Camera Operator

Chris Diaper

Ever since I can remember, I’ve been working/playing with cameras and always wanted to be a camera operator. I feel so lucky to be doing a job that I enjoy. Filming fulfils two of my passions, technology and filmmaking. I’m passionate about the latest video technology and how I can use it to aid my second passion, filmmaking. Seeing and hearing about new equipment such as cameras, drones, stabilisers and even new kit bags is exciting to me.

My Journey to a camera operator

I started my career filming weddings while at college studying video production and film. Filming weddings gave me both the technical and creative skills needed to be a videographer. To film weddings, you need to be able to capture moments as they happen, there is no second chance. I had to be fast, technically accurate and creative to get the best results. After college, I got a job at a conferencing and events company in Winchester, creating video content for the conferences. From here I started learning the industry, dealing with clients planning shoots and working to a brief, usually under the direction of a producer/director and occasionally alone. Although I enjoyed this, I wanted to move away from just conferences and events so went freelance about fifteen years ago. I’ve never looked back.

Being a camera operator gives me so many opportunities to go places and see things I wouldn’t usually get to see and work with some fantastic people. You can become an expert for a few days in other industries and people lives, learning how they work and capturing all the elements needed to share their storey with an audience. I’ve been lucky enough to film all over the world for many different industries and business and can honestly say I’ve enjoyed every shoot.