FAQ

Planning and scheduling a professional video production isn’t always as simple as grabbing a camera and showing up. It takes careful coordination and collaboration. That’s why we use an always-up-to-date, cloud-based booking app where you can check our availability anytime. Typically, we’re booking projects 4-6 weeks in advance, depending on the season. If you’re ready to start planning, the best way to get the ball rolling is through our inquiry form, so we can discuss the details and set up your project on the right timeline.

Our process is designed to make video production smooth, collaborative, and impactful. Here’s how we do it, step by step:

1. Discovery
Every project begins with a tailored approach to help you reach your most important goals. We start with a discovery call with Executive Producer, Josh Hester, and Production Manager, Lydia Stuemke. Choose "Inquire" from the menu, answer a few initial questions, and we’ll reply within one business day with an invite. During the call, we’ll dive into your vision and discuss how we can help bring it to light. After the call, we’ll send a formal proposal for your review, and once the budget is approved and our service agreement is signed, pre-production begins with Lydia as your dedicated project concierge. 🥂

2. Pre-Production
This phase is the foundation for a successful project, and it’s where much of the essential work takes place. We’ll guide you through securing buy-in from key stakeholders, fine-tuning your message, and planning out production day(s). With over 20 years of experience and a set of thoughtful planning tools, we make sure everything is prepared to the finest detail.

3. Production
With all the planning in place, it’s time for production. Our Emmy-winning crew brings the project to life, capturing everything with precision and professionalism. Our team of seven has worked in 23 states, D.C., Puerto Rico, and even Canada, serving clients from small businesses to national brands. We’re here to make your vision a reality—let’s roll! 🎥

4. Post-Production
The magic of video editing brings everything together. You’ll receive a private review link within four weeks of wrapping production and have the chance to provide feedback. We include two rounds of revisions to make sure the edits are perfect and aligned with your vision.

5. Delivery
Once approved, you’ll receive a secure download link to your final video files and custom thumbnail images, ready for publishing. We archive all footage for at least two years and are here to help with any publishing questions or tech hiccups along the way. We love hearing from clients about the results, especially when they see stronger, more meaningful engagement than ever before. 😉

Every effective marketing video should be described these three ways: brief, authentic, and valuable.

Brief:
In today's world, attention spans are short. For event videos, aim for 3 to 7 minutes. Website videos work best at around 4 minutes or less, and online videos should be no longer than 2 minutes. Remember, our goal is to connect with viewers quickly and move them to action, but that connection won’t happen if they don’t click play. Research shows that audiences are far less likely to watch anything online longer than 2 minutes.

Authentic:
People want to hear from real voices, not polished scripts. We focus on capturing real people speaking genuinely, from the heart. Techniques like scripted voiceovers, on-camera hosting, and flashy graphics have been overused, and today’s audiences no longer trust them.

Valuable:
Your video should teach, reveal, or entertain in a way that’s unexpected or new. If viewers leave having learned something, seen a fresh perspective, or felt truly engaged, then the video has done its job well.

Every successful video project starts with five foundational questions to guide its impact. When planning an effective marketing video, we ask:

1. Who is your audience? Knowing who you want to reach shapes every other choice in the process.
2. Where will they watch? Different platforms and settings call for different styles and lengths.
3. What do you want them to hear? Beyond facts, what message do you want to resonate?
4. How do you want them to feel? Emotion is a powerful motivator. Consider the feeling you want to leave them with.
5. What action should they take next? Decide what you want your audience to do after they’ve watched.

Our team will work through these questions with you in pre-production, setting clear goals that keep everything on track and aligned with your vision.

Every great video starts with a great plan, and we call that pre-production. This phase is all about setting the foundation before the cameras even roll. It’s so essential to our process that we’ve developed a dedicated messaging and planning guide to help you map out:

1. Your target audience
2. The key message you want to convey
3. Your “cast” of real voices
4. Interview content and talking points
5. Ideal shooting locations
6. The cinematic covering footage that will bring depth to the story

And don’t worry. Lydia, our Production Manager, is here to walk you through each step. She’ll make sure the guide is simple to follow and work with you on creating a production schedule that works for everyone. 🙋🏼‍♀️

The most effective marketing videos are brief and focused, and a key way to keep them impactful is by limiting the number of interviews. Our general rule of thumb is one minute of screen time per person. So, for a 2-3 minute video, we recommend interviewing no more than three people. Adding too many voices can dilute the message, making it harder for the story to resonate. Keeping the focus on a few select voices allows us to create a clear, compelling narrative that holds your audience’s attention from start to finish.

