Choosing the Right Video Production Company: What to Look For

By tribalvideo | March 17, 2025 |

Thinking about creating a marketing video but unsure where to start?

Video content is one of the most powerful tools for building your brand, engaging your audience, and driving sales. But not all video production companies are created equal! Choosing the right team is essential for ensuring that you get not only a high-quality video, but one that aligns with your goals and delivers real results.

With the amount that people are online these days, it’s safe to say that incorporating great video content into your 2025 plan is a must. It’s the best way to convey your brand’s story, describe services and market your products, and engage authentically with your audience.

Whether it’s on social media or a website, people look to videos first for both inspiration and vetting purposes. In fact, in a recent survey, 84% of people said that they’ve been convinced to buy a product or service after watching a brand’s video! But with so many options for creation out there, how do you find the right people to help you bring your vision to life?

In this guide, we’ll break down all of the key factors to consider when hiring a video production company so that you feel confident in choosing what’s best for your brand.

Understanding Video Production Services

What is a Video Production Company?

First things first, what exactly is a video production company and what do they do?

A video production company (or agency) is a team of professionals that handle everything from concept development to final edits for your marketing video needs, ensuring your vision comes to life through every aspect of the process. Their services typically include:

Pre-Production: Concept development, scripting, storyboarding, location scouting
Production: Filming, directing, lighting, sound recording
Post-Production: Editing, color grading, motion graphics, sound mixing

If you’re clear on your content goals and what you’d like to achieve through video marketing, but just aren’t sure how to make things happen, a production agency will be able to execute your ideas efficiently!

Why Does Quality Video Production Matter?

Like we said before, people are consuming video content first over anything else. They want to see why your products or services are best for them rather than simply reading about it!

This alone should encourage high-quality content, but here are some other specifics to show just how important it is:

Videos Drive Engagement: The best thing for a brand on social media is engagement and getting people talking. And in this area, videos are making a much larger impact than images. Social videos generate 1200% more shares than text and images combined (Forbes). Additionally, online videos now reach 92% of all internet users globally (Forbes). However, just having video isn’t enough—you need high-quality, engaging content to see that kind of success.
Videos Boost Conversion Rates: It’s amazing to have people viewing your website and checking out your services, but the ultimate goal is for them to become paying clients. Marketers who incorporate video into their campaigns experience 34% higher conversion rates (WordStream). Additionally, 88% of consumers have made a purchase after watching a company's video (Forbes). This makes video content one of the most powerful tools for turning casual visitors into committed customers.
Videos Create Stronger Brand Recall: Making a lasting impact is so important. It’s great to immediately convert a viewer into a client, but it’s even better if you become the brand that someone remembers when they need your service. Viewers retain 95% of a message when they watch it in a video, compared to just 10% when reading text (Forbes). This means that just one well-made video can set you apart from competitors and keep your brand top-of-mind.

By integrating high-quality videos into your marketing efforts, you can effectively engage your audience, increase conversion rates, and strengthen brand recall, ultimately driving business growth.

👉 The importance of video marketing for businesses

Types of Video Production Services

It’s also important to note that video production companies make all different types of videos, and each video production service has its own unique requirements! Here are the main types of services we see agencies offering:

Marketing Video Production: Promotional Videos, Brand Storytelling, Highlights
Corporate Video Production: Training Videos, Testimonials, Internal Communications
Event Video Production: Conferences, Trade Shows, Weddings, Live Streaming
Product Demo Videos: Explainer Videos, Feature Showcases

It’s best to first get really clear about what type of video production services you’re needing and then decide how a production team can help you with those specific needs. This way you won’t find yourself wasting any time (or money) by hiring the wrong company.

Now let’s dive into exactly what you should be looking for in your journey to finding the perfect video production company!

1. Portfolio & Experience (Looking Beyond the Highlight Reel)

We all know that social media can sometimes be viewed as the “highlight reel” and company websites are no different!

