Process
Our video production process, in seven stages
We’ve been filming since 2011, and most of what goes wrong on a shoot goes wrong before anyone picks up a camera: an unclear brief, a venue that wasn’t checked, a permit nobody asked about. So every job we take runs through the same seven stages, whether it’s two cameras for a morning or a full crew across a conference.
The team scales to the size of the project, from a compact crew to a full team. Either way, the person you brief is the person who produces your film, so nothing gets lost between a sales call and the shoot.
How a London shoot runs, from brief to final files
Brief and quote
We talk through what the film has to do, who it’s for, where it will be shown and any fixed dates. You don’t need a finished brief to start; a rough outline is enough, and we’ll ask the questions that shape the cost. We then send an itemised quote, so you can see what’s included and what would cost extra. A deposit secures the date, with payments by stage and the final payment on delivery.
Tip: If you want a head start, our free video production brief template covers the points we’ll ask about.
Booking the date
Give us as much notice as you can. Two weeks is the minimum for most shoots, and most clients book a month or more ahead, because London venues, crew and permits all need lead time. If it’s urgent, ask anyway: if we have the space, we’ll do what we can.
Planning and script
We map out the structure: interview questions, key messages or a script, a shot list, and the extra versions you’ll need from the same shoot, such as social cutdowns or vertical edits. Planning these up front is what lets one filming day produce several finished pieces. Crew, schedule and call sheet are fixed at this stage.
Example: For a software company’s London conference, the coverage was planned around a 90-second hero reel, shorter social cuts, speaker highlight clips and stills, rather than a record of the day.
Permissions and venue access
Most of our shoots are inside client premises and venues, so permits are rarely needed. If yours does need one, we’ll talk it through and we can organise it. London is 33 boroughs plus the City, and each has its own film service. A small handheld crew can usually film on an ordinary public pavement without a permit, but tripods, red routes, stations, the Royal Parks, the South Bank and private squares all need permission, and the rules differ by borough. Inside, venues and City offices usually want crew names, a kit list and arrival times in advance, plus loading bay slots, lift access and power and sound arrangements with the AV team.
Tip: Permission to film inside a venue doesn’t cover the pavement, forecourt or plaza outside it. If you want arrival shots or a piece to camera on the street, tell us early so we can check who controls that ground.
Filming day
We arrive early to set up sound, light and framing before your contributors arrive, then keep the day calm so people speak naturally rather than perfectly. Good planning matters, but some of the best moments can’t be scripted, so we leave room for them. Even a short testimonial usually needs half a day or more once setup, interview, supporting footage and pack-down are included.
Tip (events): The venue PA isn’t the same as good recorded sound. We confirm the AV desk feed before the day and record backup audio, and if there’s no roving mic for Q&A, ask speakers to repeat each question before answering.
Edit and changes
We shape the footage into a first cut for you to review. The first cut normally arrives within two weeks of the shoot, often sooner, depending on length and brief. Rush delivery is possible at a higher cost. We share cuts through an online review portal, where you can leave feedback and comments. Three rounds of changes are included; anything beyond that is charged extra.
Example: we also edit footage you’ve shot yourselves. For Kew Gardens, their team filmed in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest, and we worked on the edit and motion graphics that turned it into a short documentary.
Delivery and aftercare
Once you sign off, we deliver the finished files in the formats you need, for your website, social channels, internal use, presentations or an event screen. 16:9 is standard, and we can deliver any other format on request, including 9:16 and other cut-downs for social media. Files usually go by download link, and we can also deliver on a hard drive. The finished film is yours. If you later need another version, a small update or advice on where to use it, we’re happy to help.
Captions, music and footage: we can burn in captions, but we recommend a separate SRT subtitle file: you can edit and upload it, and burned-in text can’t be corrected later. Royalty-free music with the appropriate licence is included. We keep footage for up to a couple of months after a project. Longer secure storage is by separate agreement, and we recommend you keep your own copy. Project files aren’t shared, and where we edit the film, raw footage is only supplied as a paid extra.
What we need from you
- One sentence on what the film has to do, and who it’s for
- Where it will be shown, and which sizes you need (landscape, square, vertical)
- Fixed dates: shoot day, event day, launch or deadline
- The address of every location, and a venue or building contact
- Access details: security sign-in, loading bay, parking, lift and room times
- Who will be on camera, and their availability on the day
- Brand guidelines, logos, fonts and any slides or footage we should use
- Who gives feedback and who has final sign-off
- Your NDA, if you use one
- A budget range, even a rough one
Keeping it on budget and on track
Clients usually worry about two things: cost creeping up, and the project becoming harder to manage than expected. We avoid both by being direct early, planning properly and scaling the production to what the brief actually needs.
Anything outside the quote, such as an extra shoot day or a fourth round of changes, is priced and agreed with you before it happens. If something needs more time, more coverage or a different approach, we’ll say so early rather than pretend it fits the original plan.
Every job is quoted from the brief, and the FAQ covers video production costs and timings, including guide prices.
Confidentiality. NDAs are a normal part of our work, and we’re happy to sign yours. No project of yours is shown or named without written permission.
Insurance. Insured, with £2m public liability cover. If a shoot needs a higher level of cover, we can raise it for that job, and we’re covered to film worldwide.
Questions about the process
Can you film at our office or venue?
Yes, most of our work is filmed in offices, venues and conference spaces. The main thing is access: building security usually wants crew names and a kit list in advance, and venues need loading and setup times agreed. We’ll send you what your building or venue needs to know.
How long a project takes, from booking to first cut: see the FAQ.
Whether you need a filming permit in London: see permissions and venue access above.
Getting several videos from one shoot: see the FAQ.
If you’d like to talk through how this would work for your project, send us the brief.