Deciding on taking a cameraman to film your video professionally can give you unexpected results on both ends, meaning, the results could be positive or negative. Owning a camera should not automatically make one a cameraman. After all, it takes experience to be considered a professional in this field. The best cameramen have worked for a few companies and for a good number of years. If you make the mistake of hiring an inexperienced and experimenting cameraman, then you have just made a costly mistake.
What It Takes
So what does it take to become a cameraman in the first place?
A cameraman is also known as a camera operator. This is the person who handles TV cameras to record motion pictures, newscasts, TV shows, or even live events. A videographer can be a cameraman if he levels up in terms of camera handling.
An Associate’s Degree in Video Production is necessary to become a cameraman. There are certain positions that ask for a Bachelor’s Degree in TV Production or Film.
For the years 2012 till 2022, approximately 6% of camera operators will be required by the video, TV and motion picture industries. Expect an average salary of $52,530 annually. This information is according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What Does a Cameraman Do?
The cameraman is the one that’s responsible for recording shots for various purposes. He uses technical aspects of filters, lenses, zooms, and camera settings that capture important scenes. The clients get to have a say with regard to the video content but the cameraman must also respect his director.
A cameraman is also in charge of cleaning and maintaining his equipment. He should also be able to analyze sets for any possible challenges during the video shoots. He also has the power to instruct crew members regarding the setting, angles, distance and lighting.
The cameraman’s equipment may vary depending on the event that he needs to shoot. Some could use stationary cameras, for instance, on interviews. Cameras that are crane-mounted or track-mounted are better able to capture sceneries and movements. A lot of cameramen are also knowledgeable in editing their footage with the use of video editing software programs.
Being on the hiring end, you should consider the cameraman’s education and work experience. Some aspiring, newbie cameramen out there could entice you to hire them by offering you a cheap video package. Be wary when this happens. Such people are still building their career and so they do not have enough experience to back their promises.
Roughly, the charging rate for videography is $38,000 USD, this is the video production team’s annual average rate. Divide this amount to approximately 2,000 hours and you would arrive at $19 per hour or about $760 weekly. It is up to the cameraman, though, if he wants to charge by the hour or if he is amenable to a flat rate. Editing the video is also a part of the cameraman’s job so he could charge separately for this. Be sure to ask about this or you would be left to believe that it is already included on the initial charges.
