What is your job title?

roxics

roxics

Veteran
My official title where I work is "Director of Photography." Althought techincally I don't just light and shoot, even if that is my specialty. I also direct talent, edit, etc. And I'm not just doing video but also photography. All corporate work.

I'm not sure I have the right title. It confuses some people who are not in the know because they think with the word photography in there that I only do still photography.
On the other hand I could be described as a corporate photographer/videographer, but I absolutely detest the word videographer. It's sounds cheap and unprofessional. It reminds me of uncle Bob in the 80's with his VHS cam shooting weddings. I never had an uncle Bob, thats just an example.

If you do something similar to what I do, what is your title?
 
Video producer, editor.
Although i do get behind the camera from time to time I don't usually put it on title. DOP is such a weighty term, I'm not worthy!

Agree er with your thoughts, the word videographer needs to go bye bye.
 
A job title and a word that says what you do are not always the same thing; in that it's hard to cover everything you actually do with a traditional title like Director of Photography, which doesn't fit into a corporate environment anyway. I find something like "Media Director" sounds big and important and covers everything you could possibly be doing or supervising.
 
I once had the official job title of "Voice of Reason". Needless to say I no longer work there!
The best one I've ever seen was the owner of a very successful brand who's business cards had the title listed as "Legitimate Businessman".
 
I don't mind the title videographer - to me it's what gets the point across most quickly and clearly. Sometimes I'll tell people I'm a cinematographer at weddings, and I'll get a blank stare. Then I'll say "videographer" and everyone understands. I understand where you're coming from, but the stigma attached to the word videographer is only what you make it! I think it's a cool title and a cool job. :)
 
there are so many "DP" out there that delivers a work worse than a videographer.

I call myself a Camera operator on weddings and events.

But I call myself a indie film maker on every other circumstance.
 
I use the terms filmmaker, cameraman most. Sometimes when people ask what i work, i say that i'm self employed, running a film production company.
 
roxics said:
but I absolutely detest the word videographer. It's sounds cheap and unprofessional. It reminds me of uncle Bob in the 80's with his VHS cam shooting weddings.
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Hm, is that the common perception in the english speaking world?



In Germany, when someone asks me what I do and I respond 'videography', everyone instantly understands what I am doing because they know what a 'photographer' does and they know what video is and it's easy for them to combine and conclude.

I know it's a common method in the business world to design the job's name so it sounds professional and important to others but I don't like that approach personally.
I have confident in what I do and rather want to communicate what exactely I can offer to the person asking and not giving them a vague term - preferably as compact and fast as possible.

'Filmmaker' varies too much imo as Steven Spielberg is a filmmaker too. 'Film/Video Producer' doesn't communicate the creative part enough, too technical. Most others are too vague so I guess I'll bite the bullet and stay with 'Videographer' aka 'Uncle Bob' :)
 
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Personally, I think the problem with the word videographer is our never ending fight to create images that are more filmic. (even though I am using a video camera. No way around that)

As far as common perception in the United States, the terms 'videographer' and 'video' are perfectly fine descriptors for the commercial and corporate clients I deal with. No need to razzle-dazzle them with terms like DOP or cinematographer. (Although if the agency wants to say "Scott is our DP today"...I'll accept the compliment)

Stip, to your point, just keep it simple, no doubt.
 
Scott, I too don't particularly like the term 'video' as I too link it to 'Uncle Bob' in my mind. But I always thought 'Videography' is a newer term (10 years?), so that could somehow compensate?! Am I wrong?
 
Scott F said:
Personally, I think the problem with the word videographer is our never ending fight to create images that are more filmic. (even though I am using a video camera. No way around that)
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And you're right about that. It's really a personal perception problem. I see videographer as a guy running around shooting an event with a camara like it's a machine gun. Get as much coverage as possible and find your footage later when editing. Where I work we've had other videographers send us in raw footage for a couple projects because it was more economical for us to hire them locally then to send my team across the country. When I get the footage back it's literally videography in my opinion. I'm often yelling at the screen "hold the goddamn camera still long enough that I can use this shot." I realize that I'm a poor videographer myself because I shoot more film-style. That's how I learned back in the 90's.

That said, sometimes I am just a videographer. When it's an event and that type of shooting is called for.

There are other times (quite often) I am molding light. I am carefully selecting my focal length and aperture. I am tweaking my framing, the subject in my frame/blocking and my exposure. At which point I consider myself a DP. Even though it might be a corporate interview and not a Hollywood production with a chance at an Oscar. But I've also shot indie films. Once again on video.

So does the format you record on really change the title? Or is it really about the way that you approach the projects that influence your title?
 
My business cards say "Grand Imperial Poobah" and describes what the company does (Since I'm the company, the card says what I does).

It's a good title to use to preen one's self for future Grand Imperial Poobah positions.
 
Titles really don't change what we do, just try to change people's impression of us or what we do.
When I read titles, this is my initial reaction:
Videographer: "I have a video camera!" TV news is my dream.
Cinematographer: "I have a DSLR!" Indie movies are my dream.
DP: "I have a light kit!" Having a gaffer to move my lights is my dream.
Director: "I have friends who like to make movies!" Being followed by paparazzi is my dream.
Creative Director: "I have an idea!" Making other people do my bidding is my dream.
Filmmaker: "I have a Vimeo page!" Quitting my waiter job is my dream.

Ok, now that I've offended everyone, the titles don't really mean anything. At best it's an indication of the job that we want to do.
 
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