The people we “cast” during pre-production are thoughtfully chosen to tell the story best within the time we have. We know that additional interviews may be suggested on the day of the shoot, and while we’re happy to consider these, please know they may not make the final cut. Every added interview can dilute the main message, and we aim to keep each video concise and impactful.

If we do incorporate extra interviews beyond what’s planned, any additions on shoot day may result in overage charges as they often change the scope of the production. Our goal is always to make your video as effective as possible by staying focused on the key voices that matter most.

Plan for about 20 minutes per interview on shoot day, although most don’t take longer than 30 minutes. We like to leave a little extra time between interviews to avoid feeling rushed and to make sure we’re not keeping anyone waiting. While we aim to stay on schedule, setting up the right shot can take an extra moment. After all, we’re creating something special, not racing the clock. In rare cases, an interview may take longer than expected, but we typically know ahead of time if that’s likely.

No, we generally avoid sending questions ahead of time. Here’s why: in our experience, providing questions in advance is the number one way to derail the authenticity of an interview. When interviewees receive questions beforehand, they often prepare or even memorize responses, which can turn the interview into a performance rather than a genuine conversation. Instead, we aim to capture natural, in-the-moment answers that resonate with viewers. And thanks to the magic of editing, there’s no pressure to get everything perfect. No scripts, no rehearsals, just a relaxed, conversational approach that keeps things real.

You can also trust that we edit with integrity, carefully selecting moments that reflect each person’s voice and message. Our approach keeps everyone comfortable and authentic on camera. No need to worry about anything but being yourself.

For us, the best locations are the those that not only look good but also sound great. We’re committed to producing the highest-quality visuals and audio possible, and we’ve invested in top-tier equipment to make it happen. Our kit includes everything from cameras and a dozen lenses to light fixtures and microphones, all handled by our experienced two-three person crew.

The ideal space is spacious, quiet, and has minimal foot traffic to keep audio clear and distractions low. We also look for locations that visually support your story, details in the background that add context or showcase your unique environment. To help us prepare, we’d love it if you could snap a few cell phone photos of potential locations and send them our way. We look forward to these photos more than we love ice cream. And we really, really love ice cream.

Because you can’t rush greatness! Our approach isn’t “run-and-gun” or “quick and dirty” like a news crew or traditional videographer. Quality work takes time, and being thoughtful takes even more. We’re committed to making sure every detail is spot-on, from lighting to sound to framing each shot. By planning a half-day or full-day shoot, we ensure we’re free to focus on creating something extraordinary, without the constraints of an hourly rate. This approach lets us deliver the kind of polished, high-quality work that simply isn’t possible with a rushed, hourly setup.

Once we’ve picked the perfect location, we’ll need around 30 to 45 minutes to set up and get the lighting just right. During this time, it’s best to keep the set clear, with only those absolutely necessary around. Don’t take it personally if we’re not as chatty as usual. We’re doing some “sciency” math in our heads to make sure everything is perfect! When we’re ready to roll, we’ll call in interviewees and other participants. If possible, setting up a separate room or area for people to wait in makes things run even smoother.

First and foremost, we want people to feel comfortable and confident on camera. This is the time to choose that one outfit that makes you feel like a million bucks (just maybe not in neon green). For the best look on video, we recommend simple, solid, muted earth tones. Avoid bright colors, pastels, and tight patterns, as they don’t translate well on screen. We have a soft spot for blues, so if you wear blue, we’re bound to be fast friends!

You can expect the first edit(s) of your video(s) to be delivered via a private online review gallery within about 4 weeks after we wrap shooting. We include two complimentary rounds of revisions, so you’ll have plenty of opportunity to provide feedback and fine-tune the final product. No additional charge unless we go beyond those first two rounds of revisions, but that's rare. Yet another reason we invest the time and attention in pre-production and planning.