7 Things to Know Before Hiring a Freelance Videographer

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7 Things to Know Before Hiring a Freelance Videographer

Do you want to hire a videographer for your event but don’t know how to find a good one? This task can be quite difficult if you are not aware of several basic aspects. Follow these tips to find a top-quality videographer who knows what to do to create amazing video content.

1. What’s Your Budget and Timeline?

hire a videographer budget and timeline

Before you hire a videographer, think about your budget to understand who you can work with. If it’s limited, don’t hope to find a true professional as they usually work with large brands.

Also, it’s no use hiring an expensive videographer for plain tasks that any beginner could do. Sometimes, you need to set your priorities straight and compromise on something.

If you prioritize quality and a good price, you can get both of them, but it will take longer to get results.

If the budget is the most significant thing for you and you want to get quick results, be ready to compromise on quality. The perfect option is when the quality and speed are priorities and the price is less important.

If you want to save as much money as you can, take the raw footage, watch Adobe Premiere Pro CC Tutorials and try editing your video by yourself.

With such a simple video maker as Promo, even beginners can get professional results.

2. Know Where to Look

hire a videographer where to look for

The next thing you should do if you want to hire a videographer is to figure out how to contact them. If you can’t afford to pay for their tickets and hotel, then you need to find a local professional. There are a few non-exclusive options, which will help you find video makers in your area.

Ask for Recommendations: The simplest way to find a professional freelance video maker is to ask somebody for recommendations. If your acquaintance can recommend you a videographer who specializes in the type of content you are interested in, you can hire them with confidence.

Use Social Media: If you fail to find a freelance videographer straight away, try using online forums, Facebook and LinkedIn groups. You can get some nice recommendations there and find a good specialist.

Check Freelance Job Boards: You can find many talented video makers on Upwork, Fiverr and other websites who will be glad to help you. On these websites, you can see their previous projects for other companies and read reviews.

Hire a Talent Recruiter: Also, you can contact a talent recruiter who will find a specialist for you. Even though you will probably have to pay for their service, with it, you will be able to focus on your business and allow another professional to find a perfect video maker for you.

3. Always Meet the Videographer Prior to Hiring

 a videographer interview questions

If you can, meet a videographer in person before you work with them. This way, you will understand whether you will be able to work with them. Ask different questions to get to know them.

If you can’t arrange a meeting, try calling them on Skype or FaceTime. For example, if you need to hire a wedding videographer, they will be with you all the time. So, make sure to check whether you feel comfortable around this person. Think of what you want to ask them in advance.

4. What Is Their Specialty?

hire a videographer specialty

Not all video makers work in the same genre. Many have their own specialty, however, most of them can solve any task. That’s why you should learn beforehand what genre they specialize in because filming a music event will be different from recording a wedding.

Also, they don’t have the same style. Wedding videographers, for example, may have a journalistic or cinematic approach, which is why you need to decide what type of video you want to get. If you want to edit it by yourself, use Promo templates. With them, you can edit videos of various styles.

5. Check Their Portfolio

hire a videographer

Most freelance videographers have a portfolio so make sure to take a look at it before contacting them. This way, you will see whether they can implement your idea.

When studying portfolios, check whether transitions are smooth and whether the video quality is good enough. As for the audio, there shouldn’t be any background noise, it needs to be clear and crisp, and the speech should be synchronized.

6. Read the Reviews

If you want to hire a videographer who can cope with advanced tasks, it’s important to read reviews beforehand. Thus, you will see what other clients say about them.

When studying reviews, check if people were happy with the results, whether they got them on time, and whether a videographer was helpful. If you are working on a very important project, you may even want to talk to their previous clients.

7. Sign a Contract

hire a videographer contract essentials

Make sure to sign the contract. Videography contracts define results and guarantee protection for you and a videographer. Study it carefully. Check that it states the price and the payment method. Also, make sure your contract includes the cancellation conditions, what exactly a videographer will record, for how long, and how many DSLRs for video will be used.

Your contract should include everything you need.

Aside from the most important aspects, if you have agreed with your videographer on anything else, ask them to write it in the contract so that there won’t be any misunderstandings.

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