Five Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Videographer

Someone who films great weddings or corporate events won't necessarily know how to film a room. If you're an interior designer hiring a videographer for a finished project, these are the questions to ask first.

1. Have you filmed interiors before?

Ask for residential or commercial interiors specifically. Watch whether the vertical lines stay straight, whether the light on the materials looks natural, and whether the pacing gives you time to take in each room.

2. What happens before the shoot?

You want to hear about a call, a site visit, a shot list and a schedule for the edit. If the plan is to show up and see what happens, keep looking.

3. What exactly will I get?

Get the deliverables in writing:

• How many finished videos, and how long each one runs
• Whether social cuts are included
• How many rounds of revisions
• File format and resolution
• Whether the music is licensed for how you plan to use it

4. Where will the film be used?

Say so up front. A website header, an Instagram Reel and a Houzz submission need different lengths and aspect ratios, and it's easier to plan for all of them on the same shoot day.

5. Do they understand your work?

The camera matters less than whether the person holding it understands why you made the choices you did. Walk them through the project before the shoot. If they ask about the materials and the layout without being prompted, that's a good sign.