Videographer London | The Freelancer Club

1. Find & Hire a Videographer London

Videographers service a range of sectors from weddings and corporate events to video bursts and fashion shoots. Video is fast becoming the preferred content for businesses as its reach is so much more conducive to social media that companies are increasingly choosing it over still images and written content. When looking for a videographer London is a great place to search. To book your videographer, click below and post a job for FREE.

The choice of videographer is vast and wide-ranging. Their video style, professionalism, price and services are all factors to take into account when hiring a videographer. With video in such high demand and more photographers offering video as a service, there's never been a better time to hire a pro videographer in London at a great rate. However, how you go about this can make all the difference between landing a pro or a dud so follow our guide to hiring a pro videographer on budget to reduce the risk.

Freelancer Club houses some of the finest videographers in the industry, many with years or experience, others in their first few years of business and offer exceptional value at affordable prices. We also speak to and assist employers, companies and the general public source their videographers. This puts us in a very privileged position of knowing how to hire a videographer effectively and we want to share our tips with you.

Reasons to use Freelancer Club to find a videographer in London.

1. It's free to post a job and we don't take a fee or commission. Seriously!

2. You communicate and work directly with local videographers in London.

3. It only takes a matter of minutes to post, choose and source a freelancer. You can do it all in one place and ensure that you're in budget every time.

2. What to look for when hiring a Videographer

There are a few key aspects to consider when it comes to the type of the videographer you would like to hire. The first check should be to ensure the freelancer is proficient in their craft. Irrespective of the type of job, your videographer should be technically talented and show a clear distinction between amateur and professional standards. Check the video examples or links in their profile to make sure that their work meets your expectations. When watching the work, look at the movement of the camera. Are they using a dolly (a wheeled cart to allow the camera to glide) or is the camera in a fixed position? Perhaps they are moving around a room with the camera on their shoulder. These seemingly small aspects will tell you a lot about the videographer's skill set and the kit he or she has at their disposal.

Another aspect of critique is the post-production work. Technology is making it easier for videographers to edit their work and create an aesthetic that looks great. A videographer won't always have a video that matches your vision in their portfolio so pick out elements that you like or make a call on the level of proficiency as to whether they can handle your brief.

A professional videographer should have the skill set to produce the work that you expect but it helps if you can spot certain aspects within their portfolio that aligns with your vision.

3. The Videography Brief

A professional videographer should be able to produce a video that matches your vision without too much bother but they do not mind readers. Often, a client is left disappointed due to a vague brief, an inability to communicate their idea or a lack of communication.

Videographers are often visual people so the best thing to do is show a video or series of videos that match your idea. YouTube and Vimeo are a great place to research. You can also use images and stills to put together a moodboard (a collection of images, videos or inspirational shots that show the viewer your vision). Real examples will also trump conceptional ideas or feelings.

When posting your job, don't say: "I'd like a video that feels warm" as your definition of the word 'warm' may differ from the videographers. Rather, use simple, direct language such as "I'd like to use red and orange tones to create a warm hue to the video". The more detail you can give the videographer, the more likely you will get what you want. Make a full list of the shots you want to cover if you know them so that the videographer can tick them off the list as they go.

4. The Edit

The videographer will often quote for the entire job, not just the filming. There's a lot that goes on when creating a video outside of the shoot itself. Many videographers will want to scout the venue before the day or earlier in the day. Just like photographers, videographers require backdrops and locations to capture the perfect shot.

The light will also play a huge role in the shoot. Cloudy skies or dark days can change the look and feel of the video completely and often the videographer has to make multiple split decisions on the day.

Once the footage is in the can, the post-production work starts. This can often take longer than the shoot itself so take this into account when you're asking for changes. Everything from the titles to the filter is taken into consideration. You'll generally receive a first edit of the video before the videographer makes too many changes. This first draft allows the videographer to ensure you are both on the same page. Make suggestions or comments that were aside from your original brief. Should you start introducing new ideas at the editing stage, the videographer is likely to charge you more for the time.

Try to provide the videographer with a full list of changes from top to bottom so that you're not going back and forth multiple times. It is also a good idea to keep a record of these changes by using a shared document (Google drive docs works really well for this) so that both parties can see exactly what's being asked, and what's been done. Should you ask the videographer to change something back to what it was or to make a change to something that you've already asked to be changed before, this is generally classed as a re-edit and could be charged. The challenge is to keep edits down to a minimum.

5. The Cost

The cost of video can range from a hundred pounds to tens of thousands. The videographer will typically have a day rate (£400 - £1000 for a professional videographer in their first 5 years) and will price the job based on your brief. It can be very difficult to know your budget so keep it broad and discuss the cost with the freelance in question. It's good to have your maximum amount and then you can negotiate. Below is a list of videography jobs with loose ideas of the time it takes to complete them.

Wedding Videography

In regards to all videography, the more footage that is shot generally results in more post-production work. Should you wish for the videographer to capture an entire ceremony, behind the scenes, the afters, first dance, cutting of the cake, speeches etc... it can run into hours of footage that has to be worked on.

It's worth thinking about why you want the video in the first place too. Should it be a document of your big day then perhaps you would like it to be as detailed as possible. Alternatively, you may prefer a 5-minute edit that shows the highlights of the day to send to your guests.

A typical wedding video that takes in the entire day plays for between 30 and 45 minutes. This wouldn't include the entire ceremony or speeches but still requires a fair bit of editing and would normally take a day of shooting and a day of editing.

Burst / Promo Video

A burst video is a short video used to promote your brand or service. You have most likely watched a burst video on Facebook or YouTube. The success of a burst video genrally relies on the quality of the concept more so than the production. More 'amateur' quality videos are doing very well but don't be fooled, many of these have been shot by professionals.

Companies that use burst videos often want to make a point that underpins their brand message or brand values. It's a great way to build brand reputation as well as drive traffic to your site. Burst video refers to short, easily watchable videos that are provocative, funny, poignant or informative.

Promo videos are less subtle than burst videos but can be equally as effective when done well. Promo videos can show potential clients what you're all about in a few seconds and sometimes, that's all the time you have. Video is not only a superior medium to get a message across quickly but is now far more effective on social media sites.

6. Tips when hiring a videographer

Include a detailed brief that includes where you plan on using the video
Add links to examples of videos that you like
Keep the budget broad. Video often requires prep, shoot time and post-production
Communicate with the freelancer through the site to keep it safe and clear

7. And finally

The secret to sourcing a great videographer is clear communication from the start of the project to the final edit. Whether it's a short 30-second burst video or a 2-hour wedding video, the process will be very similar. Your input will be paramount to the success of the final video so be sure to use images, examples of other videos or a moodboard to visual explain your vision.

Check out this short video on managing a job here: