This a question I get asked a lot. “how did you get into being a cameraman“?

Like any other job is the answer really but people don’t ever ask “how did you get to work in construction”? There is a divide of people that think working in a creative workplace is surrounded in mystery.  It is a nice idea but not true. I found this interesting article on a paper website on how to become a television cameraman.

I started by editing my school mates media studies project and found I enjoyed it. But that was when we used VHS and it took ages! I then got work experience on Blue Peter and so it started, my interest in being behind the camera. Untill then I had always wanted to be in front as an acotr or somthing. I did become a presnter for a short sint in 2002 on Sky.

I studied at ravensbourne college to be a Studio TV director but ended up going down the Cameraman route, with my first job on Big Brother. It just sort of happened but I went with it and enjoyed it.

I then did two years as a camera assistant on light entertainment television shows. Later moving into drama where I enjoyed working with a big tv crew and shooting each shot in more considered way. I learned a lot as a camera assistant  working on ITVs The Bill for 10 years. It was great training ground working with some very skilled people.

After The Bill I stopped assisting and my own camera kit list started to grow. I became busy as a camera operator in the creative corporate world. Utilising my background in drama and television to tell the story in a more creative way.

So how that’s how I became a lighting cameraman. You learn on the job but you need to love being behind a lens.