Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Thinking Creatively Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events Identifying information by categorising, estimating, recognising differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Interacting With Computers Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Controlling Machines and Processes Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.

The Work

Camera operators are employed by television and film production companies and video production houses.

Their job is to capture the ideas and vision of a Director by using principles of lighting, staging, focusing and filtering and by working with a team of video or film professionals.

Regular duties of a camera operator include setting up camera equipment, choosing suitable lenses and camera angles, and planning and rehearsing shots.

They have to work closely with other professionals, including lighting technicians and directors to create the desired effects by re-arranging studio sets or adjusting the lighting for example.

The camera operator also needs to regularly clean and test the camera equipment to ensure that it is in good working order each day before filming starts.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Compose and frame each shot, applying the technical aspects of light, lenses, film, filters, and camera settings to achieve the effects sought by directors.
• Operate television or motion picture cameras to record scenes for television broadcasts, advertising, or motion pictures.
• Adjust positions and controls of cameras, printers, and related equipment to change focus, exposure, and lighting.
• Confer with directors, sound and lighting technicians, electricians, and other crew members to discuss assignments and determine filming sequences, desired effects, camera movements, and lighting requirements.
• Operate soom lenses, changing images according to specifications and rehearsal instructions.
• Observe sets or locations for potential problems and to determine filming and lighting requirements.
• Set up and perform live shots for broadcast.
• Use cameras in any of several different camera mounts, such as stationary, track-mounted, or crane-mounted.
• Test, clean, maintain, and repair broadcast equipment, including testing microphones, to ensure proper working condition.
• Edit video for broadcast productions, including non-linear editing.

Further Information

• Camera Operator - from: N.C.S. [UK]

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

Creative

Creative people are drawn to careers and activities that enable them to take responsibility for the design, layout or sensory impact of something (visual, auditory etc). They may be atrracted to the traditional artistic pursuits such as painting, sculpture, singing, or music. Or they may show more interest in design activities, such as architecture, animation, or craft areas, such as pottery and ceramics.

Creative people use their personal understanding of people and the world they live in to guide their work. Creative people like to work in unstructured workplaces, enjoy taking risks and prefer a minimum of routine.

Realist

Realists are usually interested in 'things' - such as buildings, mechanics, equipment, tools, electronics etc. Their primary focus is dealing with these - as in building, fixing, operating or designing them. Involvement in these areas leads to high manual skills, or a fine aptitude for practical design - as found in the various forms of engineering.

Realists like to find practical solutions to problems using tools, technology and skilled work. Realists usually prefer to be active in their work environment, often do most of their work alone, and enjoy taking decisive action with a minimum amount of discussion and paperwork.

Administrative

Administrative people are interested in work that offers security and a sense of being part of a larger process. They may be at their most productive under supervisors who give clear guidelines and while performing routine tasks in a methodical and reliable way.

They tend to enjoy clerical and most forms of office work, where they perform essential administrative duties. They often form the backbone of large and small organisations alike. They may enjoy being in charge of office filing systems, and using computers and other office equipment to keep things running smoothly. They usually like routine work hours and prefer comfortable indoor workplaces.

You can start out as a camera assistant and learn while working alongside an experienced camera operator. However, camera operators need very specific technical skills and typically have some formal training.

The most common course subjects include TV and film production, which often include modules on photography and recording. There are also courses in cinematography, camera operation, shot composition, technique, and lighting.

When you apply for a camera operator job, you will most likely need a portfolio, or a number of clips demonstrating your technical skills. A qualification in the field will usually allow you to build up a portfolio, but you can also do that through amateur photography, film or video work.

Training & Development

Some camera operators move between film and television and over time, may progress to a role with more responsibilities, such as camera supervisor, cinematographer or director of photography. You can also develop your career by specialising in a particular field, such as wildlife/nature, sport or action film.

FET Centre Traineeship: Animation, Broadcast Production Skills, , Sports Broadcasting, Digital Media Production Skills in centres around Ireland NFQ Level 5 Search our FET Coursefinder

FET PLC Courses: Creative Digital Media Production, Broadcasting & Media Production, Media and Film Production, Multimedia Production, , New Media Studies & Production, Film & TV at NFQ Levels 5-6 Search our FET PLC Coursefinder

Apprenticeship: Animation NFQ level 9 Search Apprenticeships

Higher Education CAO Entry: Communications and Media Production, Media Production and Digital Arts, TV and Media Production NFQ Levels 7-8 Search our CAO coursefinder

Postgraduate Study Options Multi Camera Television, Single Camera Factual Production NFQ level 9

Professional Development 

Screen skills Work based learning programs Training for production staff may be on-the-job. The company may organise short off-the-job courses for trainees.  

IFTV Irish Film & Television network or Careersinscreen For a list of TV/ Film production companies and Career roles. 

Last Updated: April, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €32k - €62k

Salaries vary depending on employer, location, experience, and duties. Rates can vary depending on production rate, sessional , and project rate for production roles. 

Data Source(s):
Indeed/ Payscale/ Eirieri

Last Updated: March, 2024

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

Employment grew strongly between 2021 and 2022, with an additional 7,300 persons employed. As illustrated in the CSO Census data below, employment is spread across a number of roles; since 2016, the strongest growth, in absolute terms, was for graphic designers and authors, writers and translators.

New employment permits issued for this occupation in 2022 were primarily for film/TV and animation/visual effects (VFX) roles but also for linguistics experts in the ICT sector. There was also a high volume of recent job hires in line with the recent employment increase. The data does not point to overall issues with recruitment for these roles.

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