When to Hire a Freelance Video Producer vs. Video Production Agency

Video production services bring a great deal to business owners. Take it from marketers: 92% say they get a good ROI on video content. Hiring outside help to produce videos is a great idea — providers bring tools and expertise to the table to create videos that capture an audience’s attention and deliver important brand messages.

Video production agencies have extensive experience in creating compelling visual content that is engaging, informative and persuasive. With their help, businesses can reach more people with professional-looking videos and stand out.

Freelance video producers also possess the same skills as their agency counterparts but offer them on a smaller scale, making them ideal for budget-conscious projects or shorter time frames. 

This guide will advise companies on whether to hire a freelancer or agency for different use cases. 

Freelance Videographers and Individual Video Producers

What is a Freelance Video Producer?

Freelance video producers are independent contractors who can provide a range of services to help produce your video, including:

• Scriptwriting
• Storyboarding
• Camera operation
• Video editing
• Post-production

Freelancers can integrate with internal teams to execute marketing strategies via video project deliverables. Freelancers often have several years of experience creating explainer videos, training videos, and more for corporate clients.

No matter what type of video you’re looking for, freelancers are a reliable go-to for quality work.

5 Benefits of Hiring a Freelance Videographer

Here are some of the top benefits of hiring a freelance video producer rather than an agency:

1. Lower rates
2. More flexible scheduling
3. More direct attention due to limited clients
4. Strong performance against tight deadlines
5. Lean project management and team structure

1. Lower Rates

Freelancers are often more affordable than production agencies, especially if you don’t need an extensive video shoot or a long-form video.

The main benefit of working with a freelance video producer is the lower rate they charge for their services. Since traditional employment contracts do not typically bind independent contractors, their rates tend to be much lower than that of an in-house or full-time production team.

2. More Flexibility in Scheduling

Freelance video producers are also able to offer highly flexible scheduling options.

For instance, if you need a video edited on a tight timeline, a freelancer can work around the clock without worrying about other employees or clients. They also tend to have more time available during off-hours, so if you need something done late at night or on the weekend, you can likely find a freelance video producer who is available.

Working remotely and outside the typical nine-to-five office hours allows for much more efficient use of time and greater flexibility in meeting tight deadlines.

3. More Direct Attention Due to Limited Clients

Another advantage of working with a freelance video producer is that you can expect more direct attention on your project.

Since freelancers typically work with limited clients at a time, they can dedicate much more focus and effort to your project than an in-house or larger production team might be able to.

This attention allows a freelance video producer to provide a personalized client experience. They’re able to get to know their client’s needs and preferences intimately, enabling them to produce content that exactly meets requirements. This level of personalization is often not possible when working with larger production companies.

4. Strong Performance Against Tight Deadlines

Using a freelance video producer will usually result in a strong performance against tight deadlines.
With their knowledge and experience, they can work quickly and achieve a high-quality end product. This is especially true compared to larger production teams which may take longer due to more complex processes and bureaucracy.

They also tend to be flexible and willing to work on short timelines, meaning you can start your project immediately without delay from other clients wrapping up projects.

5. Lean Project Management and Team Structure

Finally, a freelance video producer offers a much leaner structure with respect to project management and team size.

This reduces costs significantly compared to larger production teams that require additional personnel for the same task. A freelance video producer can offer significant cost-savings yet still deliver a high-quality end product.

5 Challenges of Hiring Freelancer Videography Professionals

If your company is considering hiring freelancers, you may want to think about these drawbacks beforehand:

1. Less overall experience and knowledge compared to an agency
2. Higher risk for projects with large budgets
3. Difficulty finding qualified professionals for more specialized tasks
4. Required production equipment more difficult to obtain
5. Complex projects require larger team

1. Less Experience and Knowledge Compared to an Agency

In-house teammates don’t always have the same experience and knowledge as a professional agency. Because of this, it can be difficult to manage large or complex projects with an in-house team.

This problem can be exacerbated by the technical and tool-based nature of producing videos. Freelancers, for example, may specialize in video editing but lack extensive experience in shooting video.

If you need help from someone with a wide range of specialized skills, finding qualified candidates for the position may be a challenge.

2. Higher Risk for Projects with Large Budgets

Managing a large project with an in-house team can leave the company at risk for a low-quality deliverable.
Since freelancers are individuals and don’t have the project management resources of agencies, there can be risk to project timelines. Additionally, since a team isn’t working together on your project, the work may not be well-vetted before it gets passed to your internal team.  

There are tons of variables in video projects specifically that may lead to problems. Using a professional agency for larger or more complex projects is usually safer.

Learn how to set a budget for a video production project with our guide. 

3. Difficulty Filling Skills Gaps for Specialized Tasks

Finding the right people with the right skills to fill any existing gaps can be challenging. 

An agency specializing in certain areas of expertise may have better access to resources and personnel qualified to complete tasks successfully on time and within budget.

Additionally, because agencies specialize, they tend to have established relationships with vendors, which can result in cost savings.

4. Required Production Equipment More Difficult to Obtain

It's not just personnel that can be hard to come by; specialized production equipment is expensive, and most businesses don’t have their own. That means they must find partners that have their own top-of-the-line equipment to use. 

Agencies will definitely have a wide variety of tools at their disposal. Plus, they may even have existing processes to make it easier to operate with them.

However, freelancers are limited to the equipment they’ve obtained as an individual. Their likelihood of having lacking or outdated equipment is higher. So, if you’re looking for something more involved—such as a commercial—you may want to consider hiring an agency instead.

