#161 - How to pitch to your videographer
Share the concept behind the track - A good music video should visually experiment with the ideas explored in your music. Is your track recounting a past experience, a certain mood or feeling? All of this is key to communicate to your videographer, so your video can enhance the concept behind your track.
Share your social media profile, alongside previous videos and photoshoots - It’s important for your videographer to understand your existing aesthetic, so they can help produce a video that is recognisably “you” to your followers. Or, you may want to rebrand. If so, this is important to communicate too - why not share a moodboard to whoever you’re working with, to ensure you’re both on the same page aesthetically.
Discuss preferred locations - This is important on both a practical and, again, on an aesthetic level. Is your new release place specific? Will you be filming indoors / outside? These are all things your videographer will want to consider well ahead of time - different locations require different kinds of preparation, as well as different time frames.
Who else is involved? - Have you enlisted the help of dancers, actors, or a set designer for your video? This will be useful information for your videographer to be aware of ahead of time. They’ll want to consider how they might use the location, and knowing the number of people who will need to be in shot at particular points of the video will be key
Have all of this planned ahead of shooting - You’re videographer will want to know how much time they can expect to spend filming, where they need to travel to, and the equipment they’ll need as far ahead of shoot day as possible. The more prepared you both feel, the smoother the process on the day
Clear communication on the day - This applies to both parties. It’s important for you to clearly communicate what you’re comfortable with before and throughout the shoot, especially if you’re a newer artist. Equally, it’s useful to remember that the videographer is the one behind the camera, so they will be best placed to give pointers on positioning etc. - trust their professional knowledge, whilst also setting clear boundaries.
