Partnering with the right videographer for your project is essential to the success of your video campaign. Choosing the wrong one can lead to disaster, miscommunications and wasted expenses that could have been better spent if you had chosen differently. You don’t’ want to waste your money, time and other resources with videographers who can’t help you to realize your vision as it’s intended. That’s why it’s so important to be diligent in your selection from available videographers.

Before making your final choice, you should interview several candidates for the job. To help you get started, we’ve compiled a list of questions that you should ask those you do interview. We’ll also discuss why these questions are so important to ask.

10 Questions to Ask a Videographer

Asking the right questions is important, but there is no such thing as a “wrong” question. Consider this list to be a starting point, not the end all, be all of inquiries. If you have any additional questions in mind, don’t be afraid to speak up!

Question 1: How Often Do You Do These Kinds of Projects?

You want to make sure that the videographer is adequately experienced in the field that you are involved in. Videographers work with all kinds of industries, but most will have specialties that they focus on. Instructional videos, non-profit PSAs, commercials, short films, wedding videography, and concert videography are some examples of the wide assortment of specialties possible. You don’t want to have your exercise video in the hands of someone who only excels at wedding videography, for instance.

Question 2: Do You Work with Others in the Area?

Videographers may work with other professionals to get the best outcomes for their clients. The most experienced ones have forged professional relationships in the area, which can be put to use for you. Some relevant industry pros are photographers and writers. When they partner with you and your videographer, the result is a more well-rounded video.

Question 3: What Restrictions Do You Have?

While it is ultimately a videographer’s job to ensure their client’s vision is achieved, there are some videographers who have fast rules and standards that they adhere to and will not bend for anybody. Before you book a videographer, you need to know what these rules and standards are. Otherwise, you might have to sacrifice some important aspects of your initial vision to work with them.

Question 4: What is Your Pricing Structure?

Most videographers will charge a flat rate for the time spent on your project, but if there are additional features that you require, you can expect to be made to pay an additional amount. There might be a series of packages on offer, which will vary in price. If you’ve chosen the videographer’s standard package, it helps to get an itemized list showing what’s included and what’s not.

Question 5: Have You Shot at this Venue Before?

If your video is going to take place in a designated location, it helps to have someone working for you who is familiar with the venue. If the videographer doesn’t know the location themselves, this isn’t a deal-breaker. They should, however, be open to touring the area prior to the shooting date so that they know what they’re working with when the session comes.

Question 6: Are You 100% Free on the Day I Need to Shoot?

Sometimes videographers do have very full schedules, often resulting in two or more bookings on the same day. If your project could be time-intensive, you might want to make sure that the videographer is totally available on the chosen date.

Question 7: What Equipment Do You Use?

Videographers make use of different types of equipment, which will depend on the nature of the project. Your videographer may recommend the use of lighting or sound equipment, for example, which may lead to additional charges. Most videographers will have this equipment themselves. Alternatively, they may have access to this equipment through a third party.

Question 8: Will There Be Secondary Cameras/Videographers?

Some projects are best accomplished when there are multiple cameras and multiple people to handle them. Different angles can be critical to the visual impact that the video leaves on its target audience, so this is worth inquiring about before you commit to booking the videographer.

Question 9: How Long Have You Been a Videographer?

Amateur videographers can be great, but an experienced one has the best eye for details, lighting and composition. You should ask about their length of experience within their industry, what types of videos they have contributed to the production of, and what they feel their strengths and weaknesses are as a videographer. Another great way to gauge whether the videographer is going to be a good fit for your project is to view some examples of their prior work.

Question 10: How Would You Describe Your Shooting Style?

Every videographer, just like every photographer, has their own style that is imbued in every video they are involved in the production of. This is another thing that you can get a feel for by viewing their prior work, but it pays to ask them to describe their own unique style. Some videographers, for example, take a more cinematic approach than a journalistic one. Cinematic style results in a production with more movie-like qualities. A journalistic approach to videography, on the other hand, lets the content speak more for itself. Whichever you choose will depend on your particular vision.

Choosing the Right Videographer is Important

These 10 questions are only to be considered a starting point for individuals looking to hire a videographer for their upcoming projects. If you have other questions burning at the back of your mind, feel free to ask the videographer for their input. You should never sacrifice your vision when choosing a videographer, so it pays to know what you could be dealing with before you make a commitment to a video professional.