Visual Captive

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Linnihan Foy is an Advertising & Marketing Agency. From web development to video production, they can do it all. My position is Video Editor and Content Producer. I would organize and plan shoots, as well as take on the post-production.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Visual Captive, and what were your goals?

We hired Visual Captive as a Director of Photography, Director and Producer for a variety of projects. These projects ranged from intense outdoor setups, to simple talking head interviews. Our goals were to deliver a high quality product and deliver a specific message for each project.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

I knew about Visual Captive a bit prior to bringing them on. Some of the deciding factors include experience, skill, creativity, and professionalism.

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail, including the project steps and all stages of production.

Since I was only an Editor/Content Producer, Visual Captive was brought on to handle most of the in-between planning. From pre-production up until media delivery, they were involved throughout the entire process. Visual Captive would take charge on location scouting, equipment, lighting setups, directing, shooting, and bringing on additional crew members (if needed). Communication is one of the most important things when doing any type of work, and one of the reasons I kept coming back to Visual Captive. They would be available when needed in any situation, as well as make sure everything was to our liking. I honestly haven't worked with a more professional production company than them.

Who did you work with and what was the feedback process like?

We worked with a different project manager for each project, and feedback was very straight forward. Since the project manager would likely be on set for everything, they already knew how the shots looked and the type of footage we were capturing, which made the post-production process much easier.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

When they were done with the editing portion, we would show the clients and they couldn't be happier. I remember being in a client meeting and hearing an "oh wow" or "that's beautiful" about a certain shot. I would say every time we hired Visual Captive, it would exceed expectations.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

As I mentioned a bit earlier, Visual Captive's communication is like no other. They're very aware of how the filmmaking process works, and always tried to be ahead of schedule (which is hard to do on set). We'd mainly communicate through email or phone if there were any questions. The almost instantaneous response made my job so much easier.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

What impressed me the most is the professionalism and attention to detail. Visual Captive feels like they've been around forever. They have all the right equipment, the right ideas, and the flexibility in case anything comes up. The most unique thing to me us eagerness to work on projects. I've never worked with someone who's so into their craft. You can tell just from each project they release. There's a strong sense of passion and dedication that comes from each individual product.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

Something I say about every Director, Director of Photography I work with is letting go. Whether that's moving on from a shot that you might not be super happy with, or not seeing a specific shot in the final edit. I 100% agree though, in that you want everything you work on to be perfect. Although Visual Captive knows that from the very beginning, so they know exactly what to expect when going into a shoot. There was never any issue!

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the head coach of the Edina High School boy’s lacrosse team. We are located in Edina, Minnesota.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Visual Captive?

We were looking to increase our social media presence and make lacrosse a sport of interest at our high school, especially during the time of COVID-19. To do this, we needed to show what our program was all about and offer a unique gift to our senior students.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We began with a discussion where Phil (Owner & Founder) listened to what we wanted to accomplish. We showed him videos that we’ve seen from other lacrosse teams, and he combined those ideas with his own unique take. 

Phil then asked questions about the weather and the sunlight in our location to establish a schedule for the filming. Once all the details were laid out, he came up with a statement of work and went on to film the video at our school. He had two assistants with him on the day of the shoot.

The final deliverable was a highlight reel that showcased our team during the event and included the individual profiles of our senior students. We handed out these videos as a senior gift. 

What is the team composition?

We’ve worked with Phil and his two assistants. 

How did you come to work with Visual Captive?

Visual Captive was referred to us. Though we weren’t sure if they specialized in sports filming, we still reached out to them. Phil responded quickly, and we were able to tell them what we were looking to accomplish. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $5,000 USD.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in June 2020. The video is finished but our partnership is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

We published the video on our school’s Twitter and Instagram accounts, and it accomplished what we were hoping to do. It was well-received by the players, the students, and their parents; everybody loved it and thought it was fantastic. The whole team bonded over it, and it’s something we would love to do every year now if we can. 

How did Visual Captive perform from a project management standpoint?

The whole process was seamless and uncomplicated, which was important for me seeing as I was also doing coaching in the middle of the season. Phil was great and easy to work with. He was responsive, always on time, and provided creative input that we hadn’t even thought of. I look forward to working with him again in the future.

We typically communicated over the phone and shared documents via email and Google Docs.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They have a really impressive way of capturing our vision. Phil really went in there, got to know our end goal, and brought our ideas to life through his creative photography and videography skills.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, they’ve done a great job so far. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Don’t think twice; just trust Phil and his team. They do a great job.