Bill Sammons, Video Production Director
So you have a decent video camera and a young guy on staff who took a film class in college. Why…it’s almost like having your own video production department!
OK, so I exaggerate.
Many companies today do have people on staff with various levels of photography and videography experience. Can they be utilized to handle some of your corporate video work?
The answer is a definite maybe.
Before answering Yes, decide if that person is more valuable doing what you hired them for rather than shooting and editing video. Video editing is very time consuming – and you don’t want their other work to suffer. But if they have time and interest (and talent) you might be able to save yourself some money by doing basic video production in-house.
Some things to consider if you go this route:
1- Make sure you have a good video camera that is appropriate for the end result. A high definition camera isn’t necessary if all of your videos are going to end up as thumbnail size clips on your website. If you want to use the videos on iMag (Image Magnification – the big screens in an auditorium, for instance) then you’ll need a 3-chip broadcast camera. And if the video is going to used on TV, you want to acquire in high definition. One thing is for sure: the video quality will not improve in post production no matter what you do with it.
2- The other two factors that dramatically affect your video quality: stability and audio. Spend at least $600 on a decent fluid head tripod. Handheld video is amateurish and a cheap tripod is a waste of money. Then purchase a good microphone – and never use the on-board mic as your primary means of recording audio. (When purchasing a video camera, buy one with XLR audio inputs if possible…it is worth the investment)
3- If you acquire footage with a good camera, with decent audio, and you used a tripod…there is a very good possibility you can produce quality videos in-house. And if you decide you want to outsource your editing and post production, your video vendor will have a huge head start if your source material is shot in this manner.
There are many more issues involved in producing top quality video, including lighting, editing, graphics, music, scripting and voiceovers. Great video is a combination of art & science. Anybody can turn on a camera and shoot. Not everyone can tell your story.
If you are fortunate enough to have someone on staff who can – outfit them with the best gear you can afford, and let them at it. They’ll get better with each effort.
Video is a powerful tool…and becoming more important with today’s interactive media on and off the web. You can take advantage of it- even if you don’t have a big budget.
