How To Choose The Right Videographer For Your Sarasota Business In 2024

So You’ve Decided to Shoot a Video for Your Sarasota Business

Hi! My name is Chris, and I am the founder of YourLocalVideographer.com. In this blog post, I will talk about choosing the right videographer for your Sarasota business. Choosing a videographer can be both exciting and challenging. It can be easy because there are so many of us; I usually joke that if you throw a rock, you might find your next content creator.

Video is a great medium to grow your business, and the right videographer can present you in an engaging and effective light. However, it can be challenging to commit to choosing one. I've heard stories of business owners hiring videographers and not being in love with the final product or the videographer bailing pre-shoot due to nerves. To help you avoid these pitfalls, I’ve written this guide on choosing the right videographer for your Sarasota business. I hope you enjoy it.

 1. Identifying Your Business Needs

Setting Business Needs and Wants

The first thing you should do when hiring a videographer is to determine your business’ needs and wants, as well as a budget for content creation. Content comes in many forms: videos, photos, text, and audio. These take shape in social media videos, video advertisements, Instagram photos, blog posts, and podcasts. A combination of these is possible and happens daily.

When determining your business’ needs, consider your budget, what you intend to achieve, and a timeline for expected results. Generally, in my understanding it takes anywhere from 3 months or more to start seeing results with any form of online marketing. For content creation, expect to lay out around $500 - $1000+ per month. You should see an improvement in reach, views, likes, follows, shares, and ultimately leads and sales in the coming months if consistent and your content resonates with your target audience well enough.

Consider how “cinematic” you want or need your content to be. All “cinematic” means in my mind is high-quality production. Think of a movie theater experience. The more cinematic you want your content to be, the more you should expect to pay. However, high-quality content can be shot on cell phones. The key is to make your content useful, helpful, genuine, and relatable for your target audience. The internet quickly detects authenticity, so be as transparent as possible.

Work backward from your intended goals and utilize content to achieve those goals, whether on your own or outsourcing.

2. Finding Potential Videographers

Searching Online

Once you've determined your business objectives and decided to hire help, start by Googling terms like “Videographer near me” or “content creator near me.” Be prepared to spend good money on these companies, as it’s not cheap to get onto the first or second page of Google.

Browse through reviews on their Google My Business profile, Facebook pages, and the Better Business Bureau website. Be skeptical of reviews, as some companies ask friends and family to leave fake positive reviews.

Searching Social Media

Use social media to find a videographer by typing “Sarasota Videographer” in the search bar on Facebook or Instagram. Check if they are active on social media, posting their work and behind-the-scenes videos. Ensure consistency in the quality of their work and that it fits your cinematic desires.

Asking for Referrals

Ask other business owners for referrals. Ask who they've used, who they liked and trusted, and who did good work. When talking to a referred videographer, ask for their portfolio, website, and social media handles, then do some investigating.

3. Evaluating Videographers

Gauging Experience

After finding a few videographers, gauge their experience and see if it aligns with your business’ needs. Look at their portfolios, previous work, and testimonials. Ensure your satisfaction with the end result by checking their work beforehand.

Understanding the Stages of Production

I wanted to include a section on the different stages of production because these are the stages you will be going through with your chosen videographer.

Development

This stage involves brainstorming different content ideas. Don’t limit yourself; spitball ideas and see what seems helpful and interesting to your target audience.

Pre-Production

Once you’ve picked an idea, get everything in place for a smooth production day. This includes props, wardrobe, locations, scripts, dialogue, camera equipment, audio equipment, etc. Storyboarding is also part of this stage, where you draw out how you want each shot and scene to look.

Production

Start filming! Ensure the location is checked for noise levels and lighting beforehand. Follow your script, storyboard, vision, and gut to get all the coverage needed.

Post-Production

Edit the footage, add graphics, text, and make a polished piece. This stage involves putting all the pieces together to create a consistent narrative.

Distribution

Consider how the video will be distributed for maximum value. Plan this stage in the beginning to avoid issues when posting the content. Consider platforms like TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and email lists.

Choosing the Right Videographer

After qualifying some videographers and narrowing down your needs, choose one that you get along with, considering price and expertise. Work with someone you “vibe” with and that can deliver.

4. Negotiating and Finalizing the Deal

Negotiating with Videographers

When discussing budget, timelines, and deliverables, make sure everything is in writing. A written contract protects both parties and ensures clarity on expectations.

How to Get the Best Deal

Prices can be negotiable. Ask if the quoted price is the best they can offer. Consider package deals or recurring work for better pricing.

Closing the Deal

Once all details are in place, sign the paperwork and put down a deposit. Usually, it's 50% down and 50% at project completion. Have your attorney review the contract if needed.

5. Distribution and ROI

Distribution Strategies

After the video is shot and edited, plan the distribution. Use platforms like YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and email lists for maximum exposure.

Justifying ROI Short and Long Term

In the long term (1-3+ years), consistent content creation can lead to a thriving business. In the short term (1-3+ months), it may take time to see results. Look for enhanced reach, more likes, followers, comments, shares, leads, and sales as your content is posted.

Conclusion

Summary and Final Thoughts

To recap:

- Set needs, wants, and goals for content & videographer.

- Search online, ask for referrals, and check social media for potential videographers.

- Gauge the experience of each videographer.

- Understand the stages of production.

- Narrow down choices of videographers.

- Negotiate budget, timelines, and deliverables.

- Attempt to negotiate a better deal.

- Sign paperwork, put down a deposit, and close the deal.

- Plan, film, edit, & polish content.

- Distribute content via the internet.

- Measure ROI.

- Experiment, rinse & repeat.

Content marketing takes time, and loyal fans need nurturing. Video is a great way to do that. You can create content yourself, but hiring a videographer can save you time and effort. If you found value in this post, leave a comment with your thoughts.

If you're a Sarasota-based business owner wanting to work together, check out my free 60-second video offer or my $1 monthly content retainer offer on my site. Alternatively, download my co-authored book, “Scroll-Stopping Videos.”

Chris Sparacino is the founder of www.YourLocalVideographer.com, a Sarasota-based production and marketing firm. He can usually be found creating content for his YouTube channel @ReviewsWithChris or hustling to grow his business.