There are important differences between videography and production. When comparing the videography service capabilities and video production scale, we’ll see these differences in the way each of these terms are referenced. Read on for a look into these two sides of the coin, comparing their capabilities and scope, and differentiating the two in order to assist you next time you’re looking to have your video produced.
Let’s get into the specifics of videography versus production, breaking it down point by point to understand the differences.
When we reference or use the term videography, we often think about a videographer leveraging their skill base to story tell through visual optics and tools. Videography is about the videographer, who tells stories through the use of a camera. A videographer will focus on project specifics or your video shot list and use different techniques to document a subject scene with flair and artistic expression.
By contrast, production services are more extensive. When we reference the term production, we often think of a project requiring a crew of different individuals that may not be behind a camera. A production can have videographers within it but usually entails gaffers, directors, editors and the list goes on. Very rarely is a full production done by a solo videographer. For the most part, production involves a video production crew beyond a single one behind the camera. These crew members may include roles like additional videographers and cameras filming multiple angles, gaffers, directors, and editors.
Whether they work solo or with assistants, videographers use equipment like lighting, drones, and stabilizers to enhance storytelling. They may set up additional equipment like lighting, use drones, and stabilizers. These tools are what unfolds the artistic process of showing – versus telling – a story.
Video production employs much of the same types of gear, but usually at either a higher skill-level, higher price-point, and/or with more capability-advanced videography gear.
It often can be observed in videography that the videographer’s main focus is on video-project specifics or a designated shot list, using different techniques to capture scenes with artistic precision. While both have an emphasis on capturing moments with shot lists, artisticism and precision, videographers tend to keep a more specialized approach to their videography services.
Production is generally less-specialized and video production companies usually offer a wider range of services, as well as industries they serve. In regards to specialist skill sets, a production crew is more likely to be diverse in their experience, focus areas, and techniques.
Videography often involves a videographer that manages their assignments autonomously and with a focus on the creative process, steering clear of broader production services management. This is a key difference between videography and production. A videographer will usually not manage a full production because he or she is working to capture their individual assignment. However, at the center of video production, is the Producer.
As it’s a team effort, production services need centralized direction, and are led by the Producer who coordinates the efforts of various team members. The Producer serves as a project manager, of sorts, directing the crew, assigning individual videographers and crewmembers to perform various tasks, and ensuring tasks are completed to bring the entire project together. This centralized-management role could involve communications and management of videographers, photographers, and lighting/gaff crews to ensure a cohesive and structured video production service execution.
Imagine you’re planning an e-commerce conference. Going for a freelance event videographer works for a general event recap, but if you need a full conference video production package, it may be better-suited to hire event videographers at an event production company. For event production services that include event photographers, event video marketing, multiple speaker video production, event background graphic design, product video demo production, live-streaming or intricate lighting setups, a corporate event video production company is the way to go.
For large event production service needs, you could require someone to manage a “step and repeat” and/or a crew focused on building and breaking down a lighting setup for a podcast production happening on the show floor. In this example, you would most certainly want to consult with an event production company.
If done this way, the Producer will handle coordinating with the videographer, photographer, the lighting/gaff crew to capture all parts of the proposed project. Hiring a video production company, like Firebrand Media, offers a streamlined and structured approach, with the Producer coordinating between videographers, photographers, and lighting/gaff crews. This comprehensive solution simplifies the process, saving clients from managing a diverse creative team.
Video production projects vary greatly, with services ranging from live event services, marketing video production, docu-style video production, corporate video production and much more. Additionally, they can have edited deliverables to include multiple videos and photos. Because of this, it’s important to have a grasp of the differences between these terms.
Knowing the difference between videography and production will inform your conversation with production companies who can supply both. And, as a whole, understanding the differences between the two helps clients have informed discussions with videographers and video production companies in order to find the most appropriate, customized and unique video solutions.
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