When receiving requests for event coverage, I'm occasionally asked if I can provide documentation in both photo and video format. My general response being always the same, I thought it would be practical to outline here why - if you are considering both photography and video coverage - hiring one professional to do-it-all is generally extremely inadvisable.
WHY DO SOME ORGANISERS SEEK TO HIRE ONE PERSON TO DO BOTH PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEO?
Whilst there are several other practical advantages, one being ease of coordination (you only have to correspond with one individual), by far the main reason is budget; hiring any professional creative for an on location service will always be a considerable investment, hence it’s perfectly understandable that small to medium event organisers aim to optimise their budget. However, far from getting two services for the price of one, hiring one professional to tackle two tasks simultaneously, you will usually instead end up with a very bad compromise. Here’s why…
Material
Whilst a professional camera can take very good video and, likewise, many modern video cameras can capture very acceptable stills, neither is a replacement for the other, all the more so with the numerous accessories that each system necessitates.
From the perspective of a creative that’s been hired to do both tasks, their are two possibilities:
Use a compromise (e.g. a video camera for photography)
= at least one medium will suffer in terms of quality.
Use specialised equipment from both mediums (i.e. bring the kitchen sink with you)
= (justifiably) increased costs and, worse, decreased manoeuvrability (carrying, storing, and transporting that much material, on one's own, is extremely impractical).
Either way, the coverage will be compromised.
Multitasking
Even the most talented creative who has mastered both genres won't be able to do them simultaneously, they will have to switch between them; it’s either one or the other, never both. Whats really important to realise that, no matter how one’s though ahead, one can never make this switch seamlessly; there will always be a significant transition time. As such, essential coverage time will be lost.
Events are, by their very nature, eventful, and even an experienced professional like myself, working with just one medium, must constantly be focused on their time management so that their coverage is as efficient as possible. Add the responsibility of an additional medium to the mix and such efficiency simply isn't possible. In many ways, you’ll be getting the worst of both worlds.
Behind the Scenes (BTS) Footage
Clients always appreciate BTS footage of the technicians, namely video footage of the photographer / photographs of the videographer. Such footage, which shows a dedicated and cohesive behind the scenes team communicates the importance of the event, which is exactly the takeaway you want the viewer to have. If you've only one sole individual documenting the occasion, you simply will not get these images.
Specialisation
Whilst the equipment and the work method may look similar, one must always remember that photography and videography are two totally separate professions; Just because a photographer has a photo camera that can take great video, does not make them a a specialised videographer, and vice-versa.
In any case, even supposing that you found a creative who could handle both mediums to a flawless level, the same impracticalities outlined above would still apply.
Conclusion
Hiring 1 individual to do 2 separate tasks, you will risk far more than you stand to gain, in terms of both quality and coverage.
My advice is always, to either:
decide on one medium (the most important for the task at hand) and hire a specialised professional to do what they do best
bite the bullet and hire two professionals.
