Definition

• Videography includes two major elements: shooting moving images and editing footage. Shooting moving images involves composing each shot within the finished product, selecting the proper equipment for different filming assignments and of course, shooting the film, video tape or digital media to produce the best possible results. Videographers must also edit the images they shoot. Editing involves not only eliminating images that detract from the desired effect of the finished product, but also arranging images in the proper sequence to convey the desired narrative in the most effective way.
  
  

Training

• The majority of videographers obtain at least a bachelor's degree, although some community colleges also offer basic training in videography. Many videographers obtain specialized training in camera operations and video editing. Besides the obvious skills involved with operating a camera and editing film, video tape or digital media, videographers must increasingly understand and use computer technology in their work. Many videographers enter the filed working as production assistants for established television stations and other employers to learn the practical aspects of working in the field.
  
  

Equipment

• A camera with a set of appropriate lenses is the most basic piece of equipment involved in videography. The motion picture industry primarily uses film; television primarily uses videotape. Digital videographers often use digital cameras capable of recording MiniDV or DVD format footage. Other camera-related equipment for digital videography includes a FireWire to connect the camera to a computer and a tripod. Film and videotape require special editing equipment; digital videography editing requires only a computer and appropriate software.
  
  

Salary and Career Prospects

• Videographers work for movie studios, television stations, cable outlets and news organizations. Independent contractors record anything from weddings to industrial films or even their own features and documentaries. The field is very competitive, and personal references and recommendations are also important in obtaining new jobs and advancement, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. As of May 2010, the salaries for camera operators ranged from approximately $20 per hour in small television stations to more than $30 per hour for camera operators employed by the federal government. May 2010 averaged between $19 per hour for editors working in manufacturing to more than $30 per hour for editors in the motion picture industry, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.