The best video projects we’ve worked on all start the same way – with a good brief. Not a perfect one, not a polished one, just a clear starting point we can build from.
A lot of business owners come to that first meeting worried they need to arrive with a fully fleshed-out creative concept. You don’t. What actually helps us is much simpler than that.
Start with your “why.” What’s prompting the project right now? Maybe your website feels dated, maybe you’ve never had proper brand photography, maybe you’re launching something new. Knowing the trigger helps us understand what success looks like for you.
Next, think about your audience. Who is this content actually for? A video aimed at attracting new clients looks very different to one aimed at showing existing customers what you stand for. If you’re not sure, that’s okay too – we can work through it together, but it’s worth having a rough idea before we sit down.
Bring examples, even messy ones. If you’ve seen a video, a photo style, or a brand that made you think “that’s the vibe,” send it through. We’re not going to copy it, but it tells us more about your taste and direction than a page of adjectives ever could.
It also helps to know your constraints upfront – budget range, timeline, and any non-negotiables like a launch date or an event you need footage ready for. We’d rather know early than build a plan that doesn’t fit your reality.
One thing we always ask: what do you want people to feel after watching or seeing this content? Trust? Excitement? Confidence in your expertise? That single answer often shapes the whole direction of a shoot.
You don’t need brand guidelines, a shot list, or a script. That’s our job to help build once we understand your goals. What we’re really looking for in that first conversation is context – the story behind your business, what makes you different, and what’s actually going on day to day that a camera could capture.
If you’ve got existing content – old videos, photos, even competitor examples you don’t like – bring those too. Knowing what hasn’t worked is just as useful as knowing what has.
The businesses that get the most out of a shoot day aren’t the ones with the most detailed brief. They’re the ones who show up open, honest about what they need, and willing to let us ask questions. A good brief is really just a good conversation, and we’d rather have that conversation properly than rush into filming without one.
If you’re thinking about a shoot and aren’t sure where to start, that’s exactly what our first chat is for. Reach out and we’ll walk you through it.