Cameraman or Videographer? Which description is best?

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Peter_Reynolds

New member
I have a conundrum on whether to market myself as a cameraman or videographer.
I'm not sure what the best term to use is. I'm not necessarily looking for the most
accurate term, but the one that most people would most search for on Google.

A little background. I've been a shooter for over 15 years, both broadcast and non
broadcast. I now have a video production company and offer complete video production
services including shooting and editing.

Recently, I've been doing more shooting (for communications/marketing companies),
which is good solid work. It's also quite refreshing to just shoot and hand in a memory
stick and not have to deal with the project as a whole :)

My compeditors (video production companies) use the term "videographer", which
is sort of a catch all for any type of shooting. I'm leaning towards following their example,
but I'm still unsure.

What would the average producer, communications director, media trainer search for?

Thanks!

Peter
 
Personally I find "cameraman" a bit lacking. It's like the kind of thing you see in Craigslist ads with folks looking to HIRE, but rarely see in ads placed by VENDORS (i.e. you). One step away from "camera guy". I realize "Lighting Cameraman" is an actual term used sometimes, however.

I would include any and all applicable terms, (e.g. "DP/Camera Operator/Videographer/Cinematographer/etc.)" in any ad I put out so that no matter the keyword, I'd get a hit (Someone will likely respond to this thread and tell you you should have different ads with different wordings targeted toward specific types of clients).

Videographer has negative connotations for some in that it can be associated with weddings ("ew, low-end know nothing wedding videographer!") and other low budget/smaller gigs. That said, I certainly use the term myself. But, again, it may depend on who you're trying to target. . .movies? Commercials? Music Videos? DP or Cinematographer, say I. Corporate video? Weddings? Dance recitals? Quincineras? Videographer.
 
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Thanks Josh. It's a tough call. I agree that in the industry "Videographer" as negative connotations. I'm just wondering when
the average person is looking for someone to cover their event (not weddings), would they say DOP or cinematographer? Probably not.

Unless someone has a compelling argument, Ill probably go with Cameraman | Videographer. That should cover me.

Of course, I'm open to any other suggestions out there!

Peter
 
Videographer has a negative connotation simply because it's usually used as a catch all term for all in one producers. When marketing yourself, it's rarely the best approach to position yourself as an all in one of anything as people won't think your an expert in anything whether it's true or not.

Also just want to point out spell checks never recognize the word videographer...kind of disheartening if you consider yourself a videographer and your title is not in the dictionary.
 
Josh Bass said:
Videographer has negative connotations for some in that it can be associated with weddings ("ew, low-end know nothing wedding videographer!") and other low budget/smaller gigs. That said, I certainly use the term myself. But, again, it may depend on who you're trying to target. . .movies? Commercials? Music Videos? DP or Cinematographer, say I. Corporate video? Weddings? Dance recitals? Quincineras? Videographer.
Click to expand...

The thing is, if one is focused on events and weddings, the term videographer is not necessarily a negative one. Maybe going after really high end clients, or if you are doing Still Motion style elaborate cinematic-themed event production, then use cinematographer. Even then, I'd want to be pretty damn good to throw myself around as a "cinematographer" if you know what I mean. There are master directors of photography working in top tier movies that don't even necessarily go by cinematographer. Director of Photography seems to be the standard title nowadays for that.

It also depends on what you are doing, or if you do more than just events. Say you are working on a corporate video project, or a music video and are writing the script and doing other logistical stuff. I think then it is proper to call yourself a producer or a video producer. That is not as cheeky as saying, "I'm a cinematographer"... but is also not as looked down upon as the term videographer. At least that's how I look at it.

Or maybe come up with something new? Photocinedeoninjographers!!!!!
 
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Here's the thing, in my admittedly limited experience, the people who search ads for crew are GENERALLY "inexperienced" or less experienced consumers of video production services. Those "in the know" generally have a circle of contacts they already use for crew positions or trust for referrals when all the contacts are unavailable or when a producer is working in an unfamiliar market (if an NYC producer has to travel to Houston to shoot something for instance).

