When a comms manager asks me this question, I know they haven’t had a bad experience yet. Because once you’ve lived through a rushed 8-hour shoot for a “reasonable” budget, you never ask the question the same way again.
Here’s how we think about it at Signs.
What you can do in 1 day
A shoot day means about 8 to 10 effective hours on the ground. With an experienced crew, you can capture:
- An executive portrait (60 to 90 seconds, 1 to 2 locations)
- A client testimonial (interview + a few illustration shots)
- A short social media format (15–30 seconds, product or atmosphere)
- A CSR snippet around a single subject
The key: a rock-solid brief upstream. The less time, the more prep matters. If we arrive on set without knowing exactly what we’re after, the day becomes chaotic and the result generic.
What you can do in 3 days
Three days open up the possibilities. You can:
- Cover several geographic sites
- Alternate shot types (interview, B-roll, drone, macro)
- Capture a real day in the life (workshop, team, company rituals)
- Build a richer narrative through cross-cutting
- Produce multiple formats for multiple platforms
The “let’s optimize” trap
Some clients ask for 3 different films in 1 day. On paper it looks logical: same crew, same travel, you “optimize.” In practice, you produce 3 average films instead of one excellent one.
The reconfiguration time between subjects, transitions, and the fatigue of the third interviewee in line: all of it weighs on the final result.
Our rule at Signs
We’d rather turn down an over-stuffed shoot than deliver something we’re not proud of. If the brief asks for too much for the time we have, we tell you during production, never on shoot day.
A corporate film stays in people’s minds for a long time. The time spent making it, not so long.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a day of video shooting cost?
A shooting day with a two-person crew costs between €600 and €900 excluding equipment in SIGNS Films' 2026 rates, with equipment adding €150 to €300. The price rises with crew size, a drone, or an ARRI Alexa 35 production with an established cinematographer. One day means 8 to 10 effective hours on location, enough to shoot an executive portrait or a client testimonial.
Does the client company need to be on set on the day of the shoot?
Having a client representative on set is recommended but not mandatory: they validate choices on the spot, unlock access and reassure the employees being interviewed. Their job is not to direct the shoot, which remains the director's role. At SIGNS Films, the essentials are decided beforehand: written brief, then storyboard, so the day runs without last-minute arbitration even if the representative has to step away.
Can you film at our offices or across several sites?
Yes, a shoot can take place at your offices and across several sites, provided the number of days is adjusted. In one day, an experienced crew covers one or two locations; three days allow several geographic sites, alternating interviews, B-roll and drone, and capturing a real working day. SIGNS Films shoots in Paris and Geneva, but also in Lyon, Bordeaux, London or Tokyo depending on the project.
How do you prepare properly before a video shoot?
Preparing a video properly means setting down in writing the objective, distribution platform, key messages and speakers before any camera comes out. The less time on location, the more this preparation matters: without a precise brief, the day turns chaotic and the result bland. SIGNS Films' method: written brief, then storyboard, then location scouting. If the brief asks too much for the time available, it gets said in pre-production, never on shoot day.
