Are you a freelance videographer or video production agency looking to get more corporate video clients? Perhaps you’re wondering how to dazzle a high-profile customer and convince them to invest in your talents? No matter how impressive your videography skills and website are, you probably won’t get very far without a slick video proposal.
So, what exactly is a video production proposal? Put simply, it’s a document that clearly lays out your credentials, including details about your completed projects, any awards you or your crew may have won, and relevant qualifications. It also serves as a roadmap that helps the client understand what to expect from the production process, the creative direction, the resources required, and the costs involved. Think of it as a marketing tool that acts as both a pitch and a blueprint, showing how you or your video production company plans to bring the client’s vision to life.
Naturally, you should tailor every proposal to ensure they meet prospective clients’ expectations. However, as most proposals tend to adopt a similar structure and pattern, we recommend drawing up a video proposal template to save time in the long run. You may also wish to produce a small number of proposal example templates for clients within specific niches, such as the wedding, corporate, or music video sectors.
If you’re wondering where to start with your video production proposal template, we’ve put together a few useful tips for getting it right, plus an example for you.
Contents
- Put yourself in a client’s shoes
- Write a formal introduction
- Come up with a killer “About Me/Us” section
- Avoid long sentences and flowery language
- Produce different video proposal templates for new and existing clients
- An example video production proposal template
1. Put yourself in a client’s shoes
Imagine you’re a client looking for high-quality video production services. What would you expect from a service provider, and are there any perks that would help them stand out from the crowd? Brainstorm a list of expectations and priorities before you start drawing up your proposal template, and make sure to include them in the writing process.
2. Write a formal introduction
Every proposal should start with a succinct paragraph introducing the reason behind the proposal and the parties involved. For example: “[Your company name] is delighted to present the following proposal to [client’s name] for the purpose of producing a marketing video that captures their latest product launch at [location] on [date].” Try to include vital information such as locations and dates, as your client may have several projects going on simultaneously. Clearly labelling your proposal in this way will help streamline the selection process.
3. Come up with a killer “About Me/Us” section
The “About” section of your proposal should appear toward the very beginning of the document and demonstrate your credentials as a video producer. Broadly speaking, this part of the proposal won’t require significant tweaking to suit specific clients. After all, it should encompass everything that makes your offering special, including details about past projects. You may wish to include:
- Information about your team members and their professional backgrounds
- A list of past clients (if it’s extensive, you may wish to cherry-pick the most high-profile clients)
- Unique facts about what motivates you or your team
- Testimonials from happy clients
- Consider mentioning the film equipment and video lighting equipment you have access to if it gives you a competitive advantage.
Obviously, you should avoid exaggerating or making false claims while writing about your business (no matter how tempting!). While most of this section can remain static across different proposals, you may wish to use testimonials from previous clients with similar projects to your prospective customers.
4. Avoid long sentences and flowery language
Overly long or wordy proposals can be confusing and frustrating to read. If you want to avoid boring your clients, you’ll need to write concisely and directly. Although writing may not be your strongest skill, the following tips should help you craft something compelling and persuasive:
- Always remember to focus your proposal on how you will meet your client’s goals
- Divide your proposal into digestible sections with clear subheadings
- Avoid jargon and provide definitions if you need to use technical language
- Put your proposal into software such as Grammarly, as this will help to weed out most spelling and grammar errors
- Ask a friend or colleague to proofread the proposal before you send it to the client
When dividing your proposal into sections, the following template could provide a helpful guide:
- Background information about your company or crew
- Information about where to find sample videos and further proof of your credentials
- An overview of your video production workflow
- Script-writing information
- Details about the shoot and what clients can expect on the day
- Editing information
- Cost breakdowns
- Details about the next steps and a call-to-action
- Client testimonials
Naturally, you should tailor this template depending on your unique offering and ways of working.
5. Produce different video proposal templates for new and existing clients
New clients will require different information from existing clients, so it’s helpful to produce templates for both categories. For new clients, you should focus on providing persuasive information about your excellent skills as a video production company, as well as your unique ways of working and delivering projects. You should also include clear information about the timeline and budget of the project.
For existing clients, budgetary and technical information is also fundamental. However, you can cut out much of the information about your company’s impressive credentials and unique offering. If a client wants to use your services again, they probably don’t require much persuading surrounding your capabilities. Instead, you should include information about how you will build on their previous campaigns, improve on past mistakes or weaknesses, and reach new objectives.
