Who I Work With
Primarily businesses, organizations, communications teams, nonprofits, healthcare, industrial and professional-service clients that need clear video without unnecessary production layers.
Straight Answers · Clear Process · No Agency Layers
Edmonton & Alberta Video Production FAQ
Straight answers to common questions about corporate video production—from pricing, planning and filming to editing, delivery, ownership and working directly with me.
I’m David Mathew Bonner, owner of David Mathew Bonner Video Productions. I’m based in Drayton Valley, Alberta and regularly work in Edmonton and Central Alberta, with select projects elsewhere in Canada. I’ve worked professionally in video production since 2001, on about 1,000 video projects, and I personally handle every project, from planning and interviews through filming, editing and final delivery.
Team CollaborationREW / FF or ← →
Module 01: Working With Me
I handle every project directly, from planning through final delivery. That keeps communication clear and your message consistent from start to finish.
Why work with an independent videographer instead of a large agency?
Larger agencies often involve several people between the client and the production team. With me, you work directly with the person planning, filming, and editing the project. I bring more than 25 years of hands-on experience and remain accountable from the first conversation to final delivery. See owner-operated videographer vs video agency for an honest comparison, including when an agency is the better fit.
Will I work directly with you?
Yes. I personally handle the planning, filming, interviews, audio, editing and final delivery on every project. You are not handed from a salesperson to an account manager and then to an unknown production team.
Do you work alone or bring in additional crew?
I personally handle every project from planning through final delivery. When a production genuinely needs additional cameras or specialist crew, I bring in trusted professionals while remaining your direct point of contact. See solo videographer vs production crew.
Where do you provide video production?
I am based in Drayton Valley and regularly provide corporate video production in Edmonton and across Central Alberta. I also serve St. Albert, Sherwood Park, Leduc, Spruce Grove, Fort Saskatchewan, Red Deer, and other Alberta communities, with travel across Canada for select projects.
Can you film at industrial, rural, or remote locations?
Yes. I can work in industrial facilities, manufacturing environments, agricultural operations, rural properties, and remote locations. I arrive prepared for site-specific safety requirements and can coordinate around operational schedules, access rules, and required personal protective equipment.
Do you work by appointment only?
Yes. I operate by appointment only. There is no public walk-in studio. Free consultations are available by phone, video call, or in person when it makes sense for the project. Once we agree on scope and dates, the filming day is scheduled around your team and location.
How do I book a project or free consultation?
The simplest way is to use the project form on this site, email david@dmbvideo.com, or call 780-233-1362. Tell me what you need to communicate, who the audience is, and roughly when you need the finished video. I’ll reply personally with practical next steps and a clear sense of scope and cost.
Module 02: Video, Photo Add-Ons & Social Cutdowns
Professional business video built around the message you need to communicate and the audience you need to reach, with photography and social cutdowns available as add-ons.
What types of videos do you produce?
I produce company profile and corporate overview videos, brand stories, recruitment films, training and internal communication videos, customer testimonials, investor and business-sale videos, product demonstrations, case studies, documentary-style stories and social cutdowns. Most projects are filmed and delivered in 4K when appropriate.
Can you provide both video and photography?
Still photography can be added to a video production when it makes sense for the project, such as executive portraits, action stills, product images or facility photos, helping keep the visual style consistent. I do not offer standalone photography assignments.
Do you provide drone video?
Yes, where weather, location, airspace, and project needs allow. Drone footage can add useful scale and context for properties, industrial sites, tourism, agriculture, and outdoor projects. All flights are planned around applicable Transport Canada rules and local airspace restrictions.
Do you create vertical videos for social media?
Yes. I can plan or re-edit footage from your production for 9:16 vertical delivery on Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, TikTok, and other social platforms. Social cutdowns from existing project footage are $250 for one, $600 for three, or $900 for five.
Can you create testimonials and case-study videos?
Yes. Testimonials and case studies work best when the interview is built around specific experience, change, results, and context rather than scripted praise. I can combine customer or stakeholder interviews with b-roll, product footage, workplace visuals, data, graphics, and shorter cutdowns for sales or social use. See testimonial video vs written reviews.
