Hire the best freelance Director of Photography (DOP) for your next project

A Director of Photography (DOP) is an essential member of any film crew, working closely with the director to ensure their vision comes across effectively in every scene. Hire someone with the experience and expertise you need—YunoJuno is a freelance directory, with vetted DOPs ready to start on your next project today.

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Why should I hire a freelance DOP?

The DOP is the person who has the most creative input in terms of determining how a film or television show looks and feels. They are also responsible for recording what’s happening on set. A director might have an idea in their head, but the DOP can take that idea and make it come to life with their expertise and skill. With so much responsibility, it’s important that you hire someone who has experience in the field and the right skills. A freelance DOP will allow you more flexibility than hiring a full-time staff member and give you the opportunity to find someone who matches your style.

How hiring a DOP through YunoJuno works

1

Create your project brief

Specify your project brief with a few clicks and get matched instantly.
2

Find the best freelancer

Select from a pool of 70,000+ vetted freelancers, available remote or on-site.
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3

Manage contracts and payments

Easily manage all payments, contracts and communication through YunoJuno.

What does a DOP do?

A Director of Photography, or DOP., is the person who is responsible for creating a movie's look and feel with lighting, camera work and framing. The D.O.P. works closely with the director and production designer in order to create a unified vision for the project they are working on together. They are often referred to as cinematographers or directors of photography depending on their background.

Cinematography
Lighting
Visual effects
Sound design
Post-production
Set design

What's the average day rate for a DOP in the UK?

If you're looking for a freelance director of photography, you'll need to know how much they charge. The rates can vary depending on location, experience, and the type of job. In the UK, a DOP's day rate can range from £200 per day up to £2000 per day. For more information about rates, we have a handy annual rates report that you can download for free here.

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Frequently asked questions

The Director of Photography is the person who oversees all aspects of the cinematography in a film. The DOP will set up lighting, determine camera angles and movements, and help oversee what is captured on camera. In many cases, the DOP will also have input on sound design, visual effects composition, and editing choices. The DOP's job is to help create a cohesive vision for the film by utilising all aspects in their realm of expertise.

A DOP's job is to make sure that everything in the frame looks perfect and nothing goes unnoticed. The director will give the DOP directions on what they want the camera angle, lighting, lens choice and other visual elements like colour schemes and filters. A good Director of Photography should have an eye for detail as well as experience in different types of lighting setups.

The most important skills you should look for in a freelance director of photography is the ability to work independently. You don't want a freelance director of photography who needs constant oversight and guidance, as they're not going to be able to do the best job. It's also important that they have good interpersonal skills, especially with clients, so that they can produce content in the way you want it produced. They also need good creative skills, so that they can come up with ideas for your project.

Hear it from the world's best businesses

Using a tool like this helps us find the talent we need, when we need it, meaning we can keep projects going without any unnecessary delays.

— Paul Stafford, Head Of Digital Marketing & Online Brand, Superdrug

90% of briefs are filled within 24 hours, literally cutting our admin time by about 80%.

— Edilia Hinojosa, Senior Project Manager
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YunoJuno is a great way of finding talent quickly. It's also helpful to have the contracts/ briefs and bookings all in one place.

— Tessa Schimetat, Senior Production Manager, Depop
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Best Directors of Photography are in high demand

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