Choosing the right video production company for your project

So you need to create a video, but you don’t know where to start. Hiring a professional videographer or video production company is a great first step. Especially if you want to create something of a high quality to share on your digital and social channels.

What is a video production company?

A video production company is often made up of a group of experienced creative professionals with expertise in shooting, editing and managing the production of high quality videos for marketing, broadcast or informational purposes.

They can also help you develop your creative direction for the video or video series, making sure that it engages with your target audience and meets your aims. 

How to choose a video production company 

A quick search online will present you with a long list of videographers and video production companies based across the UK and locally. But what should you be thinking about when sourcing and then hiring a company to produce your video? Here are some points to consider.

Develop a brief

Before approaching a video production company, make sure you have developed your initial idea for your video and written a clear brief. This just needs to include key information like the messaging or story you’d like to tell, who you’d like to film, where and when you’d like to film, and your deadline for the work.

If you only have a rough idea, then try to put as much of it down on pap

er first to help the company you approach understand your vision. Doing this will also enable you to clarify your thoughts. Your chosen production company can then help you with developing your ideas and making them a reality.

Decide on a budget

There is a huge range of video production companies across the UK, all offering a  selection of services varying in cost. A bespoke agency, offering a more personalised service, like Sheeran Media will provide different services to a larger production company which only shoots TV shows. 

When approaching video production companies, make sure to have a rough budget in mind. But expect the final quote to be impacted by factors including the number of days filming is required and the turnaround period.

Watch their showreel

A great way to get a taste for the quality of work produced by a video production company is to watch their showreel. Roughly lasting a minute or two, a showreel will include a collection of their best work and show you the sort of clients they’ve worked with in the past.

A showreel is like a short movie trailer, allowing the company to show off their skills and best work. Here’s ours!

Explore their portfolio

If you like what you see in their showreel, take some time to delve a bit deeper into their past work and look at their portfolio. This allows you to watch the full videos that they’ve produced and get a more complete picture of the quality of their past work. Take a look at ours here.

But make sure to look beyond the nicely shot videos. What clients have they had and what do they have to say about the company? Do you feel they’ve conveyed the message or story they aimed to tell in an engaging way?

Read testimonials from past clients

Don’t just take their word for it. What do their past clients think of them? Look for testimonials on their website reviewing past work they’ve produced for their clients. Search online for reviews that have been left elsewhere on social platforms for example.

Reach out and have a chat with them

When you think you’ve found the right match for your video project, reach out to them directly and ask to have an initial chat. Share your brief and budget with them ahead of your meeting.  

When you meet with them, take the time to go into your brief with a bit more detail, ask them for ideas and thoughts about how they’d produce the video and get a measure for their enthusiasm for the project.

Once you’re happy with your choice, ask them to quote for the work. Maybe consider getting quotes from other companies to compare.

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We’re Sheeran Media

You might have reached the end of this article and thought that you’d like some help from the professionals to create your next video. 

We’re Sheeran Media. An all in one content creation company with expertise in video, podcasts, animation and social media graphic design. If you have a project you need support with, then get in touch. We’d love to help!