When a company hires me to shoot a video, they often think they are hiring one person with a camera. On a lot of jobs, that is not what happens at all. By the time we are rolling, I have quietly built and paid a crew of six to eight people. That is the part of a director of photography's job most people never see, and it is exactly why hiring a DP is different from hiring a videographer.
A DP Is a Producer in Disguise
On paper, the producer runs the logistics and budget and the DP runs the camera and lighting. In the real world of small and mid-size commercial shoots, those lines blur, and the DP ends up doing a lot of the producing. I am the person who reads the job, figures out what crew it actually needs, calls the people I trust, agrees on their rates, books them, and makes sure everyone and everything shows up in the right place at the right time. I am the glue between a lot of moving parts.
What "Hiring a DP" Actually Gets You
Take a recent corporate shoot. The client hired me. What they actually got was a full crew that I assembled and paid: a gaffer for the lighting, a grip for rigging and support, a teleprompter operator, hair and makeup, and a first AC pulling focus and running the camera department alongside me. On bigger days I source additional crew on top of that. The client signed one contract and had one point of contact, and I handled the rest.
That is the real value. I do not just show up and operate a camera. I crew the job and I pay the crew, so it works as a one-stop shop. Whether you are a U.S. production company that needs a city handled or a local brand that has never run a shoot before, it is the same for you: one call, one invoice, a complete crew on the ground.
DP vs Videographer: Why It Matters
This is the difference people search for and rarely get a straight answer on. A videographer usually works alone. They frame, shoot, and often edit, which is perfect for events, quick turnarounds, and single-camera jobs. A director of photography designs the entire visual language of a piece and, just as importantly, is the head of the camera department. A DP is used to leading a crew, and on independent commercial work that leadership naturally extends into producing, and often directing, too.
So when you hire a videographer, you get one skilled person. When you hire a DP like me, you get the visuals, the crew, and the person who makes the whole day run. For anything beyond a simple single-operator job, that is usually the better value, not the more expensive one.
Why This Makes a Producer's Life Easier
Out-of-town production companies value it because they can land in Calgary and know the local crew, gear, and logistics are already handled by one trusted person. Brands and marketing teams value it because they do not have to become producers themselves. Either way, hiring one DP who can crew and run the shoot removes the hardest part of making a video, which is assembling and coordinating the right people. That is why the DP, as the head of the camera department and often the director as well, is the most valuable single hire on most shoots.
Hiring a DP: Common Questions
Does a director of photography hire the crew?
Often, yes. On independent commercial and corporate shoots, the DP frequently assembles and hires the crew, drawing on a trusted network of gaffers, grips, first ACs, and other specialists. As a Calgary DP I crew and pay the team myself, so the client deals with one point of contact instead of hiring each role separately.
What is the difference between a DP and a producer?
A producer runs the logistics, budget, and scheduling, while a director of photography leads the camera and lighting and shapes the visuals. On smaller commercial productions those roles overlap heavily, and the DP often ends up producing too: sizing the crew, booking people, and making sure the day runs on time.
What is the difference between a DP and a videographer?
A videographer usually works solo, framing and shooting and often editing, which suits events and quick single-camera jobs. A director of photography designs the full visual language of a piece and is the head of the camera department, used to leading a crew. For anything beyond a simple single-operator shoot, a DP brings both the craft and the team.
Should I hire a DP or a videographer?
Hire a videographer for a simple, single-person job like an event or a quick social clip. Hire a director of photography when the project needs a considered look, real lighting, multiple crew, or someone to run the shoot end to end. A DP can crew and coordinate the whole production, which a solo videographer cannot.
How many crew does a DP bring on a shoot?
It depends on the job, but a commercial or corporate shoot commonly needs six to eight people. A recent shoot included a gaffer, a grip, a teleprompter operator, hair and makeup, and a first AC, all hired and paid by me as the DP, with additional crew sourced for larger days.