Is hiring a videographer for marketing worth it

Shooting video vs doing it your self

‍

1. Hardware

Don’t rush into buying expensive gear. Start shooting video with your phone. In time, you’ll probably want to add a better microphone, perhaps some LED panel lights and possibly also a rig, frame or gimbal to help keep the phone steady. These can all be bought very cheaply online. If you can, record the audio separately using a portable digital audio recorder, such as the excellent Tascam DR05.

Action cameras like the GoPro Hero 7 are another great way to capture quality video on a budget, especially when paired with a 3-axis gimbal. The camera will cost you around $400 and a stabiliser is an extra $90.

As your film making improves, you might consider buying a digital SLR, such as the Canon 5D Mark IV, which retails for close to $3,000, or a mirrorless camera, such as the Sony Alpha 7 RIII, which will set you back around $2,600. You’ll also need lenses, a tripod, lighting, a carrying case, filters and various other bits of kit, bringing your total spend for a basic pro set-up to around $7,000. However, although expensive cameras are shiny and sexy, there’s no point in having one stowed away in a cupboard. Instead of buying, consider renting equipment when you need it.

‍

2. Software

To turn your footage into a film you’ll need editing software. There are hundreds of video editing systems out there and you could spend weeks deciding which one to buy so let me save you some time: If you use Microsoft Windows, stick with MovieMaker and, if you use Apple products, stick with iMovie. Both systems are usually free and both offer more than enough animations, transitions and other wizardry to allow you to make professional-looking films. They’re also easy to learn and there are plenty of online tutorials if you get stuck on any particular aspect.

At some point in the future, you will feel you’ve outgrown these two excellent editing systems and I have two recommendations for when that time comes. The first is DaVinci Resolve from Black Magic Design. Resolve is about the most sophisticated editing system available anywhere in the world. There’s a free version, which has limited features, and an all-singing, all-dancing version for $299.

The second recommendation is Lightworks. Lightworks is free and open-source but don’t let that put you off. Among its many famous users are Baz Luhrmann, Quentin Tarantino and Martin Scorcese. The only problem with Lightworks and Resolve is that they are a million miles away from Movie Maker or iMovie.

‍

You know how important video marketing is in our modern age, and your team is ready to give it a try. You have an engaging idea and want to get started. All you need is your iPhone and a simple video editing software to bring your vision to life – right? Not exactly.

‍

Many businesses want to kickstart their video marketing efforts but go back and forth on hiring a professional video production crew to help them do it. One of the biggest things that holds them back is the cost. It’s true – seeking the services of a video production company is an investment, but it’s one that is worth its weight in gold. Here’s why.

‍

• You’re getting more than video: When you hire a video production company, they aren’t only there to shoot your video and leave. The best companies will work with you from concept to creation to ensure your vision is being accurately portrayed on the screen. During conception meetings, a team of video experts can take your ideas and turn them into a visually appealing production that properly represents your brand and message. They’ll also be able to provide suggestions on what types of video will be most effective for your efforts, so you see the best possible returns on investment.

• It’s not as easy as you think: After deciding to produce a brand video in house, many people discover that planning for and executing a successful video shoot is much more difficult than it seems. There are a ton of moving parts, from finding talent to choosing the right equipment to piecing each clip together into something that resembles your vision. Getting stuck during the process could cost your business money. A professional company has experience with all of this and can make sure it happens on time and on budget.

• There’s more to it than equipment: One mistake marketers often make is thinking that renting or buying their own high-quality videography equipment (which comes at a cost) will lead to a high-quality result. But there is so much more that goes into creating a top-notch video! Businesses can gain a lot from the concept creation, vision, execution and editing experience a professional team has to offer.

• Top-tier quality all the time: If you’re looking to create a few-second gif or video for a social media post or your blog, you might be able to get away with using a quality smartphone or camera. Unfortunately, it’s much harder to produce a longer video that exudes quality and skill – and viewers will know the difference. Save your time and energy and let video production pros handle the work, instead, and enjoy a beautiful-looking video in the end.

• Focus on what you do best: Video production is time consuming. If it’s your first foray into the world of video, you might be shocked to discover how much attention the process requires, and your time is valuable. Working with a video production company lets you keep your focus on other aspects of the business while the pros handle the heavy lifting. And, if you’re looking to create video assets on a routine basis, it might be in your best interest to hire a creative agency on retainer to handle your long-term production needs, so you don’t have to worry about the work in the pipeline.