6. An example video production proposal template:
This video proposal template outlines key sections you may want to include, such as the project overview, objectives, timeline, and costs, but you can adapt it to fit the specific project and client requirements. For advice on pricing, read our essential guide to setting your videography pricing.
1. Introductory paragraph
[Your company name] is delighted to present the following proposal to [client’s name] for the purpose of producing a marketing video that captures their latest product launch at [location] on [date].
2. About us
- Information about your team members and their professional backgrounds
- A list of past clients (if it’s extensive, you may wish to cherry-pick the most high-profile clients)
- Unique facts about what motivates you or your team
- Testimonials from happy clients
- Consider mentioning the film equipment and video lighting equipment you have access to if it gives you a competitive advantage.
3. Project overview / objectives
Objective:
Describe the goal of the video here. For example, "Create an engaging brand awareness video that communicates the company’s mission and values to a target audience."
Target Audience:
Provide a brief description of the intended audience for this video. Include demographic details, viewing platforms (e.g., social media, website), and any insights about audience behaviour relevant to the project.
Video Type and Format:
Specify the type of video (e.g., promotional, explainer, corporate, documentary-style) and any format specifications (e.g., 1080p HD, vertical format for social media, etc.).
List the specific objectives this video should achieve. For example:
- Increase brand awareness by X% over a set period.
- Engage the audience by achieving X number of views, likes, or shares.
- Educate viewers on the product features and benefits.
4. Creative approach
Concept:
Describe the creative concept or storyline for the video. This should give the client an idea of how the video will look and feel. For example, "A day-in-the-life story following a user of the product to showcase the value it brings in real-world settings."
Visual Style:
Describe the visual style and tone. For instance:
- "Clean, modern visuals with a warm color palette."
- "Energetic, fast-paced editing with dynamic camera movements."
Script and Storyboard:
Outline the structure of the script and any key storyboard points. This can include the main scenes or segments, key messaging points, and transitions between sections.
5. Production plan
- Pre-Production
- Scriptwriting – Complete the final script based on client input.
- Storyboarding – Develop visual storyboards for each scene.
- Casting – Select and hire talent if required.
- Location scouting – Find and confirm locations for filming.
- Production
- Filming schedule – Provide the estimated dates and locations for filming.
- Crew and equipment – Describe the crew roles (director, videographer, sound, etc.) and equipment to be used (cameras, lighting, sound).
- Post-Production
- Editing – Outline the editing process, including cuts, music, and graphics.
- Sound design – Include any narration, background music, and sound effects.
- Graphics and animations – Describe any custom graphics or animations required.
- Review and revisions – Include how many rounds of revisions are included in the proposal.
6. Timeline and milestones
| Task | Description | Estimated Date |
|---|---|---|
| Project kick-off | Initial client meeting and brief | Date |
| Script and storyboard | Develop script and storyboard | Date |
| Filming | Production days | Date(s) |
| Editing and post | Editing, sound design, graphics | Date |
| Client review | Client reviews and provides feedback | Date |
| Final delivery | Completed video delivery | Date |
7. Budget
| Item | Description | Cost (£) |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-production | Scriptwriting, storyboarding, planning | Amount |
| Production | Crew, talent, location rentals, equipment | Amount |
| Post-production | Editing, sound, graphics | Amount |
| Additional costs (if any) | Licensing, travel, or other expenses | Amount |
| Total Estimated Cost | Total £ |
8. Terms and conditions
Provide details on payment terms (e.g., 50% upfront, 50% on delivery), intellectual property rights, confidentiality, and any other relevant terms.
9. Next steps
Explain how the client can proceed if they would like to move forward with the proposal. This could include scheduling a follow-up meeting or signing a contract.
Prepared by:
[Your Name/Your Company]
[Your Contact Information]
Start writing your proposal template today!
As you can see, writing a project proposal doesn’t have to be rocket science. Once you’ve put together one or more proposal templates, you can quickly start putting yourself out there and securing fabulous clients. Of course, you must remember to tweak your video proposal template to suit clients’ specific needs, so don’t hesitate to ask for in-depth information about their project before handing over a final proposal.
A fantastic way to tailor your video production proposals for individual clients is to include one or more location ideas for every shoot. Stuck for inspiration? This is where we come in. Tutti is an intuitive marketplace designed to help creators find the perfect video locations for their projects. Search our spaces to find out more and browse our amazing locations.
