Cinematographer (DoP) Day Rate UK

Cinematographers in the UK who want a clear, simple way to price your work. This guide will help you quote fairly and consistently. Here’s a practical way to build, explain, and improve your cinematographer day rate.

What a cinematographer day rate actually covers

A day rate is a fixed fee for a full working day. In scripted TV/film, the Pact/Bectu TV Drama Agreement frames the day as 10 hours worked plus a one-hour lunch (10+1). Commercials crew terms (APA/Bectu) also set the basic working day and how overtime is charged.

Half-days (about 4–5 hours) aren’t 50% you’ve still got pre-light, travel, and admin and so many productions pitch half-days at 60 to 70% of the full rate, with overtime billed in hourly (or 30-min) increments beyond the booked window. For commercials, APA’s current terms also recommend not scheduling beyond 12 hours from main unit call (10+1 + one hour OT) except in exceptional cases.

What’s included in a DoP day rate

• Half-day: up to 5 hours on site; light package as agreed; simple deliverables (e.g., media handoff or DIT plan).
• Full day: up to 10 hours worked + 1 hour lunch; agreed lighting camera plan; pre-call comms; backups/handover.
• Prep/tech-recce day (labour): treatment, shot-lists, lens/lighting tests, supplier coordination.
• Camera package lines: body, lenses, media/DIT, monitoring, grip heads, batteries, wireless video, insurance details.

List what’s included (hours, deliverables, travel radius) and what’s extra (overtime, prelight day, additional crew, specialist grip/lighting, studio hire, rush turnaround). Tie hours and OT to APA/Pact rules to use as justification for any choices you make with your day rates.

Find your next job as a DoP.