Can one shoot create several pieces of content?
Often, yes. A well-planned filming day can produce a primary corporate or brand video plus shorter interview excerpts, social cutdowns, vertical clips, recruitment edits and training segments. Planning those deliverables before filming helps capture the right material once and get more long-term value from the production day.
Module 03: Process & On-Camera
A clear, low-stress production process designed to help real people feel comfortable on camera and keep every project moving smoothly.
What does the video production process look like?
Most projects follow five clear steps:
1. Discovery and planning: We define the audience, message, goals, and practical scope.
2. Pre-production: We confirm dates, locations, interviews, schedules, and any script or outline.
3. Production: I film the interviews, b-roll, audio, and supporting visuals with a calm, efficient setup.
4. Editing: I shape the story, clean the audio, colour grade the footage, add music, titles, and captions, and prepare the finished piece for client review.
5. Delivery: You receive polished master files in the formats needed for web, social media, presentations, or internal use.
1. Discovery and planning: We define the audience, message, goals, and practical scope.
2. Pre-production: We confirm dates, locations, interviews, schedules, and any script or outline.
3. Production: I film the interviews, b-roll, audio, and supporting visuals with a calm, efficient setup.
4. Editing: I shape the story, clean the audio, colour grade the footage, add music, titles, and captions, and prepare the finished piece for client review.
5. Delivery: You receive polished master files in the formats needed for web, social media, presentations, or internal use.
Can you help develop the idea or script?
Yes. Many clients begin with a rough idea, a problem to explain, or a message that still needs shape. I can help develop the concept, interview questions, visual approach, production outline, and script when one is needed.
How do you help people who feel nervous on camera?
I keep the set calm and treat interviews like guided conversations rather than performances. I help people understand the question, slow the pace down, and give them room to answer naturally. A teleprompter is also available when exact wording is required for legal, technical, or corporate messaging.
What should people wear for a video shoot?
Solid colours usually work best. Mid-tones, blues, greens, burgundy, and other richer colours tend to reproduce well on camera. Avoid very fine stripes, tiny patterns, highly reflective jewellery, and distracting logos unless they are part of the brand. For industrial shoots, required safety clothing always comes first.
Do you use scripts, interviews, or both?
Both. Some projects need exact scripted language for technical, legal, training, or executive communication, and I have a teleprompter for that. Others are stronger when real people answer guided interview questions naturally. Many corporate videos use a hybrid approach: a structured message supported by authentic interviews and carefully planned b-roll. See teleprompter vs natural interviews for when each fits.
How much preparation do you need from our team?
Usually less than clients expect. I need a clear point of contact, the business goal, intended audience, locations, likely interview subjects, schedule constraints, brand requirements, and any facts or approvals that must be correct. From there I build the interview questions, shot plan, schedule, and practical filming approach. Depending on the project, I will either pre-scout the location in person or have you send photos or video so we can walk through the operation ahead of time and plan the footage that best shows the real work.
Module 04: Pricing, Post-Production & Delivery
Straightforward pricing, realistic timelines, properly licensed media, secure delivery, and no surprise production markups.
How much does video production cost?
Published packages start at $2,500 CAD. The main options are Starter Business Video ($2,500), Company Profile + Customer Stories ($4,995), Recruitment Video ($3,500 half day / $4,500 full day), and Investor & Business-Sale Video (from $5,000). Prices are in Canadian dollars plus GST. The final scope and any additional costs are confirmed before booking. Basic consultations are free. See the video production pricing page for details.
What does the $2,500 Starter Business Video include?
The $2,500 Starter Business Video includes a planning call and interview preparation, up to 4 hours of filming at one location, up to 15 hours of editing, one finished 60–90 second video and one 15–30 second social cutdown. Every package includes my standard production kit, local travel, licensed music, colour grading, branded titles, captions and two rounds of revisions.
What does the $4,995 Company Profile + Customer Stories package include?
The $4,995 Company Profile + Customer Stories package includes story planning, up to 8 hours of filming, up to 35 hours of editing, one company profile video of 2–3 minutes, two standalone customer testimonial videos of 60–90 seconds each, and three social cutdowns. Customer soundbites may also be used in the company profile where they strengthen the story. It also includes my standard production kit, local travel, licensed music, colour grading, branded titles, captions and two rounds of revisions.
