Videography is the art of making and producing videos. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, over 28,000 Americans have participated in this art since 2018. Out of thousands of people who joined the field, what are the odds that you’re working with a person with top videography skills?
Of course, an artist’s portfolio will speak so much about himself. An excellent videographer, however, is more than talent and skills. The following are additional qualities that videographers should at least possess to know that they are the right person for the job. Go ahead and check if your videographer has them.
Possesses Decent Editing Skills
In addition to having top videography skills and know-how in shooting techniques, a great videographer should also have decent editing skills. The right person doesn’t have to be an expert with the editing job. At a minimum, however, he should know the basics. That’s because he will have to work closely with editors to make things happen. So, he needs to understand where the editors’ inputs came from.
Likewise, a videographer who also knows how to edit videos is an asset that can spare both the client and the first from wasting time, money, and resources.
Works within The Client’s Budget
An excellent videographer knows how to use videography tricks and shooting techniques to fit within the client’s budget. In other words, he is someone creative but is also resourceful with the materials he currently has.
Can Make a Subject Feel or Look Natural
The best videos are those that capture reality or candidness. It is one thing to make a subject look natural. With the right videography tricks and shooting techniques, any video production can appear real and far from being staged at the same time.
However, it is also another thing to make a subject feel natural, especially with productions involving amateurs. In shooting wedding prenups, for example, an excellent video guy with top videography skills should know how to make the couple feel less awkward during the shoot.
Takes Videos Without Being Told
A great videographer knows how to turn raw videos into beautiful creations. The right person doesn’t have to tell you when the camera is rolling. He just shoots away.
If a videographer doesn’t show his shots right away, don’t worry. People tend to criticize their selves a lot, making them more conscious in front of the camera. A top videographer always means good. So, if he doesn’t show his shots to you, that means he wants to keep your confidence intact so you’ll act normally and look natural as possible on the screen.
Asks Away
An excellent videographer doesn’t guess. He knows when and what to ask. As a minimum, he should at least provide questionnaires to his clients, conduct interviews, and set meetings with them to conceptualize. The timing he does all these procedures is also essential. He should accomplish them all right before the shoot to plan ahead and not waste time.
It is presumed that the videographer already has a clear vision of what the client wants and how he could make it happen right before the actual video production begins.
Makes Honest Recommendations
Not all people know what they want. Some know what they want but can’t just put them in words while others are clueless about how they can accomplish what’s on their mind. An excellent videographer recognizes these facts. So, he communicates and discusses with his clients thoroughly what it is that they want to achieve.
To help his clients further, a person with top videography skills also knows how to advise and recommend. Whether it’s a thing about outfit, hair, or lighting, a great videographer makes helpful suggestions that benefit the project.
An Excellent Videographer Cares
The best person for the job should be ready not only to accept feedbacks but also to provide honest inputs. In short, the right videographer for the project should care for you. He should, therefore, be trustworthy enough. After all, by hiring videographers, you are somehow entrusting your wedding, business, and life to them.
Plus, you know you’re in good hands if your videographer is honest with how they can use their shooting techniques and videography tricks to make the project a success.
Thinks like “local”
Did you know that being able to adapt is a skill that your next videographer should possess? Yes, your next videographer should be able to adapt well to the environment. In other words, he should get along not only with his clients but also with his workplace. He should be able to work in different set-ups and think like a local. For instance, he should be able to anticipate issues such as noise in the shooting location and address them like how locals will approach them.
No one will ever have a PhD in being adaptive. So, might as well hire a local videographer instead or someone who already knows his territory well. You could also try sending test videos of the location to your videographer instead of the site is more accessible to you.
Mobile and Tilling to Travel
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, and so are top video productions. Your next videographer should be mobile, always on the go, or at least willing to travel to shooting sites if needed. He must not remain steady with the video camera. He must move with it to bring video productions to the next level.
Conclusion
Many can hold the video camera and claim they’re someone practicing videography. However, not everyone can call themselves real videographers. More than an academic track record and a strike of creativity, it takes guts and top videography skills to be excellent in the field. The above are just the some of the qualities you should look for in your next videographer. So, the next time you’re hiring someone to do the videos for you, you’ll know you’re in good hands.