Ok, so this is a different approach. Most of my videos are catered towards video producers honing their craft, but what if you’re not interested in that? What if you just want to hire the right producer to do the job. This video is for you!

1. Ask for portfolio.

• What’s the quality?
• Were any of these projects local? Recent?
• Did the producer do all of it (shoot, edit, write) or just parts of it?
• Compare those answers to your goals. Are they relevant?

2. Ask for references.

• Whether they’re a beginner or pro, they should at least have 3 references. Do your due diligence and take the time to contact them to verify their work and if their past clients would recommend them. It’s won’t take much time and could help provide insights before you make your decision.

3. Establish deadline from the start of the project, and set up check-in period

• This will ensure they understand expectations, helps them plan their workload of other projects, and is courteous to both parties involved.
• Check-in periods can serve as milestones to the end deadline to make sure you’re on the same page. Examples would be a check-in call to discuss the script, or a check-in call a few days before the shoot to verify scheduling, locations, people involved, and lastly, a check-in call after the first edit is complete. Each project is different, but some form of check-ins help you know what to expect and gives guidance to the producer to achieve your desired product. And during the check-in, ask them for their opinion on how they think it’s going and if anything should be changed. If they’re a seasoned professional, they may be able to provide great tips to make the video better than you expected!

4. Ask who retains copyright. In almost every case, the client should retain full copyright use of the

• Many producers will ask if they can include segments or the full video to prospective clients in their portfolio. Discuss that upfront and ask yourself if that’s ok. If you do choose to allow it on their portfolio, ask if it will appear publicly online (Youtube, Vimeo, or similar sites). There’s no right or wrong answer. For example, I produce mostly corporate videos that are used for the company’s internal purposes only, so those types of videos I do not share on my public portfolio.
• If you work for a large organization, you should consult with your Legal team.

5. Ask for proof of insurance

• This will quickly weed out any amateurs. Let’s face it, if you’re hiring a video professional, you want them to be insured. Accidents happen whether it’s an injury, property damage, or something else unexpected, make sure you ask for a certificate of insurance.
• Insurance for a video producer doesn’t cost much. My policy which covers myself, injury, damages, and my equipment, only costs around $300/year.

And if you are a video producer watching this, how do you measure up?