Cinematographer Cover Letter Example

I've shot four independent features and over a dozen short films as director of photography, building lighting packages that hold up on a tight independent schedule without ever looking like they were lit on a budget. I'm reaching out about the cinematographer role on [Production company name]'s next project because your last feature had a visual confidence that doesn't happen by accident on that kind of schedule.

My last feature shot in 22 days with a five-person camera and lighting crew, and I designed a lighting package that let us average 9 setups a day without sacrificing the look the director and I planned in prep. A short film I shot two years ago went on to screen at six festivals, three of which specifically cited the cinematography in their programming notes.

I operate my own camera on smaller shows and work closely with a dedicated operator on larger ones, I build shot lists and lighting diagrams during prep so a set never loses time figuring out a plan on the day, and I'm comfortable on both film-style lighting packages and lean, available-light setups when a schedule demands it. I also color-consult through the final color pass to protect the look I shot for.

I'd welcome a conversation about the visual approach for an upcoming project at [Production company name], and I can share a reel and stills from recent work. Thank you for your consideration.