Everyone wants to portray a certain image and put their absolute best foot forward, showcasing only their most polished projects. But that doesn’t always tell the full story, and if you’re going to work with a production company on something as important as your marketing video content, you need to know the real and raw version of what you’ll be getting.

Here are some tips for diving deeper into a company’s portfolio and experience:

Don’t pass up on Google Reviews: Unfortunately, comments and reviews can be controlled & manipulated on Instagram and personal websites, so you really never know if you’re getting an accurate account. To avoid this, go straight to Google Reviews to see what people are writing. This is also a really great way to discover local companies who might be more easily vetted! Do a quick search for “video production companies near me” or “video production companies in Dallas” and see what Google tells you.
Look for Consistency in Quality: While you’re viewing a company’s social media and website, take note of what they’re choosing to feature vs their portfolio as a whole. Do you notice that all of their projects look well done and follow a similar standard? Or do their highlighted projects appear to be much more polished than the rest within their portfolio? At Tribal Video we always say that we’re only as good as our worst project, so take a look for a company that prioritizes quality.
Request Before-and-After Edits: One of the best ways to see how a production company actually performs is to request examples of previous work so that you can see how they shape raw footage into a final product. A solid and experienced team should have no problem showing you a couple of before-and-after clips, and if they do have an issue with it (or they don’t have anything to show), then that’s probably all you need to know!

The bottom line is to remember that, when it comes to hiring a video production company, you can’t judge a book by its cover. Taking just a little extra time to investigate will save you from any potential stress and inconvenience down the road.

2. Industry Specialization: Do They Understand Your Specific Needs?

We’ve already talked about how not all videos are alike, and the same goes for production companies. Not all teams are able to produce the same type of marketing content!

Some agencies have very specific specialties, only offering services for one type of video, while others might be able to carry out lots of different styles for all kinds of industries. Because of this, it’s important that you are very clear on what it is you need and that you take care to find a company that can deliver for you.

When screening different production companies, make sure to review:

Style: A team focused on super creative storyboarding ads will approach things differently than one specializing in marketing videos, event coverage, or documentary-style interviews. You need to make sure that their style of creating and shooting matches what you’re looking for.
Industry-Specific Challenges: Shooting a product demo requires a different skill set than capturing the energy of a live event! In fact, if a team has never shot a live event before, it might be extremely overwhelming and difficult for them to navigate the dynamics of that type of shoot. Because of that, it’s important to know whether or not they have experience working within your particular industry.
Vision: Do they actually understand your vision? Do they understand your audience, industry, and the purpose of your video? You’re going to receive a much stronger end product from a production company that truly gets what you’re trying to create.

Choosing a video production company that understands your industry needs

And once you’ve gone through that list, it’s also not a bad idea to make sure that the company as a whole is one that you like. Do they have a culture and values that align with yours? You’ll be working with this team for a while, so it’s important that you like them and will enjoy collaborating with them.

3. Technical Expertise

Naturally, you’ll next want to make sure that the company’s quality of filming and technique is up to par. At the end of the day, it’s not going to matter whether or not the team gets your vision if they can’t execute it well!

High quality video is about much more than just a good camera. Here are some things to consider:

Equipment: What kind of technical equipment does the production company have? Do they use high-end cameras, lighting, and audio equipment? Or do they have one really amazing camera but cheap supporting gear? Good lighting can make your camera shots shine, but poor audio can completely ruin a great shoot, so it’s important to be well rounded with equipment.
Technique: Is this a beginner team who is only comfortable shooting one way? Or can they offer more advanced cinematography techniques? Check for options like multi-camera setups, drone shots, slow-motion, or stylized lighting.
Real-Time Quality: How does this production team perform in real-time? Are they skilled in capturing moments and events smoothly as they happen without excessive retakes or staged moments? This might be particularly important if you’re having a live event captured or demo-ing a product that takes a long time to set up.
Etiquette: Are you getting a team who will be friendly and considerate on set or at an event? We’re including this here because the etiquette of your production team can make or break the efficiency of the shoot. If someone is rude or difficult to work with, it might affect the working conditions and potentially even cost you extra time and money if things stall due to an inability to get on the same page. Consider chatting on the phone prior to making any commitments in order to get a feel for the personality of the team you plan to hire.

