Delivering Highlight Reels and Teasers to Clients

Deliver video in stages: a short teaser quickly, a highlight reel in a few weeks and a full film last, each with a private link, a download option and a stated hosting period. Agree the formats and timing in the contract so the client knows what arrives when.

This guide is for photographers who offer video as an add-on or alongside photo packages.

Types of video

Use clear names so clients know what they are buying.

• Teaser: 30 to 90 seconds. Quick, made for sharing. Often delivered within days or a couple of weeks.
• Highlight reel: 3 to 6 minutes. A story of the day with music. The main product for many packages.
• Full film or documentary edit: longer, with speeches, vows and full moments. Takes the most editing time.
• Raw footage: unedited clips. Usually not included; see your raw files policy if you offer it.
• Social cut: vertical short clips for reels and stories.

These lengths are examples. Pick your own and write them down. Define what each includes: how many cameras, whether audio is from the venue, whether music is licensed and who chooses it.

Music needs care. Licensing rules differ by country and by platform, so use music you have the right to use, and ask a local adviser about public sharing.

Hosting

Video files are too large to email. You need somewhere to put them.

Options:

1. Video hosting platforms with private or password-protected links. They stream well and can offer download buttons.
2. Your gallery tool, if it supports video. Convenient if you want photos and film in one place.
3. Cloud storage links. Simple, but streaming is less smooth and permissions need care.
4. USB drives or cards. Some clients like a physical copy. It also gives a backup.

Check the storage limits, privacy settings and download options of whichever you pick. Set the link to private and use a password for weddings.

For the studio, your photos stay in your own gallery tool, and ClickBook does not host video or galleries. It can hold the deliverable on the job with a due date and a link in your notes, so the team knows what has been sent.

Timing

Be honest. Video editing takes longer than people think, and clients who see a great teaser at two weeks often assume the full film is nearly ready.

Example timeline (change to suit):

• Teaser: within 2 weeks of the wedding.
• Highlight reel: 6 to 8 weeks.
• Full film: 10 to 12 weeks.
• Revisions: one round of small changes within 14 days of delivery.

Put these in the contract as estimates, not guarantees, and say that busy seasons may extend the time. Align them with your photo editing turnaround time so photos and film do not clash for your own time. A teaser can sit alongside a photo sneak peek to give the couple something to share.

Tell the client at the start if there is a different editor. Credit that person in your records and keep notes from the client about preferred music, key moments and anything they do not want.

Quality settings

Keep settings simple and consistent.

• Resolution: match your edit, commonly 1080p or 4K.
• Frame rate: keep the project frame rate, such as 24 or 25 or 30 frames per second, to avoid judder.
• Format: MP4 with H.264 is widely compatible. Newer codecs can reduce file size, but check playback on the client's device.
• Streaming version: a smaller file, for example 1080p at a moderate bitrate, so the video loads on mobile.
• Download version: the highest quality you intend to give.
• Audio: check levels on a phone speaker and on headphones before delivery.

Watch the whole film on a phone before sending. That is where most clients will view it first.

Name files clearly: Surname_Highlight_1080p.mp4. Include a short readme or delivery message that says what each file is and how to play it.

Archive

Video projects consume a lot of space, so decide how long you keep them.

• Keep the project file, selected footage and exports for the period in your contract.
• Tell clients that you hold backups for a limited time and that they should keep their own copy.
• Use two storage locations, one of them offsite or in the cloud.
• Record where each project is stored, with the date you plan to remove it.

See how long to keep client files for a retention schedule you can adapt. If you are comparing tools to manage deliverables, read about alternatives to Sprout Studio as a starting point.

If you use ClickBook, you can see the video deliverables with their deadlines alongside photo work. Look at a demo to see how projects and deadlines appear.

Mistakes to avoid

• Promising a delivery date for the full film that you cannot meet.
• Sending large files by email.
• Using music you do not have the right to use.
• Not testing playback on a phone.
• Leaving links public.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a teaser and a highlight reel?

A teaser is a short clip, often under a minute, made quickly for sharing. A highlight reel is longer, usually a few minutes, and covers the day in more detail. A full film is the extended edit.

Where should I host client videos?

Many photographers use a video hosting platform with private links, or the video feature of their gallery tool. Check each platform for privacy, download and storage terms.

What video quality should I deliver?

Deliver at the resolution you shot and edited in, commonly 1080p or 4K, as a download, plus a smaller streaming version for easy viewing.

How long should I keep video files?

Video files are large, so set a retention period in your contract and tell clients to download their copy. Archive your project files for the period you promise.