The Difference Between a Video Production Company and a Videographer

Should you hire a video production company or a videographer? A video production company employs or has a network of producers, directors, casting directors, wardrobe specialists, audio engineers, post production supervisors, etc… A videographer is one person.

The video production process can become very complicated and can require a team spanning the globe! A good video production company has different departments that specialize in each step of the production process, and full-time employees within each department. Production companies not only have camera operators (synonym for videographer) but directors of photography, first assistant camera, lighting specialists and audio operators. Those are just a few of the on-set specialists!

Every production specialist has a specific role in the production process, they spend all of their time on that task making sure it’s performed to perfection. As a team, specialists work to ensure the footage is precisely aligned with the client’s vision.

Videographers are ideal for for capturing outdoor b-roll footage, or other outdoor footage that doesn’t involve dialogue. We don’t mean that as an insult. Quite the contrary, most video production specialists began their careers as videographers. The difference between videographers and video production companies is scale.

A videographer, no matter how good, physically does not have the time to make sure the lighting is right, the sound is captured and synced with the video, the actors are speaking in line with the script and the tone of the project is aligned with the client’s vision.

Imagine a movie set where there is one person behind the scenes doing all of the work: operating the camera, refocusing the lens, holding the sound boom and making sure that the actors are saying their lines correctly. Doesn’t seem like a professional movie set, does it? Rhetorical question, of course not! It’s more like an amateur film made by an aspiring director.

Corporate video production is very similar to movie production. In fact, most video production is identical behind the scenes. The main difference being time. The average movie runs 1 hour and 30 minutes. A commercial or brand video is usually 1 minute and 30 seconds. Corporate or brand video is like filming one scene of a movie. Although it’s not any easier. Getting an entire plot and point across in 1/100th the time of a full-length film is no small feat!

With so much video content available, on numerous platforms, it’s essential to make an informed decision when choosing video professionals. You want your video to stand out, to make an impact and to get your vision across in a compelling manner. To achieve this takes a lot of effort and preparation. If your company is new to video production or inexperienced, it’s invaluable that you conduct research. We offer free consultations to help our clients understand the scope of their video production vision.

If your budget is tight, there are plenty of ways to save money when working with a video production agency. But, choosing a videographer instead of a production company is not recommended. They serve two entirely different purposes.

If you get a great deal on a video project, but no one sees it, is it a good investment?