A motion graphics professional who specializes in capturing and formatting music videos is known as a music videographer. The specific responsibilities of this position vary depending on the project’s scope and budget. Music videographers are frequently involved in lighting, sound, and shot setup in addition to the actual capture of visual images. He or she may also be in charge of combining audio and video tracks, as well as overall editing. However, on large productions, a videographer may be solely responsible for capturing the visual images, and multiple cameras or videographers may be employed.
Each crew member in an independent or low-budget music video production often wears many hats. For a music videographer, this could mean discussing lighting with the director or producer. To determine how each shot or shot segment should be lit, the videographer must evaluate the shoot location and cast members against the artistic vision for the project. Additional lighting in strategic locations can be used to highlight important features or create shadows. To achieve the desired effect, it may also entail adjusting camera settings and using specialty lenses and filters.
Individual shots or motion sequences are frequently set up with the help of the music videographer. This entails determining the best angle or angles from which to shoot and assisting on-camera talent in determining how to approach the film source. When deciding on lighting and shot setups, a music videographer must also consider special effects. Many recording devices have options for changing the speed and other effects of a shot.
Sound may or may not be recorded at the same time as video, depending on the project. This is customarily the case in smaller productions. On such a shoot, the music videographer is most likely in charge of ensuring that sound levels and quality are adequate. These responsibilities may be delegated to a sound engineer in larger productions.
If a video editor is on the project team, the videographer’s work will likely be completed once all of the footage has been shot. However, in many cases, a music videographer also serves as a video editor. He or she is responsible for cutting and editing raw footage using video editing software, as well as adding any postproduction special effects the producer desires. The videographer can edit the sound track and layer it onto the video track if the sound was recorded separately or if the audio and video tracks were separated for editing purposes.