When businesses and agencies look for video help, they often run into two options: hire a full production company, or hire a crew to shoot for them. Both are valid. The right choice depends on how much of the project your team can handle on its own.
Quick Answer
Hire a full production company if:
You need help with the idea, script, or planning
You do not have an in-house editor
You want one team responsible from start to finish
Hire a production crew if:
You already have a concept, script, and producer
Your team or agency will handle editing
You need local camera, audio, or lighting operators for a shoot you are running
Many projects fall in between, and a flexible partner can do either.
What a Full Production Company Does
A full-service production company handles the whole project. That usually includes:
Pre-production: Concept, scripting, planning, scheduling, and location scouting.
Production: Crew, gear, direction, and management on shoot day.
Post-production: Editing, color, sound, graphics, and final exports.
This works best for businesses without an in-house video team. You get one point of contact and one team accountable for the final product. Keylight's Orlando video production services cover commercial production, corporate video, live streaming, and post-production.
What a Production Crew Does
A production crew is the people on set who capture the footage. You provide the creative direction, and the crew executes it. Crew roles can include:
Director of photography and camera operators
Camera assistants
Gaffers and grips
Audio technicians
Producers and production assistants
Hair and makeup
Teleprompter operators
FAA Part 107 certified drone pilots
Crews are often hired by networks, agencies, production companies from out of state, and in-house marketing teams. See the full list on our production crews in Orlando page.
Questions to Help You Decide
Who is writing the script?
If no one on your team has time to write or plan, a full production company makes sense. If your agency or marketing team already has a script and shot list, a crew may be all you need.
Who is editing?
Editing often takes more time than the shoot. If you have an editor in-house, hiring a crew can be efficient. If not, a production company handles it.
Who will run the shoot?
Someone needs to direct talent, track shots, and keep the day on schedule. If you have a producer, a crew can follow their lead. If not, the production company provides one.
Are you shooting outside your home market?
Teams traveling to Orlando often hire a local crew to avoid flying people and gear in. Our guide for out-of-town producers covers what to send when requesting a quote.
How Cost Compares
Hiring only a crew is usually billed by day rates for each person plus gear. A full production company includes planning, shooting, and editing, so the total is higher, but it replaces work your team would otherwise do. Keylight lists crew and equipment day rates on its pricing page. For a broader look, see how much video production costs in Orlando.
The Middle Ground
Many projects do not fit neatly in either box. Some examples:
Your team writes the script, and the production company shoots and edits.
A production company handles planning and shooting, and your editor cuts the final piece.
An agency hires a local crew and adds a producer for a multi-day shoot.
A flexible partner can scale up or down to match what your team already has.
Choosing a Partner
Whichever route you take, look for clear communication, a solid portfolio, and quotes that spell out what is included. Our post on how to choose a video production company in Orlando has a checklist of questions to ask.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Yes. Keylight provides individual crew members as well as full crews and full-service production.
-
Usually, yes. Keylight crews can arrive with camera, audio, and lighting gear, and we can add anything from our rental inventory.
-
The day cost of a crew alone is lower. But if your team then has to plan, produce, and edit, the total time and cost may be similar. Look at the whole project, not just the shoot day.
-
Yes. Keylight serves Orlando and Central Florida, including Tampa, and travels to Atlanta, Nashville, Los Angeles, and New York.
Not Sure What You Need?
Tell us about your project and what your team can handle. We will recommend a crew, a full production package, or something in between.
Explore our video production services or our production crews.