Every DP (Director of Photography) has a different mindset when it comes to how to use the camera to tell a story. Over the years, mindsets shift and styles change. The thing I love (and hate) about cinematography is that the possibilities are endless. Every DP will approach a project completely differently. It's a daunting, but freeing reality of the art form. As I have grown in the field over the last few years, I have started to develop my "style" and thought process as a DP. Now, I am by no means an expert, I still have a ton to learn. And I don't believe there is one "right way" to approach and shoot a project. Nevertheless, I'll go into my thought process when planning my shot lists.

It goes without saying that the way the camera is used is imperative to storytelling through filmmaking. The movement of the camera, the framing and angle of the camera, the focal length, the depth of field, the frame rate, etc. There are so many ways you can use the camera to bring the right emotions out of the audience. I think it's a mistake to think of cinematography as "making things look nice". Yeah, that's a big part of it, but I believe that story should be at the forefront of every DP's mind.

My personal approach to cinematography is to treat the camera like it is a character in the story. I don't want the camera to just be this omniscient being that's pointing at the action. I want the camera to force the audience into the story, and to empathize with the characters. If I have time, I try to think through every single shot and the way I want the audience to feel in that moment. When I know that, I make all of my decisions on how to use the camera to achieve the right response. Let's look at some examples.

First, let's look at framing. Let's say two characters aren't on good terms. Maybe they've just had a falling out and when they interact, the atmosphere is tense. We want the audience to feel the tension and the discomfort of the scenario. There are many ways to portray this with the camera. But let's look at an example from "Me and Earl and the Dying Girl" a fantastic movie from 2015 that's full of incredible cinematography.