What can a videographer help with?
Whilst photographs are a wonderful way of visually preserving memories, there are times when a still photographic shot simply does not capture the essence of the memory as well as a video. For example, imagine videotaping action scenes such as a friend’s bungee jump or a sports event, recording a baby’s first faltering steps, and preserving the moment when a bride and groom exchange their wedding vows. Whilst it is undoubtedly fun to do this yourself, to achieve professional results, it is best to use an experienced videographer.
What does a videographer do?
A videographer is much like a film-maker, with the difference that the videographer records factual moving images and soundtracks rather than fictional dramas, comedies or documentaries, and does not use film to record these images. A videographer records the images onto various types of recording media such as video tapes, disks and digital applications. News videographers use digital videos which can be immediately and directly uploaded onto computers, smart-phones, and the internet for immediate broadcast and dissemination of breaking news on a national or international basis.
A professional videographer differs from an amateur in that he, or she, earns a living from using high quality video and sound equipment to record various events, from private functions to breaking news. Weddings are often recorded for posterity by professional videographers, as well as birthday parties, engagement parties, anniversaries, barmizvahs and batmizvahs and other celebratory events. News videographers, on the other hand, are either freelance agents or are employed by TV stations and corporations and may be required to travel to various parts of the world at short notice to visually capture news directly and transmit this back via the internet.
We can all easily use our phones or digital devices and video cameras to capture personal events and unique happenings (imagine video-recording your baby taking its first wobbly steps, or a lioness playing with her cubs in a national park, for instance). However, it takes a professional videographer to calculate and plan the best perspective, lighting, settings, angles, etc. to ensure a professional result rather than a possibly blurry image with poor lighting, camera shake and an inaudible or noisy background quality.
How to choose the right videographer
Choose a film-maker for the right occasion
The choice of videographer will, to a large extent, depend on the occasion which is being recorded. There are many professional wedding specialist videographers, for example, who have a great deal of expertise and clever tricks to make the most of the occasion. A skilled and experienced videographer will be adaptable to the needs of the specific occasion he is covering, and will always ensure that the final video faithfully reflects the mood, sound and ambience of the event. If in doubt, always discuss your expectations with the videographer beforehand, so that he knows what your focus is.
Check recommendations and reviews
Since these are memories which will last for many years, it is essential that you select the right videographer for your needs. Although many of these professionals widely advertise their services, it is wise to seek recommendations wherever possible. Check their portfolios, which should be freely available on their premises or online, to see if their style appeals to you. Use word of mouth recommendations from friends or acquaintances who have used their services, or check their online reviews through Uptasker, which will provide honest feedback on their reliability, delivery and quality of the finished video, attitude, unique suggestions and pricing. Be mindful of the fact that top quality is always expensive, and do not try to cut corners unnecessarily.
