Aspire to being an expert at your craft by making cinematography an integral part of your high school and college curricula. If there are no formal programs in your area, get involved with photography and videography as a precursor to moving into your first love. Everything you learn -- from lighting to cameras to meters and more - will help you move into the profession on the fast track.
Offer to apprentice for a wedding or portrait photographer in your area. Your offer costs the photographer nothing, and you will learn an amazing amount about the basics of the art of photography. You'll be surprised how much still photography translates to film once you have a chance to move into the field.
Visit shooting sites when commercial or feature films are shot in your area. Show up on set to observe the shooting team as they work. Not sure where to find these locations? Use the Internet to find casting calls for film extras in your area. Sign up to be a paid extra, and you'll earn both cash and experience.
Volunteer to work on a film crew -- be the coffee gopher if necessary. When you're not doing your job, pay particular attention to the camera crew and how they are lighting the set(s). Lighting can make or break a film for a cinematographer, so understanding how to make corrections on the fly will be a distinct advantage in the future
Transfer from a general college to a film school. Film schools teach everything one needs to know about the process of movie making from start to finish. Having film school credit(s) on your resume -- even if you've taken only the occasional workshop at one - can make you stand out from the competition.
Seek scholarships, grants and other financial aid by tapping into industry resources like the American Society of Cinematographers. This website (link below) is a terrific place to visit if you're learning about the field and the industry.
Make your own movies. As your skill level grows, you will become more comfortable with the profession's tools. Give yourself the opportunity to try out cameras you might not yet have used. Can't afford to buy a Super 8, video, 16 to 35mm film cameras? Rent them for a day or so to get a feel for how they work.
Associate with folks on complementary career paths. It's fun to hang with other shooters, but if you know students studying writing, costume design, makeup or other film-related disciplines, pool your talents and make an experimental film that each of you can add to a resume. As the film's cinematographer, you'll get directing experience, too.
Keep a diary or journal with you at all times as you work on independent projects. Jot down unusual lighting set-ups, distances, weather, f-stop configurations and more so you can retrieve these tips in the future.
Keep learning. New techniques and equipment advances arrive on the scene every day. Technology drives this industry. For that reason, update your skills regularly and you will also keep your perspective fresh and your mind open to new ideas and techniques.
Join a professional organization once you've cracked the industry. In most cases, union membership is the only way you'll get jobs, because the filmmaking industry has some of the strongest labor unions in the nation. Student memberships are available, so as soon as you can afford to do so, join up.