Planning a Video Project: A Step-by-Step Guide to a Smooth Production

Creating a professional video is one of the most powerful ways to tell your story, engage your audience, and elevate your brand.

Whether you're producing an internal communications piece, a company overview, staff training content, a leadership message, or social media content, video is a powerful way to inform, engage, and align your team or audience.

At ECP Video, we understand that for many businesses, planning a video project isn’t a day-to-day task. That’s why we’ve created this guide to help you understand what to expect, to help you feel confident, prepared, and excited every step of the way.

Let’s Make It Easy.

A smooth video project is all about planning, communication, and collaboration. At ECP Video, we pride ourselves on being your creative partner, guiding you through every step with clarity and professionalism, we’re here to support you from idea to final delivery.

If you're ready to start planning your next video, get in touch we'd love to hear your ideas and help bring them to life.

  • Before anything else, define what success looks like for your video.

    Ask:

    • What message are we trying to communicate?

    • Who needs to see this?

    • What do we want them to take away or do?

    Clear objectives guide the style, length, format, and content of the video — whether you're launching a product, telling your brand story, or training your team, clear goals will shape every creative and technical decision that follows.

  • Being upfront about your budget helps us tailor the production to match what’s achievable. From cinematic drones to multi-camera interviews, we can scale the crew, equipment, and post-production options accordingly.

    We’re always transparent with costs — and we’ll advise where you’ll get the most value from your investment.

  • For corporate videos we’ll help you decide on the right approach for your audience and setting, this might include:

    • Interviews with leadership or employees

    • Voiceover-led pieces with supporting visuals

    • Screen recordings or product walkthroughs

    • B-roll of your workplace and team in action

    We ensure the tone and visuals are aligned with your brand and communications strategy.

    For social media videos, we’ll help you choose the right format to capture attention and drive engagement on your social platforms, this might include:

    • Short-form talking head videos with bold captions and quick cuts

    • Reels or TikToks featuring trends, behind-the-scenes moments, or challenges

    • Animated text or motion graphics to highlight key messages or stats

    • User-generated content (UGC) style videos for authenticity and relatability

    • Quick product demos or tutorials optimised for vertical viewing

    • Time-lapses or hyperlapse content for visual intrigue

    We ensure each piece is crafted to suit the platform—whether it's Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, or YouTube Shorts—while staying true to your brand’s voice and visual identity.

  • Once the project is scoped, we move into scheduling and logistics. This includes:

    • Drafting scripts or interview questions

    • Booking filming days (on-site or remote)

    • Coordinating with internal teams and locations

    • Providing support for on-camera presenters or interviewees

    We’ll supply all the necessary information in advance to help you brief your team effectively.

  • On the day, our crew will work efficiently and respectfully within your workplace. We understand the importance of minimising disruption while keeping the tone professional and relaxed.

    Directing a successful shoot and maximising filming time is vital. Having directed 1000’s of shoots and coached on-camera participants how to confidently deliver their message, you’re in safe hands.

    Whether we’re filming in an office, warehouse, boardroom or remotely, we come prepared, with clear communication and a flexible attitude.

  • Post-production is where you start to see your hard work and planning evolve into your vision.

    Post-production (aka editing), typically includes:

    • Cutting interviews or voiceover to the key messages

    • Adding branding, titles, or infographics

    • Incorporating B-roll or company visuals

    • Colour correction and sound balancing

    • Subtitles (optional but recommended)

    • Remote review platform to collaborate together with feedback

    You’ll receive a draft for initial feedback and we include revision rounds to ensure your video is exactly right.

  • Once approved, we’ll supply your video in the formats you need, ready to upload, share, or screen.

    For projects over multiple formats (Social, Conference, Web) we can provide different versions tailored for specific audiences or use cases.

FAQs

  • Yes; we offer aerial drone filming, including FPV and cinematic drone content, using a fleet of seven drones (including the latest models like the DJI Mavic 4 Pro).

  • We’re flexible and work to the schedule you need. While every project is different, we’ve turned around edits on the same day when required. Whether you have a tight deadline or a long-term campaign, we adapt to suit your timeline without compromising quality.

  • Just contact us via the website’s “Let’s Talk” form or call 03330 505 200. We'll discuss your goals, timeline, and budget, then send you a clear proposal.

  • Absolutely. Whether you need a single cameraman for a day or a full crew for a multi‑day shoot, we can scale our team to fit your needs. Our in‑house crew handles most projects, and for larger productions we draw from a trusted network of scriptwriters, animators, directors, and specialists. Ensuring flexibility while keeping communication clear and efficient.

  • We pride ourselves on clear, open pricing with no hidden costs. Every quote reflects a defined scope and delivery plan, so you’ll know exactly what you're paying for.

  • Yes, we offer motion graphics, animated explainer videos, plus short “FAQ” video formats to help customers quickly answer common questions in a dynamic style.

  • We provide end‑to‑end video services. From concept, scripting, filming, editing, animation, aerial/drone work, and final delivery. Popular formats include brand films, event videos, social media content, training videos, testimonial pieces, FAQ videos, and more.

  • We serve creative agencies (often as a white‑label production partner) as well as brands, charities, and organisations needing professional video content without the hassle of managing kit and crew.

  • We’re a family‑run video production company headquartered in Newbury, Berkshire. We routinely film on location anywhere in the UK as needed and often abroad internationally.

  • We build in review stages throughout the editing process to make sure you're happy every step of the way. You'll receive draft versions to review, and we include a set number of revisions as part of our standard packages. We use an online remote review and feedback platform to allow fast collaboration and feedback instantly. Our goal is always to get it right, quickly and collaboratively.

  • Established in 1989, ECP Video traces its roots back generations: from early‑20th‑century photography and colour labs, to professional corporate and branded video today. Our team brings decades of combined experience in filmmaking, post‑production, and storytelling.

  • You deal directly with our production and post‑production team throughout: no middlemen. We value fast communication and consistency of vision, guiding you every step of the way.