Tag Archives: testimonial video production

From Air to Story: A Practical Playbook for Drone-Driven Brand Films

What Drones Do Better (and When to Use Them)

Show scale and context: campuses, plants, job sites, logistics routes, retail footprints.
Clarify process: top-down passes and lateral tracking can explain workflows faster than VO and b-roll alone.
Transport the viewer: elegant reveals turn ordinary spaces into “arrival moments” that build pride and trust.
Reduce production friction: one aircraft can capture multiple angles efficiently when a scene is time-sensitive (pour, install, ribbon-cutting).
When not to use: tight, emotionally intimate scenes where dialog and micro-expressions matter—use grounded cameras and let aerials establish context.

The Story Framework: People, Place, Process, Proof

Tie every flight to one of these pillars:

People — leadership, makers, crews, customers.
Place — your footprint, access, safety culture, community.
Process — how you build, care, deliver, innovate.
Proof — outcomes, scale, quality, sustainability, reliability.

Design each aerial move to strengthen at least one pillar. If a shot doesn’t serve a pillar, it’s probably a vanity pass.

Pre-Production: Decisions That Make Aerials Work

Objectives & audience

Define the business outcome (conversion, recruiting, investor relations, PR).
Match deliverables to channels (16:9 web banners, 9:16 reels, 1:1 carousels).

Locations & permissions

Identify controlled areas, rooftops, loading bays, parking, helipad/TFR proximity.
Confirm landowner permission; schedule around peak traffic and critical operations.

Compliance & safety (commercial work)

Part 107-qualified crew, LAANC/airspace checks, site-specific risk assessment.
Establish emergency procedures, visual observer roles, and cordoned zones.

Creative brief

Story beats, shot priorities, must-have signage/milestones, talent/vehicles, wardrobe/PPE, hero times (golden/blue hour), and weather plan.

Technical targets

4K or 5.1K capture, 10-bit log profile, ND filters for 180° shutter rule, consistent white balance, waypoints for repeatability, RAW stills for hero frames.

Shot Design: Moves With Marketing Intent

Rise-Reveal: Begin behind a foreground (signage, product, machinery), ascend to reveal facility → strongest for “Place.”
Parallax Orbit: Slow, wide orbit around a subject (doorway, team, machine) to imply stature and activity → “People + Proof.”
Dolly Down the Line: Low, lateral track along a conveyor/assembly line → “Process.”
Top-Down Diagram: True nadir pass to turn a floor layout into a living infographic → “Process + Proof.”
Push-Through Transition: Start outside, transition through a bay door to the interior (with prop-guarded cinewhoop) → “Place → Process.”
Pull-Back to Scale: Begin close on a product, retreat to show the campus, trucks, or customer arrival → “Proof.”

Speed & altitude discipline

Exterior “hero” moves: 8–16 mph reads confident; indoor cinewhoop: 2–6 mph feels intentional.
Keep horizons level unless motivated (e.g., purposeful tilt/angle during dynamic sports or event shots).

Flying Indoors: How to Make It Cinematic and Safe

Aircraft: lightweight, prop-guarded platforms (cinewhoop-style) for hallways, labs, showrooms.
Path rehearsal: walk the route, mark hazards (sprinkler heads, signage, cables), and pre-light corners.
Crew roles: pilot, spotter, and floor safety—doors controlled, comms on discrete channel.
Lighting: continuous practicals plus soft fills; avoid strobing; lock exposure and white balance for continuity.
Sound plan: capture room tone and effects between flights; drones are loud—record clean dialogue separately.

Audio & Narration That Survive Rotor Noise

Treat drone passes as visual b-roll. Record interviews, VO, and nat-sound on separate takes.
Use cutaways (hands, machines, customer moments) to cover dialogue edits while the aerials establish space.

Post-Production & AI-Accelerated Finishing

Color pipeline: normalize log to Rec.709 with consistent contrast and skin tone handling; reserve heavy looks for campaign needs.
Stabilization & cadence: gentle stabilization; avoid over-smoothing that erases intent.
AI assists (used responsibly): object cleanup (cones, scuffs), plate extensions, subtle sky continuity, logo isolation for animated reveals, intelligent noise management, auto-captions, and multi-format reframing (16:9 → 9:16/1:1) while protecting composition.
Versioning: master cut (90–120s), 30s spot, 15s social, 6s bumper, plus 5–10 micro-moments for reels.

