Should you add video to your stills photography skillset?

Do you really need to add video to your professional stills photography business? Many photographers have asked themselves if diversifying to include a video offering is necessary to remain relevant, or if it makes more sense to specialise in the one area of stills photography they are passionate about.

We asked photojournalists and Canon Ambassadors Magnus Wennman and Ilvy Njiokiktjien to give us their views on how important video shooting skills have become for professional photographers.

"I feel my work is all about finding the best possible way to tell a story. The Canon EOS 5D Mark II [now succeeded by the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV] changed everything. For the first time I could shoot stills and video with one camera. The transition to video came very naturally to me. Suddenly I could create content that I simply couldn't make with still images alone. And it was fun to learn something new. As photographers, we often don't have people to teach us, so it comes down to experimenting – to trial and error. We learn through our mistakes, but that's no bad thing. It was an inspiring and exciting time."

Magnus now shoots with a Canon EOS R5 which, along with the EOS R6, is as well-suited for shooting video as it is for taking stills. The Canon EOS R System is designed with hybrid shooters in mind, from the impressive array of RF lenses to the advanced autofocus and image stabilisation systems for video as well as stills.

"Something I find hugely important when I'm shooting video is that I can decide exactly how I want to tell a story," says Magnus. "The EOS R5 is a fantastic camera. It's been a revelation to me. It's the only camera I use right now, both for stills and video. The quality is so good that you don't even need to think twice. The camera's versatility is amazing. I like to carry as little gear as possible because I find that carrying too much stuff can be really limiting when I'm chasing a story. I usually just take the Canon EOS R5 with Canon RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM and RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM lenses, and that covers everything."

"Sometimes it can feel embarrassing when you don't know what you're doing, but I'm a firm believer in putting the story first and doing whatever it takes to tell that story. Learning something new is always cool anyway. Sometimes it even helps to come to something new without any preconceptions and to just do what comes naturally. It's interesting how much and how quickly we learn as we go along.

Perseverance is key, as far as Ilvy is concerned. "I think that if a story is important to you, then you should just run with it. Editors might tell you it's a boring story, or that they don't have the budget to publish it, and often won't even get back to you at all. But if you feel in your heart that a story needs to be told, stick at it. For my Afrikaner Blood project, I got told 'no' so many times, but if you believe in something, you have to keep going. Never give up."

Like Magnus, Ilvy now shoots with a Canon EOS R5. "This camera has literally changed my day-to-day job as a photographer. Thanks to the EOS R5, I've truly become a better storyteller. It makes everything so easy, intuitive and instant. I can react much more quickly, and because the R5 focuses so crazy fast, I can put my time and energy into really connecting with people, instead of being busy with and distracted by the need to adjust camera settings. It's the most amazing extension of all the great lenses and other gear that I've already been working with."