You know you need video.
What you’re less sure about is what actually happens after you contact a video production company.
Do they just turn up with a camera? Are you expected to have the idea ready? Who writes the script? Who sorts the location? And once everything’s filmed, what do you actually get back?
That’s where a video production service comes in.
Put simply, it covers the whole process of turning an idea into finished video content. That can include planning, scripting, filming, editing, graphics, sound and creating different versions for your website, social media or advertising.
The exact service depends on what you need, but if you’re paying for full video production, you should be getting a lot more than someone turning up and pressing record.
What does a video production company actually do?
A good video production company helps you work out what needs making before worrying about cameras.
That starts with the purpose.
Are you trying to explain what your business does? Show the people behind it? Promote a product? Capture an event? Create regular social content? Give your sales team something useful to send prospects?
Those are very different jobs, and they need different videos.
At Surge, our Media Services process starts by understanding who the content is for, what it needs to say and where it’s going to be used. From there, we move through planning, production and then look at how the finished media performs.
That upfront thinking might not be the exciting bit, but it’s usually what separates a useful video from three minutes of nice footage that nobody quite knows what to do with.
What happens before filming?
This is usually called pre-production.
And yes, it sounds more dramatic than it is.
Pre-production is basically getting everything sorted before the filming day so nobody turns up wondering what’s happening.
Depending on the project, that could include:
Agreeing the idea and purpose of the video.
Deciding who needs to be involved.
Writing scripts or interview questions.
Creating a shot list or storyboard.
Finding locations.
Planning lighting and equipment.
Sorting timings and logistics.
Deciding where the finished content will be used.
Some projects need loads of preparation. Others don’t.
A straightforward customer testimonial might need little more than a good location, some well-planned questions and an idea of the shots we want around the interview.
A bigger corporate video involving several people, locations and a proper storyline needs more work before anybody picks up a camera.
Either way, planning makes the actual shoot much easier.
What happens on the filming day?
This is the bit everybody pictures when they think of video production.
Cameras come out. Lights go up. People suddenly become very aware of what they’re doing with their hands.
The production team handles the technical side, but they should also help the people in front of the camera.
Most people aren’t professional presenters, and they shouldn’t need to be.
If we’re filming an interview, we’d rather have a natural conversation and get somebody talking comfortably than hand them a paragraph to memorise and hope for the best.
Depending on the project, the day itself could involve interviews, product footage, shots of your team working, footage around your premises, demonstrations or content specifically captured for social media.
And ideally, you’re thinking beyond one finished video.
If everyone’s together and the cameras are already rolling, there may be an opportunity to capture extra footage that can be used for shorter social clips, your website or future campaigns.
What happens after filming?
A lot.
This is the part people sometimes underestimate when comparing video production costs.
The footage from a shoot needs to be reviewed, organised and turned into something people will actually watch.
That could involve editing together different shots, cleaning up audio, colour correction, adding music, subtitles, branded graphics, animation and making changes after feedback.
A video that took one day to film could easily need several days of work afterwards depending on what you’re creating.
You might also need different versions.
The full video could sit on your website, while shorter edits are created for LinkedIn or Instagram. You might need a vertical version for Reels, a cut for paid advertising or clips that your sales team can use separately.
That’s part of why we like knowing where the content is going before we film it.
It’s much easier to capture the right footage the first time than realise afterwards that everything was filmed horizontally when half of it was supposed to be used vertically.
What types of videos can a production company create?
This can vary quite a bit between companies.
At Surge, our media work covers branded content, social reels and shorts, product videos, event coverage, documentaries, animation and motion graphics, alongside photography.
For businesses, some of the most common projects include corporate videos, customer testimonials, team and culture videos, product demonstrations, case studies and social content.
The right format comes back to what you’re trying to achieve.
If customers struggle to understand a complicated service, an explainer video might help.
If people need to trust the team before getting in touch, getting your people on camera could be much more useful.
If you’re constantly struggling for things to post, a planned content shoot might give you enough footage for weeks rather than producing one big video and disappearing again.
We’ve also gone into more detail on whether video content is actually worth it, including where it can fit across your website, social media and wider marketing.
Do I need full video production or just a videographer?
Good question.
They’re not always the same thing.
If you already know exactly what needs filming, have the locations arranged and mainly need someone who knows how to capture good footage, hiring a videographer could be all you need.
A full video production service makes more sense when you need help with the whole thing.
You’ve got an idea, but you’re not sure how to turn it into a video. You need somebody to plan the shoot, work out the story, direct it, capture everything and then turn the footage into the finished content.
Naturally, those two options are priced differently.
We’ve gone into the numbers in more detail in our guide to how much a professional videographer costs, including the difference between day rates, complete projects and ongoing content.
How involved do you need to be?
You should be involved enough that the video feels like your business.
But you shouldn’t have to run the production yourself.
We need your knowledge. You know your customers, your team, the questions people ask and the things that make your business different.
The production team should take that and work out how to show it.
That’s why the first conversations matter. If we understand the business properly, the filming becomes much easier because we already know what we’re trying to capture.
You shouldn’t feel like somebody has turned up with a camera and asked, “So, what do you want to do?”
What should you receive at the end?
This is worth asking before the project starts.
You should know what videos are being delivered, what formats you’ll receive, how many revisions are included and whether you can use the footage elsewhere.
At Surge, everything we produce through our media services is owned by the client, rather than being held behind ongoing licensing or usage restrictions from us.
That means the content can keep working across your website, social media, advertising and wider marketing.
Because ultimately, that’s what you’re buying.
Not just a video file.
Useful content that your business can actually do something with.
And if you want to see the sort of creative work we produce for clients, have a look through our Creative portfolio.
So, is a video production service worth it?
If all you need is somebody to capture some footage, you might not need the full production process.
But if you want help turning an idea into content that has a clear purpose, looks professional and can be used properly across your marketing, that’s where a video production company earns its keep.
The important thing is knowing what’s included.
Ask about the planning. Ask about filming. Ask what happens in the edit. Ask what you’ll receive at the end and who owns it.
And before any of that, ask what the video is actually supposed to achieve.
That’s where we’d start.
If you’ve got an idea for a video but aren’t sure what you actually need, have a chat with us. We can work out whether you need a full production, a straightforward filming day or something in between.
