What questions should I ask before hiring a videographer?
Short Answer:
Ask what is included in the quote, how many filming days and crew, how many revision rounds, who owns the footage and usage rights, what happens if weather or kit fails, and to see relevant recent work. The answers reveal both their experience and whether your expectations are aligned.
Overview
Good questions surface scope and risk before money changes hands. A confident, experienced videographer or company will answer them clearly and in writing; hesitation or vagueness is itself informative.
Detailed Explanation
Questions worth asking
Scope: what exactly is included, and what is not?
Crew and days: how many people, and how many filming days?
Deliverables: how many finished videos, in which formats and lengths?
Revisions: how many rounds are included, and what do extra ones cost?
Rights: who owns the footage, and what are the usage and music licensing terms?
Contingency: what happens if weather, talent, or equipment fails?
Experience: can they show relevant, recent work like your project?
Example
Asking "what happens if it rains on the shoot day?" tells you more than any showreel — an experienced team has a clear, rehearsed answer, while an inexperienced one has not thought about it.