How To Work With Clients Who Have Never Produced Videos

No one wants their ideas to get lost in translation. If you have a client who is new to producing video and doesn’t understand the technicalities of filmmaking, their vision for the video might not line up with their budget and deadlines. If you don’t want to have a miscommunication, you should have a conversation with the client before you start working with them to clarify the actual scope of the project.

Talk finished product.

A client that’s not familiar with video probably won’t know technical terms for filmmaking. When you are discussing the goals of the project, ask the client to describe how they want the final product to look. What is the core of the story and how do they imagine it playing out? Do they want sit-down interviews or voiceover? What kind of b-roll do they need? Once you have an understanding of what you will need to shoot to create the video, you can talk about the costs.

Break down the budget.

Map out how you’re going to shoot the project and break down the budget for your client. Explain the cost of the equipment needed for the shoot, camera day rates, and how many days it would take to film using the equipment. Breakdown each individual service for them, with specific costs, so that they have a clear understanding of what is and is not possible.

Provide “right” and “wrong” work samples.

When the client begins making suggestions you know will steer the project astray, speak up. You can use work samples to show them what will and will not work in for the video. Using your experiences as a filmmaker as an example can help them understand what will make the project successful.

Create a calendar with deadlines for each step.

Draw out a detailed calendar to show the client how much time each aspect of pre-production, production, and post-production will take. Include extra days for revisions. By showing the client the time it takes to storyboard, plan, shoot, and edit, you are leaving no room for misinterpretation. And when you establish a finite schedule, you can go over every step of the production process and the costs associated with time and equipment.

What else do you do when working with a new client? Tell us in the comments below!

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By Lena Drake, Storyhunter Writer