Videographers are the people who capture the perfect timed memories of people but on a small scale. They are behind the camera trying to put a lot of their creativity and enthusiasm into shooting at the perfect angle but videography is not just that. There is more to it than you could imagine. Know if Videography a good career?
To answer the question yes, videography is undoubtedly a very good career with a raising demand every day. There are numerous types of videography some might want to be just a wedding videographer, some might want to be a travel videographer and there are a lot more like documentaries, live events, short films, sports events, training videos, Etc. videographers shoot or work on smaller-scale productions. Just like photography, videography requires the same amount of creativity, spontaneity, patience if not more. It is a skill where you learn new things every day.
Getting a hold of the skill and knowledge required for this profession is a challenge, but as long as you are confident about your skills it is easy to find yourself a job. You most likely wouldn’t be able to hit the jackpot on the first try but you will find a reasonable job and then learn new things along the way slowly discovering your style.
What exactly do videographers do?
Videographers are the people behind the video camera recording events like weddings, lives, sports events, TV shows or commercials, Etc. some of them also work on the filmmaking crew depending upon the film’s budget. But being a videographer doesn’t mean just operating the camera they should also make sure that the lighting, sound are aligning. Work closely with the video editors and be in charge of equipment repair and maintenance.
Communicating with clients and ensuring that the concept desired is being perfectly delivered. They often monitor or direct other videographers on the team to get the perfect footage. Some might do their editing once the recording is done.
How to become a videographer?
To become a videographer you will have to pursue a bachelor’s degree in film or broadcasting-related courses. A majority of colleges offer courses like video-editing software, cinematography. You could also go to a film school where the course would involve a mix of film theory and how it works. Or you could also consider doing a normal course in business, videotaping, video production, editing, or digital technology.
Just graduating from a college with a degree wouldn’t help in improving your skills, you should put yourselves out there and grab every opportunity in your eyesight to gain experience.
You can start simply by buying a good video camera for yourself to experiment with. DSLR or any mirrorless cameras are friendly for an amateur in videography to explore. Attend workshops and try to make the most out of them, make connections, look for interesting internships and find a mentor for yourself.
Slowly compile all the experiments you have done and assess yourself. Build up a portfolio for yourself and start applying for jobs. There is also a second option of starting your own business of videography studio.
But starting your business right after graduation would require you to devote more time than you would probably like. A common suggestion is to take up a job for two or three years to gain knowledge in aspects like communication, saving money, editing, and recording which would make it easier for you to start your own.
Types of careers or job opportunities:
When compared to photography videography requires more manual work which is why the competition is comparatively less even when the opportunities are wide, some of which are working on a film set as one of the crew members, for example, an assistant camera operator, assistant editors, cue selectors.
There are also jobs like news camera operators, video editors, videotape transformers, filmmakers, equipment supervisors, mentors, broadcast engineers, Etc.
Mandatory skills a videographer should possess:
Communication skills: for almost all jobs or occupations communication is key and for videographers, it is the top tier requirement, if you plan on starting a business of your own you should have fluent communication skills or things will be harder.
A videographer also directs the other inexperienced team members for which you’ll have to be patient and get things done without any mishaps while capturing the videos.
Elaborate knowledge about equipment and shooting: you need to have all the basics and most used advanced techniques at your fingertips. How the equipment works, how it should be used. The alignment of lighting and sound equipment. A good videographer would have plenty amount of knowledge in video editing and camera movement as well.
Blending in with the environment: you should be able to make yourselves comfortable with your surroundings as you will be working in different kinds of environments the majority of the time.
Time management: editing the videotapes can be strenuous but planning accordingly to make it perfect before the deadline would for sure create an impression.
Multitasking and creativity: as said before a videographer just doesn’t record a video he keeps track of a lot of other things and that requires multitasking. When you are the person behind the camera you should be able to visualize new ways to film things and be able to see the end product. Your creativity would help you do things with a different perspective rather than just sticking to the routine.
Salary expectations:
In videography the more your experience the more you get paid. As of July 2019, the average salary for videographers in the United States is around 68,000 US dollars per year while the top 10 percent of them earn nearly 110,960 US dollars per year, and the bottom 10 percent earn around 28-30,000 US dollars per year.
There might be variations in the pay according to your locality and the type of videography you do. Don’t be discouraged because you will eventually develop your skills and earn reasonably.
Conclusion:
To sum up everything in the article, to get invested in videography for a living is a good choice but it isn’t as easy as it looks or sounds. One should take wise steps to reach their goal in this career path and spend a lot of their time to discover what exactly their style is to get things done perfectly. Videography is technically a form of art where people tend to try to make things look the best.
Frequently asked questions:
- What skills are important for a videographer?
The mandatory skill list for a videographer is quite long so here are some very important skills they need to get a grip of:
- Communication
- Creativity
- Supervising
- Patience
- Punctuality
- Are videographers in demand?
Of course, they are in demand, almost everyone watches something on the Television or their phone or some electronic device and that video is the product of a videographer working for days starting from recording to editing and making the video look presentable. A survey proves that the demand for videographers has increased by 14 percent over the last four years and is estimated to increase rapidly in the coming years as well.
- Is video editing a good skill to learn?
Video editing is a great skill to learn. With the entertainment industry being evergreen and everyone releasing or making new projects the demand for video editors has skyrocketed over the past few years. It is a skill that requires a lot of concentration and memory which when practiced can be easily mastered. On top of these videos, editors are known to have one of the highest job satisfaction percentages.
