San Francisco Video Production

Our Video Production Workflow

At 415Headshots Inc., we fully believe that 90% of a video’s success happens before we press record. To ensure we produce a high quality video for your team, we utilize our three-phase pipeline, which prioritizes video logistics, technical planning before we arrive on-site, and post-production workflows.

Phase 1: Pre-Production and Logistics

The blueprint of video success. Our team takes your existing script or vision and translates it into a shot list and shooting schedule. We handle all of the heavy lifting so your team can focus on delivering the message.

• Visual Storyboarding & Shot Lists: We sort through your script and vision, line-by-line, to create a “Shot List.” This ensures everyone on our team knows exactly what B-roll to capture, lighting to use, angles to position cameras, and assets to be generated for every scene.

• Talent Coordination & Casting: Whether you’re using professional actors or your own team members, we’ll handle equipment rentals, scheduling, usage rights, logistics with hair and makeup, and wardrobe guidelines. 

• Location & Permitting: 415Headshots Inc. is fully insured, with $1 million of general liability insurance, and can deliver a COI (certificate of insurance) for the building or venue that you plan to shoot at. We can also secure permits from San Francisco if you’d like to film in the city or if you’d need to block off public space for a shoot. Before any outdoor shoots, our team scouts locations for lighting and potential noise disturbances.

Frequently Asked Questions About SF Video Production

Q: How much does a video project cost in San Francisco?

At 415Headshots Inc., we don’t believe in “flat” rates because each brand’s goal requires a different technical approach. However, professional video production in San Francisco usually falls between three categories:

• Corporate Communications: This category includes podcasts, interviews, testimonials, and social media content recordings. These typically range from $3,000 to $15,000. Best for executive interviews, press releases, CEO updates, or customer testimonial recordings. This tier usually includes single-day shooting with our cinema-grade equipment.

• Branding and Commercial Production: This category includes commercials, branding assets for a new company, product launches, or a multi-day shoot. These typically range from $15,000 to $85,000.

• Event Videography: This category includes capturing highlight reels from conferences, keynote recordings, or annual retreats. These typically range from $2,000 to $35,000.

We structure custom quotes based upon these three variables;

• Crew & Gear: Does your project require just one videographer or a team of videographers, directors, and talent? We strictly use the Sony FX3 or Sony FX6 Cinema Line of cameras for each project, regardless the size of your project. However, we’ll need a bigger crew for a complex project.

• Time On-Site: We usually send invoices based upon how long we’re on-site. This provides a more accurate estimate if you just need a quick announcement recorded vs. a full-day testimonial session

• Post-Production Complexity: Post-production can range from a simple interview edit to a full-on commercial. All of our projects offer color grading, cutting and stitching B-roll or different parts of the video, and audio editing. However, complex projects may require motion graphics, CGI, etc., which will naturally increase the cost for post-production.

Q: I hate being on camera. How do you handle nervous speakers? 

This is an area of expertise for us. Unlike other videographers, 415Headshots Inc. started business with high-end headshots, where we learned to direct “real” people and not just professional actors.

• If you or a team member will be in a video, we use a conversational interview method or a stop-and-start method to shoot. This reduces the burden of having to memorize what you have to say, incorporates a more conversational tone to the video, and produces a more genuine final video asset. This method entails recording and stopping after a question/answer or shooting one idea at a time. We’ll also have our teleprompters onsite to assist with this.

• Outside of our conversational method, we’ll guide you through preparation before shoot day, posture, eye contact, and pacing adjustments. You just have to show up ready, and we’ll handle your performance.

Q: Can you hand over raw footage to us?

Typically, videographers don’t release RAW footage to clients as the “raw” footage is shot in a “flat log” format that looks washed out, as it’s before the footage is color graded. At 415Headshots Inc., we offer raw footage buyout for clients with internal editors.

• For 20% of the project fee, we’ll transfer every raw camera file (Sony XAVC-I format) and audio files (32-bit float) to an SSD hard drive that we’ll hand over to you.

Q: How do you handle permits, insurance (COI), and legal logistics?

We respect your time, so we handle all of the compliance documents (film permits and insurance) to ensure there are zero hiccups on shoot day.

• Insurance COI (certificate of insurance): We carry a $1 million general liability policy and can generate a custom COI naming your company as “Additional Insured” within 24 hours of notice. For example, we have recorded and provided COI’s to major venues in San Francisco, such as Shack15 and The Conservatory at One Sansome.

• Permitting: We manage all necessary film permits required through the San Francisco Film Commission’s website for outside shoots in San Francisco. Please let us know if your shoot requires us to block off certain areas of the city or if you’ll need traffic control/security, as those require different forms for us to fill with the city of San Francisco. If the project calls for aerial videography, our drone operators are FAA Part 107 Certified to fly legally in the SF Bay Area.

