Why Freelance Videographers are Perfect for Small-Scale Productions
Are you planning to create a video for your small business or personal project? If so, you may be wondering whether you should hire a large production company or a freelance videographer. While both options have their advantages, this blog post will explain why freelance videographers are more suitable for small-scale productions.
Defining Freelance Videographers and Small-Scale Productions
Before we dive into the benefits of working with a freelance videographer, let’s define what we mean by “freelance” and “small-scale.” Freelance videographers are independent contractors who work on a project-by-project basis. Small-scale productions, on the other hand, are video projects that have a limited budget, scope, and timeframe.
Now that we’ve established the basics, let’s explore why hiring a freelance videographer is the right choice for your small-scale production.
Importance of Hiring the Right Videographer for Your Project
When it comes to video production, it’s important to hire someone who understands your vision and can bring it to life. Choosing the wrong videographer can result in a wastage of money, time, and resources. Freelance videographers, unlike large production companies, offer personalized services that cater to your specific needs and preferences. This makes it easier to find the right videographer who can create the video you envision.
Flexibility and Affordability
Freelance videographers offer flexibility in terms of scheduling and availability. They can work around your schedule and make themselves available when you need them. Additionally, freelancers are usually more affordable than large production companies, making them a cost-effective option for small-scale productions.
Expertise and Experience
One of the advantages of working with a freelance videographer is their expertise and experience in specific areas of videography. Freelancers often specialize in a certain type of video, such as event videos, corporate videos, or social media videos. This means they have a deep understanding of what works and what doesn’t, which can lead to a better end product. Freelancers are also skilled at working with limited resources and can create quality content even with a small budget.
Collaboration and Communication
Freelance videographers offer personalized attention and communication. They work closely with their clients to ensure that the final product meets their expectations. Freelancers are open to collaboration and feedback, and they value input from their clients. This makes the production process smoother and more enjoyable for both parties.
Conclusion
In summary, freelance videographers are the perfect choice for small-scale productions. They offer flexibility, affordability, expertise, and personalized services that cater to your specific needs. If you’re planning to create a video for your small business or personal project, consider hiring a freelance videographer. You won’t regret it.
Freelance Videographer
Owner / Operators with gear
Interviews, testimonials, remote camera crew
Small 1-4 person crews
Fast paced, multi-talented, jack-of-all trades to get fast projects done with minimal expenses
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Videographers focus on smaller productions like documentaries, live events, short films, legal depositions, weddings, birthday parties, sports events, commercials, and training videos.
For smaller productions, a videographer often works alone with a single-camera setup or with a small team of light technicians and sound technicians.
How much should you pay for your videographer? It really depends on what you’re looking for – but expect to pay between $700/day on the low end to $2500/day on the higher end + rental costs for the gear you’re wanting.
What does rental cost?
LensProToGo and BorrowLenses are great online rental places to get an idea for the gear rental costs may be. Expect $200-500/day for gear depending on whether you only need the basic DSLR or a Red – plus lenses, tripod or gimbal – lights (or 3, 4, 5?) – laptop to transfer footage – etc… All those pieces of gear add up to your “kit fee”. Don’t worry – most videographers include a basic kit that’s actually much less than renting all of the pieces in the kit individually – and you don’t have to actually rent it – they bring it all and manage it all.
Freelance Director of Photography (DP)
Experienced and Professional
TV Commercials, Corporate Video Production, Web Streaming Series, Feature Films
Medium to large crews: 2-9 people
High stakes projects, they have their own style of work, ample previous sample work, and they ensure a consistent "look" in the end video.
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A DP is responsible for capturing their style, look, or feeling into the video project. They are often hired because of their unique approach to visual storytelling and filming – and the company hiring them want to ensure the quality of their video lives up to a higher standard of work than merely hiring a freelance videographer. This is not a knock against a freelance videographer – they just have different skillsets.
They are experts in their field.
A DP focuses on achieving a specific look – and the specific lighting and movement it takes to achieve said look. They typically spend years (or decades) training to develop their style and they often work with camera operators, 1st AC, 2nd AC, grip and gaffers to light the scenes the way they need to achieve those looks. That’s why they are often used more-so on larger productions. Smaller video production projects with smaller crews often don’t have a budget for just a DP.
Some DP’s will also operate a camera if budget is tight – so you can have a DP / Director / Shooter – but they will almost certainly require at a minimum of a dedicated assistant or 1st AC to help with the technical side of their technical duties with high end cinema cameras.
Freelance Director (or Producer)
Support when you need it
Talent or Client Interface, Shoot Organizer
Small to Large Projects Alike. Large projects may have multiple of these roles
These are the people that bring everything together and keep everything moving smoothly
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Depending on a director’s goals, a good film director has a function that helps push that goal into reality. For example, a director might work exclusively with actors whereas a producer helps coordinate the entire project.
On smaller projects, a director may be directing everything going on that day.
In most cases, a good director will always prep the client (on corporate video projects) and prep the talent. They’ll review the plans, the goals for the shoot, the script or potentially questions (if doing a testimonial, interview, or talking head).
They will run through the plan for the shoot – the flow of things – including alternative plans if things don’t go as planned.
This verbal runthrough is like a dressrehearsal or test to ensure everyone feels comfortable on-set.
Even small corporate talking-head type projects or customer testimonials will still appreciate a director who walks the talent through a little rehearsal to remind them of how things will go.
In the beginning – a director can be brought in to help plan a project and can suggest a good DP (director of photography) or crew they’ve worked with.
A good director will see your project all the way through to the end – and even when sideballs come flying – they’ll calmly make sure the talent, client, and everyone involved get what they need.
How do you find a great videographer?
The best freelance videographer is the one who not only understands how to tell a story, but also how to tell a story visually.
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