What is included in a filming day?
My standard camera, lenses, lighting, audio, tripod, support gear, teleprompter, drone and normal production tools are included, with no rental fees. Specialized rentals, unusually large crews, travel beyond the included area, permits, or unique production requirements are quoted separately before the project begins.
How long does a project take?
It depends on the scope. Some projects can be turned around in 24 hours. Most are delivered in 1–3 weeks once I have the interviews, footage and materials I need, with more complex projects taking longer. I work backwards from your deadline, and I have never missed one.
Do you use properly licensed music?
Yes. Standard licensed music is included in every package, and I keep the relevant licensing information with the project. Special licensing needs are quoted before booking.
Can you work under an NDA or on confidential projects?
Yes. I can work under non-disclosure agreements and handle internal, legal, unreleased, or sensitive material with controlled review links, restricted distribution, and secure file-delivery options.
How do you back up and store project files?
Project files are copied to multiple storage drives during production and editing. I keep working files organized so revisions and future updates are easier to manage. Long-term archival needs vary by project, so clients should also keep their own final masters and important source files.
How many revision rounds are included?
Every package includes two rounds of revisions. If you need changes beyond those two rounds, editing is billed at $100 per hour. I confirm the additional work with you before I do it.
Do you offer shoot-only or footage-only work?
No. I take on projects where I help shape the story, film it and edit the finished video. See filming day vs finished video for what goes into a project beyond the shoot.
Do we receive the raw footage?
Raw footage is not included by default. A shoot creates a lot of footage that never makes the final cut for every short usable clip, so you receive the finished, edited videos. If you need the raw footage, we agree on that and quote it before filming.
Can you provide captions and accessible versions?
Yes. Captions are included in every package, and videos can be delivered with burned-in captions, separate subtitle files, clean versions, vertical versions, or presentation-specific exports. Accessibility requirements should be discussed early so text size, contrast, audio clarity, and delivery formats can be planned properly.
Do you use stock footage or AI-assisted visuals?
Only when they genuinely help the story. Stock footage is billed at cost plus the editing time to add it. AI-assisted work is $150 per hour plus generation costs, billed at actual cost with no markup. I quote either one before using it. See real footage vs stock footage.
Do you charge for travel?
Travel is included throughout Greater Edmonton and communities within about 1–1.5 hours' drive of Drayton Valley. Travel outside these areas is quoted before booking.
What file formats do you deliver?
I deliver high-quality master files suitable for websites, presentations, social media, and paid ads. Common formats include high-bitrate MP4 (H.264 or H.265), with vertical versions, captioned versions, or clean versions when needed. Specific technical requirements can be confirmed during planning.
Can you handle rush or tight-deadline projects?
Yes, when the schedule allows. I’m comfortable working under tight deadlines and can move very quickly when a project requires it. My background includes electronic news gathering, where shooting, editing, and delivery could all happen the same day. The sooner I know the deadline, the better I can plan production and post-production around it.
What happens after the final video is delivered?
You receive the agreed finished files. I keep organized working files for a practical period so reasonable follow-up edits or additional cutdowns are easier if needed later. Long-term archival of raw media is discussed project by project.
Module 05: Strategy, Distribution & Long-Term Value
Good production is not only about how the video looks. It should fit the audience, platform, sales process, recruitment goal, training need, or communication problem it was created to solve.
How do we decide what kind of video we actually need?
Start with the audience and the decision you want them to make. A recruitment problem may need employee stories and workplace b-roll. A sales problem may need a clear product demonstration or customer case study. A trust problem may need interviews and documentary-style proof. I help match the format to the communication goal.
Is phone video good enough for my business?
For quick social posts, updates and behind-the-scenes clips, often yes. For a company profile, testimonial, recruitment or training video that will represent your business for years, a professional shoot usually gives you clearer sound, better light, more natural people on camera and a stronger story. See smartphone video vs professional corporate video.
Should we make a company profile video or social media content first?
