How To Find the Right Chicago Video Production Company

Whether you're producing an ad campaign or a training video, you should always have someone reliable behind the camera. Working with an experienced Chicago video production company guarantees you get the best-quality video possible. 

But finding the right partner isn’t as simple as picking the first option with a sleek demo reel. You need to understand your goals, compare services, assess budgets, and evaluate quality before making a decision. Here's how to do it.

Why the Right Production Partner Matters

Even without film experience, you can typically tell the difference between a high-quality video and a bad one. Poor lighting, bad audio, shaky camera work, and awkward edits quickly erode viewer trust. Meanwhile, a high-end video can captivate viewers and establish a positive impression of your brand. 

A creative video agency or production team can help you prepare and create the best video content for your marketing strategy. Still, it's not enough to partner with just any random video crew. You should prioritize production companies with plenty of experience, access to equipment, and solid portfolios and demo reels.

Additional tools and experience let video teams achieve more behind the camera. Plus, skilled videographers know to look for frequent production mistakes — such as shadows, inconsistencies, and poor audio — and can plan accordingly. 

Step 1: Define Your Video Needs

Before reaching out to any company, get clear on what you’re trying to create. Production companies often specialize in different types of work; some focus on animation or VFX, while others excel at live-action shoots or drone footage. This doesn't need to follow a specific structure — you could write out the rough concepts you have so far, such as the video format, duration, final message, or product you're spotlighting. 

Start by Outlining Project Goals

You should notate any particular quotes, visuals, or graphics you'd like to capture. This can help you identify the production services you'll actually need. You can then add more details as you remember or think of them to guarantee you don't miss anything later. 

You don’t need a fully written script, but jot down the basics:

• What’s the purpose of the video?

• Who’s the target audience?

• What’s the ideal length or format?

• Will you need voiceovers, interviews, motion graphics, or animation?

The most common types of videos for businesses include:

• Commercials: Ad campaigns must have decent video resolution and sound quality, especially if you plan to air them on TV or streaming services. Most commercials are only 30 or 60 seconds, giving you limited time to highlight your products or services. 
• Social media videos: Social media content often varies in format, depending on your platform. The most successful social media videos are brief and attention-grabbing, giving viewers clear ideas about your brand.
• Explainer videos: Explainer video projects combine voiceovers, interviews, demonstrations, and motion graphics to provide relevant information. They often rely on VFX to highlight important details, draw attention to transitions, and bring schematics to life. 
• Business-to-business (B2B) video: B2B marketing highlights how your products and services can benefit other businesses. B2B videos are usually more detail-oriented, perfect for websites, LinkedIn, and YouTube. 
• Training videos: These projects are only seen by those within your company, such as new hires and operations teams. Though they can follow almost any format, training videos must clearly communicate your message while maintaining the viewer's attention. 

Step 2: Set a Budget That Matches Your Vision

Before getting too deep into pre-production, you must establish your budget. Video marketing for businesses can get pricy, especially if you need specific equipment, multiple cameras, and complex VFX. 

Knowing your budget and what you want to achieve can help you gauge which production teams work best for your goals. If you communicate these details upfront, a producer can find the best options within your budget.

Budget Factors to Consider:

• Camera and equipment
• Electricity, especially when filming outdoors
• Wages for crew and talent
• Location fees
• Food and water
• Gas and transportation
• Graphics, animation, and other VFX
• Distribution and marketing costs
• Tight deadlines

If you’re unsure what your budget should be, many producers will help reverse-engineer a plan based on your goals and constraints.

Step 3: Research Chicago Production Companies

With so many options available, comparing various factors across different Chicago video production companies is helpful. Researching each company and reviewing their services can help you make an informed decision.

Use Online Directories and Reviews

Local organizations, such as the Chicago Creative Directory and the Independent Film Alliance (IFA), let video production companies register their information. These online directories can help you find dependable production teams with local connections. Plus, some directories even sort your options by category and location, such as post-production houses in Chicago. 

Still, not all production crews register their information in official directories, especially if they require fees. So, you should also conduct independent research online to find various companies that meet your needs. Look for each team's reviews and testimonials beyond their websites as part of your search.

Ask for Recommendations and Referrals

You'll likely find many of Chicago's best production and animation studios through word of mouth. Consider any impressive commercials or social media videos you've seen from businesses in your network. Your connections may point you to the production teams they worked with — or sometimes point you away. 

Production companies may also recommend you to other high-quality videography teams that meet your needs. For example, if you need live event videos, a production company that doesn't offer live streams may refer you to a company that does. Film is a relatively tight-knit industry, so asking for referrals is often the best way to find specific video production services. 

Step 4: Review Portfolios and Demo Reels Thoughtfully

Most video production companies include portfolios and "demo reels" on their websites and social media pages. These can be excellent references for each company's skills and abilities, especially if you're looking for particular services. For example, if you want a specific motion graphics style, check to see if the company has any animation reels. 

That said, always remember that demo reels are usually just the best-looking parts of much longer videos. These shorter clips may hide genuine flaws, such as poor focus, grainy audio quality, and other variables that do not meet clients' goals.

Demo reels should cover various aspects of a production team's abilities rather than just their camera and editing skills. 

Look Beyond the Surface:

• Do their videos show a range of styles or just one aesthetic?

• Is the camera work steady and well-framed?

• Are audio levels clean and clear?

• Do the graphics elevate the message?

• Is there storytelling cohesion or just visual flair?

If you're looking for something specific like drone footage, animation, or live event coverage, make sure their work reflects that.

Step 5: Understand Their Service Offering

Research the video production services offered by each company. Many studios have multiple in-house teams covering everything from pre-production to post-production. However, many others specialize in individual services, such as audio, VFX, and multi-camera video crews.

Compare each company's services with the type of video you want to make. Unless you're looking for something wildly complex, you can usually find a single Chicago videography team that meets all of your expectations.

 Plus, if the in-house teams can't achieve something, they can usually pass the project back and forth with other companies in their networks. This is much easier than working with each individual company yourself. 

Ask each production company:

• Do they write scripts and develop concepts?

• Can they support location scouting, casting, and permits?

• Do they handle editing, color grading, and sound design in-house?

• Is marketing strategy part of the package?

Working with one well-rounded company (or a tight-knit network) can simplify project management and reduce miscommunication

What Charter & Co. Offers:

• Business video strategy & audience research

• Creative concepts, scripts, and storyboarding

• On-location & studio filming

• Professional editing and post-production

• Licensed music and original voiceovers

• Animation, motion graphics, and VFX

• Distribution strategy and marketing support

Step 6: Compare Proposals and Make a Confident Decision

After determining your needs and researching each company, it's time to review your cost estimates. Your project's budget can drastically change depending on who you work with and what you want to achieve. So, you may need to consult with multiple production companies to find your best options.

Ask yourself:

• Which proposal offers the best value, not just the lowest price?

• Does the team understand your goals and audience?

• Will the video be evergreen or used for a limited-time campaign?

• Is the timeline realistic based on your deadline?

Of course, tight deadlines can increase your project's cost even more, especially if the production company is already working on other videos. So, don't leave the company waiting too long for your decision; consult them as early in the process as possible. 

Work With a Chicago Video Partner You Can Trust

Plenty of Chicago production teams can help shoot a video. But only a few will treat your project with the care, creativity, and strategic insight it deserves.

At Charter & Co., we help businesses and storytellers craft compelling video at every stage of the process. Whether you need one polished asset or a full video marketing campaign, we’re here to help.