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Professional filming for companies: what it includes and when it's worth it
What professional filming means for a company, what a shoot includes, how long it takes and when it beats recording on a phone. A guide from Madrid.
Professional filming is a shoot planned from start to finish: a script or shot list, picture and sound crew, a prepared location and post-production afterwards. What sets it apart from recording on a phone is not only the camera, but that the whole process is designed so the result can be used for years.
For a company, the usual set-up is a shooting day of 4 to 8 hours, one or two cameras, lavalier microphones and three to five weeks until the edited video is ready. Here is what sits behind those numbers.
What does professional filming include?
There are three phases. Preparation: a call to understand the goal, a visit or review of the location and a shot list with the shots and questions. The shoot: controlled camera, light and sound. And post-production: editing, colour grading, audio mixing and delivery in the formats you need.
Sound is what separates a professional shoot from a home one the most. A lavalier or a boom pole a hand's width from the speaker changes the result more than an expensive camera. Light comes right after: a side window and one soft light are enough for a clean interview.
I work with large-sensor Sony cameras, fast lenses, a tripod and, when the shot needs it, a gimbal. I edit in DaVinci Resolve and deliver 16:9 and 9:16 versions if the video is also going to social media.
How is a shoot organised?
Before: preparation
I spend one or two hours on a call pinning down the goal, the audience and the tone. With that I prepare the shot list. If the shoot is at your office or in a public space in Madrid, I check permits and access well in advance.
During: the shooting day
I arrive 60 to 90 minutes early to set up light and sound. Interviews are filmed first, seated and with three simple questions, then the b-roll: the team at work, the facilities, the details. A well-run day gives enough material for the main video and several short cuts.
After: editing and delivery
The first cut arrives in one to two weeks. There are one or two rounds of revisions and a final delivery with subtitles if needed. It is better to collect everyone's comments in a single document, because scattered revisions stretch the timeline.
When is it worth it, and when not?
- It is worth it if the video will live on your website, in a sales presentation or in a campaign for months.
- It is worth it if executives or clients appear and the company's image depends on the result.
- It is worth it if you need several pieces (main video, cuts, vertical) from a single shooting day.
- It isn't worth it for a one-off internal notice or a quick update: a phone with a microphone is enough there.
- It isn't worth it if the message is still unclear: before shooting, define what you want viewers to do.
Frequently asked questions
How long does professional filming take for a company?
Usually one shooting day of 4 to 8 hours. Projects with several locations or many interviews may need two days.
How long until the video is ready?
Between three and five weeks from the first call: preparation, shooting and editing with one or two rounds of revisions.
What is the difference from recording on a phone?
Sound, light and editing. A current phone gives a good image, but without an external microphone or controlled light the result looks amateur, especially in interviews.
Do I need a final script before the shoot?
You don't need a word-for-word script. A shot list and the interview questions are enough, and it usually sounds more natural.
If you need professional filming for your company in Madrid, write to me via /en/contacto. A short call is enough for me to tell you which shoot fits your goal and how much time it needs.