Camera Operator

You operate cameras for film, television, live events, and news — capturing the images that tell stories, document reality, and keep audiences watching. You'll frame shots, execute camera moves, and make split-second composition decisions that directors either love or want redone immediately. Your back will hate you from carrying equipment, your hours will be absurd, and every shot is a collaboration between your eye and your operator skills.

What you'll actually do

• 01Operate cameras — from handhelds to Steadicams to cranes — with smooth, deliberate moves that make it look effortless
• 02Frame shots according to the director's vision while making your own compositional suggestions that are sometimes accepted
• 03Set up and tear down camera equipment that collectively weighs more than you and costs more than your car
• 04Work 14-hour days on set and pretend you're not exhausted by hour 12 because the shot list isn't done
• 05Adjust exposure, focus, and white balance on the fly during live shoots where there's no post-production to fix your mistakes
• 06Navigate union rules, call times, and meal penalties that structure your workday around a contract, not a clock