Photos and videos are two of the most effective ways to market your business. Consumers are visual and remember what they see more easily than what they read or hear. Professional photography and videography are two services that can benefit your marketing efforts, branding, and overall business goals. 

If you’re a business owner considering investing in photography or videography, you probably wonder which format is most effective. In this article, I’ll compare photography vs. videography services and break down the pros and cons of each. 

Continue reading to learn: 

• How a photo shoot operates 
• Logistics of a video shoot
• The difference between photography and videography
• Use cases for photo and video 
• The benefit of investing in photography and videography 

Photography

Photography is the act of capturing still images in a single frame. Skilled photographers have a trained eye for framing, composition, and other components that make a good photograph.  They’re tasked with capturing a moment in time or portraying a brand’s message, personality, and/or narrative within a still image. 

A commercial photography shoot is the best way to get a diverse library of professional images to use across all of your marketing initiatives. 

In the following sections, I’ll provide a high-level overview of a photoshoot and the preparation that goes into one, including: 

• Initial contact
• Align on client logistics
• Hire a crew
• Get the necessary equipment 
• Props and talent 
• Location scouting 
• Scheduling 
• Photo shoot editing  

Initial Contact About Photography Services

After conducting thorough research to find the right corporate photographer, the client typically reaches out via email, phone, or contact form to kickstart an engagement. Photographers may cold-call if they find a client who fits their style, but that’s less common.

Align On Client Logistics

Once the photographer and client are in contact, they’ll set up an initial meeting via phone or video call to align on logistics. Some clients may schedule a call with the photographer before hiring them, though in-depth logistics typically aren’t discussed until after the client hires the photographer.

In this meeting, the client expresses their needs and provides an overview of what they want to achieve from the engagement. 

The client and photographer also align on:

• A budget
• The number of assets to be delivered
• Location details
• Shot list, and 
• Any other information they deem essential to the success of the project.

Hire A Crew

With a plan in place, the photographer understands who and what they need to prepare for the shoot. Based on the client’s needs, the photographer puts together a team of in-house staff or hires a crew of freelance contracted employees.

Budget plays a major role in what kind of staff photographers can hire. There are several expenses they need to account for, including hourly rate, insurance costs, and travel (if applicable).

Professional photographers often handle smaller corporate photoshoots without hiring a crew or limiting additional staff to a second shooter.

Get The Necessary Equipment

A professional commercial photographer likely owns plenty of gear, including: 

• Several camera bodies
• A selection of lenses, and 
• A robust mix of accessories. 

Depending on the shoot, they may need more equipment than what’s in their arsenal.

Lighting gear, additional tripods, and other larger, more expensive accessories are often rented for the duration of the shoot.

Props and Talent

Along with crew and equipment, the photographer and client work together to acquire any props or talent necessary to meet the client’s needs. To make your shoot as authentic as possible, I recommend using the actual people behind your company as talent. However, larger shoots and other circumstances may require outside talent.

Photo Location Scouting

No matter where the shoot will take place, the photographer will travel to the location ahead of time to plan equipment placement, scout natural lighting sources, and pinpoint what areas are most photogenic. This ensures they’re prepared on the day of the shoot and capture every image necessary to make the project a success.

If the shoot is set to take place off the company’s campus, the photographer and client must work together to find the right location.

Scheduling

If the commercial photo shoot is happening in the office, the photographer and client have to schedule around day-to-day operations. The last thing either party wants is for the photo shoot to interrupt business.

Scheduling also applies to hired talent. Coordinating travel, creating an itinerary for the shoot, and any other types of scheduling should be considered.

Photo Shoot

When the day arrives, the photo shoot should operate smoothly if you’ve effectively prepared. Each member of the crew completes their respective roles, starting with any makeup and wardrobe.

Lighting rigs and other stationary objects like tripods can be set up ahead of time. If the shoot is slated to have different settings throughout the office, lighting and tripods will likely be moved at each stage.

Once the shoot wraps, it’s essential for the photographer to back up all of the images.

