Video Pre-Production Checklist: Prepare Your Next Shoot

Pre-production is the work that makes a video brief ready to film. A useful checklist records what must be captured, who is responsible and what the finished files need to do. Use the questions below for a business video, product shoot or real estate listing, adapting the detail to the project.

1. Define the audience and purpose

• Who is the video for, and what question should it answer?
• What should the viewer understand after watching?
• Where will the video appear, and what is the next step?
• Which facts, names or product details must be accurate?

Keep one main purpose per edit. If a brand introduction and a product demonstration need different messages, identify them as separate deliverables.

2. Prioritise the shot list

Write down the essential scenes before optional ideas. For each shot, identify the subject, location, action and supporting detail. A clear priority order helps the crew respond when access, weather or participants change.

For property work, plan a coherent route through the home. For a product, identify the feature or action that the viewer needs to see. Avoid a list of attractive shots with no connection to the message.

3. Prepare the location

• Confirm the address, access contact, parking and any loading arrangements.
• Arrange keys, elevator access and permission for shared spaces where needed.
• Clear the intended views and check lighting, reflections and background noise.
• Identify restrictions, hazards and areas that must not be filmed.
• Confirm the weather decision process for outdoor work.

Check that the agreed location is ready before the crew arrives. For a listing, use the Toronto real estate video guide to align the preparation with the intended tour.

4. Brief participants and plan sound

Confirm who appears, when they are available and what permissions are needed. Share interview questions or talking points early. Avoid putting customers or staff on camera without a clear understanding of the intended use.

Decide whether the video needs dialogue, narration, natural sound or music. Choose a suitable recording space, and confirm appropriate rights for any supplied audio or other creative material.

5. Specify the deliverables

Record lengths, aspect ratios, captions, languages, logos and branded or unbranded versions. Include any still photography or additional edits explicitly. Provide current brand assets and check spelling before production.

Use reference videos to explain a specific preference, such as pacing or framing, while keeping the requested result realistic for the location and scope.

6. Agree on review and delivery

Name one person who will consolidate feedback. Confirm the review stages, revision allowance, delivery date and any dependencies such as supplied images or approvals. Ask about raw footage and storage if they matter to the project.

Save the final brief where everyone involved can find it. The video production process guide explains how these decisions carry through filming, editing and delivery.

Before you book

Bring this checklist to the scope discussion for business and brand content. Confirm which planning tasks the production team will handle and which require information or preparation from you.