01
How do you verify an editor's portfolio credits?
Look for named projects with a stated role, not a reel of unlabeled clips. A reel can mix stock footage, other people's shots and the editor's own work in a way nobody can untangle; a project page that names the client, the year and exactly what the editor did can be checked. The Homeowners project is an example of that format: a social video Esteban edited from footage supplied by the agency 300 Bees, and its case study says so rather than implying he filmed it.
When you review any editor, ask which parts of a piece were theirs — filming, editing, colour, sound, motion graphics — and whether the footage was supplied. Then ask for one project close to yours in format and length. A strong portfolio is one where the credits are specific enough that you could contact the client to confirm them.
02
What should communication with an editor look like before you hire?
Good scoping questions arrive before any price does: what the video is for, where it will be published, how long it should run, what footage exists, who approves it and when it is needed. An editor who quotes without asking those is guessing, and the guess usually shows up later as extra rounds or a surprise invoice.
Language matters in South Florida, so confirm it plainly instead of assuming. Esteban works Spanish-first with intermediate English: briefs, calls and notes in Spanish are his strongest channel, and English-language projects are handled in writing where it helps precision. For a published example of on-location work, see Healthy Smile Miami, a dental clinic's social videos filmed and edited on assignment with 300 Bees, and its case study. Agree in writing on the number of revision rounds and how feedback will be sent.