Editing

The final step in a corporate photo shoot is editing images. Depending on the photographer’s style, editing can range from lighting adjustments to creative enhancements. Once editing is completed, the photographer sends the final image files to the client for review. Casey Templeton Photography delivers images on the day of the shoot.

Videography

Between TikTok, Instagram/Facebook reels, YouTube, and other social media platforms, video has quickly become the most prominent form of visual marketing. But when it comes to commercial video production, there’s more than whipping out your iPhone and pressing record.

Videography is the act of capturing, editing, and creating a motion picture visual. It combines visuals and audio for a complete, immersive viewing experience. 

In the sections below, I’ll break down all of the components that go into a video shoot for your business, including: 

• Initial contact
• Brainstorm video ideas
• Compile a crew 
• Consider production stills
• Location scouting 
• Casting 
• Pre shoot prep
• Video shoot
• Post-production

Initial Contact About Videography Services

Similar to photography, a videography project kicks off with the initial contact from the client via phone, email, or contact form. In this phase, the key stakeholders on the video team  (typically a videographer, cinematographer, and/or director) meet with the client to assess their needs.

Along with the client’s needs, the team discusses components of the project like budget, timeline, and other important information.

Brainstorm Video Ideas

Once the video team understands the client’s needs, they head to the drawing board. The process begins with a brainstorming session to come up with ideas for content. Once the main idea is established, there are several phases of drafting before the vision becomes a reality.

Some of the phases include: 

• Writing a treatment 
• Drafting the script 
• Storyboarding 

Compiling a Crew

While photo projects may require additional crew, video production usually requires a larger crew because there are so many moving parts. Some roles that need to be filled include: 

• Producer 
• Art director 
• Props/set management 
• Lighting director
• Gaffer
• Electricians 
• Wardrobe director and stylist
• Makeup and hair artists 
• Production Coordinator 
• Camera crew 
• Grips

Consider Production Stills

If you’re investing in a video, it’s beneficial to hire a photographer to capture production stills, which are still images captured during production. Production stills can be used in tandem with the final video in order to maximize the lifespan and profits of your advertising campaign. 

Video Location Scouting 

As with photo shoots, the production coordinator and any other members of the video team need to scout the location before the shoot. If the client wants the video to take place outside of company property, the production coordinator is in charge of finding ideal locations.

Again, even if the shoot takes place on the company campus, it’s necessary to scout the location. This ensures the video team is prepared and the best areas of each location are identified for the best results. 

Casting

If you’re working on a small project or a corporation that wants to use its people for an authentic video, then the casting process won’t be very extensive. However, video projects are more likely to have outside talent.

Casting is a collaborative effort between the video team and the client to ensure that the best actors are selected for the project.

Pre Shoot 

Video projects require a little more effort when it comes to pre-shoot preparation. Before the shoot, the crew sets up all of the equipment. 

This includes: 

• Setting up lighting
• Staging cameras
• Preparing the makeup and wardrobe, and 
• Any other tasks specific to the project.

Video Shoot

With everything set in place, the video shoot is underway. All of the cast and crew members work together to capture footage that will be used to cut the final video.

The video crew must capture more than enough footage to work with in post-production. If you’re investing in a video project, you want to get the most out of your shoot, so prepare for a longer day (or days) than you may expect.

Post-Production

The final step in a video project is post-production. When it comes to video, post-production is usually a more intensive process than photography. There are more components to consider and different options to stylize and create a memorable video project.

Where photography (specifically commercial photography) has minimal edits, video projects have several steps in post-production.

• First, editors need to review all of the footage and select the best shots 
• Then they edit the footage for timing, strategic cuts, and any sound editing 
• After the actual footage is edited and the initial cut is finished, there is the option to add special effects to further enhance the video
• Finally, the editor adds additional graphics to bring the video production to its final form

Main Differences Between Photo and Video Shoots

Now you know how photography and video shoots operate. You probably already recognize some of the differences between the two, but in the sections below I’ll highlight the key components that make video productions unique from photography shoots.

Different Types of Crew Members

Both video and photography may require crew members, but the exact roles vary by project. 

