Before you hire an Oregon video team to create your masterpiece, you'll want to ask some basic questions to make sure they are the right videographer for you. Just looking at a person's reel may not tell you everything you need to know.
I recommend working with a professional videographer whenever possible. While it may seem like anyone with a cell phone can be a filmmaker these days, there's a lot that goes into professional video that you may have never thought about. Here are the qestions we suggest asking before you make a final booking.
Have you worked with my kind of business before?
This is pretty self-explanatory. Familiarity with your industry is important. A videographer may be great at filming outdoor gear (this is Oregon after all), but that won't necessarily translate to real estate.
What do you need from me to make the process go smoothly?
Not only does this give you important information about the expectations both sides will have, but it will also help you envision what it will be like working with this videographer. Many times I've been hired by a company, and then am not supplied with the information and assets I need to do the job properly.
This can include a shooting script (the shots you want us to get), photos of your business so we can plan for the lighting and sound requirements, and more. This failure to provide the necessary info is often the result of a person or staff that is too overwhelmed to devote the proper energy and attention to a marketing project, even though I'll be the one doing all the heavy lifting.
Going through the process with your potential videographer first will give you a chance to evaluate how much time you'll need to devote to ensuring a successful outcome and get maximum value from your investment.
How do you determine your prices?
A videographer will understandably be hesitant giving you a quotation before they have all the details for the shoot and the deliverables. Understanding how they figure out how much to charge will help you gauge the final cost, while also learning about how professional they are in their operations.
How much and what kind of gear will you be bringing?
You may not understand what all of it means, but when you're comparing who you want to work with, this question will help you separate the pros from the bros (I've always wanted to say that!).
What is your turnaround time?
Once everything is shot, you'll want an idea of how long the editing process will take. Look for a number that isn't too short (if they say they'll get a finished video to you in less than a week, they either aren't being realistic, or not putting the care into post production that you should expect) and isn't too long (anything more than three months should be a sign they are overwhelmed. 30-60 days is the sweet spot, unless we're talking an extremely small or large project.
Are social media cutdowns included?
Many people don't think about this, but I always include 1-3 cutdowns in my quote. This is a cheap and easy way to get more value from your video project.
What happens if I need to postpone a shoot?
Sometimes it happens. You need to reschedule for some reason. A professional videographer will likely have provisions included in their contract regarding cancelled or rescheduled shoots, depending on how much notice you're able to give. This is definitely something you'll want to discuss beforehand.
Why should I hire you?
Sometimes you need to be blunt. Before hiring a videographer, it's okay to put them on the spot to learn whether it's worth hiring them. If they can point to specific work they have done that impresses you, then that's a good sign they can do the job.
Video Production For The Pacific Northwest
PDX Videographer offers affordable video services for small- and medium-sized businesses just like yours. Contact me today to learn more about our videography packages.