Good video is decided before the camera rolls: the story, the delivery formats and the sound are planned first, and the camera choice follows.
Most corporate and nonprofit video falls into five types: interviews and testimonials, event highlight films, brand or campaign spots, documentary pieces, and social cut-downs. Each has a different crew size, schedule and budget, so the first conversation is about where the video will live and what it should make people do.
Plan the deliverables up front. One shoot can produce a 2–3 minute hero film, 30–60 second social cuts in vertical (9:16) and square (1:1), and stills pulled from the footage, but only if the camera team frames for every crop on the day.
Sound matters more than picture. Viewers forgive soft focus; they leave when they cannot hear. Every interview gets a dedicated lavalier or boom microphone and a backup recording.
| Question | Options | Our guidance |
|---|---|---|
| How many cameras? | One camera for a single interview; two for interviews you will cut tightly; three or more for panels and performances. | Two cameras on any interview over five minutes so edits are invisible. |
| Resolution and frame rate | 1080p for web-only; 4K for future-proofing, reframing and stills; 60 fps or higher for slow motion. | Shoot 4K, deliver 1080p or 4K. Choose 24 or 30 fps for the look; 60 fps only where motion matters. |
| Aspect ratios | 16:9 for web and screens, 9:16 for Reels, Shorts and TikTok, 1:1 or 4:5 for feeds. | Frame with "safe zones" for all three on the day; deliver each as its own export. |
| Look | Standard (ready to use) vs log or RAW (graded in post). | Log or RAW when we color in-house; standard profiles for same-day turnaround. |
| Turnaround | Same-day social edits, 1–2 week highlight films, 3–6 week campaign pieces. | Agree on review rounds (two is standard) before the shoot. |
Specs, settings, standards and current tools. Facts that change are dated and sourced.
Hero and about-us films work best at 90 seconds to 3 minutes; social cuts at 15–60 seconds; recorded talks and webinars can run long because viewers choose to watch them.
Not always for delivery, but shooting in 4K lets us reframe a single shot into close-ups and pull vertical cuts from the same footage, which saves a second shoot.
Solid, mid-tone clothing (avoid fine stripes and pure white), a short pre-shoot conversation, and answering in full sentences so each answer stands alone.
Yes. We can edit, color and mix footage from phones or other crews, and match it to new material.
Yes, but we plan around it: crew call moves earlier, parking is confirmed in writing and we allow extra drive time near campus and the Short North. If your date is flexible, a Friday or a bye week saves on hotel rates for out-of-town guests and crew.
Heat and pop-up afternoon storms. We schedule exteriors for the morning or golden hour, keep cameras shaded and powered from cool-running batteries, and hold an indoor backup location.
Yes, and it usually performs well. We grab a few seconds of the food being made and served, and we tag the vendor so both of you can share the cut.
Use these guides to plan, then let a producer pressure-test it. Send your date and we’ll reply within one business day with a recommended setup and an all-in quote.
Next step asks for your contact details. We only use them to reply. Privacy
Rather talk it through? 614-404-7082
