Video production services are great ways to find help in the whole scheme of video production. With all the intricacies of productions, sometimes it helps to find an expert service to assist in your production, allowing you to take on as much or as little as you are comfortable with.
But if you prefer to watch a video instead, click here:
What types of video production services are there?
With all the different videos out there, there are video production services to meet the needs of each kind. However, it’s not a one size fits all service. This article from Digital Filmmaker relates video production to writing. Think about it, if you are looking to hire a writer for technical writing – you want a technical writer. Not someone who writes romance novels or mysteries. A writer who focuses on short stories or poetry would not fit your needs. You’d need a technical writer. The same holds true for video production. Much of it depends on the type of video you are producing.
This same article shares some of the different categories of video production services and the kinds of videos that fall under each. For instance, you’ve got music videos, event videos, wedding and educational productions, and many more. If you break it down further, you’ve got things like concert videos, presentations, live streams, and interviews that all can be under event videos. Wedding videos could include ceremony or legacy videos. Each type of video has a different audience and a different message. So for a client or a producer, it’s important to know both.
Good Eye Deer shares that video production services can include anything from film and tv to corporate, promotional, educational or web-based material. Production companies understand that audience engagement is the most important goal and the successful ones know how to do this.
How can a production service help a client?
Knowing that the goal of video production is audience engagement, whether it’s a film to enjoy or a message with a call to action, allows a service to find successful means to get to that engagement. Video production entails much more than the actual production of the video. With expertise, these companies can also work on pre-production and post-production. These steps are just as important as production. Pre-production contains the creation of the content, the planning of the shoot, and facilitating all components with adherence to detail.
As for post-production, this part is the editing and adding effects to make the video a top-notch piece. Just like any other media piece, a podcast or audiobook, your video will need concise and meticulous editing and post-production work to be in its best form for engagement.
Production companies also have the equipment needed for a shoot. Maybe you have the ideas, the script, the actors, but you don’t have the equipment that you know would make your piece a winner. A video production service could help here. Not only do they have the equipment, but you can also hire skilled professionals to do the shooting. A good video production service should be able to offer you talented professionals with artistic eyes and high levels of expertise.
Remember how you want to get the best help for your specific piece? Video production services should be able to match your needs with their talent. Whether you are looking to create a music video for your band or a commercial for your plumbing company or you are searching for corporate video production services, they should be able to give you a good match.
The key here is determining what you need. Do you need help with the production, or maybe getting started or just tidying it all up instead? Maybe you’re somewhat new at all of this and would like some overall help on your first productions. And even if you don’t know exactly what your needs are, a good professional at a video production place should be able to find out what you do need.
Choosing the service to best fit your needs
If you are starting from scratch, there a few good steps to take in finding the best video production service to meet your needs. Sheffield Audio Video Productions shares some steps worth taking.
- View the company’s portfolio. Often you can find this right on the website. A portfolio or gallery can let you know if this company could fit your style and your needs. Trust your vibe with how you feel about it. If you love the aesthetic and can feel the engagement, maybe they’re for you. If you get an off feeling, even if you can’t place it, maybe you should continue your search.
- Read reviews and testimonials. Happy customers will want to share their good experiences. Read some reviews and testimonials, take them for what you will, and go from there. Again, maybe someone felt this company made a stand out music video for them, but you are looking for help on a documentary about grasshoppers. Can this company do that, too? Remember, each project is different so though reviews are valid, they aren’t an end all be all.
- Can (will) they do what you want? It’s important for video production services to help where you need it, whether it’s the entire project or just a piece or part of it. The reason you’re seeking their service is that you need help. Can they meet these needs? For instance, do they have the equipment you’re looking for, the set location, or the experienced staff?
- Marketing. If you want help with this part of production, do they offer marketing help? Remember, your piece should be promoted to target audiences to further engagement. Do you want the service to do this for you? If so, make sure it’s something they do and you like how they go about it.
- Get a quote. You may find a wide range of prices as you search for professional video production services. Is their price in your ballpark budget? Sometimes you’ll find the best service for the lowest price, and sometimes the one charging the highest price isn’t the one for you. Though price needs to stay in your budget, it’s not always an indicator of skills and talent.
You’ve got options for finding video production or videography services, too. After all, you’ve got to find them before researching them. One great way is word of mouth. Do you have a friend or colleague who has used a service before that they can recommend? Ask on your social media or take a look online for some services that catch your interest. Just make sure that once you locate a few and you do that research to ensure you’re getting the best fit for your needs.
What is your role?
Once you have found and hired one of the professional video production services, don’t forget that you still have an important role to play and commitment to the project. It’s up to you to convey your vision and make sure the company meets your criteria.
When it comes to conveying your vision, you have to clearly express your goal of the piece. This entails clearly defining your target audience as well as the message you are sending. This includes the ever-important call to action. What do you want the audience to do and how do you want them to do it? The call to action could be anything from visiting your website to purchase a mug or spreading the word on the plight of endangered elephants.
You also have to be the one to define your tone. Sure, the company can help refine this but have an idea of what you want. Are you looking for humorous, formal, trusting, friendly, authoritative, or something else? You get the message. The tone creates the mood and connects with your audience. It is a huge factor in your production piece.
Another one of the parts you are responsible for is adhering to your budget. This article shares the importance of conveying this as the video production service needs to know what they’re working with in order to give you an accurate picture of what they can accomplish. You may have to relent a little on something to stick with your priorities. For instance, if you are looking for a quick turnaround, you may have to increase your budget. And if you can’t increase your budget, you have to settle for a longer timeline.
Another responsibility of yours is clear communication. If you are not crazy about something the service had done, let them know in a professional way. Remember, no one is a mind reader and if you don’t share your thoughts, they can’t fix it. When this happens, be professional, but firm. You are paying them, they should do what you want. Also, when you like what they have created, let them know. Often people focus on conveying critical and negative thoughts but forget to notice the good stuff as it’s expected. Everyone likes praise, don’t be stingy with it.
Clearly, one of the main aspects of your responsibility is communication. From beginning to end, you have to communicate and be clear in your expectations. You also need to cover all points, from the budget to tone to timelines and content. The video production service can help create your vision, but only if you share it in a way where they can boldly see it.
The big takeaway
Hiring one of the many video production services may be one of your best moves in creating a video. It can be hard to manage all aspects of production on your own and whether you choose to hire someone for one part of your production or for its entirety, having a partner in this endeavor can be the ticket to success. Remember, it is up to you to convey your vision and your expectations, but it’s also up to you to let them do what they are hired for. Before you know it, you’ll have an amazing production piece ready to share!
