Should You Hire a Freelancer, a Production Company, or an In-House Team?
The short answer
A freelance videographer fits a simple shoot: one camera, one location, and a fixed edit. A video production company fits projects with several locations, interviews, a crew, or insurance requirements. An in-house team fits steady weekly output. Twin Cities teams can also mix them: an in-house editor with a production company for larger shoots.
Side by side: freelancer, production company, in-house team
| Factor | Freelance videographer | Production company | In-house team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scope | One shoot or a short run, often one location | Several locations, multi-camera interviews, or several deliverables | Steady, repeat content for your own brand |
| Crew | Usually one person on camera, audio, and edit | A scoped crew sized to the job | Your own staff, sized to your output |
| Gear | Their own kit, plus rentals when needed | Owned or rented, matched to each shoot | You buy and maintain it |
| Insurance | Varies by person, so ask for a certificate | Usually carried, so ask for a certificate | Your company policy, so check that it covers filming |
| Turnaround | Fast on small edits, tied to one person's calendar | Set by the project schedule | Set by your own priorities |
| Who manages the shoot | You and the freelancer | A director or producer on their side | Your team lead |
When a freelancer is the right call
A freelancer is the right call when one skilled person can handle the whole job, like a short social clip or a simple recap.
You get a direct line to the person shooting and editing, and you pay for what the shoot needs. For a small, well-defined job, that's often the better deal.
Before you book, take a look at finished work like yours, ask who their backup is, and ask for a certificate of insurance if your venue needs one.
When a production company is the right call
A production company is the right call when the job needs more hands than one person has. During an interview, someone has to watch audio and lighting while the director works with the subject.
Once you're shooting in several locations, you need a detailed schedule. Corporate sites, hospitals, and event venues often want a certificate of insurance before a crew walks in.
At Bloom Creativ, our founder Chase Johnson runs every shoot and we do our own editing, so you have one point of contact from first call to final cut. Take a look at our corporate video production in Minneapolis.
If your job is one camera in one room, you probably don't need a company. Crew size should match the job, and a bigger crew doesn't make a better video. If you're comparing companies, start with these questions to ask a video production company.
When an in-house team pays off
An in-house team pays off when you need video every week, not a few times a year. Someone on staff already knows your brand, your people, and your approvals, so small requests move fast and revisions are easy.
The tradeoff is that you're paying for it whether or not you're shooting. Salaries, gear, software, and storage stay on the books in slow months, and on a one-person team, the work waits when they're out. Bigger shoots often still need outside help.
Mixing the three
You don't have to pick one. These setups work well:
- An in-house editor, with a production company for larger shoots.
- An in-house team for weekly content, with a freelancer for overflow.
- An in-house team that plans the video and hires a crew to shoot and ship the footage.
Agencies and in-house teams also hire Bloom Creativ as crew on Twin Cities shoots.
FAQ
Should I hire a freelance videographer or a video production company in Minneapolis?
Hire a freelancer for a simple shoot with one camera, one location, and a fixed edit. Hire a production company when the job has several locations, multi-camera interviews, a crew, or insurance requirements. Look at finished work from both before you decide.
When do I need a full video crew instead of one videographer?
You need a crew when one person can't watch everything at once. Multi-camera interviews, lit scenes, and large live events usually need separate people on camera, lighting, and audio.
Is it cheaper to build an in-house video team or hire a production company?
For a few projects a year, hiring per project usually costs less. An in-house team carries fixed costs every month, so it pays off when video is steady weekly work.
Is a freelancer cheaper than a production company?
For the same simple shoot, usually yes, because fewer people are on the job. The gap narrows as a shoot adds crew, rentals, and editing. Make sure you're comparing quotes on the same crew size, shoot days, deliverables, and revision rounds.
What does Bloom Creativ charge for a video?
Typical projects run $5,000 to $9,500, with full projects from $5,000 to about $25,000. Those are our own numbers. The main factors are crew size, locations, and talent.
Should a freelance videographer have insurance?
Yes, if your venue requires it. Many corporate sites, hospitals, and event venues want a certificate of insurance before anyone films, and coverage varies by person, so ask before you book.