‍

If your business is interested in venturing into video production, save yourself some hassle and trust the pros to do the work instead. Say hello and learn what Spin Creative can offer.

‍

1. You Don’t Have to Do It

When you take the step to outsourcing the production of a video you essentially free up a lot of your time. Professional companies went into the business of making videos because they enjoy it, and so long as you’ve found a reputable company, they’re probably good at their job.  

There is a lot of work that goes into making videos that you’ve probably not even considered. Before anyone goes to hit record there is a lot of prep work involved. Not only does a script need to be written but also every shot, or image, needs to be figured out ahead of time to ensure that the footage is going to accomplish the task at hand.

If you decided to take on the work yourself imagine how much time you would spend getting ready for the video shoot. (Not to mention the editing process which is time-consuming all on its own.) Unless making videos is a hobby of yours you may become frustrated during the process when you begin to see how much time you’re taking away from your business and brand.

Hiring a company to do the video work for you frees you up to continue to run your business the way you want to so that the commercial will only enhance your business and won’t distract from the important aspects that you could be working on instead. Save yourself the time and hire professionals.

‍

2. Access to High-Quality Equipment

You probably already know that the videos you can take on your cell phone aren’t as good as professional equipment can capture. Even if your phone camera has a high-quality lens professional cameras are going to have the capacity to store more footage and have a steadier shot in the first place.

If you are going to make an effort to create a video for your small business don’t waste your time and money on a project that you will be embarrassed by in the end. Hiring a company that can bring their experience to your video is the solution. Home videos are great for capturing school concerts and children opening gifts.

Not only is the film quality better with professional cameras but the tripods, camera stands or equipment needed to get the shots you require will be better without worrying about a camera shaking or dropping. Professional equipment is just all around going to give the best results in standards of video quality, you cannot compete with it with everyday cameras.

‍

3. Knowledge of Good Lighting

Perhaps you don’t know that one of the key technical aspects of getting great film footage is having excellent lighting. Cameras don’t react to lighting the same way our human eyes do, so in order to capture similar lighting qualities on film, you have to add artificial lighting to achieve the right look.

Since lighting can set the mood or even just make your product look better you will want to hire someone with expert knowledge of good lighting and will have the necessary equipment to make it happen. Business interviews will need different lighting setups than product shots. Even outdoor shots need to be artificially lit in order to look good on camera.

Having great lighting helps the camera draw focus on the important things in the shot whatever that may be. Unless you already have lighting equipment to use already, getting the equipment could be an expense you hadn’t planned for. While you may be able to rent what you need, you may also have to purchase lights and that may not be an item you’ve budgeted for.

A professional video production agency already has the knowledge of how to light different setups to have each situation look great on camera and they already have the equipment needed to achieve these well-lit shots.

‍

4. Great Sound

Have you ever watched a movie or clip without any sound? Sound elements add a more complex emotional quality to video imagery and being able to capture the best quality sound is important to reducing background noise and getting your message across.

You may have experience listening to music through a speaker that sounds “tinny” compared to a speaker that has a higher quality sound. The better the speaker the more pure sound will come through. The same will hold true with recording the sound in the first place, the better the equipment, the better the sound. (And the easier editing will be as well.)

Professional video companies understand how to get the best sound and have everything they need to do so at their disposal. Making a video production agency the best solution for your brand’s video. They can also help you add great background music to your video if you so choose.

‍

5. Post-Production Speed

After all the video has been captured, your shoot has been cleaned up and packed away you’ll be excited to get your video out there for the world to see. But the bulk of the work is just beginning since your video footage needs to be edited in order for your optimal narrative to be told.

If you aren’t well versed in video editing you may be underestimating the time it takes to properly edit the raw footage into the stunning final product. What you consider a “simple three-minute video” could translate to hours of editing time to get it just right. And that is for professionals who are trained on specific editing software and understand the footage that was taken.

Editing can be complicated because you need to be sure the images match up with the audio seamlessly. Adding in cuts, taking out those “ums” and “likes” out of conversations can be difficult without the knowledge of how to best go about editing.

Amateurs editing with some software they aren’t familiar with can take even more time to get the video editing. Because professionals are trained and experienced they can often edit faster than someone with limited prior exposure to editing.

‍