As a freelance videographer and filmmaker I’ve worked with many different clients. They range from well established agencies to individuals looking to get their new venture or business off the ground.

Video production agencies are great, I regularly work with them. They are packed with smart, creative people that all think in completely different ways. They have multiple people collaborating on projects that will often bring brilliant results. But this obviously comes at a cost. If your budget can’t accommodate those skills then working with a freelance videographer or filmmaker might be the best way to go.

Bring it in house

One of my clients has previous experience working at an ad agency but decided to go and work for a smaller company. Rather than pay higher rates for elements of production they don’t need, they choose to do the ideation and pre-production phases themselves. This means they can work directly with a freelancer and save money. Sometimes I’ll film for them on a solo basis, or other times if the schedule is more packed, it’s worth going with an assistant to help move lights or make setup changes more efficient. But usually there’s no more than 2-3 people on set which brings large cost savings vs having a crew.

If you’re just starting out and only have a small budget for marketing, working with a freelance videographer can save you a lot of money or allow you to spend your budget more effectively.

Keep it simple

Sometimes you can tailor your projects to have maximum impact without having to be too creative. Don’t get me wrong, we all love creative briefs and a chance to film unique projects, but sometimes keeping it simple is the best option. 

Documentary content is more prevalent than ever, mostly thanks to Netflix series that should only be an hour long but somehow manage to drag the story out in to a 6 hour mini-series. I joke, but well filmed interviews can often be the most effective way to show people what your business can do. You could be telling your own story, recounting your journey and why you chose to launch this business. Or you could take a step back and let your clients do the talking. 

I recently worked with a chiropractor, at the start of the project he wasn't sure what type of video he wanted, but upon talking through it we decided that rather than film him, it’s better to film a few of his patients and let them tell their story. They were in pain and struggling with day to day tasks and he helped them to re-gain their independence. It’s a powerful example of promotion through storytelling and documentary. The more powerful your subjects are the more powerful the piece will be. When the project is finished i’ll be sure to share it.

These are just a couple of ways to get the results of a larger budget when working with a freelance videographer or small crew.

Drop me an email for a chat if you think I can help with your video content production. If I think you’re better off with an agency, I’ll be sure to tell you 😉 

All the best,
Rog