Five Focused FAQs Questions to Ask Your Deposition Videographer

We’ve all heard the saying that a picture is worth a thousand words, but those of us who work in the legal profession know that a video is worth a million. Video is an incredibly powerful medium during litigation because taped testimonies provide a more complete record than just a standard transcript. And, since most people retain 95% of the content in a video compared to only 10% of what they read in text, video depositions are more likely to hold a jury’s attention, which is always a benefit.

At DLE Court Reporting, we’re proud to give clients access to our Certified Legal Video Specialists, licensed through NCRA and working with the latest video equipment and related technology available. If you’re searching for a firm with video deposition capabilities, including remote depositions, there are a few topics to broach with a prospective videographer before scheduling.

1. Are you CLVS certified?
As we mentioned, our videographers are licensed by and adhere to the qualifications of the National Court Reporters Association. The Certified Legal Video Specialist program sets and enforces standards for competency in the capture, utilization, and retention of legal video. Videographers with this certification have undergone specific, specialized training.

2. Have you ever replaced a court reporter?
A deposition videographer may be used for a deposition in place of a court reporter, enabling the videographer to ask questions for clarifications throughout the proceedings. In these instances, it is essential for the videographer to ensure an excellent quality capture; this means double-checking the microphone capabilities.

3. Do you provide post-production editing and digitizing?
It’s important for the video and transcript to be in sync. After the deposition is over, a great videographer’s firm will synchronize your video with the transcript for simultaneous viewing. This radically reduces trial preparation time, increasing efficiency and accuracy.
Related to post-production, will you require your videographer to attend a later hearing and play back the deposition for the judge and jury?

4. Do you provide video exhibits, too?
Check with your potential videographer about multi-camera taping abilities, which allows for side-by-side viewing of the witness and the items they reference.

5. Can you support remote depositions?
Remote or virtual depositions save on travel expenses for your entire legal team, as well as reduce associated costs and scheduling conflicts. Using video technology, your team can remotely participate in real time at depositions and integral meetings.

Of course, a pre-deposition interview of a videographer cannot be complete without asking about their customer support and turnaround times. Do they offer last-minute scheduling and around-the-clock troubleshooting? Are travel times included in the pricing, and are there any other hidden fees?
These simple questions will help identify the quality and experience level of the videographer you hire to join your litigation team. Keep in mind, if your prospective videographer has a difficult time answering these questions, you may want to direct your questions to one of our videographers, instead. They know all the answers!