Choosing the Right Baltimore Media Production Companies

Baltimore media production companies happen to be found throughout the city, largely vying for the next big project. But how can you be sure that any company with the title “production company” or “media production company” really is a professional that’s skilled and qualified for your project? Ultimately, choosing between all the competition to find the best Baltimore media production companies for your project needs will require a little bit of research, some preparation and planning, and your time.

In the end, you’ll be thankful that you did your homework and looked beyond a simple Google search to find the best production crew for your video production needs.

At Beverly Boy Productions, we provide full-service media production throughout Baltimore and worldwide. Give us a call at 888-462-7808 to learn more about our services and what kind of value we can add to your next big video project.

Or, to learn more about finding and choosing the best crew, check out these tips:

1. Seek Local Reviews & References

A quick Google search is likely to land you with a long, laundry list of Baltimore media production companies that are ready and willing to take on your project — but how can you spot the best crew for the job? You’re going to have to work! 

Start by checking local reviews and asking for nearby references. Google reviews can provide you with a decent outlook on which production companies in the area are most suitable from a customer satisfaction standpoint.

This should be your starting point for choosing a production crew, but it certainly shouldn’t be the only consideration you make. 

Likewise, if you’ve got friends or other area business owners in Baltimore that you trust, ask them who they are using for their video production needs.

With more than 80% of businesses using video in their marketing strategies, most have a production company or freelance cinematographer that they trust. You’d be surprised at the help that your friends, family or local business association may be able to provide!

2. Check Recent Project Portfolios

Most Baltimore media production companies are going to provide you with a demo reel to review, which is great, but not always the best resource for deciding on whether or not they’re the most suitable option for your video production project.

The demo could be outdated, may show off the most elaborate skills the crew has, and could even be produced by someone that is no longer with the studio — all useless to your project!

It’s typically better to check recent projects and to ask for a portfolio that will show you the true skills and recent production experience of the crew.

Look for recent projects that are similar in scope to what you’re looking to have done.

For example, if you want to produce an animated explainer video that helps consumers learn how to use your product, you’ll have better luck if you find a production company with this type of experience than, for example, a crew that touts their green screen skills and special effects. 

3. Compare & Contrast

Once you’ve got a list of Baltimore media production companies that are in line for your project, it’s time to start comparing their skills and offerings.

This is a good opportunity for you also to ask each of the production companies to provide you with a written estimate or proposal.

The proposal can be used to further compare what you might get from one crew to the next and how the budget will be allocated. 

The idea here is to compare past projects, reviews, and portfolios as well as proposals between each production company.

This is your opportunity to make a list of the top 3-5 options that you think are most suitable for your project so that you can continue on to follow-up with each of them and have a face-to-face conversation.

4. Schedule Interviews

Choosing the right Baltimore media production companies will require a little bit of your time as you research and check out what each has to offer, but in the end you’ll be happy you took the time.

Scheduling interviews with each of the top 3-5 production companies on your list is important — why?

Because this will be your chance to get a sense of what it’s like to work with each production company. You’ll get a chance to meet the team members and communicate with one another.

Ask questions. See if they are engaged and truly interested in your project and also see how you feel about communicating with them — is it a comfortable conversation?

If the interview feels awkward or uncomfortable, it’s a sure sign that the production company you’re interviewing may not be the best fit. Don’t worry, there are plenty of other options to consider!

5. Discuss Expectations, Timeline & Budget

Once you’ve narrowed down your list of the top Baltimore media production companies for your project, it’s time to discuss the finer details. You should be upfront about your timeline and expectations as well as your budget.

This is your chance to make sure that the production company you’re considering can work within your budget and can meet the timeline expectations that you have for your video project. 

If you find that there are differences in timeline or budget, discuss those differences and see if you can come to an understanding on what will work best for both you, and the production crew.

If things don’t seem like they’ll work out, this is your chance to continue working on finding another media crew that’s more suited to your project. 

It Takes Time

Ultimately, you’ll spend some time on this, but you’ll be happy that you didn’t jump right in.

Choosing the right Baltimore media production companies can take a little time and patience, but in the end, the steps you take now to secure the most suitable providers for your project will help you to be most successful.