To hire the right video production company in Los Angeles, find one whose portfolio matches your type of project, who can walk you through their process and budget clearly, and who knows how to handle LA's permits and logistics. LA has no shortage of options, so the goal is to narrow the field quickly. This guide covers what to prepare, what to look for, what drives cost, and what to ask before you sign.
Write a short brief first
You'll get better quotes and faster answers if you send every company the same one-page brief. Include:
- The goal and audience: who should see this, and what should they do or feel afterward?
- Deliverables: the main video's length, plus any cutdowns, vertical versions for social, or photos
- Where it will be used: website, paid ads, social, an event screen, broadcast
- Shoot details: dates, locations, and who needs to appear on camera
- Deadline and budget range: even a rough range helps a company propose the right scope
What to look for
- Relevant work. Ask to see projects like yours. A team that excels at documentary-style brand films may not be the best fit for a high-energy product spot, and vice versa.
- End-to-end capability. Find out who handles each stage: concept, scripting, scouting, shooting, editing, color, and sound. When those are spread across vendors who don't talk to each other, the result usually shows it.
- A clear process. A good company explains timelines, pricing, and check-ins before you commit.
- Local know-how. Permits, location access, and traffic all affect your schedule and budget in LA.
- Reputation. Read reviews, ask for references, and talk to a past client in a similar situation if you can.
Common types of projects
Brand films
Story-driven pieces about who a company or organization is and why it matters. They often anchor a website, a launch, or a fundraising campaign, and they need strong storytelling more than flashy technique.
Commercials and campaign videos
Anything from a 15-second social ad to a longer campaign spot. Ask early about usage, since where and how long an ad runs can affect music licensing and talent costs.
Corporate video
Internal communications, training, recruiting, and investor content. The challenge is making it engaging rather than stiff.
Events and celebrations
Galas, conferences, launches, weddings, and bar and bat mitzvahs. Look for a team that has filmed your type of event before, can capture clean audio of speeches, and will plan coverage around your run of show.
Aerial and drone footage
Drones add scale to brand films, properties, and outdoor events. Commercial drone work requires an FAA Part 107 remote pilot certificate. Much of LA sits in controlled airspace around airports like LAX and Hollywood Burbank, where pilots need FAA authorization (usually through LAANC) before flying, and some spots near airports are off-limits altogether. Ask who on the crew holds the certificate and who handles authorizations.
Social content
Short-form video built for each platform. Plan it before the shoot so vertical cuts for Reels and TikTok, feed versions, and longer YouTube edits all come out of the same day.
What drives the cost
Prices vary too much by scope to give a meaningful number. What a company charges comes down to a handful of factors:
- Number of shoot days and the size of the crew
- Equipment: cameras, lighting, audio, drone
- Locations, permits, and insurance
- On-camera talent, if any
- Post-production: edit length, revision rounds, color grading, sound mix, and motion graphics
- Number of deliverables and how fast you need them
- Music licensing and how widely the video will be used
To compare quotes fairly, ask each company to break out these line items and say what's included. Check how many revision rounds you get, whether music is licensed for your use, what formats you'll receive, and whether raw footage is included or available.
Permits and logistics in LA
Filming on location in the City of Los Angeles and in unincorporated LA County generally requires a permit through FilmLA, which also requires proof of insurance. Some incorporated cities and agencies run their own permit offices, and county beaches have a separate process. Private venues often ask for a certificate of insurance too.
Permits take time to process, and work like aerial shots or street closures needs more lead time. Ask your production company who pulls the permits and when, and get location plans settled early.
Questions to ask before you sign
- Who will be on set, and who will edit?
- What's the timeline from shoot to first cut to final delivery?
- How many revision rounds are included, and what does an extra one cost?
- Who handles permits, insurance, and location releases?
- What files do we receive, and who owns the footage?
- How is music licensed?
Why a local team helps
You can fly a crew in, but a local team already knows the permit process, has relationships with venues and rental houses, and plans call times around LA traffic. They can also scout, prep, and meet in person without adding travel to your budget.
How we work
Silverstein Studios is a Los Angeles production studio that handles projects from pre-production through final delivery. We make brand films, commercials, campaign films, and documentaries. In post we handle editing, color grading, sound design, and motion graphics, and we also shoot aerial footage. We cover events of all kinds, including weddings, bar mitzvahs, galas, and corporate gatherings, and our sister brand Gabe Silverstein Photography handles photography when you need both (here's why that's often worth it).
Planning a project in LA? Tell us about it and we'll help you scope it.