Video production: a guide for pros

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

Offering video production

Production clients bring a goal and expect a team that manages the whole process. Show that you plan the video in stages, that you agree the treatment and script before the shoot, and that you explain the rights and delivery terms in writing.

What customers ask

  • What is the process from first call to delivery?
  • Can you write the script, or do you work from mine?
  • Who arranges music, talent and stock footage?
  • How many review rounds are included?
  • Can you deliver in several formats for different channels?
  • Can I see a sample from a similar project?

How to win the job

  • On the first call, ask for the goal, the audience, the channels and the deadline, then say which stage carries the most risk and how you will manage it.
  • Write a short treatment for the client to approve before scripting, so the direction is agreed early.
  • Show a sample video with the production steps described, so the client sees how the work is run.
  • Put the scripting, the shoot days, the crew, the talent rights, the review rounds and the channel versions into the quote, so the client knows what is covered.
  • Agree the schedule with dates for each stage, and confirm the approval points in writing.
  • Confirm in writing who arranges and pays for music, stock footage and talent rights, and get the rights in place before editing.

What to put on your profile

  • Sample videos, with the goal and production steps noted, shared with permission.
  • Types of video you produce, such as marketing, training, product or internal communications.
  • Your process: concept, treatment, script, shoot, edit and delivery.
  • The crew roles and equipment you use, listed accurately.

Follow-up that helps the customer

  • Offer a set of short cuts for social media from the finished video.
  • Suggest a training series or follow-up video, using the same look and team.
  • Offer to update the video when the product or message changes, with a clear record of each version.

Licenses and permits

Video production 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 any rules that apply to filming at specific locations, and keep a written agreement that names the deliverables, the rights to music and talent, and the review rounds.

Questions

How do I show I can produce a video from start to finish?

Share a sample with the goal and production steps noted, and show a treatment or script excerpt if the client agrees. Clients can see how you plan from those.

Should I write the script for a client's video?

Only if the agreement includes it and the client approves the script before the shoot. Say in writing who is responsible for the facts in the script.

How do I handle music and talent rights?

Put in the agreement who arranges and pays for each right, and confirm the rights are in place before editing. Ask a lawyer to review the terms if you are unsure.

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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