When Do You Need the Best Videography and a Videographer?
Do you have a special event coming up? Are you trying to piece together an information video with amateur videography knowledge? If so then you should consider hiring a videographer!
Today almost everyone has access to some form of a video camera, whether it is through their smartphone or digital camera. With such open access to video equipment, it is easy to assume that you can DIY. Even still, sometimes it is better to leave videography to the professionals. After all, a professional will make sure your videos are polished!
Event Videography
Event videography can take many different forms. There are almost as many different types of videography as there are special occasions. Before we get carried away daydreaming about celebrations, here is a list of some of our most popular event videography services.
Birthday Celebrations
Is this year a big one for you or your loved one? Then why not hire a professional to capture the magic? Birthday parties can be a big deal. Like other special occasions, when you are planning a birthday party you will need to organise the food, drinks and decor. If you are going to put all that effort into a birthday party, why not hire a professional? They will be able to capture all those special moments you worked so hard to prepare for!
Special Occasion Parties
Are you going to be hosting a housewarming, graduation, or New Year’s Eve party? Then again maybe you are hosting another type of party this year. No matter what the occasion, trying to plan the perfect party can be stressful.
You will be far more relaxed after all the guests have gone home. With a professional video you can relive all those memories when you can finally relax.
Corporate Parties
Organising a company party is a considerable challenge. Whether it is for the annual Christmas get-together or a gala, there are a lot of factors to consider! Chances are after the company party is over, someone will want to see a video of it. If you don’t hire someone with quality videography skills you could risk the chance of having an amateur video recorded. This may end up being a problem if your company wants to use the video later for promotional purposes.
There are a number of videography styles to choose from. Here are some common ones:
- Cinematic: The video is shot and then cut and edited to look like a movie. The scenes might not be in order and might look more artistic. Ideal for parties or celebrations.
- Classic: Video that uses classic editing techniques so that proper tone and context are provided. You might see close-up shots of products or images of VIPs or event attendees to capture and promote the event more functionally. Typically used for company events.
- Documentary: A style of video journalism that documents events chronologically. Editing is straightforward; very common for a wedding.
- Guerrilla filmmaking: The videographer might use a handheld camera to mix in with the guests. This provides a more natural feeling and focuses on candid shots.
- Edgy: A more eye-catching video technique that might use unique angles or stylish edits to create a final product.
- Hybrid: Videographers can mix and match elements of each video style to create a unique video.
Things to consider when hiring an event videographer for a hybrid event
You’ll want to have a backup plan in place because, from time to time, even the best videographers have issues that cannot be avoided. If the videographer cannot attend the event or if for some reason the tech fails, you’ll want to be prepared and you want to know what your options are.
Of course, you most likely won’t (or shouldn’t) go with the first videographer that you meet. Review the industry to see what your options are. You may be surprised to learn just how much the capabilities differ between a freelance videographer and a production team. What is being filmed might be pushed live to a global audience, so you might also want to hire a virtual emcee to better promote the virtual element and improve the virtual experience.
You’ll need to choose a videographer who is continually improving their skills and use of technology. If the past work in their portfolio is extremely dated, that might be a red flag that the videographer is not staying on top of the latest trends and technologies.
If the content somehow does not integrate into your event planning software or mobile event app, your video might look dated as well. The video should integrate with the event technology of your choice, including a virtual event platform, to enable a livestream or a Simulated Live event!
Additionally, pay mind to any negative reviews. If, for example, a previous customer left a positive review but mentioned that it took longer than expected to see the final result, you should expect that potentially the videographer may be delayed, even if you write a clause into the contract that stipulates that the final product is due by a certain date. This could be a problem if you have a post-event follow up deadline that needs to be hit.
Things to look for when hiring a photographer and videographer/ cinematographer
If you are looking to captivate your audience and boost the growth of your business, consider creating stunning visual content for your brand. Photos and videos are currently the most appealing form of visual content and have proved to stimulate online growth and engagement.
While you can cut down costs by creating photo and video content on your own, you may be unable to get the desired image or video shot needed to distinguish your brand and stand out from the competition. Therefore, it is best to seek assistance from a professional photographer and videographer to work with you through the entire process from the initial idea to the finished product. However, with many claiming to be the best, it can be difficult to find and select a qualified expert, who can deliver top-quality content. To help you navigate through your options and make the right choice, we have provided a list of the top five things to look for when hiring a photographer and videographer.
- Knowledgeable and can fulfill your vision
Taking a great photograph or video is influenced by several factors, including location, scene structure, lighting, focal point, depth of field, composition, background, exposure, timing, and lens selection. A professional does not just simply turn up and shoot random objects without a clear understanding of what you are looking to accomplish and a vision for the end result. Ensure that the photographer and videographer you hire not only has the knowledge and experience, but they clearly understand your project requirements and goals so they can deliver exactly what you need.
- Planning and structuring
Photography and videography work has to be carefully planned and structured to deliver the best results for your project. Whether it is a video or photography, every shoot should start with a simple conversation, an understanding of what you are looking for, leveraging the creativity and experience of the photographer and videographer, and then turning that “idea” into the final product. Look for a photographer and videographer who can plan and structure their shoot effectively.
- Attention to detail and equipment
Attention to detail and equipment used are key to ensuring you find the best photographer and videographer. Enlist the services of a photographer and videographer who continues to invest heavily in their equipment, skills, software, and their people.
- Past experience
Discuss and review the photographer and videographers past experience and portfolio, have them provide examples of the types of projects they have been involved with, including any customer references and testimonials. This will help demonstrate not only the quality of their work but their creativity and experience. Ask your prospective photographer and videographer to show you some of the work they have done for other clients and speak to some of those clients who’s projects closely align to what you are looking for.
- Workflow
Ensure that the professional you plan on hiring guarantees a smooth workflow and process around each stage of your project, from the initial project discussion, pre-shoot, shoot, post-production, and final delivery. If they offer online viewing through a secure personal gallery, where images and videos can be reviewed, downloaded, or purchased for print, then it’s a bonus.
Best practices for choosing an event videographer for your hybrid event
When choosing an event videographer, event management needs to consider a number of things that are vital to the success of the videography. For example, your hybrid event video will be watched by people (potentially) all over the world. The online audience will be learning about your brand through this video, so having it look professional will tell your viewers a lot about where your values and capabilities lie.
A video produced by a proper event videography production team will of course be higher quality and allow your live stream to run smoothly. A videographer knows the best angles and lighting tricks and can add things to the video to improve quality. Consider adding a soundtrack as inspiration, event branding over the video image, or other types of pop-ups to inform the remote attendees of presenter details, time changes, and so on.
If you are looking to include any of these special requests, you need to be sure that the videographer you choose is up to the task.
When booking your videographer, check on the following:
- Make sure that you’ll have access to all the assets that you want when it is finished
- Make sure that your videographer keeps backups of originals as well as editing copies
- Ask how long they keep backups
- Set a firm deadline (x amount of time after the event) so that the videographer knows that they shouldn’t take their time in the editing process
- Inform the videographer of the ways that the material will be used (i.e., will it be on social media? Youtube? Does the branding need to be different for each?). If you are hosting a virtual or hybrid corporate event, it is likely that the material will be used for corporate purposes and should be edited as such.
- Have they filmed for a traditional event before, or do they just have general videography experience?