What does a gaffer do?
A gaffer is the head of the lighting and electrical department on a film or photo shoot. The director of photography decides how the image should look; the gaffer makes the lights achieve it, safely, on schedule and within the power available. On a small production the gaffer is often the entire lighting team.
The word probably comes from the long 'gaff' pole once used to adjust overhead fittings, and the job is as old as filmed light. Below: the roles around the gaffer, what one does all day, and which a small shoot actually needs.
The department, in order
- Director of photography (DoP). Designs the photography: lighting, lensing, camera movement. From £575/day +VAT.
- Gaffer. Executes the lighting plan, runs the department, owns electrical safety. From £450/day +VAT.
- Best boy. The gaffer's second: logistics, kit, paperwork, power distribution. Larger productions only.
- Spark. The lighting electrician who rigs, cables and operates fixtures. From £350/day +VAT.
What a gaffer actually does all day
Reads the lighting plan and the location. Calculates power and distributes it without tripping anything. Rigs fixtures safely at height, here from an 8-bar grid 4.5m up. Balances colour temperatures so faces match between shots. Patches dimmers, ours run 42 channels of DMX, and runs colour cues live for anything with gel washes. Then de-rigs it all so the next production finds a clean grid.
Which roles does a small shoot need?
A one-presenter corporate video on a pre-lit stage: none, the stage is the gaffer. An interview shoot with two setups: an operator who can light, or a DoP-gaffer hybrid. A music video with colour washes and haze: a gaffer, no argument. Drama: a gaffer and at least one spark. If in doubt, send the shot list and we will say which it needs, not which we would like to sell.
Questions we get asked
What does a gaffer do?
A gaffer is the head of the lighting and electrical department on a film or photo shoot. They turn the director of photography's plan into safe, working light, on schedule and within the available power.
What is the difference between a gaffer and a spark?
A spark is a lighting electrician who rigs and operates fixtures. The gaffer runs the whole lighting department and is responsible for the plan and for electrical safety; the spark works under the gaffer.
What does a gaffer earn per day?
In the UK, gaffers typically run from around £450 a day, sparks from around £350 and a director of photography from around £575, plus VAT and kit.
Why is it called a gaffer?
The name probably comes from the long 'gaff' pole once used to adjust overhead lights and rigging on early film sets.