Browsing Craigslist, one sees an unbelievable and sometimes baffling variety of terms used for the position of "one who uses a video camera". People like this (hopefully with more money, HA!!!!!) are generally your potential clients when we're talking about those who find crew via ads. What I'm getting at is someone may call the person shooting their child's dance recital a Directory of Photography just as much as someone might seek a "videographer" to shoot their low-budget indie feature. . .and they might just search for those terms.

Lofty, pretentious, and cheesy the terms "cinematographer" and "Director of Photography" might be for most folks, but bottom line, if you don't misrepresent yourself and your experience, whatever gets you the work is the way to go (I have seen ads for "wedding cinematographers!").

As for also being a writer/producer, etc. and marketing yourself as such, that's great IF you do/aspire to do those things. If you want to avoid them I wouldn't advertise that you provide those services. Just like if there's a particular market sector of video work you want to avoid (e.g. weddings), I would leave that stuff off your reel and of course out of your ad wording.
 
I will never use 'videographer' - it's not a negative connotation thing, just that I don't consider it a proper word, just one bastardised from photographer. I have no real common sense behind it, but it's just a word I don't like. I fudge around and perhaps use programme maker, or video producer. Videographer just sounds wrong.
 
I think you nailed it Josh. It's not what's right or wrong but what get's you the job.

The vast majority of corporate jobs I've gotten have been from people who wouldn't know what a DOP or
a cinematographer was. Director of Photography is even worse, as it has the world "photographer" in it.
I think the trick is to be descriptive, without turning off more broadcast/film savvy clients.

Now that I think about it, even cameraman might be confused with a photographer to the uninitiated.
Videographer, though not a real word according to Oxford, may be the clearest description to 90% of potential clients.

I'm more convinced than ever that a listing of Freelance Cameraman | Videographer may just be the best
of both worlds. I can then use the description on the website to separate myself from those that shoot
weddings (not that there's anything wrong with that of course).

Thanks for everyone's input!

Peter
Cameraman | Videographer
 
Technically i believe "photograph" means "writing with light" (in the original latin, greek, Klingon, wherever it came from). So i guess videographer means "one who writes with video".

Btw ....i have read/heard people use photographer when they mean a videographer/DP!

How bout "lens warrior?" "Camslinger?" "DSLRtist?" These are all brilliant suggestions. I hope youre taking notes.
 
Thanks for bringing this up as it's a question i've been asking myself a lot lately. What I find is that clients who aren't familar with the Industry or have never worked with a professional, tend to use the all encompassing term, videographer. Personally, it is not my favorite choice of words as it really implies a one-man-band approach commonly found in weddings or small concerts. It doesn't properly title gig that require your whole production team.

The term "Director of Photography" has practically, for all purposes of this conversation, a zero percent comprehension rate to those outside the film industry. Especially clients who hire us. Every time I have used that term, a blank stare is returned back to me. I personally like the term video production.
 
I prefer DOP and its what I call myself but some gigs are outside the film industry so I'm really whatever they think I am, whether that's camera man or videographer.
 
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When I am introducing myself to non-technical types I regularly call myself a "Camera Dude", and then give them the short resume, "I have been the director of photography on five very low budget features, including one on film, and have shot commercials, music videos, corporate films..." and so on. I don't advertise, but "Camera Dude" simplifies it for most folks.
 
My personal preference is that "videography" is what you do when you have limited control over the image. Shooting events/weddings would be like this. Sure, you might have a light on your camera or a softbox for the dance floor, but you don't have control over how the audience is positioned around the dance floor, or the DJ's lighting or anything like that. You can only compose in camera with what is presented before your lens and hope for the best.

Cinematography, on the other hand, implies near total control of what's in the image. Obviously, that can suffer depending on the style (such as guerrilla shooting), but it's far more controlled than a wedding or a fashion show generally speaking.

Which is why it irks me when people use "cinematography" to refer to event videography, either in ads or in reels.
 
I will accept nothing less than being called a visionary.

Actually, I hate when even big name directors like a Sir Ridley Scott or a David Lean are called visionaries. Are they great filmmakers? Yes. But for goodness sakes, it isn't like they discovered the new world or invented the airplane or something on that scale. It is an overused term in the film industry.

Sorry, off topic but I had to blurt it out.
 
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