Camera Operator (Film, Television or Video)
What the work is
Manages, sets up, tests and operates cameras to capture footage for film, television, live performance or video productions.
Would you enjoy the work?
These are the main tasks in the official description. Mark how each one sounds to you.
- Sets up cameras and related equipment for film, television, live performances or video productions
- Operates cameras to capture scenes according to the director's instructions
- Adjusts camera settings such as focus, exposure and lighting to achieve desired visual effects
- Collaborates with directors, Cinematographers, Lighting Technicians and other crew members to determine camera angles, movements, lighting and shots
- Monitors camera feeds and makes necessary adjustments during filming
- Maintains and troubleshoots camera equipment to ensure optimal performance
- Assists with the planning and execution of camera movements and shots
- May operate specialised camera equipment such as cranes, dollies, drones and Steadicams
Try it
A simulation and a case study from this kind of work, set in a community theatre and a small outdoor festival stage, where technicians run lights, sound and cameras for live shows. They are fictional.
The kind of days you could have
Good days
- A cue lands perfectly and the audience gasps at the exact right second
- A band you mixed all afternoon sounds clean and huge for the first song
- A show comes together after weeks of rehearsal and everyone backstage hugs
Hard days
- A microphone that fails during the one speech nobody can repeat
- A long day building a stage in the sun, then a long night running the show
- A performer who blames the sound crew for something that is not their fault
Written by Career Calling as a general guide. Real roles vary by employer and place.
Work a mission
Step into a simulated workplace in this field, with a brief from your manager.
Description and tasks: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Occupation Standard Classification for Australia, 2024, Version 1.0 (opens another site), occupation 391233, used under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. The skill guide above is our plain English summary.