How to Choose a Videographer: 6 Questions to Consider

How to choose a videographer

Video is an extremely effective way to get a message across, whether during a legal trial or used as part of a business marketing plan. Viewers have a stronger emotional response to video and are more likely to take action based on watching something than they are by merely looking at a picture or reading text. There are many videographers out there all claiming they’d be perfect for your needs, so how do you know who to hire? Here are a few elements to consider to help you choose a videographer who is truly right for your project.

1. What is Their Area of Expertise?

Not all videographers focus on the same specialty. Some are legal videographers. Some are wedding videographers. Some focus on corporate events. And some advertise themselves as general videographers who can do it all. Depending on your needs (and budget), you may want to hire a videographer who handles the specific kind of video you are looking to have created.

2. What is Your Budget?

Budget is an important factor in hiring the right videographer. Know how much you can reasonably spend on a videographer before researching so that you don’t fall in love with someone’s work only to find out you can’t afford to hire that person. That said, don’t settle for a videographer whose work you don’t feel is best for the job just because that person charges an inexpensive rate. You should know both the high end of your budget and the low end. Choose a videographer who comfortably fits your budget and also does an excellent job. Also, be aware of any extra costs that don’t come part of a package presented to you so that you are not surprised when the bill arrives.

3. How High is Their Quality of Work?

Always ask to see past projects a videographer has done. You have the right to examine the quality of the person or the company’s work before making the decision to hire them (or not). Don’t only rely on the montage they have prepared with their best work; ask to see the full-length video (or two!) of a past project so you can get an accurate sense of how skilled a videographer they are.

4. What is Their Video Style?

Videographers all have their own style and while some styles will speak to you, not all will. Some videographers are artsier, some incorporate a lot of interviews, some insert some humor, and so on. Someone may be an amazing videographer but uses a style that doesn’t fit your vision. That’s okay. There will be a videographer out there whose style matches yours. When watching samples of a videographer’s work, pay attention to their style and see if they will be flexible in doing things a different way. Even if they will, it might make more sense to hire someone whose vision matches yours from the get-go.

5. What Production Equipment Do They Use?

When you are looking for a high-quality video, you want the videographer to use appropriate video production equipment. This might make their price higher, but as long as it falls within your budget, it’s worth it to pay more to get the right end product for your needs. That said, don’t feel like you need your videographer to have the absolute fanciest equipment. The skill of the videographer is more important than what equipment he has.

6. Can They Meet Your Deadline?

When thinking about how to choose a videographer, don’t lose sight of your timeline. After all is said and done, your videographer needs to be able to deliver the finished product by the date you need it. If a videographer cannot complete your project on time, that person is probably not the one you should hire. You can speak to others who have used a particular videographer to find out if he or she tends to deliver the end product late, and you should also specify with the videographer exactly when you need the video and if they can realistically deliver it on time.

Choose A Videographer with Confidence

In an ideal world, you will find a videographer who fits neatly into all the above categories, but you will likely have to make some compromises. That’s okay. Decide which areas are ones where you can compromise and go into your videographer search with the confidence that you will find the right person for the job. At Shereck Video, we make it our priority to work closely with our customers to create their vision using skill and quality equipment while meeting their budget and timeline. We specialize in legal and corporate videography and are happy to meet with you about your video needs!

Why Video Legal Document Signings?

Video of legal document signings

The most important part of a legal document is the signature – without that, the document holds no weight. Legal documents like wills and pre-nuptials have a significant impact on yourself and your loved ones, so you want to make sure there are no discrepancies or questions about the validity of the signatures. An effective and successful way of protecting the integrity of the signatures is to have the signing videoed. Read on to learn more about how a video of legal document signings, and even a reading of legal documents, can be important protection of the legal status of the document.

1. Shows Signers Were of Sound Mind

In the case of a Last Will and Testament, an unhappy family member may claim the deceased was not of sound mind while signing the will. A video of the person signing and even reading and explaining the will is often enough to show the signer did indeed have clarity while signing. Similarly, in a pre or postnuptial, a video of the couple calmly signing the document will make it harder for one of them to claim they were coerced into signing.

2. Provides Validity for Signers with Disabilities

If a document signer is blind or requires assistance with signing, it can be easy to claim the person signed without knowing what the document said. A video of someone reading the document to the person and showing the person signing it of his or her own free will shows the person did actually know what he or she was signing.

3. Shows Proper Signing of the Document

Believe it or not, a signature is not valid if certain parameters are not met. Depending on the document, two witnesses and/or a notary must often be present during the signing. By videoing this process, you can prove that the document was signed under the proper circumstances, should anyone attempt to claim otherwise.


You may not think about taking a video of legal documents signings, but when it comes to anything legal, you want to make sure there are no avenues open for a dispute over the validity of your document. The professionals at Shereck Video are trained specifically in the intricacies of legal video. If you are looking to video any legal proceedings, don’t hesitate to give us a call!

Top 4 Ways Video Depositions are Transforming the Legal Industry in 2019

Did you know a person is most likely to remember 40% of what they see, 50% of what they hear, and 90% of what they see & hear? Not only that, but emotion is conveyed much more powerfully through video than through text. Those are some of the main reasons why video is becoming more and more popular in many industries, including law. Video depositions and other kinds of video in the courtroom are changing the way judges and juries interact with legal videos in so many different ways.

Here are just a few of the ways video depositions are transforming the legal industry.

1. Record Testimony

Do you have a witness who can’t be at the trial? There are so many reasons why a witness needs to be deposed at another time and in another setting. Maybe the person lives in another state or country and can’t afford the money or time it takes to fly in to testify live. There could be scheduling conflicts. No problem! With video depositions, a witness can give their testimony under oath and have it count in the courtroom later. Video allows the judge and jury to watch the testimony as if the person was in the courtroom giving it, including all the person’s facial expressions and intonations. The video can even be edited to exclude any objections sustained by the judge, as well as any questionable testimony.

2.  Preserve Testimony

If you have a witness who is ill or even near death, you definitely want to preserve that person’s testimony, as you may not be able to get it again. Video depositions can keep that person’s testimony on record for the life of the case and beyond. Videoed testimony also prevents witnesses from changing their testimony later on. 

3.  Video Depositions Add Dimension to the Testimony

In a written script, only the words a witness speaks are preserved. However, in a video, the witness’s tone of voice, heavy sighs, and other telling body language become part of the testimony, adding dynamic and dimension to the words being spoken. The judge and jury members can tell if a witness is nervous, confident, or seems unsure, which contributes to the overall picture of whatever event or experience is being described.

4. Eliminates Doubt

With in a video, a picture in picture effect can be used where a piece of evidence can be displayed within the video alongside the witness speaking and explaining about the evidence. The second “picture” can be a document, an image, or even a video clip. Picture in picture video eliminates doubt about the relevance and importance of the piece of evidence and can increase its admissibility.

Jump on the Video Depositions Bandwagon

Video depositions have revolutionized the legal industry and it’s time to jump on board. These videos should be taken by Certified Legal Video Specialists (CLVS) so they know exactly what to focus on and how to edit the videos appropriately. Equipment needs to work perfectly so there are no malfunctions during these important interviews. At Shereck Video, we are experts in taking video depositions and other legal videos and we make it our priority to provide you with high-quality videos for your records and trial. Don’t hesitate to make use of this powerful tool in your next legal proceeding!