Distribution: Make the Aerials Earn Their Keep

Web: hero video with silent-first captions; LCP-friendly encoding and fallback images.
Social: platform-native aspect ratios; hook in first 2 seconds with motion or reveal.
Recruiting: campus fly-ins + people at work; pair with testimonial lower-thirds.
Sales enablement: loopable tradeshow edits; QR-linked facility tours.
Measurement: track view-through rate, dwell time on pages with aerial hero, CTR from aerial thumbnails, and assisted conversions on campaigns featuring the drone cut.

Sample Shot Lists by Industry

Manufacturing

Dawn campus reveal with trucks staging
Top-down line flow → robotic cell → QA station
Orbit of finished goods with brand mark foreground
Pull-back from product detail → warehouse scale

Healthcare / Campus

Approach along patient-arrival path (clear of PHI/people identifiers)
Roofline solar/HVAC for sustainability talking points
Courtyard orbit during shift change (faces controlled)
Interior cinewhoop: lobby → wayfinding → care areas (non-clinical zones)

Construction

Weekly waypointed progress orbits for consistent timelapse
Crane-level tracking of façade install
Nadir grid for site documentation overlays
Golden-hour hero of topped-out structure with crew wave

Corporate HQ / Brand

Signage rise-reveal with flag or kinetic element
Executive arrival and lobby energy pass
Product showroom push-through to collaboration spaces
Sunset pull-back to skyline for context

A One-Day Field Plan (Example)

07:00–08:00: Exterior hero passes (golden hour)
08:00–09:00: Nadir mapping/grid + parking/traffic coverage
09:00–10:30: Interior cinewhoop route (pre-lit)
10:30–11:30: Targeted process sequences (line, lab, showroom)
13:00–14:00: Leadership/photo ops; ground b-roll to match aerials
16:30–17:30: Sunset/day-to-night exterior closes

Risk, Access, and Brand Protection Checklist

Site permission, airspace review, NOTAM/TFR check
Part 107 crew, VO assigned, emergency plan posted
Indoors: path cleared, prop guards, spotter line-of-sight
PPE compliance (hard hats, vests, eyewear) as required
Data management: dual-card capture, checksum ingest, cloud backup same day
Release and signage plan (privacy-sensitive areas controlled)
Deliverables map: aspect ratios, runtimes, captioning, thumbnail plan

Why Partner With St Louis Drones

St Louis Drones is an experienced, full-service professional commercial photography and video production company with the right equipment and creative crew experience for successful image acquisition. We offer full-service studio and location video and photography, as well as editing and post-production, and our licensed drone pilots can tailor flights to your story, environment, and safety requirements. St Louis Drones can customize your productions for diverse types of media requirements. Repurposing your photography and video branding to gain more traction is another specialty—we are well-versed in all file types, styles of media, and accompanying software, and we use the latest in Artificial Intelligence across our media services for speed, consistency, and compliance. Our private studio lighting and visual setup is perfect for small productions and interview scenes, and our studio is large enough to incorporate props to round out your set. We support every aspect of your production—from setting up a private, custom interview studio to supplying professional sound and camera operators, as well as providing the right equipment—ensuring your next video production is seamless and successful. We can fly our specialized drones indoors. As a full-service video and photography production corporation, since 1982, St Louis Drones has partnered with businesses, marketing firms, and creative agencies throughout the St. Louis area for their marketing photography and video. If you want aerials that don’t just look good but move the needle, let’s plan your flight path to results.

314-604-6544 stlouisdrones@gmail.com

Video Crew Responsibilities for Testimonial and B-Roll Production

Introduction

Understanding Testimonials and B-Roll

Before we dive into the intricacies of testimonial and b-roll production, let’s clarify what these terms mean.

Testimonials are video interviews where individuals share their personal experiences, opinions, or endorsements of a product, service, or organization. These interviews are a powerful marketing tool, as they build trust and credibility with your audience.

B-roll consists of supplementary footage that enriches and complements the primary content, such as testimonials. It includes visuals of products, services, locations, or any relevant scenes that enhance the storytelling.

Now, let’s explore the responsibilities of a video crew during the entire production process.

Pre-Production

Conceptualization and Storyboarding

The first step in creating impactful testimonials and b-roll footage is conceptualization. This involves understanding the client’s goals, target audience, and message they want to convey. It’s essential to work closely with the client to determine the tone, style, and key points to be covered in the interviews.

