What to Look for In a Videographer

Embarking on a video marketing campaign for your brand is an exciting time, with so much potential to get creative and produce something that will reach a new audience and increase your exposure, but how do you select the right people to deliver on that vision? Here’s what to look for in a videographer.

When it comes to credentials to look for in a videographer, professionalism needs to be at the top of your list. This kind of professionalism comes from experience in the field, from having planned, shot, and edited films to a high standard many times over.

A high level of professionalism extends to all areas of the video production process, from effective planning in the pre-production stage, to staying on schedule during the shoot, to delivering a sleek and stylish final product.

Flexibility is key when it comes to video production. Over the course of the project, many things can change, such as your needs as a client, the direction of the video campaign, your timeframe, or your budget. When looking for a videographer, make sure they are flexible enough to accommodate whatever changes may come, and work with you to come up with creative solutions to meet the new criteria.

One of the most important things to look for in a videographer is someone who understands your vision for the project. Whilst you want your videographer to be creative and bring their own ideas to the table, they must also be committed to bringing your original vision to life. 

The best videographers are the ones who take your vision and build upon it, rather than trying to make it ‘their’ project. They will also be able to come up with creative solutions for ideas that may not initially seem possible logistically or within budget, but the ability to do this only comes from experience.

The best way to know if a videographer has what it takes to bring your vision to life is to see if they have worked on similar projects in the past. Not all videography projects require the same skills, so a videographer with a wealth of experience in making office training videos might not be the right choice to make the video for your sports brand.

We’ve said it before, but the planning stages of pre-production are just as important as the shoot itself if you want things to run smoothly. That’s why, when it comes to choosing a videographer, you need to look for someone with a knack for forward planning. 

Effective forward planning on a shoot means that, when they arrive on set, the videographer is not only prepared with a completed script, storyboard and shot list, but has thought logistically about the location and any restrictions around shooting there, as well as more unpredictable factors like the weather.

Even with the best possible forward planning, no one can predict exactly what will happen on a shoot. Sometimes, everything aligns and goes exactly to plan but problems with equipment, locations falling through at the last minute, or unexpected weather are hard to plan for. 

When searching for a videographer, look for someone who can think on the fly and solve problems on a shoot. Much of this comes from experience, but it is an invaluable skill to have so that you can still get the footage you want despite what the shoot throws at you.

Having the right equipment goes a long way, but the best traits to look for in a videographer are those that come from experience, and whoever you choose should also be someone who values your original vision and is dedicated to realising it. If you want to learn more about the video production services we offer at Sharp Films, you can get in touch with us.