How to choose a videographer in Wellington

Start with what the video has to do

Before you look at anyone's showreel, write down who the video is for, what you want them to do afterwards, and where they'll see it. A TV ad, a recruitment film and an internal update need different skills. Any good videographer will ask you these questions anyway.

Freelancer, production company or agency?

Wellington has three broad options. Freelancers are usually the most affordable, but experience varies and many specialise in weddings or events. Full-service agencies add strategy and media buying, along with account managers and overheads. Small production companies run by a senior filmmaker sit in between.

That third one is how I work. I direct, shoot, edit and grade every job, and bring in crew when it needs to scale.

Look for work like yours

Ignore the flashiest reel. Look for finished work that's similar to yours in tone and audience, and ask what the person actually did on each project. Were they the director, the camera operator, or the editor?

Read the testimonials for people skills

Most corporate and government videos feature people who aren't used to being filmed. Look for comments about putting people at ease, sticking to the schedule and understanding the message.

Ask about lighting, sound and who owns the kit

Good cameras are cheap now, so the camera alone doesn't tell you much. Ask who's recording sound, who's grading, and whether the gear is owned or hired and passed on to you.

Compare like with like

A good quote lists pre-production, shoot days, crew, edit rounds, music, captions, social versions and usage rights. If two quotes look very different, one of them usually leaves something out.

Questions