Working with a Freelance Videographer
Hiring a freelance videographer doesn’t need to be complicated. In fact, most projects are straightforward — you tell me what you need, and I’ll show up with the right gear to capture it professionally.
For shooting-only projects, I don’t need a long brief. The essentials are:
Type of shoot - interview, corporate, promotional, industrial, event, etc. This tells me what cameras, lenses, lighting, and audio gear to bring.
Preferred style - a few sample videos (what you like or don’t like) give me a clear sense of tone, pacing, and visuals.
With just those basics, I can handle the technical details and make sure everything looks and sounds polished.
For larger or more complex productions, a little extra planning goes a long way. Here are a few things that help:
Timeline & schedule - knowing the flow of the day helps me set up efficiently and keep things on track.
Setup time - b-roll setups take just 10 minutes or so, but interviews require more. An hour is ideal to get lighting and audio just right, and the quality of the interview will depend on the time allowed. If back-to-back interviews require a different backdrop, I’ll need extra time to take down, move, and reset equipment.
Key messages - even a short list of talking points ensures interviews stay focused.
Locations - sending photos of the location in advance is a big help. It lets me anticipate challenges with space, light, or acoustics so I can prepare the right gear.
Interview involvement - some clients want me to guide sound bites or coach talent, others prefer to handle it themselves. I’m comfortable with either approach.
Budget & deliverables - if there are constraints or specific handoffs (raw footage vs. edited content), it’s best to clarify early.
At the end of the day, collaboration with me is flexible. Some clients want detailed input, others just need a reliable shooter who gets the job done. My role is to adapt - bringing the right equipment, the right mindset, and the experience to make the process smooth.