Brand Studio Cinematographer & Visual Storyteller

Precision Labs; San Francisco, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Perplexity is seeking a Senior Cinematographer to define and execute its visual language on film. You will collaborate with leadership to craft lighting, camera movement, and color, then lead crews on a range of branded content.

The role is hands-on, with ownership from concept through delivery, including contributing to an in-house studio. You bring 6+ years of cinematography or DP work, a standout reel, deep lighting and lens knowledge, and a collaborative spirit.

Qualifications

• 6+ years as a cinematographer or DP across branded, commercial, documentary, and interview work.
• Strong reel showing lighting craft, camera movement, and an eye for unscripted moments.
• A strong point of view, with ability to strengthen an existing brand.
• Deep command of camera systems, lenses, exposure, color pipelines, lighting, grip, and on-set monitoring.
• Genuinely hands‑on: comfortable building a camera, shaping light, operating, troubleshooting, and leading a crew.
• Ability to work solo with a small kit or lead a full production.
• Strong pre‑production instincts: turn creative ideas into technically sound plans.
• Experience briefing and leading freelance crews and vendors on set.
• Working proficiency in DaVinci Resolve for color grading and light edits.
• Collaborative and low‑ego with strong problem-solving skills.
• Comfortable moving fast in an ambiguous, high‑output environment.
• Based in or able to work on‑site in San Francisco, with travel flexibility.

Responsibilities

• Define and evolve Perplexity’s cinematographic language, and turn it into repeatable lighting, lensing, composition, movement, and color approaches.
• Shoot and light a steady mix of content: candid moments, interviews, demos, social, events, and stories.
• Lead cinematography on brand films, campaigns, partnerships, and launches.
• Scale to the work: solo operation, small crew, or full camera and lighting team.
• Bring storytelling ideas via moodboards, shot lists, and storyboards.
• Own camera, lighting, and movement decisions from development through capture.
• Recommend crew and equipment for each production; producers handle budgets and logistics.
• Help design and run the in-house studio.
• Own the team’s gear and maintain ready-to-shoot packages.
• Handle color grading in DaVinci Resolve and support selects and light edits.
• Keep the visual standard high across formats and crew sizes.

Skills

Cinematography

DP experience

Lighting craft

Color grading

Storytelling

Team leadership

On-set problem solving

Brand alignment

Camera movement

Lens knowledge

Tools

DaVinci Resolve

Job description

Perplexity is seeking a Senior Cinematographer to define and execute its visual language on film. You will collaborate with leadership to craft lighting, camera movement, and color, then lead crews on a range of branded content.

The role is hands-on, with ownership from concept through delivery, including contributing to an in-house studio. You bring 6+ years of cinematography or DP work, a standout reel, deep lighting and lens knowledge, and a collaborative spirit.