What's the difference?
Videographer or Cinematographer
Versatile Filmmaker: Navigating Between Cinematography Elegance and Videography Agility
Events / Brand Film / Promotional
What's the project?
Distinguishing between a videographer and a cinematographer often hinges on the nature of their work. A videographer typically concentrates on documenting events where filming isn’t the primary focus. In contrast, a cinematographer, commonly linked to filmmaking, prioritises artistic elements, employing advanced techniques for lighting, composition, and camera movement to craft a compelling visual narrative. Although both roles involve video production, the cinematographer’s approach tends to be more cinematic, narrative-oriented and the project is entirely focused on filming.
Videographer / Cinematographer / DOP
What do I consider myself to be?
Personally, I consider myself adaptable to both roles, depending on the project. When filming events like conferences, where the primary focus is on the event itself, I operate as a videographer. Using lightweight minimal equipment, I need to stay nimble and discreet, avoiding any disruption to the event. On the other hand, in scenarios like shooting a promotional video with complete control over all aspects of the filming and where we have a detailed pre-production meeting, storyboards, and scripts, I lean towards identifying as a cinematographer or Director of Photography (DOP). My skills are versatile; while filming events, I aim for cinematic results, drawing on my cinematographic expertise. Conversely, my experience as a videographer, working efficiently under time constraints, proves beneficial in fast-paced promotional video shoots.
Ultimately, the key distinction lies not in the person behind the camera but in what and how they’re filming. I enjoy both as they offer a very different set of challenges and experiences.
