Cinematography VS Videography

Overview

The world of video production is a wide and varied industry that includes both traditional crew roles as well as all-encompassing solo work and with video becoming a more popular medium, there is a growing confusion around the roles inside of this industry. Videography and cinematography are terms that are often used by the general public interchangeably; however, each of these terms have deeper meanings behind them. Typically, someone who simply documents things through video is a videographer and someone who creates and directs content to create a more distinguished video is a cinematographer.

Videography

The term “videography” was initially defined as “the process of capturing videos or moving images using electronic media such as tapes, hard drives, or DVDs.” As the video industry grows though, this term is becoming more and more unclear. Overall, a videographer is often a “run and gun” type of shooter who documents things as they are. This could include events, performances, lectures and more. A videographer also tends to be a sole proprietor, who gets hired with the expectation that a solo shooter will show up and capture a video with minimal equipment.

Cinematography

A cinematographer is most frequently defined as “someone who directs the visuals in a film” and the term can encompass just about any aspect of the filmmaking process. A cinematographer captures more than images - they evoke feelings and strive to make the viewer really feel something. In order to do that, cinematographers take control of the setting they’re working in - the lighting, the room, the sound, the script, the overall composition, everything, in order to create the tone and mood that they want to portray. Cinematographers are often brought on to jobs with the expectation of having a high quality, cinematic product by the end of the project.

Which is better?

Cinematographers and videographers both have a time and place where they thrive, so we can’t really say which discipline is “better.” Here at Absorb, we mostly work as cinematographers; however, there are some projects where we take on more of a videography type of role. This is where a production company stands out - we’re able to evaluate our partners’ needs and determine what style better fits their goals.