Do you consider yourself a videographer or cinematographer?

To me a videographer is mostly a one-person crew (they'll often direct/film/edit/color grade/etc their own projects) and a cinematographer is part of a bigger crew where there's other heads of departments and they'll mostly supervise a team of ACs, grips and gaffers.

The way I see it: Cinematography is crafting moments through blocking, framing, lighting, etc., to maximize the emotion of story elements. There is a lot of time and thought put into each frame, and each scene. Videography is capturing moments as they occur, with little manipulation of the environment, and often little thought as yo how the story will unfold. Like, capturing a wedding or event that will be shared with that group of people. I go back and forth between both, depending on what the client needs. But, I always carry a cinematographers approach with me no matter what I do.

I am a TV Producer with 40 years experience - very well explained my friend!! 👏👏👏

Some very good points, thank you. Your comment about it being a sliding scale makes me think of those times when a big budget movie employs ‘videography’ looks such as hand held camera and camera shake to create that real world feel.

Videography is the art of how to best capture real-life scenes, while cinematography is the art of staging the best artificial scene possible. Comparing videography to cinematography is like comparing photography to painting.

Thank you so much for your video and break down ! Admire your passion as well 💯

That was really good! Thank you for the detailed breakdown. Well-explained with a lot good points. I watched this as I'm trying to create a tagline for my drone business. I was thinking, should I say cinematography or videography? I was going to settle on cinematography but now I think I'll go with videography. However, incorporating the principles of cinematography. Great video!

Fantastic, very well said 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

Good discussion...I'm trying tackle videography first...then 1 day I can get into cinematography 😎

Hey Eric, interesting take I really enjoyed your video (and channel!). I shoot docs for PBS full time and also freelance DP a bunch on the side. I personally dislike being called/ credited a videographer, but have also chosen to 'stay quiet' on it with EP's who may be ignorant to this even being a thing. Probably because the check still clears, right? We should all probably be more vocal at times. I've had this conversion a bunch with collogues over the past few years and this is what I believe: By using a set of acquired skills and by intentionally manipulating the lighting, lensing, and camera movement - you become a cinematographer. For most of the work I do, I'm trying my best to give an accurate depiction of a subjects world (on doc work) while also capturing images that move emotionally. There is a very fine line we have to walk there on doc work vs narrative. Just food for thought!

Thank u for the info

Good way of explaining although a cinematographer doesn't often chose the costumes and direct the actors. Those are separate HODs like the director and costume designer who do that. The DP will have their input on it but ultimately it's not their department. A cinematographer's job is the visual execution of the material in accordance with the director so camera and lens choice, filters, composition, lighting and camera movement. A videographer can be someone who is mindful of lighting and these things too. But they usually work alone so a videographer essentially is a director, producer, cinematographer, gaffer, costume designer and sound recordist all in one. You are right though, when a few people are added to the crew, the lines do get blurred.

If you are an absolute begginer then you should be focusing more on strory.... Because in my opinion that's the most important part.

Videography is only about taking a video as good as possible. Good meaning aesthetic, proper, and interesting, whereas Cinematography is not ony about aesthetic but also about storytelling, Cinematography is Involving design thinking to solve the problems. Not just a film or movie, promotional video and corporate profile video is also a part of it. The main difference between videography and cinematography is not about who you are, its about how you think. A good videographer can be a cinematographer and vice versa, and yes i agree about your opinion regarding the spectrum. Videography = Graphic Design Cinematography = Visual Communication Design

good 12mins on the differences. one trick is to use the same cinematographer (Doug Slocumbe IJ 1981,84,89) many times.

Cinematigraphy is a pure art

I want to be a videographer and am thinking of going to full sail for film and video/digital cinematographer would I be able to make a career for videographer that way

Just shot cinematic on my drone and I’m impressed

What do you think about a video that used a lot of green screen? Or does authenticity play a role?

Going back to the days of film and eventually television, those making movies wanted a term to differentiate themselves. It became more important once movie cameras became more affordable and home movies became popular. Suddenly everyone became a film or movie maker. The term was no longer special. Now if you make movies meant to be shown on the big screen in the cinema, you are a cinematographer. It really drives them nuts with everyone on the internet is putting up movies and trying to make them to be "cinematic". Photographers never felt that need. You take photos? You're a photographer. You're good but moving pictures? Everyone has to be put in their place. It's so petty.

he understood the assignment.

That's how I think of the two as well.

What you just described as a cinematographer is actually what the director is for.

Your handle to follow you more

Cinematography has its roots in art, specifically painting. The “rule of thirds,” and the Golden Ratio were invented or perhaps recognized centuries before images moved across a screen. Videographers have progressively borrowed the cinema and painting techniques of composition, light and dark, background separation, etc. Even this video of yours has also borrowed those techniques from cinema, but that doesn’t mean it is cinematography, because it isn’t. Is their a line between cinematography and videography? Yes there is, but it’s fuzzy. I can't describe it, but I know it when I see it. You can create art by aping an older art form, but it doesn’t necessarily become that art form by doing so. Cinematography is nearly always narrative and builds on yet another art form, that of acting. But aren’t there also actors in TV commercials. Yes, of course. So you used a couple of actors, lit it like a movie in your commercial to sell your product. Does that make it cinema? I for one, don’t think so. Cinema is first and foremost, theatre. Commercials are not. You could hire Emmanuel Lubezki, Rachel Morrison, or Roger Deakins to light and shoot it for you, but it would still be, just another commercial. So, how can I tell the difference between cinematography and videography? Not by knowing which camera you used, that’s for certain. Since there is a two-way migration of film techniques and technology, the only difference remaining is purpose. What are you trying to achieve? Talking heads on KZfaq is not cinematic. Content is the only thing that matters.

Cinematography is “cinematic” videography. Videography is just capturing of videos. That simple. Broadcasters are raw videographers. Cinematographers are “film” makers. 🙂

I I’ve your video bro !

😎

Why does Gran turismo look cheap?

Videography is no filter

Dude. Get the point faster in your videos and cut out the intro graphic. Everyone skips those nowadays. I’m sending this as love, not hate my bro

Videography is just cinematography without noticeable color grading and misuse of ND filters! Nothing spells realism as proper videography. Cinema is fantasy.