How does cinematography vary from videography? Often times, cinematography and videography are terms that are frequently mixed up, just as how plastic decking is confused with composite decking.
What is videography?
Videography or a videographer is a terminology for somebody who operates a video camera, someone who could possibly perform the role or responsibility of a director, a producer as well as a shooter or cameraman at the same time on a single video production. Generally, a videographer works alone or with a small team. They usually work in corporate, documentary or commercial productions. These video creations are more lower in budget, video-based, and a one-man show.
A videographer is the operator of the camera working solo or with a small production crew. What usually differentiates videographers from cinematographers is that they work with a crew that is much smaller in size, however videographers frequently work solo. A videographer works and controls the camera, unlike a cinematographer.
Generally, the word videographer is parallel with or associated to a camera operator or a cameraman.
Because videographers frequently work alone, they also handle and work on other production elements such as sound, editing, lighting and more. They often do corporate videos, small commercials, weddings, and event videography.
What is cinematography?
Cinematography, on the other hand, is a terminology that is more for commercial or film productions that are in nature more filmic or cinematic. In general, a cinematographer and/or the team are concerned and particular with composition, lighting, camera-work as well as the entire camera set. They are in command and in control of all the images taken in the production of the film. Being a cinematographer means being part of huge crew.
Also known as the DP or director of photography, a cinematographer is the person responsible for the lighting and camera crews on a movie production and other elements in the set.
It is the obligation of the cinematographer to gather and understand the director’s visualization by creating technical as well as artistic choices regarding lens choice, lighting, exposure, filters, composition, camera movement, and many more.
To simplify things, a cinematographer is responsible for a movie’s cinematography, the science and art of motion picture or film photography. Each decision and choice that the cinematographer makes needs to correspondingly service and support the director as well as the story. On a huge film production set, it’s improbable that the cinematographer work the camera. It would frequently be the camera operator who would do the task or responsibility. The camera operator works below the cinematographer.