View occupational profile

Search the OaSIS

Directors of photography

OaSIS code 51120.07

Directors of photography coordinate and direct the photography of motion pictures.

Overview

Also known as

  • Cinematographer
  • Director of photography

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

  • Coordinate and direct the photography of motion pictures, supervise camera operators and other crews and determine lighting, lenses, camera angles, backgrounds and other elements to achieve desired visual effect.

Additional information

  • Membership in a related guild or union may be required.

Similar occupations classified elsewhere

Exclusions:

  • Managers - publishing, motion pictures, broadcasting and performing arts (50011)
  • Photographers (53110)
  • Motion pictures, broadcasting, photography and performing arts assistants and operators (53111)
  • Film and video camera operators (52110)
  • Graphic arts technicians (52111)
  • Broadcast technicians (52112)
  • Audio and video recording technicians (52113)
  • Other technical and coordinating occupations in motion pictures, broadcasting and the performing arts (52119)
  • Announcers and other broadcasters (52114)

NOC hierarchy breakdown

NOC version

NOC 2021 Version 1.0

Broad occupational category

5 – Occupations in art, culture, recreation and sport

TEER

1 – Occupations usually require a university degree

Major group

51 – Professional occupations in art and culture

Sub-major group

511 – Professional occupations in art and culture

Minor group

5112 – Creative and performing artists

Unit group

51120 – Producers, directors, choreographers and related occupations

Occupational profile

51120.07 – Directors of photography

Work characteristics

Work characteristics gathers the various components describing the work environment of each occupation, such as employers, work activities, and the work context. Each category displays up to 10 descriptors in descending order based, firstly, on their attributed ratings by the level of complexity (for Work Activities) or other measurement dimensions (for Work Context), and secondly, in alphabetical order. The whole list of descriptors and their ratings can be expanded at the bottom of each page.

Work Activities

Proficiency or complexity level
Team Building
5 - Highest Level
Thinking Creatively
5 - Highest Level
Communicating with Persons Outside Organization
4 - High Level
Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others
4 - High Level
Judging Quality
4 - High Level

Work Context

Structural Job Characteristics

Structured versus Unstructured Work
Degree of freedom to determine tasks and priorities
4 - High amount of freedom
Work Week Duration
Worked hours in a typical week
3 - More than 40 hours

Physical Work Environment

Physical Proximity
Physical distance from others
4 - Close (at arm’s length)

Physical Demands

Sitting
Duration
3 - About half the time
Standing
Duration
3 - About half the time
Bending or Twisting the Body
Duration
1 - Very little time

Interpersonal Relations

Contact with Others
Frequency
4 - Every day, a few times per day
Duration
5 - All the time, or almost all the time
Work with Work Group or Team
Importance
4 - Highly important
Frequency
5 - Every day, almost continuously

Workplaces/employers

  • Advertising companies
  • Broadcast departments
  • Self-employed
  • Television stations

Skills and abilities

This section displays the various competencies required for an occupation. Each category displays up to 10 descriptors in descending order based, firstly, on their attributed ratings by the level of proficiency (for Skills and Abilities) or importance (for Personal Attributes) and secondly, in alphabetical order. The whole list of descriptors and their ratings can be expanded at the bottom of each page.

Abilities

Proficiency or complexity level
Colour Perception
5 - Highest Level
Fluency of Ideas
5 - Highest Level
Far Vision
4 - High Level
Multitasking
4 - High Level
Speech Clarity
4 - High Level

Skills

Proficiency or complexity level
Coordinating
4 - High Level
Decision Making
4 - High Level
Management of Personnel Resources
4 - High Level
Monitoring
4 - High Level
Negotiating
4 - High Level

Personal Attributes

Importance
Attention to Detail
5 - Extremely important
Collaboration
5 - Extremely important
Creativity
5 - Extremely important
Leadership
5 - Extremely important
Stress Tolerance
5 - Extremely important

Interests

The OaSIS uses the Holland Codes to describe the work-related interests. According to the Holland model, people work best in work environments that match their preferences, which means that people and work environments can be matched for a best fit. Occupational environments in Holland’s theory are described according to a combination of main interests and the activities they represent. There are six interests in the Holland typology: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising and Conventional. All occupations in OaSIS have up to three interests assigned to them.

Interests

Preferences for work environments and outcomes.

Interests profile: EAR

Enterprising (E)

Enterprising occupations are characterized by the dominance of action-oriented activities to attain organizational or self-interest goals. They frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects, influencing, leading or mobilizing people, making decisions, and sometimes require risk taking and dealing with business.

Artistic (A)

Artistic occupations are characterized by the dominance of activities that entail artistic expression to create, compose or produce visual, performing, literary or applied art. These occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns and often require self-expression and the accomplishment of work without following a clear set of rules.

Realistic (R)

Realistic occupations are characterized by the dominance of activities that entail the explicit, ordered or systematic manipulation of objects, tools, machines and animals. Many of these occupations do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Employment requirements

Employment requirements includes the education, training, certifications and the knowledge required to work in each occupation. The Knowledge category displays up to 10 descriptors in descending order based, firstly, on their attributed ratings by the level of proficiency, and secondly, in alphabetical order. The whole list of Knowledge descriptors and their ratings can be expanded at the bottom of each page.

Education, certification and licensing

  • A university degree or college diploma in film studies or cinematography and experience in camera operation or another technical occupation in video or motion picture production are usually required.
  • Demonstrated creative ability is required for all occupations in this unit group.

Knowledge

Knowledge level
Arts
3 - Advanced Level
Communications and Media
3 - Advanced Level
Business Management
2 - Intermediate Level
Clerical
2 - Intermediate Level
Languages
2 - Intermediate Level

Skills for success

 
Skills for Success Model
 
Skills for Success are skills that help you in a quickly changing world. Everyone benefits from having these skills. They can help you to get a job, progress at your current job or even change jobs. The skills also help you become an active member of your community and succeed in learning.
 
 
Linkages Between ESDC Skills Models and Frameworks
 
ESDC makes available a dictionary of over 300 terms (or descriptors) and definitions, known as the Skills and Competencies Taxonomy (SCT). Descriptor information from the Taxonomy is used in the Occupational and Skills Information System (OaSIS).
 
While there is general commonality of meaning between the descriptors in the SCT and the Skills for Success model, there are some differences in their definitions due to their distinct purposes. The Skills for Success Model [9 broadly defined skills] identifies the skills that are universally applicable. The SCT displays specific skills and competency requirements for 900 occupations. Users of the Skills for Success Model and Essential Skills content may find competency information from the Taxonomy and the OaSIS to be complementary.
 
Stay tuned to this section for more information and updates regarding linkages between the Skills for Success model and the OaSIS.

O*NET in-it

This page includes information from the O*NET 27.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Employment and Social Development Canada has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.

Date modified: