Cinematographer vs director of photography
Cinematographer and director of photography describe the same job: the person responsible for the image of a film. Director of photography, shortened to DOP in the UK and Europe and DP in the US, is the credit; cinematographer is the profession. In France the same person is the chef opérateur, or directeur de la photographie on a feature credit. None of these are different roles.
Where the two words come from
Director of photography is the formal credit, used on call sheets and in contracts. It names the responsibility: directing the photography of the film, which includes lighting, camera and the crew for both. Cinematographer is the broader word for someone who practises cinematography. A DOP is a cinematographer at work on a particular film.
In everyday use, English-speaking crews say DOP or DP and almost never say cinematographer out loud. Agencies, festivals and awards say cinematographer. Search engines treat the terms as close cousins, which is why a working DOP's website tends to use both.
DOP or DP?
DOP is British and European usage; DP is American. They mean exactly the same thing. On a European set with a mixed crew, both will be heard in the same hour.
Chef opérateur, chef op, directeur de la photographie
In French, chef opérateur is the everyday title and the one used in advertising, fashion and music video. Chef op is the spoken short form. Directeur de la photographie is the formal credit, most common on feature films and in award contexts. A French call sheet for a fashion film will say chef opérateur; the end credit of a feature will say directeur de la photographie. Same job.
One difference worth knowing: in French production the chef opérateur has historically been expected to operate the camera as well as light, whereas in the UK and US the DOP often has a separate camera operator. On commercials and fashion in Paris today, the DOP frequently operates. Ask, rather than assume, when you book.
What is not the same job
- Cadreur / camera operator · operates the camera under the DOP's direction
- Chef électricien / gaffer · runs the lighting crew to the DOP's plan
- Photographe · shoots stills; on fashion shoots often works beside the film crew
- Réalisateur / director · responsible for the whole film, including performance and edit
What to write
On an English credit: Director of Photography, or DOP. On a French credit for a commercial, fashion film or clip: Chef opérateur. On a French feature: Directeur de la photographie. In a biography or an award entry: cinematographer. If you are searching for one to hire in Paris, search all of them; the good ones answer to every name.
James Coote works as director of photography and chef opérateur in English and French, from Paris and London. See cinematographer in Paris or write to james@intangible.tv.