I am a professional videographer. As a videographer, I have produced a wide variety of videos such as corporate videos, event videos, wedding videos, but my favorite have always been music videos. These videos are often the most demanding types of videos for a videographer, but it is through music videos that I have crafted my cinematic skills. In fact, when I am asked by those who want to become a videographer I often tell them to grab any camera, find a musician, and film their video.
Music Video Is Where I started as a Videographer
My career began with a music video. At the time I had a band and we were in need of our first music video to promote the music we had just recorded. I found few graduates from a film school who were eager to help us out. Fortunately for me, some of them did not fulfill their commitments fully, especially in the video post production, and so much of the work fell upon my responsibility. Being forced to finish the video, I spent several months learning the editing software, and in the end I edited my first video. I fell in love with the process and a few months later I purchased my first DSLR with HD video recording capabilities.
Music Video Blossoms Creativity
Although creativity is essential for any video, from event video to corporate video, music video forces a videographer to push his/her creativity. A videographer can get away with anything as long as the final video is appealing. Unlike a narrative film, the story line in a music video does not always have to make sense, follow strict rules of continuity, or resolve itself. In the 90s it was very common to have several unrelated story lines cut back and forth, and occasionally cutting to performing musicians. The only rule you do have to follow as a videographer making a music video is that every shot must be visually engaging. A good example of this is Closer by Nine Inch Nails. In a recent music video I have produced, I went with a crazy idea that could only be allowed in this creative format. We decided we would have the singer fly through an upside down world. This required some technical green screen shots and creative solutions to make the shot work. I have spent several days figuring out how to composite my green screen shots and upside drones shots. Initially it was a struggle but I finally found smoke overlays that looked like clouds and that glued the composite output into cohesive visual.
Any Formats will Do
Litery, you can film a music video using any camera, lens, and recording format. I have seen a videographer choosing to film using an old VHS video camera to achieve that retro look. No videographer has such freedom in the corporate space. Corporate videos tend to be the same because there is a standard of what is expected. Wedding videos are even more demanding of a certain standard expected by the married couples. The freedom of filming format makes a music video good practice for a starting videographer who does not have much invested in expensive video gear. A young videographer could use his phone to film a video and learn how to edit on free software that comes with most apple computers.
All Musicians Want Videos
It is not difficult to find opportunities to film a music video if you are a skilled videographer. Likely, music videos for unsigned musicians are not going to pay the bills for most videographers. However, there is much to be gained by offering one’s services for “pizza and beer” money. First, as I have mentioned, it gives a videographer an opportunity to try something creative and perhaps challenging. I have mentioned my green screen and upside down drone shot composite. On the other hand, when I work as a videographer for corporate jobs I tend to make more conservative choices. Secondly, a well crafted creative music video stands out in a videographer’s portfolio. I have at least 10 videos that I think are perfect corporate videos with perfect lighting, sound and son on. Yet, in all honesty, these corporate videos do not stand out very much from another’s videographer perfect corporate video. On the other hand a music video with a singer flying in upside down world is risky but at the same time unique.
Thank you for a great article. I was wondering how do you set a budget for a music video? I am a freelance videographer and I am trying to figure out how to set up my business. Thank you in advance.
Hi Amanda. Often it is a difficult task for a videographer to set a price for a video service and estimating video production budgets. When I started as a videographer I would determine how long would it take for video production and then later time needed for post video production. I would then estimate how much I want to be compensated per hour and go from there. However, I quickly learned that is not an efficient method for determining video production fees. I have learned that there are variables that determine a successful video production other than just the time committed. First, there is gear that as you progress through your career as a videographer you naturally accumulate. This gear is expensive and often I have seen other videographers price equivalent of rental fees. For example, if a videographer were to rent $500 of gear for a day but he/she owns it, that fee is added to the budget in addition to compensation for the time. Obviously renting gear for bigger project is an option and just adding the fee to the overall video production budget. I often still do this for bigger sets if I need extra lights. Another thing to consider as a videographer is special services in addition to just filming. Recently, I have been implementing more VFX in my video production. These are skills that took long time to learn and perfect. So as a videographer you need consider that in your rate. So lets say it takes me 2-3 hours of Adobe After Effects work for a short effect. I would naturally charge more than a regular rate of 2-3 hours worth of editing. This is something most clients will appreciate it, as this is a common practice in any business. Last advice I would give you is to budget appropriately for video production value. Especially in music videos, clients want a big production without understating the logistics and resources need for such video production. For example, if you need some exotic light for a large room with multiple dancers, this will require many lights and a crew to set it up. I have made mistakes initially in my career as videographer thinking that I can do it something my self and save money for my clients. I often ended stressing over inability to complete the task on time and not delivering what the client wanted. It is very important to be honest with your client when proposing an accurate video production budget in order to be a successful videographer. Hope this Helps Amanda.