Hiring a Photo and Video Production Crew in Rochester, NY
When a brand, agency or production company outside of Upstate New York needs content captured in Rochester, flying in a full crew with lights, cameras and audio gets expensive fast. That is where we come in. Mantis Media is a Rochester, NY photo and video production team that out-of-area companies hire for half-day and full-day shoots. We help plan the day, bring all of the equipment, run the interviews, travel to your location and hand back organized galleries of content your team can use right away.
This guide covers how we build a production around your project, how we help with preproduction and interview questions, and why the people in front of our cameras actually enjoy the experience.
Built around your project, not a package
No two productions are the same, so we do not force yours into a preset package. We scale the crew, the gear and the schedule to fit what you need to capture.
Flexible crew size. A lean crew for a simple interview day, or a larger team when you need photo, video, lighting and audio running at the same time.
Half day or full day. Book the time that matches your shot list, not the other way around.
Photo, video or both. Capture stills and motion with one crew on the same day.
Any setup you need. On-location interviews, green screen, multi-camera podcast and roundtable setups, b-roll, headshots, product and facility shoots, and drone footage.
All of the equipment. Cameras, lenses, lighting, audio and support gear come with us. You do not need to rent or ship anything.
We travel. We are based in Rochester and travel throughout Western and Central New York and beyond.
Half day or full day: which one do you need?
The right length depends on how many locations, setups and people you need to capture.
A half day usually fits a single location with a focused goal. Think one or two interviews with supporting b-roll, a round of team headshots, product or facility photos, or a short set of social content.
A full day makes sense when you have several interviews, multiple departments or locations, or a mix of video, photography and drone footage. It gives us room to reset lighting between setups and capture the extra coverage editors always wish they had.
Not sure? Send us your goals or a rough outline, and we will recommend the length and crew size that fits.
Preproduction: we help plan the interviews
A great interview starts long before the camera rolls. Many of our clients come to us with a goal, like a recruiting video, a customer story or a leadership message, but no questions written yet. We help with that.
Interview questions. We work with your team to write questions that pull out real stories and usable soundbites, not rehearsed answers.
Who to interview. We help you choose the right people and the order to film them in so the day flows.
Shot list and schedule. We map out the interviews, b-roll and photos so nothing gets missed and nobody waits around.
Your brief and brand guidelines. We build the day around what your team or your client already has in place.
If an agency account rep or producer is managing the project, we work directly with them before, during and after the shoot so they always know where things stand.
Making your talent feel comfortable on camera
This is the part we are proudest of. Most people being interviewed are not actors. They are employees, owners, customers and leaders, and many of them are nervous the moment they see a camera and a set of lights.
We treat every interview like a conversation, not an interrogation. We walk people through what to expect, start with easy questions, remind them there are no wrong answers and let them restart as often as they want. We keep the set relaxed and the energy friendly, so people loosen up and start talking like themselves.
That comfort shows up on screen. Relaxed people give honest, natural answers, and that is what makes testimonials, recruiting videos and brand stories believable. Our goal is for every person in front of the camera to walk away saying that was actually fun.
Why book photo and video on the same day
Combining photography and video into one production saves your budget and your client's time. The location is already prepped, the people you need are already scheduled, and you get matching visuals for your website, ads, social media and sales materials. One crew, one day.
Where we shoot
We are based in Rochester, NY, and regularly shoot in Buffalo, Syracuse, the Finger Lakes and throughout Western and Central New York. We have worked with clients based in New York, Ohio, Illinois and California, and we travel for projects as needed.
Industries we work with
Our production days have covered manufacturing facilities, hospitality and destination brands, restaurants and food products, construction and roofing, commercial real estate, automotive dealerships, healthcare, education, fitness, consumer products and sports. If your project involves a factory floor, a hotel, a school, a gym, a job site or a conference room, we have likely shot something like it.
What you get after the shoot
You receive organized galleries of the photo and video content captured on the day, ready for your team to review, share and download. See our video production and photography pages for examples of our work.
Frequently asked questions
How big is your crew?
It depends on the project. We size the crew to what you need to capture, from a lean team for a single interview to a larger crew for multi-camera, photo and video days.
Can you help us write interview questions?
Yes. We help during preproduction to shape the questions around your goals, and we can run the interviews on the day.
What if the people we are interviewing are nervous on camera?
That is completely normal, and it is where we shine. We keep the conversation relaxed, start with easy questions and give people time to get comfortable, so they come across as themselves.
Can you work with our agency or producer?
Yes. We regularly work alongside account reps and producers, following their brief, shot list and brand guidelines.
Do you travel outside of Rochester?
Yes. We regularly travel throughout Upstate New York and take on projects further away when needed.
Do we need to provide any equipment?
No. We bring the cameras, lighting, audio and support gear. You just need to provide access to the location and the people we are filming or photographing.
Book a production crew in Rochester, NY
Planning a shoot in Rochester or anywhere in Upstate New York? Contact Mantis Media with your dates and project details, or call us at (585) 645-4920. We will build the day around your project and make sure everyone on camera has a great experience.
Comments