Corporate vs. Commercial Video Production in Cincinnati: What’s the Difference?

When businesses search for video production in Cincinnati, there are many options to choose from. So which is the best? Choosing the best video production company in Cincinnati depends on project complexity, deliverables, budget, and goals. Let’s explore which type of video production company is the best fit for your budget, goals, and project requirements.

Commercial Video Production: High Budget, High Stakes, High ROI

Commercial video production in Cincinnati is typically reserved for larger advertising campaigns suited for large companies with advertising budgets in the millions. These projects often involve three main players: a creative agency, a commercial video production team, and the client. The agency manages the overall budget—often in the hundreds of thousands of dollars—and hires a commercial director and a producer, to execute a very specific vision. The agency, director and producer will then hire a crew and execute on the vision. This approach is expensive, but makes sense at scale. If you are planning on running a nationwide TV commercial or spending hundreds of thousands in advertising each month, this production might make sense.

Commercial shoots are usually filmed with industry-standard cameras like the ARRI Alexa 35. Even a small commercial set will have 6–10 people, with larger sets reaching 30–40 crew members.

Corporate Video Production: Strategic, Cost-Effective, and Goal-Oriented

In contrast, corporate video production in Cincinnati is designed for broader use cases—think training videos, company overviews, product explainers, or client testimonials. These projects are typically much smaller in scale. Generally, the client’s in-house marketing  partners with a trusted local video production company like Cincinnati Social Media. 

For a typical assignment a marketing director will give Cincinnati Social a specific brief (eg: capture 5 testimonial videos following our brand guide for our new website) and deliverable requirements. This will usually take place on a short call and over email. The “back and forth” is very brief. This approach reduces cost and logistical overhead. 

Corporate videos have more focused budgets, usually ranging from $5,000 to $20,000, depending on complexity, location, and deliverables. Rather than hiring through an agency, our clients work directly with our team to execute on a deliverable.

Our Approach to Corporate Video: High-End yet Simple

Our approach is to use uses high-end cameras like the Sony FX6 or Canon C400/C80, premium audio (like Sound Devices Mix Pre and the MKH 416), and premium lighting (like Arri S60s and Aperture ) but keep crew size small and productions simple. This allows us to deliver quality results without the commercial budget and long shoot days. Typical crews are 2–4 people. Visuals are kept clean and simple.

Which Is Right for You?

If you're a Cincinnati business looking to increase brand awareness, engage customers, or communicate your story, corporate video production is often the most efficient and effective path.

At Cincinnati Social Media, we specialize in creating high-quality corporate videos (whether that's an interview, testimonial, event recap) that drive your brand forward—. We work with companies of all sizes to craft professional, compelling videos that fit your needs.

Because we don’t have the overhead of running a large commercial studio (payrolls, studio rental costs, super specialized equipment, staff benefits etc.) we are able to run a lean, effective operation and pass on the savings. 

Social Media Production

More and more, social media is becoming a key pillar of corporate strategy for companies of all sizes. What goes into "social media production"?

Social Media production often goes hand-in-hand with a corporate video production. Let’s say the marketing director wants a product explainer video with 10 “cut downs” for social media. We will plan to shoot in a way that gives us the flexibility to produce both deliverables without needing to add another shooting day.

But sometimes, a strategy will call for a “social first” approach where video is produced with the sole intent of using it for social media. In these cases we might use an iphone or DJI Osmo Pocket 3, to create a more organic feeling social media post that still has the high-end polish.

Ready to create your next video? Reach out of you are looking for simple, high-end video production without the oversized commercial budget.

Contact us today for a free consultation or explore our corporate video production services.

Why Is Video Production in Cincinnati So Expensive?

Let’s be honest: high-quality video isn’t cheap—and it shouldn’t be. Whether you're a business, a marketing team, or an agency outsourcing production here in Cincinnati, it’s important to understand what actually drives the cost.

Here are five key reasons why professional video production in Cincinnati comes with a higher price tag—and why it’s worth every dollar.

1. Gear — Professional Equipment Is Incredibly Expensive

Just one camera battery can run anywhere from $200 to $700. Want a reliable monitor to ensure perfect color and focus? Expect to spend $1,000 minimum. Higher-end monitors? Around $3,000.

Need smooth camera movement? A professional tripod and fluid head setup starts at $3,000 and can go as high as $28,000. Here’s proof.

And that’s just scratching the surface. Cameras, lenses, lights, mics, audio recorders, backups, data wrangling tools—it adds up. You’re not hiring someone with a camera. You’re hiring an end-to-end solution.

2. Experience — The Hidden Cost of Inexperience in Video Production

Nothing’s worse than trusting someone to capture your event or campaign—only to find out they lost the footage, recorded terrible audio, or botched the settings.

You see it more often than you'd expect in professional forums: "accidentally formatted a card", "overexposed-how can i recover this shot?" etc.

You’re not just paying for someone who can operate a camera—you’re paying for someone who knows how to deliver. From making talent feel at ease on camera, to finding the "winning shot". No excuses. Just results.

3. Knowledge — The Best Shooters Solve Problems Before They Happen

Great video isn’t just about having the "best" gear—it’s about knowing how to use it under pressure. A professional video production brings deep technical knowledge to every project: Should this scene be shot in Log or Rec709 (is the footage being handed off to a non-technical editor)? Will the camera overheat under the 100 degree Cincinnati heat-wave (a-la 2025)? Is a gimbal or tripod the better call for this shot? Beware of anyone who constantly uses a gimbal for every shot! How should we treat this space to avoid echo or background noise?

These are the types of questions experienced crews and directors address before problems arise. When you're paying for professional video production in Cincinnati, you're investing in someone who can solve problems and make your life easier

It's the deep knowledge of the craft combined with the experience of hundreds of jobs that makes a successful video production... not just fancy gear.

4. Backup Plans — Because Something Will Go Wrong

Things don’t always go according to plan. Locations change. Weather shifts. Timelines tighten. Power sources get overloaded.

A professional crew doesn’t panic—they adapt. They’ve got backup gear, contingency plans, and a mindset that says: no matter what, we’re getting the result we came for.

That’s what elevates a good video production to one you can truly count on.

5. Time — Efficiency That Saves You Days (and Dollars)

An expert can execute in a single day what might take a less experienced crew two or three.

Why? Because the planning is done well before anyone hits “record.” From storyboarding and pre-visualization to shot planning and gear prep, a seasoned crew moves fast, avoids mistakes, and makes everyone’s life easier on set.

And less time on set means fewer reshoots, happier talent, and a better end product—delivered faster.

You’re Not Just Paying for a Video. You’re Paying for Peace of Mind.

This isn’t just about gear or time. It’s about trust. When you hire a professional video team in Cincinnati, you’re investing in a proven system built to deliver high-quality results—reliably, consistently, and without surprises.

Need a Trusted Video Partner in Cincinnati?

If you're an agency looking to outsource video production, fill out our inquiry form and let us know you're an agency—we collaborate at a high level and know how to integrate seamlessly.

If you're a business or part of a marketing team, send us your project details here. We’ll walk you through the process and help you create something exceptional.