Occupation

Camera operator

Camera operators run the camera on film, television, live events, and news or corporate shoots, framing and moving the shot a director asks for. The job is physical and equipment-heavy, and often happens on location under time pressure.

Also known as: Cameraperson · Videographer · Camera technician

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Occupation content

Part of Arts, design, media and communications

A visual day in the work

What the work involves

  1. Set up camera bodies, lenses, supports, and monitoring before a shoot

  2. Frame, focus, and move the camera to the director's brief

  3. Check exposure, white balance, and recording settings between takes

  4. Work with lighting, sound, and grip crew to keep the set safe and on schedule

  5. Back up and label media cards and hand footage to post-production

  6. Maintain, clean, and pack equipment after the shoot

Entry-route stepper

How people commonly enter

  1. College diploma or certificate in film, television, or broadcast production

  2. Camera-assistant or trainee role with on-the-job progression

  3. Bachelor's degree in film or media production

  4. Self-directed practice and freelance work building a body of credits

Typical training: Certificate or college diploma

Licensing: Not typically licensed

Work-context map

Typical work context

  • Client sites
  • Physically active
  • Team based
  • Involves travel
  • Varied work

Client sites · Physically active · Team based · Involves travel · Varied work

Related interests

  • Realistic (hands-on)
  • Artistic (creative)

Realistic (hands-on) · Artistic (creative)

Related aptitude preparation

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Skills to practise

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Labour-market context (not part of exploration match)

This is broad family-level context for Arts, design, media and communications in Canada, not a figure for Camera operator. It does not affect matching scores and is not an eligibility determination.

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