As pointed out by Sokanu, A “Videographer is someone who is responsible for recording live events and small scale video productions. Videographers focus on smaller productions like documentaries, live events, short films, legal depositions, weddings, birthday parties, sports events, commercials, and training videos. For smaller productions, a videographer often works alone with a single-camera setup or with a small team of light technicians and sound technicians.”
What does a Videographer do, typically?
Corporate Videographer
Corporate videographers work for companies of all sizes, and their job responsibilities are typically focused around making videos that promote that company’s products, services, and/or business. Corporate videographers could also work for Fortune 500 firms, and make videos that promote or sell that companies brand, career opportunities, or corporate culture. Part of their responsibility is also to engage and sell an audience. Videographers truly tell stories through their creative works, and engage an audience that wants to learn more through video.
Freelance Videographer
Freelance videographers are hired to work on a variety of projects on freelance, contractor, a temporary basis. Freelance videographers can work weddings or birthday parties, special events, commercials, documentaries, or training videos, such as for a corporation that hires a freelance Videographer versus a full-time corporate Videographer. Freelance Videographers may also have their own business and work solely independent, and pick and choose the type of work they do or their area of specialty. Freelance Videographers may also work for agencies, who hire them to complete work for a client or special project.
Use a variety of soft and technical skills to get the job done
A videographer must be creative, passionate about creating stories or messages through film and video (along with editing film and video) and have an eye for detail. They also need to be able to have good communication skills, and the ability to provide direction. Videographers must understand each project’s goal and be able to capture those ideas on film/video and turn that into a powerful message.
They must be able to use a variety of software products, including Final Cut Pro, Sony Vegas Pro, Adobe Premiere Pro, Photoshop, Media Encoder, and After Effects, among others. Videographers should also be able to troubleshoot problems/issues with the equipment, and/or repair the equipment they use if possible, to avoid downtime.
Videographer versus Cinematographer
According to Vanilla Video, a cinematographer, is the person accountable for a film’s cinematography, the art and science of motion picture photography. This includes making technical and artistic decisions in regards to lens choice, exposure, lighting, composition, filters, camera movement, color-grading and more.
A videographer is a camera operator on a small crew or working solo. What typically distinguishes videographers from cinematographers is that videographers operate with much smaller crew sizes, often working solo. Unlike a cinematographer, a videographer operates the camera.
