We wanted to go over some reasons why you need a team of dedicated professionals to make a great looking video. Having a video strategy and creative approach is a good place to start, but those efforts can quickly be wasted by not having experienced personnel behind the camera or in the edit suite.

This week we feature videos that really focus on some of the elements that an experienced videographer will be able to adjust for in different environments; all of them important for getting those influential shots. Having specialized team members in all areas of production means you get the best talent and experience at each stage of your video.

Strategic Videography

The B-roll footage clips throughout this video are good examples of the shots you can get from different vantage points and distances when a videographer utilizes his tools correctly. A videographer will know when it’s appropriate to use a tripod or a variety of other tools when capturing footage.

The Right Lighting

The right lighting can hide or amplify certain things in your shot, and a videographer will use a variety of lights and accessories to bring the best features in a subject. This video is a neat look at how someone’s appearance completely changes with a simple lighting angle modification.

Smooth Grip work

This video is full of great shots made possible by the smooth handling of a Jib. It takes experience to be able to get those vertical and turning shots look smooth and purposeful. An inexperienced person operating a Jib results in jerky movements that take away from the subject matter.

Colour Correction

On a set, colour correction is controlled with colour gels or light filters. Using physical color correction filters to “white balance” the shot can maximize the dynamic range of the captured image. This means more flexibility in colour correction performed in post-production. This demo reel shows the before and after results of post-production colour correction.

Long processes that would normally appear subtle to the human eye become very pronounced when you create a time-lapse. A time-lapse video allows you to capture a lengthy process, and edit its progress and outcome into a short video that you can share with customers, suppliers, employees or investors. How does it work? Basically the camera captures images at a low frequency, and then it’s played in a sequence at normal speed, so time appears to go by much faster.

It’s a great tool for showing things like the evolution of a construction project, a day in the life for tourism or human resources, the vibrancy of a workplace, the usage or creation of a product, or the deconstruction and cleanup of a worksite after a project is completed. Time-lapse leaves a big impression for actions that seem otherwise insignificant.

At V Strategies we had noticed a significant increase in interest for documenting these types of projects, so we now have a time-lapse equipment package and are ready to set up your next video!

Rio Tinto

You can show investors processes that happen on site and explain the benefits of certain tools in a time-lapse video with voice over talent.

Macworld Magazine

Peter Belanger captured the process of creating the cover of Macworld magazine from start to finish. It makes the viewer appreciate the time and effort of an entire process.

Zweizwei

This type of video could be a great introduction for someone relocating to a new country for work, or as an advertising video for a tourism organization.

Phillip Johnson Landscaping

This type of video shows the amount of equipment and manpower it takes to pull off a large scale project.

Corporate culture is made up of a lot of things; it’s defined by company values,  where the company is headed, what inspires the company, the management and work style, how people interact with each other, the dress code, but most of all it’s the people that live it every day.

It’s what attracts or repels potential recruits, gives direction to employees’ actions, contributes to the image of the brand, and provides a sense of unity in the workplace. This week we wanted to feature videos that are great at giving insight to who, and what, that company’s culture is.

V Strategies

We recently rolled out our own new culture video, and wanted to share it with you! Here at V Strategies, we love Making People Happy! This video shows us Veople enjoying Breakfast Club, Team Building, Treat Day, our Candy Wall, and all the things that make V Strategies a great place to work! Our culture was formed, and is grown stronger, by the people that work here and bring The Show every day, to everything we do.

Adcom Group

A good indicator of an established culture is how well the company employees work together and the level of collaboration. Showing individualism being praised in the work environment hints at a company value of fostering creativity and thinking outside the box. A company tagline can sum up the video, like in this one where they emphasize ‘what is ours, is yours’.

Happier

This video focuses on one aspect of the workplace that would represent the overall culture of the company. By showing how your company is different, it can be a great sales tool to show customers, or a recruitment tool to attract potential employees.

Zappos

One of their core values is ‘do more with less’ and they carry it out through everything, even corporate video. This YouTube series created by Zappos employees gives insight into the culture of the company that the employees live and breathe. Giving the people who make up the culture the chance to share their own side of it, further depicts the trust and freedom given by management to employees to do what’s right in all aspects of their work.

Companies large and small rely on investors to support and grow their businesses. Investors want to see things like confidence in the company structure, a strong management team, formalized company procedures, data that shows how favorably you compare against your competitors, vital financial statistics, and key performance indicators.

This week we wanted to show how businesses are using video to communicate with current and potential investors. This relationship thrives on having open lines of communication, and leads to company prosperity and growth.

Veresen Inc.

History of a company doesn’t have to be a chart or a diagram, it can be a different form of corporate video – a conversation broken up into chapters so viewers can watch specific topics of interest. It includes animation, interviews from past and present CEO’s, and B-roll footage showing site operations. This gives the audience an inside look of where the company came from and the confidence in the direction that it’s going.

Baker Hughes

This animated video shows the underground operation of the Baker Hughes steerable drilling liner system. This is a good way to show investors, as well as potential customers, how a new technology works and how it would be beneficial on the job site leading to better customer performance.

Shell

A YouTube series allows you to break up information into pieces that an investor can watch according to their own interests. This one made up of an investor’s handbook, where each video focuses on a different topic of the company’s operations, including this one on biofuels showing how Shell is investing in new fuels for the future.

AT&T

This video goes beyond an online financial update; it breaks down first quarter 2013 results with simple graphics and explanations so the viewer can get a quick overview of the company’s performance. This is a good addition to the full written report as it allows investors to get the information quickly and efficiently, and lets them know which areas they should read more in depth on.

This week we wanted to focus on how companies can use video to go above and beyond to attract talent. What contributes to the effectiveness of these recruitment tools is the focus on demonstrating company culture and benefits in a fun way; this will attract potential employees with similar working attitudes that are more likely to be a good fit for your organization and be a long-contributing team member.

Lululemon

Lululemon has a video series on their YouTube Channel called ‘lululemon is…’ and it features various employees answering questions and showing their personalities. This interview style video is a good way for future employees to get introduced to people they could be working with, and to decide if the culture would be a good fit for them.

Apple

This recruitment video from Apple involves a behind the scenes look at the work environment as well as interviews from senior employees, giving a glimpse into the company’s dedication to excellence. A recruitment video that highlights the values and company mission will attract candidates that share the same commitment and work style.

Bantrel

This video is part of a series using a ‘point of view’ shooting style, which literally puts the viewer in the shoes of workers at the Surmont work site. It’s the best way to show the perks of the job and the day to day routine of workers on the site.

Bantrel – POV Series – The Bicep from V Strategies on Vimeo.

Shopify

This is an example of how you can demonstrate your company culture in a fun way that will attract other employees with similar working attitudes. Non-scripted employee interviews allow you to capture attractive sound-bites that resonate with candidates who would be a good fit for your company culture.