Storyboarding comes next. This is where the video crew collaborates to visualize the entire project. It includes shot planning, sequencing, and identifying the necessary b-roll shots to complement the testimonials. A well-thought-out storyboard serves as a roadmap for the entire production.

Location Scouting

Selecting the right location is crucial to the success of testimonial and b-roll shoots. The video crew is responsible for scouting suitable locations that align with the client’s vision. Factors like lighting, background, and noise levels are taken into account. It’s essential to ensure that the chosen locations reflect the client’s brand and message effectively.

Equipment Setup

Once the concept and location are determined, the video crew is responsible for setting up the necessary equipment. At St. Louis Drones, we boast a wide array of cutting-edge video and audio equipment, including high-quality cameras, microphones, lighting rigs, and stabilizers. The crew ensures that all equipment is functioning optimally before the shoot begins.

During the Shoot

Lighting and Framing

Proper lighting and framing are critical for capturing visually appealing testimonials and b-roll footage. The video crew must pay attention to the quality of light, ensuring that the subjects are well-lit and free from harsh shadows. The choice of framing and camera angles plays a pivotal role in conveying the intended message.

Conducting Interviews

Interviewing subjects for testimonials requires skill and finesse. The crew should make the interviewees feel comfortable and encourage them to speak authentically. Thoughtful questions are prepared in advance to elicit meaningful responses. The video crew must also be adept at active listening, as spontaneous and unscripted moments often yield the most compelling content.

Capturing B-Roll Footage

While interviews are the focal point of testimonial videos, b-roll footage adds depth and context to the narrative. The video crew’s responsibility is to capture relevant b-roll shots that align with the storyboard. This may involve showcasing products, services in action, or capturing the essence of the location. Attention to detail is key in ensuring that b-roll seamlessly complements the testimonials.

Post-Production

Video Editing

Once the footage is captured, it’s time for the magic of post-production. Video editing is where the testimonial and b-roll footage come together to tell a cohesive story. The video crew uses professional editing software to assemble the clips, trim unnecessary segments, and arrange them in a logical sequence. Transitions and effects are applied to enhance the visual appeal.

Audio Enhancement

Superior audio quality is non-negotiable in testimonial videos. The video crew works on enhancing the audio by removing background noise, adjusting levels, and ensuring clear and crisp sound. Subtle background music may also be added to create an emotional impact.

Color Grading

Color grading is the process of adjusting the colors and tones in the footage to achieve a consistent and visually pleasing look. The video crew works on color correction to ensure that skin tones, backgrounds, and overall aesthetics are balanced and appealing.

Adding Graphics and Text

To reinforce key messages and branding, the video crew can incorporate graphics, text overlays, and lower thirds. These elements provide context, highlight important points, and maintain a cohesive visual identity throughout the video.

Final Touches

Review and Feedback

Before finalizing the video, it’s crucial to seek feedback from the client. The video crew collaborates with the client to review the edited footage and make any necessary revisions. This iterative process ensures that the final product aligns with the client’s vision and goals.

Exporting and Delivering

Once the client approves the final edit, the video crew exports the video in the desired format and resolution. St. Louis Drones is well-versed in all file types and styles of media, ensuring compatibility with various platforms and devices. We can also assist with optimizing the video for SEO, making it more discoverable online.

Conclusion

In the world of testimonial and b-roll production, a skilled video crew is indispensable. From pre-production planning to post-production refinement, each step requires expertise and attention to detail. At St. Louis Drones, we are your full-service video production partner, dedicated to creating memorable interviews and captivating b-roll footage that resonates with your audience.

As a full-service image creation company, St. Louis Drones has worked with many businesses in the St. Louis area to create impactful testimonials and b-roll. Our extensive equipment and experienced crew ensure that we can handle all your video and photo production needs, both in-studio and on location. We understand the importance of customizing your personal brand identity across diverse media platforms with proper SEO integration.

Whether you’re looking to elevate your marketing efforts with compelling testimonials or enhance your storytelling with engaging b-roll footage, St. Louis Drones has the expertise and resources to bring your vision to life. Contact us today to discuss your project and experience the difference of working with a trusted leader in the industry.

Let us be your partner in creating unforgettable video content that leaves a lasting impression. Reach out to us today and let’s embark on your next video production journey together!

Rob Haller 314-604-6544 stlouisdrones@gmail.com