Videographer vs Video Producer

So you need a professional video — should you contact a videographer or a video producer? The terms may seem interchangeable, but the knowledge and abilities of each are vastly different. Think of it this way - you wouldn’t hire a painter to build your home, you would hire a general contractor. The painter is only trained to handle one specific aspect of construction, while contractors know how to plan out the whole picture and arrange all the necessary preparations. Videographers and video producers are trained in a similar manner.

#ProTip: A complex production needs a producer, not just a videographer.

Like the painter, videographers are experts at their craft, which includes running the camera, setting up shots, and arranging lighting. If that is all your project needs - for example, you need a wedding filmed in a straight-forward manner - then it is most cost-effective to simply hire a videographer (make sure they can edit, too!). You will want to hire a video producer, on the other hand, if your project is more complex - for example, you want interviews arranged into an engaging video with artistic b-roll. The video producer knows how to coordinate the schedule, what crew members will be needed, what legal permissions to get, and will gather additional resources that are critical to the shoot. More importantly, the video producer will work right with you to make sure your needs are met and that your video achieves your goals effectively. So, for small jobs that just require a bit of filming, a videographer will do, but if your project is more complex, you’ll want to contact a video producer to get the job done right.

Katie Rutter is the executive producer of Thing in a Pot Productions. She has received multiple awards for her videos and the overall quality of her work, including being honored as Video Producer of the Year in 2018 by the Catholic Press Association. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our video ProTips in your inbox every month!