All the methods and techniques used to capture moving pictures and images on electronic media, solid storage platforms, videotapes or streaming are referred to as videography. Whether it is amateur or professional videography, the term videography refers to and includes the processes necessary to electronic production and post production. Videography is the equivalent of cinematography; the element that differentiates between the two is that in videography the recoding media is electronic while in cinematography a film stock is used. The term is a combination of the Latin word ‘video’, which means ‘I see’ or ‘I apprehend’ and the Greek suffix ‘graphy’, which means ‘to write’. With the growth of digital cameras at the beginning of the 21st century, the distinction between cinematography and professional videography was no longer that apparent.
Both the amateur and professional videographer market have grown to include distribution together with production. Market segmentation was the result, based on the application: broadcast video, event video, corporate video and others. The development of the Internet has created a global environment in which videography covers many more fields than just shooting video with a camera. Thus, when depicting professional videography there are several categories to identify with distinctions between digital animation, web streaming, gaming, still slide-shows, video blogging, remote sensing, medical imaging, spatial imaging, and, in general, production of bitmap and vector-based assets. With the conquests in the world of computers and the world wide web on the one hand and that of videography technologies on the other, videographers can now create their assets on the computer without involving image devices at all. All they can use in the process includes software-driven solutions.
Professional videography requires more than the simple camera operation, since visual design and production are equally part of the job. Professional videography in particular, also deals with compiling artists’ video releases or music videos, like in discography or filmography.
In professional videography the specialist spends many hours documenting on the videography event she or he is going to put on video. After that, the cutting of some scenes and the application of the music background that create the smoothing flowing video story take some more hours of work. Professional videographycan thus be defined as the art of capturing certain moments in time. The process requires vision and inspiration along with hard work and commitment. Technical knowledge as well as high tech equipment are also necessary to produce the best quality video. In order to become videographers some people attend film schools whereas others start on this career after regularly videotaping events for family and friends.
