{"id":163597,"date":"2022-02-23T12:06:07","date_gmt":"2022-02-23T18:06:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/?p=163597"},"modified":"2022-04-25T14:15:25","modified_gmt":"2022-04-25T19:15:25","slug":"freelance-videographer-contract-standards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/freelance-videographer-contract-standards\/","title":{"rendered":"Freelance Videographer Contracts: What’s Standard and What’s Not"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

We looked into what you should expect when drawing up a freelance contract between you and your clients. Here’s what we found.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Starting a creative business is exciting, as being creative ranks as one of life’s joyful states. But, as a videographer, you owe it to yourself to grow tough skin when it comes to laying out how you get reimbursed for your work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Common questions include: What kind of freelance contract do you need? Do you need a contract at all? Do you wait for your clients to draw up a contract? Can you change it once it’s been written?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We’ll answer these questions and more\u2014let’s get to it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Dancers to Videographers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Videographer<\/a>
Kamal Macdonald on a shoot. Image courtesy of Kamal Macdonald<\/a>.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Kamal Macdonald<\/a> trained at the internationally renowned Northern School of Dance in Leeds, UK, before becoming a full-time videographer<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gen Reeves<\/a> was also a contemporary dancer working with Scottish Dance Theatre<\/a>, but always harboring her love of photography and videography. She is still a dancer but also a digital artist and destined to be a director. We hear from both about their experience with contracts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Starting Out Strong<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It was lockdown that focused Kamal’s mind on becoming a fully-fledged videographer<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I’d always been interested in shooting\u2014being a dancer myself and being around excellent performers gave me an obvious place to start.<\/p>– Kamal Macdonald<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Kamal now specializes in shooting videos for the modern dance world and working on his narrative projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gen had been working with Scottish Dance Theatre when opportunities to capture their dance programs arose again due to Covid restrictions on using outside companies. As a freelancer, she looked to them for business advice for her budding new career. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They already had a lot of systems in place to do with hiring freelancers, so they were able to give me vital advice on things like contracts and invoicing. If I didn’t invoice, they were quick to pick me up on that.<\/p>– Gen Reeves<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\"Video<\/a>
As a budding videographer, knowing your way around your freelance contract is a must. Image via fizkes<\/a>.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Gen also took some advice from a local production company, Bonnie Brae Productions: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They gave some incredible advice including rates I should be charging, also how much breakdown you give to people against just giving them a fixed fee.<\/p>– Gen Reeves<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Kamal’s experience of contracting his work echoes others:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When it came to formulating a contract, I did most of the work myself. There are a lot of verbal agreements, so not much is written down. I’ve had quite a lot of experiences of jobs falling through purely down to it not being contractual.<\/p>– Kamal Macdonald<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/vimeo.com\/592248269\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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