Why Creative Agencies Should Split Production and Post-Production

As a creative agency, understanding the dynamics of video production is crucial for delivering high-quality content efficiently. Let's explore why splitting production and post-production tasks between different teams can enhance your workflow, improve video quality, and elevate your creative agency's offerings. Based on our decade-long experience in video editing and collaboration with various filmmakers, we’ve identified key advantages to this approach.

Greater Consistency

For agencies managing a high volume of work for repeat clients, consistency is paramount. By keeping your post-production team stable and rotating videographers, you can ensure a uniform product. It might sound a bit unconventional, but trust us—our experience with filmmakers and videographers over the last decade has led us to some compelling insights on speed, quality, and overall job satisfaction.

A dedicated post team helps align with your brand standards, maintaining a style guide that captures nuances from previous projects. Early discussions among the agency, production, and post teams can clarify project goals, helping everyone stay aligned from the outset. Remember, post-production shouldn’t be an afterthought!

Increased Capacity

Dividing production and post tasks allows for more efficient resource allocation. Videographers often prefer shooting, viewing editing as a necessary evil. By splitting these roles, you keep your videographers engaged and free from backlogs, thus enhancing your agency’s capacity without compromising quality. For example, take 226 Collective, they shoot stunning resort properties globally while we manage their post-production needs.

You can see just how we helped 226 Collective in our case study with them HERE!

Quicker Turnaround

While it might seem counterintuitive, splitting production and post-production can actually expedite the editing process. Editors with a solid intake process can quickly organize footage, allowing for faster project completion. A dedicated post-production team means that booking a new project won’t delay existing editing tasks, significantly reducing overall turnaround time.

Imagine completing five projects in the time it would normally take for just one—this can dramatically increase your agency's output!

Different Skill Sets and Interests

Production and post-production require distinct skill sets. Videographers excel in composition and lighting, while editors focus on pacing and shot arrangement. By allowing individuals to specialize, you enhance the quality of the final product. Moreover, as the landscape of video editing evolves with AI tools like CapCut and Descript, and Kapwing dedicated editors can keep pace with emerging technologies, ensuring that your agency remains competitive.

One of the hidden advantages of having separate teams is the objective viewpoint that dedicated editors bring to the table. They approach the footage without the emotional attachment that videographers may have, leading to more informed editing decisions. This objectivity can enhance the viewer's experience, as editors focus solely on what serves the story best.

Conclusion

Splitting production and post-production tasks offers a range of benefits, including improved quality, increased capacity, faster turnaround times, and a more enjoyable working environment for your team. If you’re interested in exploring this model but feel uncertain, reach out to us. We’re happy to discuss how this approach can elevate your agency's video production efforts.

If you are concerned with how this will impact the budget of your project check out our Post-Production Budgeting Guide HERE!