Pro Tip: Ask about the company’s gear list. A professional team should be able to tell you exactly what cameras they use, what equipment they’d bring to your shoot, and why. If they can’t or won’t do that, it’s a red flag! For example, at Tribal Video, our gear list includes multiple cameras, lighting options tailored to the location, a variety of microphones, teleprompter, a drone, and more to ensure a high-quality production.

👉 Tips for professional looking videos

4. Post-Production Capabilities (Editing, Sound, Polishing, Etc.)

All of that being said, a well-shot video is only half of the equation. Editing and other post-production services are what really bring your marketing video to life.

It can be easy to get caught up in the technical specifics and it feels scary to potentially hire a production company that can’t deliver what they claim they can. However, it’s still important to be well rounded with your search process. If a production company isn’t full-service or is lacking in the post-production department then it’s going to be really difficult to get the final product you’re wanting anyway!

To make sure that you’re covering all bases, ask these post-production questions:

What is their editing style? This is a simple place to start - what is their style of editing (fast-paced, cinematic, clean-cut, etc.) and does that align with what you want or are you looking for something different?
What is their sound process? Do they provide full sound design, mixing, and custom soundtracks? Or do they rely on generic practices and stock music?
Do they utilize color grading? Video content is all about pulling people into your brand visually, but sometimes film can be imperfect depending on the lighting or location. Will the team enhance all visuals post-production to match your brand’s mood?
What is their finishing/polishing like? Are they going to do the bare minimum, or do they offer things like motion graphics or animated text overlays for additional finesse?
What editing software do they use? Programs like Adobe Creative Cloud, Davinci Resolve, and Final Cut Pro are all great answers and show you that they know what they’re doing!

Ultimately, getting as much information on BOTH a video production company’s pre and post-production processes is going to set you up for the most possible success.

5. Project Management & Communication (Will They Guide You or Leave You Hanging?)

Let’s be honest, you don’t have time to manage an entire production company on top of your own business, so finding a team that is reliable and proactive is so important!

A smooth production process is key to avoiding confusion that can ultimately lead to delays, so here are some things to consider when trying to figure out how well the team is going to work:

Timeline: Can they provide a clear timeline for you from pre-production to final delivery? It might be too risky to head into a project without any idea of when certain milestones will be reached or without having any set deadlines.
Responsiveness: Take note of how quickly an agency gets back to you when you initially reach out. If they aren’t being timely during the vetting process, that could be an indication of how they’ll be during the project too. Are they also asking you questions and offering up solutions? Or are they just waiting to hear next steps from you and letting weeks go by between correspondence?
Revisions: What is their revision process like? How many revisions are included and what’s the turnaround time? If they aren’t willing to do any revisions or seem unfriendly when it comes to that conversation, then they might not be the best choice.
Transferring Footage: How do they plan to get footage to you and possibly vice versa? Programs like Dropbox, Wetransfer, and Google Drive all work great and are easy to use. If they offer something different that you’ve never heard of, make sure to ask questions so that you don’t find yourself in a complicated transferring mess.
Feedback: How does the production company like to give and receive feedback? Is there a clear and simple form of communication used? At Tribal Video, we like to use a program called Frame.io to make revisions quick, easy, and public for everyone to see. Utilizing a platform like this eliminates the middleman and streamlines the feedback process.

A well organized video production company will go out of their way to make the entire process seamless and stress-free, ensuring an enjoyable project experience and a great final product.

6. Scalability & Budget: Getting the Best Value for Your Investment

The last thing you want to worry about during the production process is the potential of unexpected costs or budget overruns.