• For photography, smaller shoots can be completed with one person who handles everything from location scouting to lighting and working the camera. 
• In videography, even smaller projects require a larger crew. The essentials, including makeup and wardrobe, lighting, editing, and other tasks, are quite difficult for one or even two people to handle.

Video Has More Permit Requirements

While some photography shoots will require permission, it’s easier to set up and shoot on location with few hiccups. Video projects often require more setup and numerous locations. Because it takes longer to set up and break down, video productions often need to acquire different types of permits in order for the shoot to go smoothly.

Videography Enables More Creative Decisions

Both videography and photography require a creative eye to capture emotion visually. Photography is a stationary image, so the creative elements are limited to framing, composition, lighting, color, and position. Videography adds additional creative elements like motion, stabilization, special effects, animation, and more.

Post-Production Is A Longer Process In Videography

As I mentioned before, videography typically has a more extensive post-production process. Similar to creative decisions, post-production in photography is often limited to cropping, color, and smaller edits. Videography has many components to consider, including strategic cuts, special effects, graphics, audio, and more.

What Is The Difference Between Photography and Videography?

Now that we’ve covered photo and video shoots, let’s zoom out and take a look at the main differences between photography and videography. 

Category	Photography	Videography
File size	Smaller	Larger
Components	Visual only	Audio & visual
Content	Single moment in time	Multiple periods of time, cohesive sequences edited together
Equipment	Camera, lens, & lighting; additional optional gear	Camera, lens, tripod, gimbal, lighting, audio recording device/microphone, headphones; additional gear varies by project
Crew	Smaller (often a one-person crew with only the photographer for basic shoots)	Larger (often multiple camera operators, sound person, lighting, grips, etc.)
Creative decisions	Limited to framing, colors, composition, lighting, perceived movement, and position	All of the photography decisions, plus actual motion, stabilization, special effects, animation, and more
Post-production	Basic color/stylistic edits, shorter process	More complex, multifaceted editing sequence; longer process

When Should You Use Photos vs. Videos? 

Photos and videos serve different purposes, but they can be used in similar ways at times. Certain social media platforms and other mediums allow brands to benefit from photo and video content equally. 

Photos are best used for: 

• Social media content 
• Website imagery 
• Print advertisements 
• Professional business portraits 
• Online marketing campaigns 
• Product packaging 
• eCommerce listings 

Videos are best used for: 

• TV and streaming advertisements 
• Online content (YouTube, Vimeo) 
• Social media content 
• Supplemental website content 
• Standard company-wide trainings 
• Corporate presentations
• Product launches 

Use the following table to compare use cases for video vs. photos: 

Use Case	Photo	Video
Social media content	X	X
Website content	X	X
Online content (YouTube, Vimeo)		X
Print advertisements	X
TV and streaming advertisements		X
Online marketing campaigns	X	X
Corporate presentations	X	X
Trainings		X
Product packaging	X
eCommerce listings	X
Product launches		X
Professional business portraits	X

Video AND Photography: The Best of Both Worlds 

To capture the full spectrum of your target audience’s attention, investing in both video and photo is a wise decision. Depending on the size of your brand, you may be able to find a professional who specializes in both videography and photography. That’s one way to knock out two birds with one stone.

As previously mentioned, brands of all sizes can benefit from hiring a production stills photographer to capture still images during a video production. That way, you get an original video production and unique still images that are cohesive with one another. 

Even if you work separately with video and photo projects, scheduling each within a similar time frame can prove beneficial. You either become newly equipped with, or refresh, your entire visual asset library and complete both shoots without disrupting your regular workflow too many times. 

Work With Casey Templeton For Production Stills

I hope you now have a better understanding of what separates photo vs. video, and the components that make each unique. If you’re considering video production for your business, you can maximize the return on your investment by combining video and stills.

As I previously discussed, a unit stills photographer roams the set of a video production, capturing high-quality still images. These images are used in tandem with the video to create a robust, effective advertising campaign.

Casey Templeton is a professional on-set stills photographer with years of experience in various industries. To learn more about production stills or to kickstart an engagement, fill out our contact form.