WHAT I’VE BEEN DOING… AKA DID I SURVIVE 2025 as A DOP/CiNEMATOGRAPHER?
If you’re wondering whether I survived 2025 as a DOP… the answer is technically yes, but not without a few near-death experiences (creative, logistical, emotional, existential).
2025 was one of those years where I didn’t just shoot a load of projects… I got properly tested. More responsibility. Bigger expectations. Faster turnarounds. More “can we just squeeze one more thing in” conversations than is healthy for any human nervous system.
But also: genuinely brilliant moments that reminded me why I’m a Director of Photography in the first place.
So here’s what I’ve been doing, what I learned, and where I’m heading next.
The Year in One Word: Momentum
2025 was momentum-heavy.
Not necessarily in a glamorous, champagne-and-film-festivals way. More like: the calendar was full, the shoots kept coming, and everything happened at once.
A proper DOP year, bouncing between:
Commercial cinematography and branded content
Documentary filmmaking setups
Quick-turn social content / Reels
Bigger campaign shoots
Lean production where you still have to make magic happen
I’ve always believed great cinematographers aren’t defined by the budget. They’re defined by their ability to make good decisions quickly.
This year proved that ten times over.
Highlight: Filming Inside the Airbus A380 Wing Factory
One of the standout moments in 2025 was getting access to shoot inside the Airbus wing manufacturing facility.
On paper: interviews and b-roll for recruitment content.
In reality: massive cinematic industrial spaces, insane scale, perfect symmetry, and real people building the kind of engineering that keeps the world moving.
We also accidentally triggered a full-scale security alert.
Nothing humbles you quicker than an alarm going off while you’re holding a camera thinking: this might be it for my filmmaking career.
Still worth it. One of the best locations I’ve shot in, and a reminder that cinematography is about finding story in the real world.
The Mix: From Cinematic to Scrappy (and Back Again)
Being a working DOP isn’t one lane. It’s the blend.
Some jobs are full crew, proper kit lists, great turnaround time.
Others are:
Tiny crew
Minimal time
No margin
Still expected to look premium
And honestly… I don’t hate that.
Because that’s where you earn your stripes. The real skill of a Director of Photography isn’t the camera — it’s being able to walk into chaos and go:
“Right. Here’s what matters. Here’s how we nail it.”
That’s most of the job.
What I Learned in 2025
Here are the big takeaways.
1) Staying Front of Mind Matters
Producers are busy. Agencies are drowning. Everyone’s juggling too much.
If you’re not:
posting work
updating reels
staying visible
keeping relationships warm
…you disappear, even if you’re brilliant.
Skill gets you hired once. Visibility gets you hired repeatedly.
2) Great Clients Feel Like Collaborators
The best jobs weren’t always the biggest budgets. They were the ones with:
trust
creative freedom
clear decision-making
mutual respect
When the relationship’s right, the work gets better.
3) Taste Beats Tech
Everyone can buy a camera. Everyone’s “cinematic” now.
But taste can’t be bought or rented.
Taste is:
framing choices
restraint
consistency
knowing when not to do the flashy thing
This year reminded me that taste still separates the pros from the content farm.
Looking Ahead: 2026 Projects + Cinematography Work
Somewhere between all the shoots, things have been evolving.
I’m entering 2026 sharper, clearer, and more intentional about the work I want:
documentary-led storytelling
branded films with emotional weight
commercial cinematography that feels like cinema
projects with real direction and strong creative intent
If you’re looking for a London-based DOP / cinematographer for a shoot in 2026, or you want to talk through visual approach and tone, I’m always up for a chat.
Did I Survive 2025?
Yes.
But not in a “I drank green juice and everything was balanced” way.
More like:
I shot loads
I learned loads
I got stretched
I got better
I’m clearer than ever on what I’m building
2025 didn’t feel like the end of something. It felt like the run-up.
So if you’re a producer, director, or creative team planning for 2026…
I’m here. Still shooting. Still obsessed. Still levelling up.
Let’s Work
If you’ve got a project brewing for 2026 (commercial, documentary, branded content), feel free to reach out.
Website: http://www.benmillsdop.com
Email: benmillsdop@gmail.com
