2024 Event Planning: Book a Videographer in Chicago
Covered in this post—
The Growing Importance of Video in Events
Preparing for Success: Why Book a Videographer in Advance
Types of Events That Benefit from Videography
What to Look for in a Chicago Event Videographer
Fall is giving way to winter in the Chicago area, and before you know it, 2024 will be here. For event planners, preparation for 2024 has likely already begun. While the final details of your event may still be in the planning process, securing a videographer for your event should be a top priority.
Video has become a staple for marketing strategies thanks to their versatility, ability to tell a unique story, and boost engagement across audiences both in the Windy City and abroad. From an event management perspective, video can be a catalyst to generate buzz leading up to the event, during the event, and in the weeks and months after the event.
Because of the potential ROI, leaving videography in the hands of an amateur simply won’t cut it. With a skilled Chicago videographer in your corner, you can get the most out of your event, and have a product that will have people talking.
Mark Campbell Productions is a Chicago-based video production company with decades of experience capturing events of all shapes and sizes around our amazing city. Whether you are putting on a gala event downtown, or a local fundraiser for an animal shelter, we are here to help you shine a spotlight on your event.
The Growing Importance of Video in Events
With so many moving parts involved in the event planning and management process, video content can be easily overlooked, and put on the back burner until the day of the event. While you can certainly get away with shooting an entire event from an iPhone these days, having a team with the technical know-how, and the right equipment, will make it easier to get your story out to the world, boost registration, and more.
Of all the different avenues, why invest in video for an event? The simple answer is that it can be used in a multitude of ways, across all of your marketing channels.
Think of your event marketing strategy like chess. There may be 16 pieces on your side and endless strategies, but there is only one piece that can move in every direction – that is video.
Whether you are promoting your upcoming event on social media, across your website, through email blasts, or otherwise, video can help. There is a reason that the marketing world has crowned video as the undisputed heavyweight champion of marketing – audiences love it.
Sneak peek videos and teasers leading up to the event, live streaming the day of, and recap videos all play a role in the marketing strategy, and more, and all help generate ROI that other mediums can only dream of touching.
Preparing for Success: Why Book a Videographer in Advance
Going back to our chess analogy, once you start planning your event, you cannot simply reset the board. As pieces are moved about, it becomes increasingly difficult to backtrack and make up for a missed opportunity. The same is true with adding videography to your 2024 event planning process.
We could highlight the fact that there are hundreds of events across Chicago throughout the year, and only a small number of elite video production companies as the reason to book one early, but that should go without saying.
The biggest benefit to booking a videographer well in advance is that doing so will remove much of the burden from your shoulders when crunch time hits and you are pulled in a million different directions.
Last-minute additions aren’t uncommon, but they are fraught with challenges. Not only do you miss opportunities surrounding marketing the event to potential attendees but the entire process is rushed and you may simply miss a critical component.
You might have the shot list, but when booking last minute, you may not be able to devote the time and resources to walking the event space with the videographer. The venue itself is part of the story, and with proper planning, the video production team can plan for poor lighting or other factors that might affect the final product.
Types of Events That Benefit from Videography
At this point, you may be asking yourself, what types of events can benefit from professional videography? And does it make sense for my upcoming event?
Here are a few event types that immediately come to mind:
Corporate events
Industry-level conferences
Trade shows
Music festivals
Team building events
Food festivals
Without trying to cast a really wide net, any – and every – event can benefit from high-quality video production. Everything from high-end galas to small fundraisers can all find ROI with video content. This is because, at its core, video is a form of storytelling and every event has a story to tell.
What to Look for in a Chicago Event Videographer
Now that we’ve covered the what and why of the equation, you have a decision to make – who will you choose? Sourcing a Chicago video production company can be a bit overwhelming, especially if this is your first time incorporating these services into your event. Knowing what to look for, and potential red flags will make the process much easier. Luckily we have you covered.
Style
Most people will immediately look at pricing, and we will get to that in a moment, but style is a component that should be looked at before anything else. As we said before, video is about telling the story, and not all videographers tell stories the same way. They may use the same equipment, but they will see things through their own lens, and the final product will reflect their perspective.
As you get started, carefully look through each portfolio and make sure that the stories being told match up with your vision. Abstract and artsy might not be ideal for a trade show, but it could be perfect for a small event at a progressive company.
Experience
Once you find a few options that match the style you had in mind, the next thing to look for is experience. Experience cannot be replaced by the latest tools or technology. Experienced videographers will have a broad portfolio, even if they specialize in a particular event type. These are the companies that should stand out.
The reason is simple, while they may specialize in music festivals, they have the talent and experience to adapt and be the videographers that you need them to be for your event.
Pricing
There is a reason we didn’t put pricing first on this list. That isn’t to say that your budget isn’t important. But when pricing is the first thing that you look at, you have the potential to miss out on amazing options that may only be a little higher in cost but bring significantly more value to the table.
When discussing pricing, look for value adds that might not immediately be apparent. Experienced videographers who have worked across multiple industries can bring an outside perspective that can dramatically change the trajectory of your event marketing strategy.
Partner With MCP For Your 2024 Event
Video can be an amazing addition to your event marketing strategy. A single clip can be sliced and diced a thousand ways to create lasting ROI. But finding the right partner that can help bring your event’s story to life is essential.
Since 2009, Mark Campbell Productions has worked with Chicago event managers producing amazing content at every phase of their events. Our team is comprised of videographers, production managers, and a full staff who have worked with non-profit organizations and private companies alike, and we are always ready to jump into the fray.
To learn more about our services, connect with our team and get your custom quote.