Written by real camera crew
8 min read
Last updated: 14/9/2026
Here's what you'll walk away with:
Sean Beasley
A camera trainee supports the camera department on set, working most closely with the 2nd AC (second assistant camera). The role is split between practical support and hands-on learning: you help the department run smoothly while picking up the skills that move you toward the 2nd AC role yourself.
Exact duties shift depending on the type and budget of production, but on a typical UK set a camera trainee can expect to:
Keep camera equipment organised, clean, and ready to move
Set up video village when there's no separate video department
Help move kit between setups
Keep batteries charged throughout the day
Assist with camera reports and paperwork
Cover general department needs - tea runs, lens cleaning, collecting lunch orders, standing in when someone's needed elsewhere
Watch, ask questions at the right moments, and take on more technical tasks as trust builds
It's an unglamorous mix, and that's the point. The trainees who get asked back are the ones who treat the small tasks as seriously as the technical ones.
Sean Beasley
Production formalises the paperwork, but they're rarely the ones deciding who gets the job. That decision sits with the camera team, who recommend trainees they already know and trust to the DP or production.
This is the single most important thing to understand before you start applying for anything: camera trainee jobs are filled by recommendation far more often than application. Every route in this guide is a different way of getting in front of a camera team and giving them a reason to vouch for you.
What camera teams look for in a trainee
7 ways to break into the UK camera department in 2026
Every route below gets you in front of the people who hire. None of them is a guarantee. Most people who make it use two or three of these at once.
Rekha Garton / Herring Girls
1. Trainee Schemes
A direct, paid route onto a professional production - feature films and high-end dramas you'd have no realistic way of accessing on your own at this stage. Real credits and contacts from inside a working camera department, no existing network required.
Pro
Camera is consistently among the most applied-to departments on the scheme, so competition for a handful of places is steep. Applications open once a year on a fixed window - mark the date, prepare your application in advance, and treat it as seriously as a job interview.
Con
2. Work at a Camera Rental House
Genuine technical knowledge that hiring crew notice and value, especially while your credits are still thin. More importantly, you're meeting working 1st and 2nd ACs regularly as they come in and out - relationships that turn into weekend cover work and, eventually, longer-term jobs.
Pro
It's a commitment, not a quick stepping stone. Expect to work at the rental house for a year or more before moving into camera trainee work on set. If your priority is getting onto a set as fast as possible, other routes move faster.
Con
3. Start as a Floor Runner
4. Volunteer on Prep Days
Low barrier to entry, no credits needed. One good prep day with the right 2nd AC can lead directly to paid work.
Pro
ACs often bring their own trainee with them, so there isn't always a spot open. On lower-budget productions, the department may run with just a 1st and 2nd AC and no trainee at all - which is exactly your opening.
Con
5. Short Films and Student Productions
Take the job as a camera trainee, not as an AC. It can be tempting to take a more senior-sounding title on a low-budget short, but a camera trainee credit on a legitimate production reads better on a CV than an inflated title that doesn't match your actual experience. When you create your CV, follow our CV guide.
Tip
The lowest barrier to entry for getting on set and building credits. Shorts are easy to find and consistently need crew.
Pro
Unpaid or low-paid, and often less professionally run than you'd like. Treat these as a means to an end - credits and reps - rather than a polished production experience.
Con
6. Instagram Crew Calls
Keep your profile public, with real photos of you (set photos too, if you've got them). A ghost account replying to a crew call is easy to scroll past.
Tip
A well-timed reply to the right story has started a lot of careers.
Pro
You need to already be following the right people, and you need to respond quickly when the moment comes.
Con
7. Facebook Groups
Free, easy to access, and regularly updated - a strong source of short-form work like commercials, music videos, and low-budget shoots.
Pro
Competition is high since everyone at your stage is watching the same groups.
Con
Do you need qualifications to work as a camera trainee?
Sean Beasley
How much does a camera trainee get paid?
Do I need a driving licence?
How long does it take to become a 2nd AC after starting as a camera trainee?
Do I need to live in a big city?
