From Brief to Final Film – London Corporate videography
Corporate video sometimes gets a bad reputation for being dull or overly scripted — but when it’s done right, by a professional videographer, it can be one of the most effective storytelling tools a business has. This case study breaks down a recent London corporate video shoot, showing exactly how a project moves from the initial brief through to final delivery.
I’ll walk through my process step by step, highlighting the decisions, challenges, and creative choices involved along the way.
1. The initial brief
The client was a London-based professional services company looking to refresh their online presence. Their brief was clear:
Create a short brand film for their website
Communicate trust, professionalism, and approachability
Avoid anything that felt too “corporate stock video”
Film on location at their London office
They wanted something polished, but still human — real people, real workspace, and a natural tone.
2. Pre-production: shaping the story
Once the brief was confirmed, pre-production became the focus. This stage is where a corporate film is really made or broken.
We started with a short planning call to discuss:
Key messages they wanted viewers to take away
Who the video was aimed at (new clients, partners, recruits)
Where the film would live (website homepage and LinkedIn)
From there, I created a simple structure:
A short opening to establish the business and location
Interview soundbites from key team members
Supporting b-roll showing the team at work
Rather than scripting every word, we opted for guided interview questions to keep things natural and authentic.
3. Location planning & logistics
Filming in London always comes with its own challenges — space, noise, access, and timing.
Ahead of the shoot day, I:
Reviewed the office layout and available natural light
Identified interview locations away from road noise and foot traffic
Planned a compact kit setup suitable for a working office
This kind of planning helps keep disruption to a minimum — something corporate clients really appreciate from a videographer.
4. Shoot day: capturing the story
The shoot took place over one full day at the client’s London office.
Interviews
We filmed sit-down interviews with two senior team members using a simple three-light setup and directional microphones. The goal was clean, flattering visuals with excellent audio — no distractions.
B-roll
Alongside interviews, I captured b-roll of:
Team meetings and collaboration
Office details and branding
Natural interactions rather than staged actions
As a videographer I always aim to film b-roll with the final edit in mind, making sure there’s enough variety for pacing, cutaways, and visual interest.
5. Post-production: shaping the final film
Once filming wrapped, everything moved into post-production. One of my favourite aspect of being a videographer as you really see the video come to life.
The edit process included:
Selecting the strongest interview soundbites
Building a clear narrative structure
Layering in b-roll to support the story
Colour grading for a clean, consistent look
Audio mixing to ensure clarity across devices
I delivered an initial cut within a few working days, keeping momentum high while the project was still fresh for the client.
6. Client feedback & revisions
Feedback was minimal — which is always the goal.
The client requested:
A few line trims for pacing
A slightly shorter version for LinkedIn
Because the structure had been agreed early on, revisions were straightforward. This is why strong pre-production matters — it saves time and budget later.
7. Final delivery
The final deliverables included:
A main brand film for the website
A short cut-down optimised for social media
All files were delivered in web-ready formats, with clear naming and versioning so the client could easily share them internally and externally.
8. Final thoughts
This project is a great example of how corporate video doesn’t need to feel corporate. With the right planning, clear communication, and a focus on people rather than polish alone, it’s possible to create films that feel genuine and engaging. You’ll also look like the professional videographer you want to be.
From brief to final film, the key was collaboration — working closely with the client to understand their goals and translating that into a visual story that works across platforms.