How to Hire and Work With A Videographer [A Step-By-Step Guide For Business Owners]
As a business owner looking to create video content for your brand or business, it is common to be unsure where to start.
We love providing helpful tips to business owners in Oklahoma. That’s why we’ve compiled this step-by-step guide on hiring and working with a videographer or producer to create video content for your business.
STEP ONE: FINDING A REPUTABLE VIDEOGRAPHER OR PRODUCER
You’ve decided you need help producing great video content for your brand or business. You’ve also decided that you don’t want to create the content by yourself. What’s next?
You’ll need a producer or videographer to help you realize your vision.
You can look for videographers or producers on LinkedIn, StaffMeUp, Thumbtack, or ProductionHub. Ask your producer for a resume or video reel and ask if they have experience creating the type of video you are producing (Ie. Promo video, music video, industry video, educational video, corporate video, episodic, etc…).
Take a look at the demo reels and when you find a producer or videographer you’re confident in, tell them about your project and ask them to send you a budget proposal. When contacting a videographer, they’ll let you know if you should hire a producer if you don’t already have one. If you’ve already sourced a producer for your project, they should be able to refer you to more than one videographer in the area.
So which do you need- a producer or a videographer? Well, that depends on the project that you’re trying to produce.
PLEASE READ OUR BLOG: Your Guide to Starting a YouTube Channel for Your Brand or Small Business + 10 Tips To Boost Engagement
WHAT DOES A PRODUCER DO?
Hire a video producer to help you finalize your script. They’ll also help you hire talent such as the videographer, any paid actors, production assistants, the sound mixer, the video editor, and other crew members. Some video content, like music videos, doesn’t require a sound mixer.
Your producer will help you select the best possible talent within your budget. The producer will also help you develop a film budget and can provide an itemized quote of approximately how much the final project will cost to create.
You can stipulate a do-not-exceed dollar amount in your contract for your protection. That way, you know the maximum amount you should anticipate spending and won’t need to be concerned about overages.
PLEASE READ OUR BLOG: How Hiring A Film Producer Can Help You Create Digital Content For Your Business
WHAT DOES A VIDEOGRAPHER DO?
A videographer is typically responsible for shooting the video only. Some videographers work as a one or two-person crew and can not only shoot the content but also edit and produce the content. These types of freelance videographers will typically charge a day rate and be able to send a quote that shows how many days of work they anticipate needing to plan, shoot, and edit the content.
STEP TWO: CONTACTING A VIDEOGRAPHER/PRODUCER
When contacting a videographer or a producer, tell them how you found them, what kind of project you’re developing detailing the basics including the desired final length of your video, how many interviews you’ll want to shoot, how many cameras you’d prefer, examples for references (if available), and your approximate budget (ie. microbudget, low budget, high budget, unlimited budget). Let them know if you need any animations, sound effects, or other additions.
Your videographer/producer will let you know if they’re available and able to take on your project and then you can get to work ironing out the details and preparing for a smooth and seamless shoot date.
STEP THREE: FINALIZING THE CONTRACT AND APPROVING A BUDGET
Your producer will send a budget proposal and draft a contract for your review and approval. This can be as pain-free as utilizing a general film contract template and making addendums or changes to reflect your agreement.
STEP THREE: FINALIZING THE SCRIPT AND SHOOTING SCHEDULE
Once you’ve finalized the contract and budget, you and your producer can finalize the script and generate a shooting schedule. The script should be clear and concise. It’s important to note that with more organic video shoots, like educational videos and product videos, there may not be an exact script. Your script estimate will look more like a list of questions with the idea of capturing the information from an expert. In this case, the expert will speak to the producer, breaking down information into bite-sized bits and delivering the information as if they were answering questions from the client. In other types of video content such as skits, or content with narration, there will often be an exact script that must be read or delivered word for word. If an actor or other talent needs to memorize lines, provide them with the script well in advance so they’ll be prepared for the shoot day.
