Event videography: a guide for pros

What customers ask, how to win the job, and what to put on your profile.

Offering event videography

Event clients want recordings that show the energy and the content of their event, with clear sound. Show that you plan the camera and audio positions, check the venue's sound, and deliver the recap on schedule.

What customers ask

  • How many cameras will you use, and where?
  • Will the audio be clear?
  • Can I see a recap from an event like mine?
  • When will I get the video?
  • Who owns the footage?
  • What happens if the schedule changes?

How to win the job

  • On the first call, ask for the schedule, the speakers or performers, the venue and the key moments, then say which two sessions need the most attention.
  • Ask for the run sheet and the venue's sound plan, and confirm the audio feed in writing before the event.
  • Show a recap with the camera plan noted, so the client sees how the event will be covered.
  • Put the hours of coverage, the cameras, the audio setup, the recap length and the edit rounds into the quote, so the client knows what is covered.
  • Visit the venue before the event, if possible, to plan the camera positions and check the sight lines.
  • Agree the delivery date, the file formats and the footage ownership in writing before the event.

What to put on your profile

  • Event recaps and full coverage examples, with the event type and camera plan noted, shared with permission.
  • Types of events you cover, such as conferences, parties, performances or awards nights.
  • Your process: planning, audio, camera coverage, edit and delivery.
  • The equipment you bring, listed accurately.

Follow-up that helps the customer

  • Offer a short cut of the recap for social media, made from the same footage.
  • Suggest a clip of each talk for the speakers, if the client wants to share it with them.
  • Offer to cover the next event in the same series, with the same camera plan.

Licenses and permits

Event videography is not commonly licensed, so you usually do not need a license to offer it. Check with your state or local licensing agency for business registration and with venues about their filming rules, and keep a written agreement that names the coverage, the audio plan, the delivery date and the footage ownership.

Questions

How do I show I can cover events well?

Share a recap with the camera plan noted and the type of event. Clients can see how the coverage works from the recap itself.

Should I accept an event at a venue with strict filming rules?

Check the rules before you quote, and include any setup restrictions in the agreement. Tell the client if the rules limit the coverage you can give.

How do I handle a last minute schedule change?

Agree in writing how changes are handled, including the time and the crew you can add. Ask the client to tell you about changes as early as possible.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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