You received three quotes. One is the cheapest, one is the most expensive, one is in the middle. And now you’re choosing based on… what?

Most people choose based on price and the “vibe” they got from the meeting. That’s not enough. Here are 7 questions that will give you a much more complete picture.

1. Who Exactly Will Be Shooting My Video?

Not “what equipment will you use.” Who is the specific DP.

Ask to see their individual work - not the company’s reel. Every company shows its best video, which may have been shot by their best cinematographer who no longer works with them.

2. How Many People Will Be on Set?

This tells you how seriously they’re approaching the execution.

A 30,000 ILS video with two shoot days and a crew of three people? Or a crew of eight? The difference shows up in the frame.

Ask: who is responsible for lighting? Who handles sound? Who is the production designer?

3. How Many Revision Rounds Are Included?

“Until we’re happy” is not an answer.

There needs to be a defined number - typically two. What’s the cost of a third round? What counts as a “revision” versus a “change of direction”? The difference between the two should be in writing.

4. What Happens If There’s a Delay on Shoot Day?

Weather, a sick actor, a location that falls through.

What’s the policy? Is there production insurance? Who covers the cost of a replacement shoot day? If nobody has thought about this in advance, it’s worth thinking about now.

5. What Does Your Post-Production Workflow Look Like?

Not just “we edit and deliver.”

What editing platform? Who does the color grade? Is music included with a clean license? Is there a voiceover or subtitles option if needed?

Ask: “Show me what a video looks like before color and sound mix.” Good companies will be happy to demonstrate this.

6. Who Is the Director and What Is Their Relationship to My Project?

Larger companies sometimes sell you “us” but execute with “whoever’s available.” Ask to know who the director will be and meet them before you sign.

Ask them: “What interests you about this project?” If they don’t have a real answer, they haven’t actually engaged with the material.

7. What Happens If I’m Not Happy With the Result?

A human question, not a legal one.

A company that has a clear protocol for handling an unsatisfied client is a company that has already thought this through. If the answer is “it won’t happen because we’re good,” keep asking.

The Real Question

After questions 1-7, there’s still one question that matters more than all of them: do I believe these people genuinely understand what I’m trying to say?

Separate “their work looks great” from “they understood my message.” Both matter - but the second is more critical.

Want us to answer all 7 of these questions face-to-face? Send us a brief.