5 Questions to Ask When Hiring a Video Production Company

These days, it’s common knowledge that video is the leading king of content. Every successful brand out there uses it to some degree, so how do you stand out amidst the crowd? By creating something special with your video. Where to start? Find the right video team. To help do that, here are 5 questions to ask when hiring a video production company.

1. What type of videos do you specialize in?

This is a great starter question because it not only informs you on what a video production company provides, but also can give insight in their overall credibility. Some companies may say they can “do anything”, which is totally acceptable. But, believe it or not, this may not be the best answer. They truly may be able to create anything, but hiring a video team that specifically covers what you’re trying to create can bring your project to the next level. By doing so, you know they automatically have basic understanding of your project’s needs, how to produce it, and what the general process will require.

To further identify what a video production company covers, ask them for examples of their work. Any video team worth its weight will have a video reel, highlighting some of their best work. So this should be an easy ask. Also, inquire how long they’ve been in the industry, as this will show company longevity as well as how far back their knowledge of the video industry goes. (Trust us, our 15+ years of experience as a video production agency definitely informs our current work.) And, last but not least, ask if they work predominantly with either small or big business? If they’re like us, they’ll work with both, but it’s good to know their overall experience level.

2. What is your rate for our type of video project?

While this question, of course, is important to understand prior to hiring a video production company, you may not get an exact quote on your first call. The reason being, there is so much that goes into a video project, that until the exact needs of it are understood and established, specific pricing won’t be possible. That being said, the more you know specifically what you’re looking for when it comes to your video outcomes, the easier it’ll be for a video company to quote you an accurate price.

And if you don’t have a clear view of what you’re wanting, that’s ok too. Just be prepared to get a more general range of rate estimates on your first call. As to what these could be, well, this runs the gamut. Professional video production costs vary greatly, anywhere from $1,000 up to $100k and beyond, depending on the needs. Either way, we recommend having a clear picture of what your budget constraints are, if any.

3. What all does your rate include?

Once the rate for your potential video project is established, it is super important to find out what that rate includes. As with anything, not all video production companies are created equal, so it’s vital you know what you’ll be getting before you sign on. Elements to look for would be:

• Do they have an in-house video editor? Does the rate include editing? If so, how many edits within this rate?
• If needed, are they involved in casting your video?
• Do they help scout out locations for the shoot?
• What about the script? Do they have a scriptwriter on site (or ability to help write it)?
• Do they help distribute and optimize your video post-project?
• Lastly, are they at all involved in video strategy, both before and after the shoot?

It’s reasonable a lot of video companies won’t say “yes” to all of the above. Going this in-depth on a video project is not necessarily standard. But it is important for you to know as a potential client, so you know what would be asked of you in the creation process. Which brings up the bigger question of how involved through the entire process will this video team be? How involved do you want them to be? Yes, you could hire a videographer just for filming, whose interactions with you only include shoot day and some sort of digital delivery of your video files later. Totally fine. But if you want to build an ongoing video relationship with a company, see what is available along those lines.

4. What equipment do you use?

This may not mean much to you if you’re not super into tech-y cameras (like we are 😉 ), but it does inform you on how professional a video company may be based on the quality level of its tools. Also, this is a perfect time to ask how large their overall team is? Then, more specifically, how large the team would be for your type of video project? There are many roles when it comes to video creation, so it can be helpful to know the qualifications of those working on it.

5. What’s your timeline estimate when it comes to your video projects?

As with the budget question above, this one can garner varying responses, depending on project. So, again, the more specific you can be with what your video needs are, the easier it’ll be for a video production company to answer you accurately. We all have deadlines in our work life, so it’s essential to know what the turnaround timeline would be, especially after shoot day. This way you have a clear picture on when your video will be finalized and ready to share.

So give it some thought. Do you only need a videographer for the day, who simply shoots the script given? Or would you prefer to build with your video team, and share that process together? There is no right or wrong answer, just whichever is right for you.

Not sure? Shoot us a message here to discuss. 🙂