5 Cinematography Tips I Wish I Knew Sooner | DP Lessons | Dee Mount Tampa

Five lessons that changed my work as a Director of Photography. I'm Dee Mount, Tampa-based DP and founder of Mount Up Media. Blackmagic Design Certified Colorist. Dolby Vision Certified. Selected credits: Harper's Bazaar (Williams sisters), Puma, Publix, Jaguar, Amazon Prime, Nvidia. I spent years buying expensive gear before I understood the fundamentals. This video unpacks the practical lessons I wish someone had told me before I bought the Ursa Mini 4.6K and shot a job in Denver I never lived down. 🎥 What you'll learn: • Why your Instagram explore page is killing your taste, and how to clean it • How a light meter makes you faster on set than false color ever will • Contrast ratios every DP uses (1:1, 2:1, 4:1) and what each communicates to the audience • How modern LED key lights and ambient light replace the outdated three-point system 📌 Mentioned in this video • Ursa Mini 4.6K • Aputure Amaran F22, Godox, Aputure Nova P series • Light meter (any spot meter works) • Frameset.io for stills reference • Koo Junior boom stand, Matthews mini-max boom arm 🛒 Gear featured in this video • Best Cinema Cam for Beginners: https://amzn.to/3zAuMYc • Best travel Cam: https://amzn.to/3cLFYbF • Sharpest Lens on the Planet: https://amzn.to/3ovTUsT • My favorite cinema lens set: https://amzn.to/3BhesNh • Most Versatile Light: https://amzn.to/3z3LVIg • Best Softbox: https://amzn.to/3zCVPlY • Absolute BEST ND filter: https://amzn.to/3PClbWH As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. 🔗 Links • Book a 30-min fit call: https://calendly.com/mountupmedia/30min • Mount Up Media: https://mountupmedia.com • Ring of Fire (feature documentary, June 2026): https://mountupmedia.com/ring-of-fire... • Instagram:   / mount_up_media   ⏱️ Chapters 0:00 Are you creatively stuck? 0:45 From NFL to commercial DP 1:30 Tip 0: Clean your Instagram explore feed 3:00 Tip 1: The Denver job that ended my career there 4:30 Tip 2: Buy a light meter (not just false color) 6:30 Tip 3: Know your contrast ratios (1:1, 2:1, 4:1) 8:30 Tip 4: Spend time learning key lights and diffusion fabrics 11:00 Tip 5: Use your biggest softest light as ambient 13:00 How to rig lights overhead (3 ways) 14:30 Wrap-up Stay Resilient. #cinematography #DirectorOfPhotography #CinematographyTips #DeeMount #TampaCinematographer #LightingTutorial #ContrastRatios *New tags (CSV):* dee mount, dee the dp, mount up media, tampa cinematographer, director of photography, dolby vision colorist, blackmagic certified, ring of fire, tampa video production, cinematography tips, lighting tutorial, contrast ratios, light meter, key light, ambient light, dp lessons, nfl to filmmaker