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
Occupation content
Part of Arts, design, media and communications
What the work involves
- Set up camera bodies, lenses, supports, and monitoring before a shoot
- Frame, focus, and move the camera to the director's brief
- Check exposure, white balance, and recording settings between takes
- Work with lighting, sound, and grip crew to keep the set safe and on schedule
- Back up and label media cards and hand footage to post-production
- Maintain, clean, and pack equipment after the shoot
How people commonly enter
- College diploma or certificate in film, television, or broadcast production
- Camera-assistant or trainee role with on-the-job progression
- Bachelor's degree in film or media production
- Self-directed practice and freelance work building a body of credits
Typical training: Certificate or college diploma
Licensing: Not typically licensed
Typical work context
Client sites · Physically active · Team based · Involves travel · Varied work
Related interests
Realistic (hands-on) · Artistic (creative)
Related aptitude preparation
These are preparation links only. They do not measure eligibility for this occupation and no score here qualifies or disqualifies anyone.
Skills to practise
Related learning
Family-level learning links for Arts, design, media and communications.
Official sources
Labour-market facts such as pay and employment projections are not reproduced here. Open an official source below for figures, with its own geography and reference period.
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Outlook Handbook: Film and Video Editors and Camera Operators · United States
Link checked
- O*NET OnLine - Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film (27-4031.00) · International
Link checked
- UK National Careers Service - Explore careers job-profile index · United Kingdom
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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.
This is a broad Arts, design, media and communications family. Explore the official profile for the chosen occupation; entry education and training can differ within the family.
Canada Job Bank Career Planning · Canada · Current official profile; consult source for its release period
Arts, design, media and communications: education pathways
Some roles in Arts, design, media and communications may be regulated. Confirm whether the specific role requires registration, certification, or a jurisdiction-specific licence.
Canada Job Bank Career Planning · Canada · Current official profile; consult source for its release period
Arts, design, media and communications: licensing
Find jobs
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- Search Canada Job Bank · Canada
- Search USAJOBS · United States federal
- Search EURES · European Union / EEA
- Search Indeed · International (choose location on Indeed)