technology
• Level 3 Diploma in Film and Television Production
• Level 3 Diploma in Photography

It may give you an advantage if you can find a course that offers practical experience and possibly a work placement.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course
• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and a creative subject

For more information

• equivalent entry requirements
• funding advice
• search for courses

Work

You could work your way up from being a:

• runner
• camera operator trainee
• lighting trainee

It's also helpful to have experience of working as an assistant director. You'll need a lot of experience before you can move on to become a director of photography.

You can improve your prospects by developing specialist filming skills like aerial, night-time or underwater photography.

Volunteering and work experience

It'll help if you can get paid or unpaid experience with:

• community film productions
• amateur or student film projects
• independent film production companies or camera equipment suppliers

You can search for film and TV companies to approach for experience through media business listing services like PACT and The Knowledge.

Other routes

You may be able to get training through one of the new entrant training schemes that broadcasters and film bodies offer, for example:

• BBC trainee schemes
• Channel 4 training scheme
• ITV Careers
• BFI

You could also take short courses in camera operation run by film schools, regional screen agencies and private training providers.

More information

Career tips

Get as much experience as you can of taking still and moving images. Build a portfolio of your work and use online media channels to promote yourself.

Follow video making companies and other film makers' social media accounts for advice and work experience opportunities. Look out for local film festivals and opportunities to network with other creatives.

Further information

You can get more advice about working as a director of photography from ScreenSkills.

You can also find out more about working in the creative industries from Discover Creative Careers.

View all vacancies in this region

With experience, you could work on TV and film productions with bigger budgets, or become a director or producer.

Many DoPs work freelance. You could earn a salary significantly higher than average if you work on big budget films.