Choosing the right videographer for your outdoor brand isn’t about hiring someone with a camera for as cheap as you can, finding someone with a big social media following so that you’ll get more exposure, or finding the best person possible, but having to pay so much for it, your ROI is non-existent. I often see brands hire someone who doesn’t understand the sport they’re filming, the lifestyle, or the message behind their product.
To try and mitigate this, and bring your brand the authenticity it needs, I decided to write this to cover the common mistakes brands make, what actually matters when choosing a videographer, and how to ensure your brand film actually achieves the outcome you are looking for.
Common Mistakes Outdoor Brands Make
1. Hiring someone who doesn’t know your sport
A videographer who hasn’t experienced your sport - whether it’s surfing, climbing, biking, or running cannot capture what most entices your target audience. Imagine hiring a videographer for your surf brand, but has never been barreled and don’t know how that feels. Or if you have a climbing brand, have never taken a lead fall and don't know the frustration, or can’t communicate the triumph of finally sending the route. These are the important moments that resonate with your audience. You need someone who knows what your target audience feels, and wants to feel.
2. Using content incorrectly
Even a well-shot video can flop if it’s posted without a strategy. I was on a film project with a brand a few years ago; the entire campaign was shot and edited beautifully. Unfortunately, the client released a month’s worth of content in one day and changed the music on scenes. The result? Poor engagement, wasted effort, time, and money (on both ends). A strong posting strategy is just as important as a good video itself.
3. Focusing on one video instead of long-term impact
Many brands create a single video and call it a day (or a year). The best brands think about how each film contributes to awareness, trust, and ongoing engagement. Your content should have the ability to work across social media, paid ads, and campaigns. Think about turning one “hero film” into a month’s worth of content that keeps your audience engaged from start to finish.
What Actually Makes a Great Brand Videographer
Understanding your brand
The right videographer gets to know your brand before shooting. They want to know your core beliefs, why your product matters, and if they do your sport, they’ll get just as excited about your product as your customers will. I once shot a video for a surf wax brand called “Get Wet Surf Wax,” which is a performance surf wax that is also environmentally friendly. I tried it once before shooting the video, now it’s all I use!
Planning for multi-channel usage
- The best brand films aren’t one-off videos. They’re designed for multiple platforms:
- Hero film for your website or campaigns
- Short clips for social media
- Paid ad edits
- Billboard/Magazine Photos
The right videographer will be able to incorporate all of these into the same trip, so that you can get the best return on your investment. You will have to pay more for them, of course, we don't work for free :), but making sure they have the option to do so and that you budget for that is critical, so you don't have to pay for another shoot in a week because they only got one asset and you now want five.
Clear process and communication
Having clear communication, a clear revision schedule, planning for usage types, and guidance on posting strategy separates a good videographer from a great one. The goal isn’t to show off how good the videographer is; the goal is to show off how good YOUR BRAND is. If the videographer isn’t focused on your brand and how to best support you, it can quickly become a film of “look how awesome of a videographer I am.” It needs to be “look how awesome this brand is.”
How I Work With Brands
When I am looking at starting work with a brand, I have a set process to make sure the brand is receiving the most amount of value they can receive.
Pre-booking call: We make sure that we will actually work well together before even starting. Not every brand is a match; there may be someone else who can serve your brand better.
- Pre-booking call: We make sure that we will actually work well together before even starting. Not every brand is a match; there may be someone else who can serve your brand better.
- Focus on outcomes: We determine why we are making this in the first place, so we can create the project with intent.
- Storyboarding and approval: We build a storyboard for the film to make sure we are clear on what we are making. This saves both of us time on the backend to avoid too many revisions, delays, or a missed video purpose entirely.
- Post-delivery guidance: After the film is shot, we build in room for two rounds of revisions, plus advice on how to use your content effectively for social, ads, and campaigns. Delivery is not the last time we speak to you. We care that you are able to use your project in the best way possible.
Budget Considerations
Full brand films typically start at around $2,000, which covers a single hero video. That’s enough to produce a visually appealing film, but in most cases, it’s just the beginning. The true value comes from getting the hero film and, on the same shoot, getting social media content, paid ad assets, and campaign photos. Everything your brand needs to tell a cohesive story across multiple platforms for a long time to come.
It’s common in the outdoor brand film industry to price these assets separately—one video here, a few social clips there, campaign photos billed individually—it often ends up being more expensive and less efficient.
By combining all of these elements into a single, strategic bundle, you get:
- Consistency across platforms: Every piece of content aligns with the story and brand identity of your hero film.
- Maximized ROI: One production delivers multiple assets that can be used repeatedly.
- Simplified workflow: Less back-and-forth, fewer separate projects to manage, and a unified creative approach.
- Long-term value: Instead of paying for each content type individually, the bundle creates a cohesive library of assets that can serve your brand for months or even years.
The upfront cost is higher, bundles often start at $15,000, and scale depending on the scope of the project. But consider the alternative: producing each asset separately, which can easily add up to $50,000+ without the same efficiency, cohesion, or strategic guidance.
Who Should Work With Me
I spend the majority of my time in the editing bay, but when I am out shooting or am just having fun, you’ll see me out surfing, in the mountains, and likely using the gear that I plan on shooting. You need a filmmaker who knows your products, knows what separates good gear from bad gear, and believes in your products as much as you do. If that sounds like someone you’d want making your film, contact us! I can’t wait to see what you want to create.
