 Hiring a video production company without asking the right questions is one of the most avoidable mistakes a business can make.
You find a company with a great reel, agree on a price, and then the project goes sideways. There becomes missed expectations, slow communication, or a final product that doesn't actually serve your business goals. At Seltzer Films, We know what a thorough, well-prepared client looks like and we know the questions that reveal whether a production company is worth trusting with your brand. Here are the 10 questions you should ask any production company before you sign anything. 1. Can I See Recent Work That Matches My Project? A reel is a curated highlight that shows a company's best moments, not necessarily their most relevant ones. What you want to see is work that's close to your project in type, industry, and tone. Ask:
What to look for at Seltzer Films: Our portfolio includes commercial work for regional and national brands from all over. That includes commercial, corporate, nonprofit, documentary, and event work. We can show you full projects, not just highlights. 2. Who Will Actually Be on My Project? This is more important than most clients realize. Some production companies present one face during the pitch and then send a different crew to your shoot. Ask:
There's nothing wrong with companies that use vetted freelancers. Most production companies do on larger shoots. What matters is that you know who's coming and why they're the right fit for your project. 3. What Does Your Pre-Production Process Look Like? The quality of a video is largely determined before a single camera rolls. A production company that skips or rushes pre-production is setting your project up to underperform. Ask:
At Seltzer Films, pre-production is where we invest serious time. Understanding your brand, your audience, and what you need the video to accomplish before we ever pick up a camera. 4. What's Included in the quote and What Isn't? Video production quotes can look very different even at similar price points. One quote might include full post-production; another might charge separately for every element. Know exactly what you're buying. Ask:
(Note: Seltzer Films is FAA Part 107 licensed and insured for drone operation. Aerial footage can be integrated into production at no need for a third-party vendor.) 5. What Are Your Post-Production Capabilities In-House? Post-production is where a video truly comes together and where many smaller operations fall short. If a company outsources editing, VFX, or color grading, that adds time, communication layers, and sometimes quality inconsistency. Ask:
Seltzer Films is a full-service production and post-production company. Our in-house capabilities include digital compositing, VFX, green screen keying, 2D animation, motion graphics, logo animation, color grading, and sound mixing. The same capabilities we've applied to feature film and TV series work. 6. What Is Your Revision Process? Revisions are where client-vendor relationships often get rocky. Understanding the policy upfront prevents frustration later. Ask:
7. What Are Your Delivery Timelines? "We'll get it to you soon" is not a timeline. Get specifics in writing before any project begins. Ask:
If your video is tied to a product launch, a campaign start date, or an event, your production company needs to understand that deadline from day one and commit to it. 8. What Formats and Files Will I Receive at Delivery? This gets overlooked more than it should. Make sure you receive files that actually work for how you plan to use the video. Ask:
9. Are You Fully Insured? Any professional production company should carry general liability insurance. If they're shooting at your facility or a rented location, proof of insurance may be required by the venue. Ask:
This is a baseline question. Any hesitation or vague answer is a red flag. 10. What Do You Need From Me to Make This Project Successful? This is the question that separates production companies who are partners from ones who are just vendors. A great production company will have a clear, specific answer because they've thought carefully about what inputs produce the best outputs. A strong answer might include:
The better a client prepares, the better the production goes. Ask this question and pay attention to how seriously the production company takes the answer. Pre-Hire Checklist Before signing with any video production company, make sure you have clear answers to:
Work with a team that has answers to all of these questions at Seltzer Films, we've been producing commercial, branded, and documentary video for businesses across Central Florida and beyond for over 15 years. From first conversation to final delivery, we bring the same professionalism we've developed working on feature films and national brand campaigns and many other commercial video and post productions. If you're ready to start a project or just want to talk through what you need we'd love to hear from you. Schedule a Free Consultation with Seltzer Films →
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