When your nonprofit is searching for the best video production company you have several different options to choose from. Today we’re going to outline the key differences between working with a video production company vs hiring a freelance videographer.
What is a freelance videographer?
Most people who end up working for a video production company probably started as a freelancer. A freelance videographer is a lone wolf, someone who operates independently and jumps from project to project. Sometimes freelancers will outsource larger projects or hire other subcontractors but as a business they operate as an individual.
Pros:
- Cheaper due to less overhead and experience (studio space, staff, equipment)
- Smaller crew
- Work with the same person every time
Cons:
- Limited to one person’s approach and input for the project
- If they get sick or injured they’ll need to reschedule or miss the event.
- Often they don’t have proper insurance, licenses or liability coverage
- Lack systems to ensure your footage is safe
- Turnaround time is reliant on one person’s availability
- Limited to fewer camera angles and equipment
- Inability to provide full scale production (lighting, audio, grips)
As you can see in the pros and cons above, hiring a freelancer comes with certain risks and inexperience that you should be aware of. Often freelancers are best suited for startup nonprofits who need to prioritize budget over quality and consistency.
What is a video production company?
A video production company is defined by having a team of people to work on a project. This often includes account managers, videographers, directors, producers, audio technicians, gaffers and editors. Larger productions may also include director of photography, grips, boom operators and production designers.
These companies offer a full service approach to video production and have systems in place to help a day of filming go smoothly. This often includes systems in place to prevent the loss of footage. This means filming with redundant cards, using backup servers and easy to access file naming conventions. One of the worst things a client can hear is “sorry, the footage was corrupt and we lost everything.”
Pros:
- Professional equipment (cameras, audio, lights)
- Crew size is determined by the scope of the project
- Better preproduction process for scheduling, script writing, storyboarding, etc.
- Experts in their roles
- Proper insurance, licenses and liability coverage
- A team of people to collaborate on ideas
Cons:
- More expensive than a one person operation
- Scheduling may take longer due to a more thorough process
Video production companies provide a huge advantage for nonprofits looking to expand their reach, increase donations and tell their story.
At GLBAL media we go to great lengths to make sure your video production goes smoothly. As your partner in fundraising we are not only experts in video production but we understand the nuances of nonprofit videos. Contact us today to start your next project.
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