Your producer will develop a shooting schedule based on time of day, location, times that talent and crew are available on-set, and other factors to guarantee the shoot day goes smoothly and takes up as little time as possible for both the talent and crew.
STEP FOUR: THE DAY OF THE SHOOT
The day of the shoot is exciting! Have fun and try to relax but remember to eat your brain food and bring your A-game! Film shoot days move fast and it’s easy to get overwhelmed but we’ve got you covered. Below are 6 bonus tips to help you prepare for your first video shoot day.
COME PREPARED TO SHARE YOUR EXPERTISE
As the client, you have valuable insight into the product, industry, or story the videographer is trying to capture. Come prepared to talk about your knowledge whether you are the one presenting on screen or you are simply there to provide moral support to the person being interviewed for the video. Remember to explain things like you’d explain them to a future client.
COME CAMERA-READY BUT BRING YOUR MAKE-UP ALONG
We recommend coming to set camera-ready but be sure to bring any makeup along for touch-ups. We also recommend bringing a pressed powder to reduce shine. Your producer or videographer will be able to tell you if you need powder on your forehead or chin to eliminate shine from the lighting.
BRING WARDROBE OPTIONS
Sometimes the shooting schedule will break down which outfit you need to wear. Having multiple outfits is essential on some shoots, especially if you are acting out the present and past in a clip. Changing outfits is an easy way to show that the action happened on a different day. The shooting schedule may indicate which outfit you’ll need to wear for which scene and when you should change your outfit.
If you are only asked to wear one outfit, you may want to bring a few alternatives. Having options is helpful to the videographer. If you wear a black shirt and the background is also black, your videographer might suggest changing shirts so you pop from the background. Certain fabrics and prints don’t translate on screen very well. You can ask your producer about outfits and accessories before the shoot date and they should be able to approve them or guide you toward alternatives.
BE FAMILIAR WITH THE LINGO
It’s not your job to know the film lingo but things will be moving fast around you and sometimes it helps to be somewhat familiar with film industry lingo. Here are some important terms to understand.
DP- this is the director of photographer aka your videographer
Speeding/Rolling- This means the camera or sound is recording
Action- This is when the action should start in a scene
Cut- This is when the camera and sound recording stop
Go For Another Take- “Takes” are opportunities to capture the desired scene. This means "Let's try the last scene again and hope to capture a better take."
These are just a few terms to be familiar with but your producer will help you feel as comfortable as possible on set so you know exactly what to do.
BRING DRINKS AND SNACKS
Bring a bag with drinks and snacks for yourself. Sometimes shoot days run long or lunch is late and it’s important to stay hydrated and energized throughout the day. Having a healthy snack and a drink available makes the difference between a bad time on set and a successful shoot day. Some productions will include a craft services table that offers snacks and beverages, but that will depend on the budget that you establish with your producer. At the very least, make sure you have something handy to snack on if you need it. Don’t be afraid to ask for a 15-minute break! Sometimes taking a break lends toward a productive shoot.
HAVE FUN AND BE YOURSELF!
Make sure to reference and follow the shooting schedule but otherwise, let your producer guide you, be yourself, and have fun!
STEP FIVE: VIDEO POST-PRODUCTION AND YOUR DELIVERABLES
After the adrenaline rush of the shoot day wears off, you’ll communicate with your producer about the status of your deliverables. They should be able to provide an estimate as to when you’ll receive your video and audio footage and when you can anticipate receipt of the final edit and other deliverables. Guidelines for this should also be indicated in your budget.
READY TO CAPTURE GREAT DIGITAL VIDEO CONTENT FOR YOUR BUSINESS?
Video production can be affordable and pain-free.
The videographers, video production, and editing experts at Spivey Media (based in Norman, Oklahoma) are ready to help you meet your business marketing goals and see a return on your marketing investment.
We create short- and long-form video content for your brand or business to boost trust and engagement with your target audience and increase conversions.
Give us a call today and tell us about your ideas and goals and we will get to work making them happen!