Q: Do you shoot only in San Francisco? Are there travel fees?

While our main HQ is located in San Francisco, we operate globally.

• The Bay Area (Local Zone): We do not charge travel fees for shoots within 50 miles of San Francisco, which includes Oakland, Marin County, and the Peninsula. (Please note that bridge tolls and parking fees are billed to you.)

• National & Global Video Production: We understand that companies can have multiple locations around the world and need consistent style and recordings in these locations. Thus, we regularly offer “fly-pack” services for clients with offices in Washington D.C., New York City, Austin, Seattle, etc. We also have done recordings for clients in London, Dubai, Delhi, and Singapore. For these projects, we’ll quote travel & logistics based upon airfare, urgency of the shoot, and lodging fees.

Q: How do I hire the right video production team for my project?

After delivering over 100+ corporate projects in the Bay Area last year, we recommend vetting potential production teams with these four standards to ensure your video assets are delivered with the highest quality.

1. Request “Start-to-Finish” Examples

1. A “sizzle” or highlight reel often showcases the best footage a videography team has to offer. Ask to see one complete, finished video that resembles the look and project you have in mind.

2. 415Headshots Inc. standard: Our team has dozens of full-length interviews, testimonials, promotional videos to showcase as case studies. We’re happy to walk you through the entire workflow, so you know what to expect.

2. Verify Reliability

1. Electronics can fail, people can get sick, and the weather can change in an instant in San Francisco. A professional video production team should always have backups so there are zero hiccups on your shoot day.

2. 415Headshots Inc. standard: We bring a duplicate of each equipment gear (e.g. double the number of Sony FX3/FX6’s needed, double the number of lav mics needed, double the amount of constant lights, and even backup blazers for team members to wear) to every shoot and record to dual slot memory cards. If a camera or memory card fails, we always have a backup ready to go.

3. Ask about Data Storage

1. Your footage is a corporate asset that shouldn’t be lost. It has the potential to be used indefinitely. Ask video production agencies about how long they keep their files.

2. 415Headshots Inc. standard: We retain 2 copies of final client footage and 1 copy of raw footage for backup purposes. There is always one copy available online for you to access via our online delivery method and there are copies and raw footage backups on our internal server.

4. Ask about their directing methods

1. Setting up lighting and audio is a hard technical skill, however coaching team members or a CEO through a video production is a soft skill. Ask potential videography partners what their process is to make non-actors feel and look comfortable in front of the cameras.

2. 415Headshots Inc. standard: We direct. We actively coach your team members on three levels:

1. Physical Positioning: We guide everyone on camera on posture, placement of hands, body language while talking, and eye contact to ensure everyone is open and fluid, not stiff or too posed.

2. Voice Tone & Pacing: We monitor speed and tone of voice of everyone on camera. We’ll coach individuals to either slow-down or speed-up or let them know to add emphasis on certain words to drive the message home.

3. Workflow: We use teleprompters and stop-and-start recording method to ensure no one has the burden to memorize long paragraph of script.

4. As a result, we’ve successfully coached over 100+ executives to look authentic in front of the camera.

Phase 2: Physical Production

Shoot day(s). We respect your time. Whether you opt in for a studio shoot or if we’re on-site for an executive interview, our set-ups are efficient and low-impact.

• Director-Led Sets: We don’t just press record and stand behind the cameras, we direct the performance. Our team’s background in headshot photography gives us an edge while working with your team to deliver authentic dialogue for a polished video.

• Teleprompter Usage: We provide iPad-based teleprompters and a teleprompter operator on-set. Once we load your script, the software we use allows the text to follow as you speak along, allowing for a natural speaking pace.

• Cinema-Grade Set-Ups: On all of our sets, we use multiple Sony FX3 or Sony FX6 cameras, which are both Netflix approved. If needed, we also have certified drone operators that can provide aerial drone footage. We use high-end constant lighting with modifiers and professional sound recording to ensure your final video asset will capture your audience’s attention.

Phase 3: Post-Production & Finishing

The Polish. This is where all the RAW footage translates into assets for your brand. We offer full video editing services from long-form content (YouTube videos) to short-form content (LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube reels) to customized videos for your audience.

• Frame.io Review and Timestamps: We use the industry-standard Frame.io software to make our workflow as efficient as possible when collaborating with your team. All stakeholders can leave comments for each frame on the video timeline and let us know which portions to cut out or stitch together. All of this information is accessible by our editors.

• Color Grading & Branding: Our editors use DaVinci Resolve to color grade footage to match your exact brand hex codes. This ensures your video assets visually match your website and marketing colors.

• Optional Add-Ons: If needed, our team of editors can add on motion graphics, subtitles, animation, and sound effects to your video assets.