Most individuals have access to high-quality cameras and so do companies. Many companies have started recording videos on their own without incurring costs. In many cases, this is perfectly acceptable. However, there comes a point when a company really starts to look unprofessional and cheap. Understanding when to hire a professional studio is not a matter of having an open checkbook, but knowing when to prioritize and really invest in high-quality video content.
When Your Audience Expects Better.
When recording a video update for an internal team of fifty people who either already know you and your recording is meant to relay firm internal policies, or you are updating them on company expenses, or policies, or some other such matters, recording it on your cellphone in the office is acceptable as there will be no judging of the lighting. However, when pitching a product that your company has spent the last 2 years on and is valued at half a million, or providing an update to shareholders on the company sperformance, or addressing clients for the first time and providing them an overview of your company, stakes are high. Video content is not representative of your brand, and when people walk away from a video that has obviously poor content, they are left to come up with their own ideas.There is a reason that professional studios exist. The difference between having professionally produced content vs having just a casual video is crucial when trying to convince people to trust you with their business or their money.
The Technical Stuff that Can’t be Faked
Lighting is the most obvious thing that will give away something being amateur. You can shoot in 4k with a nice camera, but if the lighting is off, the final product is still going to look bad. Studios have the equipment and experience to light people in a way that is supposed to look professional and not make it look like you are being interrogated.
Audio is the other thing that is easily filter amateur content from the rest of assimilated videos. Background noise, echoes, difference in volume, and inconsistency with the audio stream is something that is often overlooked and can be very distracting. Studios have professional mic set-ups among other things that make it so people aren’t sounding like they are calling from a windy parking lot, but, instead, sounding clear and authoritative.
Then, there is the matter of coherence. When shooting a sequence of training videos, or product demonstrations, there should be a unified appearance. Studios are able to achieve the same lighting, background, and visual consistency over the course of multiple shoots, even if there is a gap of several weeks in between. Try doing that from your office, and one video will probably be filmed in the summer sunshine while another is from a dreary February afternoon, and there will be nothing alike.
When You Need to Look Bigger Than You Are
Small businesses find themselves competing with several larger companies in the same industry. A startup trying to pitch an idea to a competitor with a well-established business cannot afford to appear like the cheaper alternative. Quality video content is one of the few effective ways to level out the playing ground without requiring a large investment.
A well-filmed product demonstration or a company overview video created in a professional studio conveys that your business is established and competent. It shows that your company is serious and should be taken seriously. It may sound superficial, but first impressions are important, and for a large number of potential clients, your video content is the first impression.
It Isn’t Just Streaming: It’s Live Streaming
Live streaming is performing in front of an audience in real time. Usually, we can capture content, correct mistakes, and polish it before releasing it. But in streaming, we work with a single first draft that’s impossible to edit once we are live. Technical issues are an ever looming danger, and once they strike you suffer them in front of your audience.
Live streaming facilities and professional studios have a plethora of backups in all streams — internet, cameras, and audio. Usually, they are staffed with tech volunteers or professionals who fix issues without the audience knowing. They have the capacity to host and manage large streams without crippling the stream with audio or visual problems.
For virtual events, hybrid conferences, and live product launches, professional studios can be used with full peace of mind and an focus on the content while we let someone else worry about if the stream is working.
Estimation
There is a cost in every studio and live streaming, but it is a question of evaluation. If you are in the Milton Keynes area with the several studio options available, most studio companies in the area work off a day rate, it starting a few hundred pounds and working up from there depending off of if they have a basic working space and equipment, or are working with fully developed massive eductation production with multiple cameras or live streaming.
When comparing the costs of buying your own video equipment, it doesn’t make sense. A decent camera setup, with lighting and audio, costs thousands, and you need an appropriate space for filming. You need to hire someone who has the knowledge to use it all properly. And unless filming content is a weekly task for your company, that equipment sits unused most of the time.
For most businesses, hiring a studio as needed is far more cost efficient than trying to build your own setup. You get better results, and don’t have to deal with the hassle of equiptment management.
What Studios Actually Provide
Good studios have their own technical equipment but they also have expertise that is invaluable. They’ve seen hundreds of video shoots and they know what works and what doesn’t. They can guide you how to structure content, brief presenters, and ensure that all the key messages are communicated.
Good studios also have far more flexibillity than an office. Do you need to film against a green screen one day and then a clean white background the next? No problem. Do you want to record sit-down interviewsin the morning and then standing product demonstrations the afternoon? They can turn the space around quickly.
Recognizing When DIY Is Okay
Not everything needs to be done by professionals even when it comes to studios. Social media content, behind-the-scenes, updates, and briefs are all good to keep authentic. Some settings are perfect for just pulling out the smartphone and shooting a video.
So, we need to be intentional about audience and purpose, as we need to have content that is not too low quality, especially for sensitive corporate content, formal correspondence, and anything that has a big budget or is ambitious. For internal updates and content, the quality can be more low-key.
Deciding which is which allows you to avoid spending too much money, and reputation issues when content is cheap and shouldn’t be for a certain production quality level.