In short
- Finished films, raw footage and project files are different things. A quote should say which ones you get.
- Delivery can be by online link, drive or both, and each has its own cost and risk.
- Ask how long files are kept after delivery and what it takes to get them again.
- Keep your own copy of everything you cannot afford to lose. Do not rely on one place.
Storage, raw footage and transfer are three separate promises. Delivery is how the files reach you, storage is where they stay afterwards, and raw footage is the unedited material. A good quote says what you receive, what we keep and how you can ask for more later.
What files can come out of one event?
Not everyone means the same thing by “the video”. Here are the files that may exist.
| File | What it is | Common reason to want it |
|---|---|---|
| Finished film | The edited video you ordered | Sharing, screening, keeping |
| Full recording | A ceremony or speech from start to finish, lightly edited | Record of what was said |
| Raw footage | The untouched camera and sound files | Archive, another editor, later reuse |
| Project files | The editing session behind a finished film | Changing the film later |
| Captions or transcript | Text files linked to the film | Access and search |
A quote does not have to include all of these. It does need to say which ones are included. Our guide to choosing the finished videos helps with the first row. This page covers the files behind it.
Should you ask for raw footage?
Ask if you have a clear use for it, for example an archive, a second film by another editor or a future anniversary video. Raw footage is large and unedited, so it takes time and a drive to hand over.
Be clear about the difference between three things:
- Handed over: you receive a copy and can keep it.
- Kept by us: we store it for a period, and you can ask for it later.
- Not kept: the files are deleted after delivery.
Problems often start because one side assumed “kept” and the other meant “deleted”. Write down which one applies.
How are files delivered?
Delivery usually comes in one of two ways, or both:
- Online link: fast and easy to share, but links can expire and downloads need a good connection.
- Drive or card: a physical copy, useful for large files, but it can be lost or damaged.
Ask what is in the quote: the drive, upload time, a second copy and a re-send. If you may want an extra copy later, ask what that involves. The storage and transfer calculator helps you estimate how much space and time your files need.
An example for a school
For example, a school wants a finished film for parents, the full recording of a prize-giving for the school record and the raw footage for a future anniversary video. A clear request would say:
- Finished film: online link, plus a copy on a drive for the school office.
- Full recording: one file per segment.
- Raw footage: handed over on a drive, with a note of how the files are named.
- After delivery: how long we keep our copy, and how to ask for it again.
This is only an illustration. It shows that each file type has its own delivery and its own answer on keeping.
Who is responsible for what?
You are responsible for checking the files when they arrive and keeping your own copies. We are responsible for delivering what the quote lists and for saying clearly what we keep. If footage includes children or private moments, agree who can see and share it. See our permissions and publication guides for more.
What we confirm for your event
- Which files you receive, and in what form.
- Whether raw footage is handed over to you, kept by us, or not kept.
- How long we keep files after delivery.
- What it takes to get a file later, and whether that is quoted.
- Whether a second copy or a re-send is included.
The archive and handover planner turns the answers into a folder plan and a checklist. For the longer view, see our guide to keeping and reusing event recordings.
Tell us which files you want
Tell us which files you want and who will use them. We will list delivery, storage and later access as separate lines in your quote, so you can compare them. To see how this affects the whole price, read what changes the cost of event videography.
Tell us which files you want to keep, who will use them and for how long. We will write the handover into your quote, including what we store and what you receive.
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