You’re working with a video production team to create marketing content that will help make your business more successful, so racking up a bunch of fees in the process and blowing your budget definitely isn’t ideal. This is why it’s important to find a team that is fully transparent about their pricing structure!

Can they give you an upfront number or (at least) an accurate expectation of what your project is going to cost?
Do they charge extra for revisions or have any other fees that they don’t immediately make obvious?
Do they offer ongoing content packages for brands that need regular videos? Or are they going to make you pay the full a la carte price for each video you need?
Are they willing to work with your budget or do they seem hesitant to make adjustments?

At Tribal Video, we do our best to keep pricing as straightforward as possible:

$2,000 for a full day of production
$1,500 for a half-day
$150/hour for editing/
All gear included, no hidden fees

This way, clients know exactly what to expect without complicated budget breakdowns. We know our value and how to accomplish our client’s goals, so there’s no reason for us not to provide clear pricing upfront!

Finally, different budget levels require different production needs. Some production companies might not be used to working with smaller budgets and, therefore, will find it hard to modify their process.

Finding an agency that is able to scale production to match the needs of different businesses and budgets, is ideal. It’s good to find a team that has experience with full-scale productions as well as leaner shoots so that you know you’ll be covered no matter what!

7. Delivery & Optimization

So, you’re confident that the production company can film amazing content and have it edited to perfection. What happens then?!

Your marketing video is only going to be effective if it’s optimized for where and how you’ll be using it. For example, do you intend for this to be the main video on your website homepage? Or are you using it solely for social media purposes?

Here are some questions to ask to get a good idea of their optimization practices:

How many versions do they provide? Are you going to get one singular final cut of your video, or will they send you full-length, short clips, vertical vs. horizontal formats, etc? If you need something specific, be sure to ask about that upfront.
Can they help with SEO? Is there an option for them to assist with basic SEO like captions, thumbnails, and metadata?
Are they willing to be flexible with editing? Do they offer the option to turn your video into multiple different cuts so that you have something unique for each platform you’re on? Or are they only open to editing one version?

At Tribal Video, we maximize content value. We shoot a long-form video, deliver the requested final version, and also create short, repurposed clips for additional use. This ensures that clients get the most out of their budget, time, and investment.

If a video production company isn’t focused on delivering value beyond just the main video, that’s potentially a red flag! They should be able to understand how different platforms require different formats and optimize accordingly.

Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Video Production Company

To make your life a little bit easier, we’ve compiled a guide of the top questions you should ask while searching for the perfect video production team:

Can you walk me through your production process from start to finish?
What is your typical turnaround time and are you able to provide me with a project timeline?
What’s included in your pricing and do you have any hidden fees I should know about?
Can you provide examples of past work in my industry?
How do you handle feedback and revisions?
Will I receive multiple cuts of my project? How do you ensure that videos are optimized for different platforms?
Do you offer scriptwriting and creative direction or do I need to provide a script?
What happens if we need additional edits after the project is completed?

And remember, if it’s possible to ask these questions in person or over the phone, that’s going to be the best way to get an accurate read on the people you’ll be working with! At the very least, if your inquiry starts via email, you should find some time prior to hiring to chat face-to-face (or phone-to-phone) to make sure that their answers aren’t just a carefully curated email reply.

👉 Learn where to start with hiring a Dallas Video Production Company?

At the end of the day, choosing the right video production company is about more than just flashy reels - it’s about finding a team that understands your brand, audience, and goals.

The right team for you will have strong experience, a clear process, and excellent communication. They will be transparent every step of the way and connect with you and your vision, allowing you to trust them entirely. Finding a good production team helps to ensure that your investment in video marketing drives real results, and will save you so much time and money in the long run.

If you have any questions or want to chat through your video ideas, we’re only an email away (hello@tribalvideo.com), or you can fill out our contact form to connect!

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