So, your wedding is in a few days and everything is set. Well, everything except the cameraman. You’ve been planning a photoshoot or ad for your new product and you’ve finally assembled everything you need. But you only start checking for a cameraman just a few days before the shoot.
The above scenarios portray one common mistake people often make when they need someone behind the camera. They start their search for one too late and then end up settling for just about anyone. Another mistake people make is thinking photography is no big deal and anyone can handle it. Our smartphones these days make taking pictures and making videos so easy everyone now think they are the best photographer ever.
Wrong. Photography is a skill and even with the best equipment, your cousin Ron most likely won’t do a great job if he isn’t a professional photographer.
So when looking for a photographer or videographer in London there are two things you have to do. One, do not leave the job for that unskilled family member or friend that says “it’s just taking pictures”. Two, start your search ahead of time so that you’d get the best.
During your search, also make sure you consider the following to ensure you get someone that will do a great job for you.
1. Flexible/People-Friendly
It doesn’t matter what you are doing, working with someone whose presence isn’t a pain is what everyone wants. When it comes to cameramen, the stakes are even higher. This person doesn’t just have to be nice; they also have to be flexible and people-friendly.
People will be behind the cameras except in some cases like products shoots (even these involve people sometimes). The videographer should be able to ensure that the people being filmed aren’t upset or uneasy. They also have to be flexible enough to understand when there’s an unavoidable delay on set, or when you need to reshoot because the shot didn’t come out the way you thought.
2. Technical Skills
Camera operators need to man their equipment, maintain composition, ensure camera angles are perfect, and so much more. Trust us, all these aren’t easy feats. Becoming a professional skilled cameraman takes years of learning. After which, they’d still spend even more years practicing to develop skills for their specialty.
For example, a good news cameraman has to think fast and move quickly. Another camera operator, on the other hand, may be great when it comes to sports production so they know how to follow the ball. Someone else might be an expert with multi-cam. Another may be an Electronic Field Production (EFP) expert; this requires precise composition and lighting. You can visit https://www.youtube.com/ to learn more about EFP. Some can handle just about anything thrown at them.
So, before you make your choice, think of the professional’s technical skills and be sure it matches your needs.
3. Strength/Physical Stamina
Yes, knowing the latest trend in the industry and having the skills to bring them to life is important. What is also important is the professional’s physical stamina.
Shooting is fun (especially for someone who has chosen it as a career), but it is also quite demanding. Cameramen have to stand on their feet for long hours and sometimes even during challenging conditions. You have to be sure that your cameraman will be able to handle these conditions.
4. Attentiveness
The camera operator has to be attentive enough to even the minutest detail. If it’s a large-scale production, then they’d work with a team. Each team member should be able to carry out their instructions to a T.
5. Creativity
Creativity isn’t something people are taught. It’s mostly innate and for someone to pick this career path, they need to have plenty of creativity in them. A cameraperson worth their salt should know a great opportunity when they see one. They should also have a creative eye to capture shots.
They should know how to look into their lens and visualize all the elements of the shot coming together. Creativity is so crucial in photography. Click here to read about how important creativity is in photography. Hence, you need to find a cameraperson that has a creative eye to bring your shoot to life.
Conclusion
There are so many factors to consider when hiring a cameraperson. Are they creative? What is their area of specialization? Do they have physical stamina? Can they work with people? How attentive are they to details? All these are important questions to ask before you decide on hiring a cameraperson. If they have all of these qualities, they mostly will do a great job for you.