For most businesses without a clear, current video, the company profile comes first. It explains who you are and keeps working for years, and the shoot can supply short social clips. Social content can come first if you already have a clear story on your website. See company profile video vs social media content.
Should we hire a videographer or a content creator?
A content creator is usually the better fit for frequent, casual, trend-driven social posts. A videographer is the better fit for planned business videos with a story, interviews, proper sound and lighting, and a finished edit. I am not a content creator or volume-posting service. See videographer vs content creator.
Do we need a recruitment video, or is a job posting enough?
A job posting alone is often enough for urgent single hires or roles that already draw plenty of applicants. A recruitment video helps when roles are hard to fill, when the workplace is hard to picture, such as an industrial, rural or remote site, or when you hire for the same roles again and again. The Recruitment Video package is $3,500 for a half day or $4,500 for a full day. See recruitment video vs job posting.
Can a video replace a pitch deck when raising money or selling a business?
No. Investors and buyers still need the pitch deck or information package for numbers, financials and terms. A video adds the people, the operation and credibility, and it is easy to forward. Investor & Business-Sale Video projects start at $5,000 and can be handled under an NDA with private review. See investor video vs pitch deck.
Is a corporate video the same as a commercial?
No. A corporate or company profile video explains who you are and why to trust you, and it keeps working for years on your website, in proposals and in recruiting. An ad campaign uses short, platform-specific ads with media buying and frequent testing. I don't do media buying; for large multi-channel campaigns an agency is the better fit. Short clips can be cut from a profile shoot. See corporate video vs commercial advertising.
Do interview videos need two cameras?
Not always. One camera is fine for short clips, a single simple message and tight spaces. A second angle helps longer interviews, company profiles and testimonials by hiding edits and keeping the pacing smooth. I run two-camera interviews on my own, so a second angle doesn't require a second operator. See one-camera vs two-camera interviews.
Should one video be used everywhere?
Usually not without adaptation. A website hero video, LinkedIn post, trade-show screen, internal presentation, YouTube video, vertical Reel, and paid ad all have different viewing conditions. One production can often supply several versions, but the opening, runtime, aspect ratio, captions, call to action, and pacing should match where the content will actually be seen.
Can you help plan video for a website or landing page?
Yes. Website video should answer the visitor’s next question quickly, reinforce trust, and support the page rather than compete with it. I can help plan a main landing-page video, supporting testimonials, service explainers, recruitment content, and shorter clips that can be reused elsewhere.
Can existing footage be reused or updated?
Often. Existing interviews, b-roll, archival footage, photographs, logos, graphics, and previous campaign material can sometimes be repurposed into updated edits, shorter clips, training modules, social content, or historical sequences. The usefulness depends on image quality, rights, technical format, and whether the old material still supports the current message.
What makes a corporate video feel credible instead of generic?
Specificity. Real people, real workplaces, concrete examples, useful detail, strong interviews, natural b-roll, and a clear reason for the audience to care are more convincing than vague claims. Good lighting and camera work matter, but credibility usually comes from what the video proves and how clearly the story is structured.
Can you work with our existing brand guidelines or agency?
Yes. I regularly work from brand guides, approved messaging, and existing visual standards. I can also collaborate with internal communications teams or external agencies while remaining your direct production contact.
What video packages do you offer?
I offer four published packages: Starter Business Video at $2,500 CAD; Company Profile + Customer Stories at $4,995 CAD; Recruitment Video at $3,500 CAD for a half day (up to 4 filming hours and 25 editing hours) or $4,500 CAD for a full day (up to 8 filming hours and 35 editing hours); and Investor & Business-Sale Video from $5,000 CAD, usually 3–5 minutes and custom scoped. Industrial, training, event, documentary, and other specialized productions can be scoped to fit the project. Prices are plus GST.
Do you require a monthly retainer?
No. I focus on clearly scoped, project-based productions and do not offer monthly retainers, content subscriptions or volume posting. If you need several deliverables from one production, we can plan them together in a single project.
MODULE 06: END OF TAPE
If you have a project in mind, tell me what you need to communicate, who needs to see it, and where it will be used. I take on a limited number of new projects alongside recurring client work, so early conversations help protect your preferred production dates.
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