Am I a videographer

I just called a client to catch up about an upcoming project, and I gave my name to her colleague who answered the phone.

She said: “You’re the videographer, I recognise your name.”

I feel disappointed (through no fault of the client’s) – because of the name ‘videographer’. I’ve never liked that term.

To me it sounds unskilled. I think it’s because we all had videos (VCR’s) at home back in the 1980s and 1990s…it seems so commonplace.

When I worked at the BBC, I was called a producer, and I probably tried to keep that label with the name of this blog – Confessions of a Social Media Producer.

When I call or write to people (in connection with video production) I refer to myself as a freelance video producer. I never say videographer.

I hired a couple of camera operators for a webcasting event I ran at the Scotsman newspaper officer just before the Scottish General Election and they were all wayyy more skilled than me at operating their equipment (some of which I could barely lift). Likewise with my ex-BBC chum Ken, retired cameraman. What he’s forgotten about camera work is still more than I know.

Then there’s DoP and filmmaker! Well, since I’m, working in the corporate world and have yet to make my own documentary, or work with film (do you have to work with celluloid film before you can call yourself a filmmaker?) I’m neither of those.

When it comes down to it: if you’re a potential client then you can cal me what you like.

Yes, even a videographer!