🎥 10 Misconceptions About Being a Cinematographer (That I’ve Learned the Hard Way)

By Eugene Wilson, DPG Cinema

People romanticize what it means to be a cinematographer. They see the set photos, the gear, the behind-the-scenes reels, and think it’s all travel, creativity, and camera toys.
But the reality is far more layered.

After almost a decade of shooting everything from commercials to documentaries to narrative films, I’ve learned that being a DP means constantly balancing art, business, and adaptability.
Here are 10 misconceptions I’ve heard over and over — and what’s actually true.

1. “You just press record, right?”

If only.

By the time I hit record, the real work is already done: lighting setups, lens choices, composition, movement, mood, color temperature.
Cinematography isn’t about pressing buttons; it’s about building emotion before the camera even rolls.

Pressing record is the easy part. Making people feel something? That’s the craft.

2. “You must have the best camera gear.”

Not necessarily.

Great cinematography doesn’t come from having the newest RED, Alexa, or Sony. It comes from understanding light, contrast, and intention.
I’ve seen filmmakers create pure magic on budget gear because they knew why they were shooting, not just what they were shooting on.

The gear doesn’t make the vision. The vision gives the gear purpose.

3. “You get to travel and film cool stuff all day!”

Sometimes, yes. Most of the time, no.

A lot of cinematography is heavy lifting, physically and mentally. It’s twelve-hour days, managing technical descisions under pressure, troubleshooting cables, or chasing sunlight before it disappears.
There are incredible moments, but the highlight reel never shows the 6 a.m. call times or 12-hour shoot days without scouting a location.

The shot that looks effortless usually came from a day that wasn’t.

4. “The director tells you exactly what to do.”

It’s not a dictatorship; it’s a collaboration.

Some directors give specific shots; others speak in emotions. My job is to translate those emotions into images that support the story.
When it clicks, it’s a dance between two creative minds. When it doesn’t, it’s still my responsibility to make the shot sing.

Cinematography isn’t about control — it’s about alignment.

5. “Cinematography is just technical.”

Not even close.

You can know every codec, LUT, and lens mod, and still miss the soul of the scene.
Cinematography is the emotional heartbeat of a story, using light and composition to make people care.

It’s psychology, rhythm, empathy, and story, all wrapped inside exposure and color.

6. “Commercial work and narrative film are basically the same.”

Not even close.

Commercials are fast, client-driven, and polished. You’re selling emotion, lifestyle, or identity within 30-90 seconds.
Narrative film is character-driven, emotional, and collaborative. You’re serving a story, not a brand.

But even within commercials, there’s nuance. Some are narrative-based, built like mini-films with arcs and pacing; others are documentary-style, relying on real people and real light.
Each format demands a different rhythm and mindset.

The key is learning how to move between them, knowing when to control and when to adapt.

7. “You always get your rate.”

I wish.

Sometimes you take passion projects for less because you believe in the story.
Other times, you stand firm because you’ve earned your number through years of learning, investing, and delivering.

The truth: every DP balances art, opportunity, and income.
The challenge is knowing which one you’re saying yes to that day.

8. “You have to pick a style.”

False.

People love to put you in boxes, “commercial DP,” “narrative guy,” “doc shooter.”
But your diversity often reveals your true strengths more than any label could.

Sometimes focusing on one lane is a business move; other times, it’s just preference.
I’ve shot events, branded spots, music videos, and films, and what I’ve learned is that my real edge is adaptability.

I see myself like a 6’8 point guard, I can dribble, shoot, and pass.
You put me in the game, the job gets done. It’s not about the category; it’s about the craft.

9. “You need film school or big connections to make it.”

Nope.

Film school can help you structure your learning and network, but the real classroom is the set.
You learn by failing, observing, and repeating.

Connections help, sure, but consistency and professionalism will carry you further than who you know.
Your reputation travels faster than your résumé.

10. “Cinematography is glamorous.”

From the outside, it looks that way, the gear, the lights, the movie sets.
But the real work happens in long days, tough conditions, and problem-solving chaos.

The glamour is fleeting. The gratitude is what lasts.
Because when the light hits just right, and the frame feels alive, it reminds you:
This is more than a job, it’s how we paint time.

🎬 Closing Thoughts

Cinematography sits in that rare space between science and soul.
It’s where emotion meets precision, where instinct meets planning, where chaos meets meaning.

After all the misconceptions fade, what’s left is simple, we’re storytellers with lights and a camera; And that’s something I’ll never take for granted.

New Work Alert!

If you haven’t yet, check out this Loncoln Navigator commercial I DP’d. I will be sharing BTS soon!