After over a decade of filming and photographing theatrical performances, university showcases, and live events, one question comes up time and time again — usually from cast or crew members:

“Hey, the footage or photos came out amazing… is there any way I can get some of that?”

I get it. You want to share it with friends or family who couldn’t make it. Maybe you want it for your acting reel, portfolio, or just to relive a moment you were proud of. But before I can even think about hitting “send,” there are a few things you need to know.

Step One: Talk to the Client (My Point of Contact)

I know you might be the lead, a featured performer, or even the director — but when you’re asking for media, the very first step is always the same:

You must get permission from the client.

Every production we’re hired for is under a very specific contract with the organization or company that brought us in. Whether that’s a university, a regional theatre, or a production company — they’re the ones who paid for the shoot and control how that media is used.

Even if you’re high up the food chain, if you’re not the client who hired us directly, I can’t greenlight anything until the official point of contact gives me the go-ahead. Period. I’ve built strong, years-long relationships with many of these clients, and honoring that chain of command is non-negotiable.

Step Two: What Was Actually Filmed?

This part is crucial.

We do not film the full show unless we were hired to do exactly that.

Most times, if you saw a promo, sizzle, or social highlight video, that means we filmed select moments for visual impact — not coverage. That means:

Entire scenes may be missing
Cameras may have been unmanned
Exposure and focus may shift constantly
Audio may be rough, ambient, or absent
You might see crew walking in front of the camera (on purpose)

We shoot differently when we’re creating promotional content than we would if we were doing full performance coverage.

Step Three: It’s Still a Business Transaction

I say this respectfully and professionally — but even when the vibes are friendly and everything is good energy backstage, this is still a business.

Once we get client permission, the next step is to figure out what you want (reel clips, short edit, raw selects, etc.) and begin the editing or sourcing process.

That time isn’t free — whether we’re:

Searching archives
Converting footage
Building an edit
Communicating back and forth

We bill this time as post-production.

Rates start at $75/hr with a 2-hour minimum.

That covers file searching, reviewing, transferring, and anything else needed to get you what you’re asking for.

Important Notes About Raw Media

Even with permission, I’m cautious about releasing raw media for a few reasons:

It’s not meant to be released. Raw content from a live event often looks chaotic. That’s not a mistake — we shot for speed, mood, or B-roll, not full coverage.
Audio might be bad. Sometimes we didn’t patch into the board. Sometimes it’s all ambient noise. You might hear camera ops talking, breathing, or worse — you might not hear anything.
We don’t want to misrepresent our work. Releasing raw, unpolished media out of context can look like we didn’t know what we were doing… when we were just capturing what we needed for a 90-second edit.

So… Can You Get the Footage?

Maybe. But here’s the checklist:

✅ Client gives written approval
✅ You’re okay with the editing rate (2-hr min @ $75/hr)
✅ You understand what may or may not exist

If all of that checks out, we’re happy to help however we can.

Thanks for understanding — and if you found this post because you were about to email me asking for show footage, you’re already ahead of the game.

Have a production coming up or need media access guidance?

Book a 1-hour planning session here

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Can I Get the Raw Footage or Photos? Here's What Cast & Crew Need to Know