Corporate Videos: Should You DIY or Call In a Video Production Team?

Launching a new product, showing off what’s happening behind the scenes, or keeping your stakeholders in the loop? Videos are one of the best ways to get your message across in a clear and relatable way.

But here’s something you may be wondering: Should you DIY that video or pass it off to a professional team?

You see, DIY videos are easier than ever to produce. A good smartphone, a bit of creativity, and free editing tools can get you pretty far. But sometimes, “pretty far” isn’t good enough — there’s just something special about professionally produced, polished corporate videos that make your brand look top-tier. 

The only issue? They cost more. So, how do you decide between the two? Let’s explore. 

The case for DIY videos 

DIY-ing your corporate video can be a smart move for your business if you:

• Are on a budget: DIY videos are an affordable option. You can easily shoot with your phone or webcam and edit using free or low-cost software like CapCut, iMovie, DaVinci Resolve, or Canva.

• Need it fast: No need to wait on vendors or juggle multiple rounds of feedback. You can shoot, edit, and publish your video all in one day if you’re in a pinch.

• Are looking for absolute creative freedom: With DIY, there’s no need to explain your vision to someone else. You can just hit record and go. You can play with tone, style, and content until you find what works. 

• Want to hop onto social media trends: Jumping onto social media trends helps you show up where your audience is already paying attention, and the DIY route lets you do so in a timely manner since you won’t have to loop in an entire production crew or wait for shoot schedules.

Takeaway? The DIY route is perfect when you need something fast, affordable, and relatable. 

This means the best use cases for DIY corporate videos are:

• Social media stories or vlogs 
• Internal communications (e.g., team updates and training clips)
• Behind-the-scenes content
• Testimonials or informal interviews
• Product demos (for startups)

That said, there are limits to the DIY approach. Bad lighting, shaky footage, or unclear audio can hurt more than help — especially if the video is going on your homepage or being sent to clients or investors.

When hiring a professional team makes sense

Sometimes, "good enough" just doesn’t cut it. A professional video is usually the way to go if you’d like:

• To save time and headache: Instead of worrying about gear or putting even more on your team’s (probably already full) plates, you can focus on what you do best.

• High-quality everything: From camera work to lighting to editing, a professional corporate video production team knows how to make your video look and sound amazing.

• Help with creative direction: Not sure how to tell your story? Pros can help storyboard, script, and bring your vision to life in ways you might not have considered.

• To project professionalism: A well-made video shows you’re serious. It builds credibility with customers, investors, and potential hires.

• To take things up a notch: While DIY videos work well for speed and authenticity, a professional team can take things up a notch with cleaner audio, better visuals, and tighter storytelling without necessarily losing that down-to-earth feel. Whether it’s social clips, internal updates, or testimonials, pros help you sharpen the message and make it more engaging. 

Takeaway? Hiring a professional corporate video production company is usually worth it if the stakes are high, the video will live on your website for months (or years), or you just want a little more polish. 

This means projects to consider outsourcing would include:

• Brand or company overview videos
• Product launch videos
• Recruitment or employer branding content
• Case study or customer story videos
• Investor presentations
• Content you’ll use for months or years

A quick comparison of DIY vs professional corporate videos

Ultimately, the choice between DIY and professional corporate video production depends on your goals and audience. It’s not about one being better than the other; it’s about context. 

DIY is fast, cost-effective, and great for internal or casual content. Professional videos offer higher quality and credibility — ideal for brand stories, launches, and anything client-facing. 

Here’s a quick table comparison to help you choose the right fit.

Want professional help, but worried about budget?

You’re not alone. A lot of businesses want help from the pros, but can’t always justify the cost for every single video. The good news? You don’t have to choose between all-DIY or full-production. 

A blended approach could work really well. For example, you can work with a production team to create branded templates, animated graphics, or intros that you can drop into your videos to give them a more polished look without outsourcing every time.

Some corporate video production agencies also offer “lite” packages — short shoots with minimal editing and fast turnaround — that could be perfect if you’re a small business and/or working with a tight budget.

Still not sure which option to choose?

Ask yourself:

1. What’s the budget? Can’t afford a full production? That’s okay; maybe you can meet halfway with a simple shoot or editing help. 

2. Who is this video for? If it’s your team or social media followers, DIY might work. If it’s for clients or the public, you may wish to think about going pro.

3. What’s the goal? Are you trying to inform, impress, sell, or just share? The higher the stakes, the more polish you’ll need.

4. How long will the video stay in use? For short-term content, speed and flexibility matter. But for evergreen content, you’ll find that quality always pays off in the long run.

5. Do you have the time and tools? If editing a video means pulling someone away from their actual job for a week, outsourcing could be smarter.

Final thoughts

Videos aren’t simply a nice-to-have for businesses anymore. 

These days, people expect to engage with brands through videos: it’s how they discover, decide, and remember. But that doesn’t mean every video needs to feel like a Hollywood production. Some are meant to be polished and professional, while others work fine being a bit more scrappy and real. 

The trick is knowing when you can roll with each. If you’re trying to build trust, impress clients, or make something that’ll live on your website for a while, it’s probably worth bringing in the pros. But if it’s a quick update, something casual for social, or just a way to stay visible, DIY might be all you need.

📹 Need a han​​d with your next video?

Got a video idea in mind — or not sure where to start? Whether you’re after something quick and simple or planning a bigger brand piece, Lumi Films has options to fit both your goals and your budget. 

We offer flexible packages, from fast “lite” shoots (perfect for simple projects like social content or internal comms) to full-scale productions that really show what your brand’s all about.

✉️ If you want to learn more, shoot us a message here. We’re always happy to bounce around ideas and see where that takes us.