Working on a film set is interesting, rewarding, challenging, compelling, frustrating and lots of other words ending in ‘ing’! Pretty much all of the rest of the crew on a film are there for an intense period, working every day for weeks on end. As a stills photographer you drop in for a few days here and there, which can be a blessing and a drawback.
I love many different aspects of photography, particularly documentary photography. On a film set it’s the challenge of getting a great shot with the many many different things and people in your way.
Unlike most other types of photography, with film stills photography you really are at the bottom of the pecking order. You can’t ask them to stop filming because you’ve seen a great shot, people don’t get out of the way for you, and there is equipment and crew everywhere ruining (sometimes making) the perfect picture. On top of this you’re often working in very low light for very long days. Am I selling it to you!? …
This said it makes it all the more of a rush when you know you’ve caught a great moment. It’s about using your eye for great pictures. For me this is what photography is all about, ‘using your eye’, documenting and defining moments in an interesting way, looking beyond the obvious. I try to capture the atmosphere of the film from a slightly different perspective to the film camera, getting my own take on things.
Also on the up side you get to meet an interesting and diverse selection of people, and every day brings a new challenge.As with all photography it’s highly competitive and dedication along with a bit of luck, patience, intuition and a wee bit of talent helps! ?
I started out working on short films for no money to get experience and to meet ‘up and coming’ producers/directors. I’ve no idea if this is the usual route in, but the more you do the more people you meet , and if you do a good job you’ll be asked to do it again and hopefully get paid!
Equipment wise I use Canon 5D’s, a couple of zooms and a sound blimp when necessary. A ‘blimp’ is a sound proof box made to fit your camera, to allow you to continue shooting whilst filming is going on. Occasionally they will run a scene for you to get some stills, but in my experience this doesn’t happen very often.
Some actors are fantastic and help you out by giving you some great stuff in between takes. It’s just a case of being ready to get something interesting whenever there’s a moment.
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Great article and info, thank you.
I just found your site, would you happen to have more
of your film set images online?
I really enjoyed this post. I do extras work (and acting!) for our local film school (Florida State University). I hope doing work for free in shorts leads elsewhere — I know for me if I never get paid a cent I love being with the people and the way the work stretches me as an individual. And it’s always an added bonus if there are great stills to remember the shoot by!
Wonderful post. Shooting on film sets must be incredibly difficult!
That blimp you write about seems intriguing. Where is a good place to find one of those?