5. Complex Projects Require Larger Team

Complex video projects may require a large team of professionals, which a single freelancer is unable to provide. 
From designers and marketers to engineers and developers, a group of people with different skill sets is one way of ensuring that work gets completed on a reasonable timeline and achieves success. 

If the scope of your project is too big for just one or two people, it is important to consider getting additional help to ensure the project runs smoothly.

Additionally, having a larger team means you can benefit from different perspectives and varied experiences, which can be invaluable when working creatively with video.

Video Production Agencies

What is a Video Production Company?

A video production company is an organization that specializes in creating, producing, and distributing video content. 

This could include TV commercials, feature films, music videos, corporate videos, and more. Video production companies are typically composed of multiple people with many different roles including editors, directors, producers, videographers and sound engineers.

Video production companies differ from freelancers because they have a full group of team members: 

• Video editors
• Video marketing specialists
• Motion graphics professionals
• Creative directors
• Directors of photography

Because of this, companies are able to offer more of a full-service video service to clients.

5 Benefits of Using Video Production Companies

Video production agencies offer the following benefits to their clients during projects:

1. Professional quality production
2. Access to cutting-edge technology
3. Cost savings
4. Professional experience
5. Full-service options

1. Professional Quality Production

Professional video production companies are experienced in all aspects of creating high-quality videos, from concept development and pre-production to shooting and post-production.

They have the knowledge and experience to create a visually stunning product that will look great on any platform.

2. Cutting Edge Technology

Video production agencies use the latest in video technology and equipment, including high-end cameras, lighting, and audio systems.

This allows them to create videos that are of a much higher quality than most amateur filmmakers can achieve.

3. Cost Savings

Hiring a video production company often results in overall cost savings due to their knowledge of the process and access to the right tools and resources.

They are also better equipped to handle unexpected problems that may arise during the production process, helping save both time and money.

Discover the cost of video production services with our video production pricing guide.

4. Professional Experience

Video production companies have expertise in all areas of video creation, from scripting to editing, from audio recording to color correction.

This ensures that the end product is polished and professional-looking.

5. Full-Service Options

Working with an agency has some distinct advantages over working with a freelancer.

For one thing, agencies typically have access to larger budgets and more resources than freelancers do, which means they can create higher-quality videos that look professional and polished.

Agencies also have teams of experienced professionals who specialize in different aspects of the production process (e.g., sound design, editing), meaning they can easily handle bigger projects.

5 Disadvantages of Video Production Companies    

Sometimes, video production companies won’t be the best choice for video projects. Here are a few of the drawbacks companies may run into:

1. Higher costs
2. Scheduling and coordination challenges
3. Less visibility and quality control
4. Longer wait times
5. Impersonal, even in long-term partnerships

1. Higher Costs

Hiring a video production company tends to be more expensive than hiring a freelance video producer.

Bigger projects usually require more crew members and equipment, meaning video production companies charge more to cover their overhead costs.

In addition, they may charge a premium for creative services. On the other hand, freelance video producers typically work with a smaller team and simpler equipment, allowing them to offer more competitive rates.

2. Scheduling and Coordination Challenges

Freelance video producers tend to have more flexibility in scheduling and availability than companies.

Freelance video producers offer more personalized and customized services than companies because they can dedicate more time to a single project. This means that clients have better control over the process and can offer more specific instructions, which leads to better-quality results.

Furthermore, communication is typically faster and easier when working with freelancers since they report directly to the client instead of going through multiple layers of bureaucracy.

This makes it much easier for clients to get their desired outcome from the video production process.

3. Less Visibility and Quality Control

Companies can typically provide higher quality control in their work, which may be particularly important for complex projects.

Freelancers may not always be able to provide the same level of quality control as companies due to their limited resources. Companies usually have dedicated staff members and infrastructure to support the video production process, which means they can more easily address issues that arise or take extra steps to ensure the final product meets the client's expectations.

On the other hand, freelancers may not have access to the same resources and may take longer to resolve certain issues. This can lead to delays in project completion and a lower-than-expected quality of work.

4. Longer Wait Times

Production companies often have waiting lists or other backlogs of projects that need to be completed before yours can be started, resulting in longer turnaround times.

Freelancers might be able to move more quickly and start on your project as soon as needed. They can also work more flexibly around your schedule, which may benefit you if you have tight deadlines or need to make changes during the process.

On the other hand, production companies are likely to offer more options in terms of high-level production quality, such as sound design, camera movements, and special effects.

5. Time Commitment

Hiring a production company may require a longer-term commitment than working with an individual freelance producer, which creates more of a burden on resources and time spent managing the project over the long term.    

The size and scope of your project will determine how often you need to give input or feedback at various stages of the creative process. It’s likely you’ll have more rounds of feedback and be working with more people in agency collaborations. This can cause confusion and delays. 
It's also essential to factor in how much time will be spent on communication and collaboration during post-production.

A clear understanding of turnaround times and expectations can help ensure your expectations are met.

Choose the Video Production Services That Offer What You Need

Whether you decide on hiring a freelance producer or working with an entire production agency depends on several factors — your budget, timeline constraints, and complexity of the project — but regardless of which option you choose, it’s important that you do your research beforehand so that you know what kind of quality product you’ll be getting at the end of the day.

Whether you decide to hire a freelance video producer or an agency, you’ll be getting access to professional-level equipment like cameras, lighting kits, microphones, etc., as well as experienced personnel who understand how best to use those tools to create the best possible video for your project.

About the Author

Sydney Wess SEO Manager at Clutch

Sydney Wess is a SEO manager who focuses on strengthening organic performance and building topical authority for Clutch.

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