How to Find Video Creators That You Trust with Your Mission Without Sacrificing Quality
On top of being a big investment, your video is destined to become the very face of your Catholic organization, perhaps for years to come. Of course you need to trust your videographer. Video production is full of judgment calls so their knowledge, choices and yes, even biases, will affect your final video.
But how do you find a video creator that you trust, without sacrificing quality? It all comes down to some upfront work before your production begins.
Start with some research. All video production companies have work samples displayed prominently on their website. Watch them and try to pick out the overarching style and values. Do those videos reflect what you would like to see in your own video? Keep an eye out for quality, too, and don’t settle if their productions just aren’t up to par. I assure you, there are enough video production companies out there for you to find one that is both professional and a good fit for your organization.
A little pro-tip here, typically hiring a video company that is local, or within driving distance, will be the least expensive. Production costs can double if there is airfare, luggage, and lodging added on top. Don’t write off someone that seems a good fit just because of distance, but I would recommend that you start your search by looking for companies that are located within your city, then expand your search to large cities within a 2-hour radius, then gradually expand that circle.
Once you have a few candidates, take advantage of the free consultation. You’ll want to get in one-on-one contact with them. Schedule a call or, ideally, a video chat. In that call, take the time to briefly share your organization’s activity and mission, then gauge their reaction. If they seem uncomfortable with your work, make a mental note. It’s actually not unheard of for the videographer to come right out and explain that your project doesn’t seem to be a good fit, or, on the other hand, enthusiastically talk about their collaboration with a similar organization. To eliminate yes-men, though, you can ask other questions while remaining legal and discreet. For example, you can ask if they have ever worked with religious organizations before, and how those projects turned out. You can also ask if they have any experience with or knowledge of the Catholic church and its values. You can ask about their process to learn their client’s mission and history. Take notes on anything that strikes you so you can keep track of the company, or companies, that are the best fit for you.
If you have concrete video plans, such as audience and goals, make sure to share those at this time. Ask for their feedback, and, again, take notes. Did they seem to understand your needs and offer helpful suggestions?
After the call, the company will follow up with a videography proposal which should detail your needs, their video plans and a quote. At this point, however, you will already know if the company is a good fit for your organization. If you don’t trust them by now, you will not trust them during the production process.
Conversely, if the conversation inspired your confidence and the proposal suits your needs, move forward! You can rest assured that your video production is in good hands, hands that you trust with your organization’s very identity.
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Katie Rutter is the COO of Thing in a Pot Productions. She has received multiple awards for her work, including a nomination for a Chicago/Midwest Emmy in 2021 and being declared Video Producer of the Year in 2018 by the Catholic Press Association. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our video ProTips in your inbox every month!