Our Video Production Process

Outlive Creative is a Full-Service Photo and Video Production Agency based out of Phoenix, Arizona. Our clients range from small to large businesses primarily focussed in the health and wellness and outdoor lifestyle industry. 95% of our clients hire us to handle everything from concept / story development to post-production editing.

Sometimes when we receive a new video production inquiry the client wants a video yesterday. If they aren’t educated in the process they think it’s just a matter of grabbing a camera and shooting a video. The amount of time and work that goes into concepting (Story Development) and planning (Pre-Production) the actual shoot plays a very important part in the video production process and is a key role in the success of the final deliverable(s). Afterall, you don’t build a house without blueprints right?

Our Video Production Process

Below is a full breakdown of our video production process from inquiry to delivery.

Here are the 5 Phases of our Video Production Process.

Phase 1: Getting Started

The client’s inquiry comes in and we establish goals, expectations, and budget. It is very important to share a budget range with us, otherwise we will be pitching a project in the blind. Once all the details are established we create a proposal to share with the client. We don’t create concepts during this phase.

When the proposal is approved we send over a contract and invoice for 50% of the project fee. Realistically, this phase takes at least 2 weeks unless the client already knows they want to book us.

Phase 2: Story Development

The client’s deposit has cleared our bank and now we’re ready to dive into the project! This is what we’re working on during the Story Development phase:

CLIENT BRAND GUIDE - We kick off every project with a “Brand Questionnaire” to help understand the client’s brand identity, audience, needs, and goals. This is important so we can better serve them.
CONCEPT / STORY - Based on the information we gather from the Brand Questionnaire, we can come up with a story / concept that will fulfill the client’s needs and goals. A rough story / mood board will be created during this step.
APPROVE CONCEPT - We will share the story / concept with the client for them to provide feedback / suggestions. We typically include 1 or 2 rounds of revisions. Once a concept is decided on, we will make a shot list, storyboard, and mood board.

Phase 3: Pre-Production

During the Pre-Production phase is where we handle all of the logistics that will bring the shoot together.

ASSEMBLE CREW - Build out the crew members needed to execute the shoot. We hire everyone from the hair and makeup, to lighting, to sound, to assistants, and etc.
ORGANIZE EQUIPMENT RENTALS - We work with our DP, Director, and Gaffer to make sure we have all the right tools for the shoot including; cameras, lenses, lighting, etc.
CAST TALENT - We scout models who align with our client’s brand and take care of all the booking. If needed, we will do a casting call to share with the client so they can get a preview of how they look, act, and perform on camera prior to the shoot.
LOCATIONS & INSURANCE - We scout for potential shoot locations based on the concept. When a location is confirmed we apply for the film permits and make sure we have insurance coverage for the location.
PRODUCTION DAY SHOTLIST - We re-organize the shotlist by how we need to capture them to maximize efficiency on the shoot day.
CALLSHEET - We create a detailed schedule of the day and everyone’s contact information so they know where they need to be and when.
GEAR PREP DAY - Prior to the shoot we go through all of the equipment to make sure everything is working properly.

Phase 4: Production

Now that all of the hard work has been put in prior to the shoot, we can go into it knowing exactly what we need to capture. We have a team working together to support the vision of the Director and Client.

CREW CALL TIME - The crew shows up to set up equipment and get ready for the 1st shot. Building gear and lighting the 1st scene can take 1-1.5 hours depending on the project.
SHOOT TIME - The fun part! After the first couple of takes we playback the footage to make sure everything is looking good and we are ready to move forward.
LUNCH - Refuel and take a break.
SHOOT - Finish the day strong.
WRAP! - The last shot is captured. A standard production day is 10 hours from crew call time to wrap.
BREAKDOWN - Pack up all the equipment.

Phase 5: Post-Production

This is where the vision gets stitched together and comes to life.

IMPORT & BACKUP FOOTAGE - We make sure all the files captured during production are saved on 2 physical drives + backed up in the cloud.
SEARCH FOR LICENSED MUSIC - Our music platforms include musicbed.com and artlist.io
1ST DRAFT - We cut together the footage and send the client the 1st draft!
1ST DRAFT FEEDBACK - The client reviews the video and provides feedback and revision requests.
2ND DRAFT - We implement the client’s requests.
2ND DRAFT FEEDBACK - The client reviews the video and provides feedback and revision requests.
FINAL DRAFT - We implement the client’s requests and finalize the video(s). The remaining invoice balance is due before we send over the master file(s) to the client.

Phase 6: EXTRA* Distribution*

Now that you have your video(s), you should work with a marketing agency to create a distribution plan. This isn’t something we do, but we highly recommend it.

Here’s an example of the Production Lifecycle from inquiry to delivery. This would be considered a fast turnaround: