Choosing the Right Gear: A Guide for Freelance Videographer Owner/Operators
As a freelance videographer owner/operator, finding the right gear is essential for producing high-quality work and staying competitive in the industry. However, with so many options available, it can be overwhelming to know where to start. That’s why we’ve put together this comprehensive guide to help you navigate the world of gear selection and make informed decisions for your business.
Choosing the Right Camera
One of the most important decisions you’ll make as a videographer is selecting the right camera. Factors to consider when making this decision include your budget, the types of shoots you’ll be doing, and your personal preferences. Some popular cameras for freelance videographers include the Sony a7 III, Canon EOS R6, and Panasonic GH5. Ultimately, the best choice for you will depend on your individual needs and shooting style.
Selecting the Right Lenses
Once you’ve chosen your camera, it’s important to select the right lenses to complement it. There are several different types of lenses to choose from, including prime lenses, zoom lenses, and wide-angle lenses. Popular lens brands and models include Canon, Nikon, and Sigma. When selecting lenses, consider the types of shoots you’ll be doing and the look you’re trying to achieve.
Picking the Right Audio Gear
Audio is just as important as video when it comes to producing high-quality work. Some popular microphones and recorders for freelance videographers include the Rode VideoMic Pro, Zoom H4n Pro, and Tascam DR-10L. When choosing audio gear, consider the types of shoots you’ll be doing and whether you’ll need to capture audio from multiple sources.
Choosing the Right Tripod and Support Gear
In order to capture stable shots, it’s important to choose the right tripod and support gear. Popular options include the Manfrotto 504X, Sachtler FSB 8, and Gitzo Systematic. When selecting support gear, consider the weight of your camera and the types of shots you’ll be capturing.
Selecting the Right Editing Software
Once you’ve captured your footage, it’s important to have the right editing software to bring your vision to life. Popular editing software options include Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, and Davinci Resolve. When selecting editing software, consider your budget and the types of projects you’ll be working on.
Conclusion
Choosing the right gear as a freelance videographer owner/operator can be overwhelming, but with the right guidance, it’s possible to make informed decisions that will benefit your business. Remember to consider your individual needs, shooting style, and budget when selecting gear, and always prioritize quality over quantity. With the right gear, you’ll be able to produce high-quality work and stand out in a competitive industry.
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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