But what do we mean by production value? Production values are all the elements that contribute to the overall quality of your film. Some examples include:
Pre-production
Production
Post-production
Each of these factors will affect the final production cost. Clients don’t necessarily need to understand all these details, but it’s important to provide options that allow them to control costs while understanding how their decisions will impact the final product and quality of the video.
Should you go for cheap video content or top-notch quality? The answer depends on:
When Does Poor Video Quality Damage Your Brand?
When you’re selling a premium product or service. Building a strong brand is difficult and takes years. So, it doesn’t make sense to ruin that with low-quality video content shot poorly with cheap equipment. In a competitive market, your audience will expect a high-quality viewing experience that matches the offering of your brand. If they don’t see this, they’ll likely question the value of your offer.
If you’re in a professional services sector, you’ll need to convey trust to earn your audience’s confidence. Again, high production values will be crucial. No matter how impressive your message is, if your video looks cheap or poorly made, you can lose your customers in an instant.
When Are Low Production Values Okay?
For example, if your business is focused on selling high quantities at a low price, you probably won’t need sophisticated video production. If your audience is looking for a cheap solution or a basic product, they won’t expect much from your video content. In this case, you won’t need to invest in high-quality video production.
What If You Want to Maintain Your Brand Value but Have a Limited Budget?
If you want to avoid damaging your brand’s value, you need to take an objective approach. Ask yourself if your audience really expects more in terms of video production quality. An effective video doesn’t have to be expensive if you make some smart decisions. An experienced video production agency should have plenty of ideas on how to reduce costs without sacrificing that sense of quality.
There are times when simplicity in video content can save money and still deliver effective results. A good production team will be looking for these opportunities. One of the most memorable TV ads is for Cadbury’s Dairy Milk – and it’s one of the simplest to shoot. It involves one camera, one location, one set of drums, and a man in a gorilla costume. In this example, there aren’t many locations, famous actors, or expensive animation. And keep in mind, no cranes, steadicams, or drones are used – all of which would add extra costs.
At the start of your discussions, you should receive clear guidelines about video production costs from your production company. Costs should be openly discussed, just like the script, camera and equipment choices, location selection, etc. All of these are linked to production elements. A transparent conversation between both parties will ultimately lead to trust and better video content.
Should I Share My Budget?
By sharing information about budget limitations, your offer can be tailored precisely to your needs. You’ll get a clear picture of the options available at your budget level. Once you define your budget, it gives you a better way to compare one video production offer against another.
In the end, clients will always reject inflated prices, and if the video production company values its reputation and business practices, they won’t offer a quote without proper justification for the costs. Financial constraints have never harmed anyone. In fact, limitations often serve as a creative catalyst that brings fresh ideas and brilliance to a project.
