What should you ask a videographer before hiring them?
Before you hire a videographer, ask to see full videos rather than a showreel, ask how the process works from planning to delivery, get a fixed price with a clear list of what's included, ask who owns the footage and where you can use the finished video, and check they carry backup equipment and insurance. Their answers tell you more than the price alone ever will.
Ask about the portfolio, not just the showreel
A 30-second highlight reel of someone's best shots tells you very little. Ask to watch two or three complete videos, ideally for businesses similar in size or type to yours. You're checking two things: can they tell a story from start to finish, and does their style suit what you want. A videographer who's happy to show full projects, not just the best five seconds of each, is usually confident in their work.
Watch for sound as much as picture. Plenty of showreels hide poor audio behind music and quick cuts, and clean sound is one of the harder things to fix well after filming, so a full video with someone talking is a fairer test than a montage.
Questions worth tailoring to your project
A few extra questions are worth adding depending on what you're actually booking:
- For a wedding or event: what's the backup plan if they're ill, and do they film solo or with a second person?
- For a business promo: how many locations and how much filming time are included, and is a script or interview format part of the plan?
- For ongoing content like reels: is there a monthly option, and how much planning input do you get versus them working from a content plan?
- For anything with speakers or performers: do they need separate permission from anyone on camera before the video can be published?
- For anything filmed outdoors: what's the plan if the weather turns, a reschedule at no extra cost or a different backup plan?
Ask about the process
A few questions here reveal a lot about how organised the work will be:
- Is there a planning stage before filming, or does filming start on the day with no brief?
- Who actually films and edits: the same person, or does it get handed between people?
- How many rounds of changes are included, and what happens if you want more?
- What formats do you get: widescreen, vertical, both?
- What's the typical delivery time from filming to finished video?
Ask about price
A fixed quote, agreed before filming, is worth more than a low headline day rate with a long list of extras. Ask what's included in the price, what counts as extra, such as drone footage or a second location, and what the deposit is. I quote a fixed price within 24 hours and take a 50% deposit to book, which is a fair benchmark to compare against.
Also ask what happens if the shoot overruns, or if you decide you want an extra format or a longer edit once you've seen the first cut. A clear answer here, even if it's simply “that's billed at an agreed hourly rate”, is far better than finding out mid-project that anything beyond the original plan is open-ended.
Ask about rights and where you can use the video
Get clear, before you book, on where the finished video can be used: your website, social media, paid ads, or only some of those. Ask whether you'll get the raw footage or only the edited film, most videographers keep the raw files and deliver the edit, which is standard, but it's worth knowing upfront. If music is included, ask whether the licence covers the places you plan to use the video, since a track cleared for a website isn't automatically cleared for a paid ad. I go into this in what music you can legally use in business videos.
Ask about the practical side
A few more questions worth having answers to before you commit:
- Do they carry backup equipment, a second camera and audio recorder, in case something fails?
- Do they have insurance, particularly public liability if filming on your premises or at a venue?
- Will they travel to you, and is that included in the quote or charged separately?
- What happens if they're ill on the booked day?
Red flags worth listening for
Be cautious of a videographer who can't show full videos, avoids putting the quote in writing, is vague about who owns the footage, or has no answer for what happens if the shoot needs to be rescheduled. Pressure to book immediately, with no time to compare against another quote, is another sign worth noticing rather than ignoring.
None of these questions are awkward to ask, and a videographer who's done this before will expect them. My own answers to all of the above are on the contact page, along with examples of finished projects.
Questions people also ask
How many videographers should I get quotes from?
Two or three is usually enough to compare price, style and how clearly each one answers your questions. More than that tends to slow you down without adding much useful information.
Is it normal for a videographer to ask for a deposit?
Yes, a deposit of around 50% to secure the date is standard across the industry. It's reasonable and protects both sides once a date is booked.
Should I ask for references, not just reviews?
It's a fair question, though public reviews you can read independently are often just as useful and quicker for a videographer to provide. Ask for whichever gives you confidence.
What if a videographer can't answer these questions clearly?
Take it as useful information. A videographer with a clear process should be able to answer all of this without hesitating, and vague answers are usually a sign the process itself is vague.
Got a project in mind?
Tell me the goal, the place and a rough date. You'll have a fixed quote within 24 hours.