Freelance Videographer / Field Camera Operator

Freelance Videographer / Field Camera Operator Location: Twin Cities, Minnesota Engagement: Freelance, assignment-based Coverage Area: Minneapolis, St. Paul, and the surrounding Twin Cities metro Role Overview We are seeking freelance videographers and field camera operators based in the Twin Cities who can independently travel to assigned locations and capture high-quality video and audio footage. This is an assignment-based role for experienced video professionals who are comfortable working independently in the field. Assignments may include filming locations, businesses, public spaces, events, community activities, scheduled interviews, establishing shots, and supporting B-roll for videos in production. The primary responsibility is to capture complete, professional, and well-organized footage that can be delivered to our production team for editing. This role does not require the freelancer to act as a journalist or appear on camera. The ideal freelancer can manage the full field-production process without a separate crew, including camera operation, audio recording, basic lighting, shot composition, and footage organization. Responsibilities Travel throughout Minneapolis, St. Paul, and the surrounding metro area for assigned shoots. Capture high-quality footage of assigned locations, neighborhoods, businesses, landmarks, events, public spaces, and other relevant subjects. Record establishing shots, wide shots, medium shots, close-ups, detail shots, environmental footage, and supporting B-roll. Film scheduled interviews when required. Operate a professional camera or high-quality smartphone production setup independently. Set up and monitor microphones, tripods, stabilizers, portable lighting, and other basic field-production equipment. Record clean, usable video and audio. Follow assignment briefs, shot lists, creative direction, reference materials, and production guidelines. Capture sufficient coverage and multiple angles to give editors flexibility in post-production. Confirm locations and other important production details before leaving an assignment. Follow privacy, consent, release, location-permission, editorial, and safety procedures. Label, organize, and upload footage promptly. Provide notes identifying important shots, locations, technical issues, missing footage, or anything else the producer or editor should know. Represent the production professionally when working at locations or interacting with members of the public. Required Experience and Skills Must be based in the Twin Cities area. Professional experience in videography, video production, documentary production, news video, commercial production, content creation, or related field work. Experience operating a camera or high-quality smartphone video setup. Strong understanding of framing, exposure, focus, lighting, audio, and basic shot composition. Ability to capture clean, stable, professional-looking footage. Ability to work independently as a one-person field-production unit. Strong attention to detail and the ability to follow a shot list or assignment brief. Reliable transportation and the ability to travel throughout the Twin Cities metro. Ability to meet agreed deadlines and deliver complete, organized production materials. Preferred Experience Previous work as a freelance videographer, camera operator, multimedia producer, documentary shooter, field producer, or video content creator. Familiarity with Minneapolis, St. Paul, and surrounding communities. Experience producing footage for digital media, documentaries, news, social platforms, YouTube, or short-form video. Experience filming interviews, events, businesses, public spaces, and location-based stories. Basic editing skills. Familiarity with appearance releases, recording consent, and location permissions. Access to professional or prosumer camera, microphone, tripod, stabilization, and portable lighting equipment. Drone experience and proper certification, where applicable, is a plus. Assignment Structure This is a freelance, project-based position rather than a full-time staff role. Freelancers may be contacted for assignments based on location, availability, subject matter, equipment, and production needs. The scope, deadline, expected deliverables, usage, and compensation will be agreed upon before each assignment. Assignments may include: Capturing exterior and interior footage of a specific location. Filming neighborhoods, streets, landmarks, businesses, or public spaces. Recording establishing shots and extensive supporting B-roll. Filming a scheduled interview with a local source. Attending and filming a public meeting, event, press conference, or community gathering. Capturing footage related to a specific story or video topic. Producing a complete field-footage package with interviews, location footage, natural sound, and B-roll. Freelancers will generally receive an assignment brief, location details, a shot list, reference materials, and production guidance. They should also be able to use their visual judgment in the field to capture additional footage that may be useful during editing.