In UGC work, it's common to start filming before the brand has fully signed off on the brief: tight schedules, or the brand still debating the angle. That's a real risk for the creator, who ends up producing against a moving target.
Get the non-negotiables confirmed in writing
Even without a final brief, get written confirmation (email, message) on the points that are expensive to redo if the brand changes its mind: format, length, key message, filming location. A brief that's vague on small details is manageable. One that's vague on these points is not.
Deliver a quick first version, not the final cut
If the brief is still moving, deliver a working version first (a rough edit, no final polish) for sign-off on substance, before spending time on finishing touches. That way you're not polishing content the brand is about to send back for a core change.
Once the substance is approved, the final version can follow as a second delivery, without revisiting what's already confirmed.
Keep a record of every approval along the way
If the brand approves one direction and then asks for something else later, a written record of earlier approvals protects you: it's no longer your work being questioned, it's a brief change that justifies a new deadline, or even a price adjustment.
On xFer, every intermediate delivery step keeps its own dated approval history: useful if you need to show the brief evolved along the way.
In short
Get the expensive-to-redo points confirmed in writing, deliver a working version before the final cut if the brief is still shifting, and keep a record of every approval. You stay covered even while the brand is still deciding.