Freelance Videographer

A freelance videographer will capture. They will show up at your event, showroom, property or whatever you want them to film and simply capture what is happening in front of the lens. This doesn’t make it any less of a skilled job though. In order to capture a beautiful image they will still have to be dynamic, adapting to different lighting conditions and have a good knowledge of the principles of photography and cinematography. They need to be able to think on their feet, move fast through multiple setups and capture a wide range of shots to give the final piece the polish it needs to stand out.

A good freelance videographer will be able to capture everything from a high end interiors or architecture project through to a two camera interview with a three point lighting and clean audio setup. They will need a good variety of equipment on hand to do the job properly but for the most part they will just be documenting or capturing what is occurring on the other side of the lens.

Freelance Filmmaker

A freelance filmmaker will also do everything that the videographer above will do. However the difference comes with story. Whether it’s a documentary project or a brand film, the filmmaker will be more involved in the pre-production process. This means they will have creative input with the agency or client and help to shape the story they are telling.

In a documentary project, they will get to know and interview the subjects through the pre-production process to make them feel at ease and help craft the story being told. If they are a solo operator they may conduct the interview, ask the questions as well as setup the camera and potentially edit the project.

Does it matter?

Does all this nomenclature really matter? I guess not, but knowing the difference may help you when trying to find someone to execute your ad campaign or assist you with event videography.

Ultimately, there are hundreds of different ways to tell a story and sell a product. Sometimes a social ad showing the product in a captivating way may be more effective than telling a story. Think about food ads that have the viewer salivating within the first few seconds. On the other hand, story can be an extremely powerful driver, making the viewer feel a certain way. John Lewis spend millions on their Christmas ad campaigns which are completely story driven. Charity is another example of where telling a story would an effective way of creating emotion and connecting the viewer with the subject of the ad.

Ultimately the end goal is the same, to raise brand awareness and sell products, but there are many different ways to achieve it, whether hiring a freelance videographer, filmmaker or agency.

If you're looking to work with a freelance videographer or filmmaker in London, Birmingham or elsewhere in the UK, feel free to get in touch, I'd love to here about your project.

The post The difference between a freelance videographer and a freelance filmmaker. first appeared on Rog Shafi.

Video production agencies are great, I regularly work with them. They are packed with smart, creative people that all think in completely different ways. They have multiple people collaborating on projects that will often bring brilliant results. But this obviously comes at a cost. If your budget can’t accommodate those skills then working with a freelance videographer or filmmaker might be the best way to go.

Bring it in house

One of my clients has previous experience working at an ad agency but decided to go and work for a smaller company. Rather than pay higher rates for elements of production they don’t need, they choose to do the ideation and pre-production phases themselves. This means they can work directly with a freelancer and save money. Sometimes I’ll film for them on a solo basis, or other times if the schedule is more packed, it’s worth going with an assistant to help move lights or make setup changes more efficient. But usually there’s no more than 2-3 people on set which brings large cost savings vs having a crew.

If you’re just starting out and only have a small budget for marketing, working with a freelance videographer can save you a lot of money or allow you to spend your budget more effectively.

Keep it simple

Sometimes you can tailor your projects to have maximum impact without having to be too creative. Don’t get me wrong, we all love creative briefs and a chance to film unique projects, but sometimes keeping it simple is the best option. 

Documentary content is more prevalent than ever, mostly thanks to Netflix series that should only be an hour long but somehow manage to drag the story out in to a 6 hour mini-series. I joke, but well filmed interviews can often be the most effective way to show people what your business can do. You could be telling your own story, recounting your journey and why you chose to launch this business. Or you could take a step back and let your clients do the talking. 

I recently worked with a chiropractor, at the start of the project he wasn't sure what type of video he wanted, but upon talking through it we decided that rather than film him, it’s better to film a few of his patients and let them tell their story. They were in pain and struggling with day to day tasks and he helped them to re-gain their independence. It’s a powerful example of promotion through storytelling and documentary. The more powerful your subjects are the more powerful the piece will be. When the project is finished i’ll be sure to share it.

These are just a couple of ways to get the results of a larger budget when working with a freelance videographer or small crew.

Drop me an email for a chat if you think I can help with your video content production. If I think you’re better off with an agency, I’ll be sure to tell you  

All the best,
Rog

The post How to save money working with a freelance videographer. first appeared on Rog Shafi.

My passion is telling stories for brands and people in a documentary style. Not all projects allow for this but I work with a talented network of agencies and other freelancers to make product videos pop on social media. Whether the client is catering to an established audience or the traffic is being driven by ads I strive to make people products and interiors stand out.

Recent clients incude Allianz, TikTok, Brooks England and lots more. The work on this site is a curated selection of my favourite and most visually pleasing films & videos rather than a catch-all mashup of every gig I’ve ever completed.

I take care of the whole video production process from ideation/pre-production, filming, video editing and delivery for any platform as required. I’m also happy to work alongside directors, art directors and video production agencies as required. 

I have a love for design & architecture and it’s been a pleasure to work on some high end homes and interiors projects over the last few years. I’ve produced films and videos for architects, interior designers, hotels and audio visual specialists.

No matter what your project, whether you’re a small company or a FTSE 500 conglomerate; if you’d like to discuss telling your story together, reach out and get in touch. I’ll be honest and tell you if it’s not the right fit.

All the best,

Rog

The post Who am I? first appeared on Rog Shafi.