Before you hire a video production company, make sure you’re asking the right questions.
So, you’re thinking of creating a video for your brand. Great choice.
Videos are one of the most powerful tools in your marketing arsenal—whether you’re launching a product, explaining a service, or simply building brand awareness. But before you jump into filming or animation, there’s one important step that often gets overlooked:
Being prepared before you approach a video production company.
Knowing what you want (and don’t want) not only saves time and money—it helps you get the best possible video. Here’s what to figure out first.
- Know Your Audience
Before thinking about animation or live action, you need to answer this:
Who is this video for?
- Are they young professionals on Instagram or decision-makers on LinkedIn?
- Are you talking to your existing customers or trying to reach new ones?
- Do they prefer emotion-driven stories or no-nonsense explainers?
The tone, pace, and even the format of your video will change depending on who’s watching.
- Define the Purpose of Your Video
Not all videos are created equal. Each one serves a different goal:
- Explainer Video – Simplifies a product or service
- Brand Film – Builds emotional connection
- Product Demo – Showcases features and usability
- Testimonial Video – Builds credibility
- Ad Film – Drives awareness or action quickly
A good production company (like FlowInk Pictures) can help fine-tune this—but a rough idea from your end helps kickstart the process smoothly.
- Choose the Right Format: Animation, Live Action, or Hybrid?
Here’s where it gets creative.
- 2D Animation: Great for explainer videos and SaaS brands
- 3D Animation: Ideal for products, medical tech, or walkthroughs
- Live Action: Perfect for real people, emotions, and real-world settings
- Hybrid Videos: Mix of both—animation overlays on real footage
Knowing what format you lean toward helps the team suggest better visual treatments from the beginning.
- Set a Ballpark Budget
You don’t need to walk in with exact numbers. But having a budget range helps set expectations on scope, crew, animation style, shoot days, and deliverables.
For example:
- A basic 60-second 2D animated explainer will cost differently than a 2-day live shoot with actors and a drone crew.
- Even within animation, styles like flat design, 3D product renders, and character-based videos vary in cost.
If you’re not sure what things cost, your production partner can guide you based on your goals and budget range.
- Understand the Video Production Process
Here’s a simplified breakdown of what to expect:
Pre-Production
✔️ Scripting
✔️ Storyboarding
✔️ Casting (if needed)
✔️ Location scouting (for live shoots)
✔️ Visual treatment planning
Production
✔️ Live shoot or animation begins
✔️ Direction, cinematography, sound capture (for live shoot)
✔️ Animation builds or motion graphics development
Post-Production
✔️ Editing
✔️ Voiceover and sound design
✔️ Colour grading and final output
Each stage needs feedback and approvals. Understanding this timeline avoids last-minute surprises.
- Be Clear on Deliverables
Do you need:
- A 60-second ad film?
- Vertical cut-downs for Instagram Reels?
- A voiceover in multiple languages?
- Subtitled versions?
Mentioning this early helps the team plan accordingly during scripting and production.
- Think Long-Term: Will You Need Future Updates?
If your product features might change or you plan to localize content in the future, animation might be more adaptable than a live shoot. Mentioning this early helps the team suggest a video style that’s easy to repurpose.
- Choose the Right Video Production Company
Finally, don’t just look for someone with a camera or a few animated samples.
Look for:
- Experience across industries (tech, finance, healthcare, education, e-commerce)
- Ability to handle end-to-end production
- Flexible, collaborative teams that understand brand nuances
- A strong creative eye—but also clear timelines and professionalism
FlowInk Pictures, for instance, has worked with both early-stage startups and global brands like Acuity Knowledge Partners, Penguin Random House, IBM, and Omron. We understand that each video has to balance creativity, clarity, and conversion.
You can have a look at the videos they made for brands.
For more videos, you can visit www.flowinkpictures.com
Final Thoughts
Approaching a video production company with some prep goes a long way. You don’t need to have all the answers—but clarity on your audience, goals, format, and expectations helps make your video not just “good-looking,” but actually effective.
Want to discuss your next video?
📧 Book a free consultation: [email protected]
🌐 Visit: www.flowinkpictures.com
Let’s create a video your brand will be proud to share.
