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The pros and cons of shooting corporate video in a studio
Are you thinking about shooting your corporate video in a studio? Or would it be better on location? There’s a lot to consider — your video’s aesthetics, technical expertise, time constraints, practical implications and, of course, the budget.
This is an important decision, so we’ve put together some information which will help.
Here’s a complete guide to the pros and cons of filming in a studio.
1. Control over the environment
A studio is a controllable, flexible environment. You won’t need to battle the capricious British weather or unexpected interruptions because you’re in control of everything — from lighting and sound to the time of your coffee break.
There are no worries about office background noise, or Kevin from accounts barging in halfway through filming. In a comfortable space with no external distractions, you can focus purely on the performance.
Plus, you can customise the set. Use props and set furniture to experiment with the mood, theme and character of your production until it’s an exact match for your needs. In a studio, the only limits are your imagination.
On the downside…
It’s not the real thing. While you can recreate an `on location’ effect in a studio, it’s still an effect. There’s nothing like natural light and real-world backgrounds to bring depth and colour to your video.
Filming on location is unpredictable, but this makes it uniquely authentic. You can spend hours in a studio trying to mimic the gritty, noisy buzz of a street market. Sometimes, it’s just quicker and easier to film your sequence in a real-life market.
Does it need the controlled precision of studio filming? Or can the video come alive in the vibrant realism of outdoor conditions?
The answer hinges on your project’s objective. Sometimes, a video may require a combination of both. We’re always happy to provide advice, so get in touch if you’re not sure.
2. Technical wizardry
The studio offers you a wealth of technical wizardry. Play around with the studio lighting, tweak the sound or use a green screen to create any environment you fancy.
It’s hard to duplicate that level of creative control when you’re filming on location.
A studio gives you almost unlimited possibilities. Through the smart combination of camera angles, lighting and set furniture, a relatively small space can look huge. With the right audio settings and backgrounds, your audience can be transported to any location, anywhere in the world.
The downside
Yes, the studio offers an abundance of equipment, but this can present a problem.
You’re managing a multitude of variables — the camera set-up, microphones and sound settings, lighting rig options, set furniture, props… In short, you’ll need technical knowledge.
You’ll also need a level of restraint, because it’s easy to feel like a kid in a sweetshop. Enthusiastically using every piece of equipment on offer isn’t necessarily the recipe for a great video.
Another important consideration is soundproofing. If you’re filming in a studio, make sure it’s fully soundproofed, otherwise all manner of `noises off’ can find their way in. When you’re trying to recreate a tranquil countryside scene, the last thing you need is a honking car horn.
3. Efficiency
In a studio, everything is available at your fingertips. This represents a major saving when it comes to both time and hassle.
Forgotten something important? Has a crucial piece of kit suddenly gone kaput? No problem. You don’t have to wait around for a replacement. All the equipment you need is right there.
And, you can ask for live support from the studio’s in-house crew. Deadlines are often tight. With an experienced production team ready to help with tasks such as storyboarding and scriptwriting, the project can be completed in a fraction of the time.
While we’re on the subject of efficiency, shooting your video in a studio allows you to extend its usability value. When you want to slot in content updates, it’s easy to recreate identical filming conditions. This is hard to do on location where there’s always the risk of continuity issues.
On the downside…
It takes expertise to create video in a studio with swift efficiency. The studio is a blank canvas. Before filming anything, you have to transform it into an environment which aligns perfectly with the story you want to tell.
Every detail matters, from furniture to lighting, and forward planning is essential. Unless you have a solid grasp of the technical requirements, not to mention set-dressing skills, the time-saving benefits can be lost.
When you’re considering studio filming, make sure the studio offers the option of a production crew. It saves a great deal of hassle. The timescale will be shorter and the video is guaranteed to look professional.
4. Post-production capabilities
You’ve shot your video, all the footage is in place. What next? As you know, a great video isn’t just about filming footage. It comes down to how you transform that raw material into a cohesive, engaging final product.
Videos come alive in post-production. If the studio offers you access to a post-production team, this is a major benefit. They know how to fully immerse your audience in the story and highlight the message you want to convey.
It includes editing clips into a narrative order, colour grading to set an emotional tone, sound design and visual effects which refine your video so that it stands above the rest.
Then there’s accessibility. Through subtitles, transcriptions and translations your video can reach a wider audience. Plus, it can be made compatible with whichever device or platform that’s needed.
The downside
Priced separately, the costs of specialist post-production services can add up. To cut costs, choose a studio which is prepared to offer flexible packages.
For example, in the video studio at Videofrog we can take on the entire shoot plus full post-production. Or you can simply hire the studio space and ask for a tailored selection of specific tasks, both pre- and post-production.
So, what’s the answer? Should you shoot corporate video in a studio, or head out on location?
In the end, your choice of shooting environment will come down to the overall project goals, and the budget that’s available to achieve them. Whether you film in the studio, on location or a mix of both, each has its own costs and savings.
We’re here to help you find the most cost-effective option. Get in touch with the Videofrog team and we’ll talk you through some ideas.
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