Most organizations can film basic content in-house—and often should, but we see three recurring mistakes that cost teams time, impact, and credibility.

1. Overestimating bandwidth and expertise

Marketing teams are already stretched thin. Video seems simple until you're making it.

What usually happens:

• Someone who "likes cameras" becomes the default videographer.
• Projects take 4–5× longer than planned.
• Quality suffers when people juggle too many roles.
• The final product doesn't reflect the brand.

Video isn't just pressing record. It's lighting, audio, directing, pacing, storytelling, and editing. When teams underestimate this, the work shows it.

2. Shooting without intention

DIY content often looks like random B-roll of "whatever's happening."

High-performing content is deliberate:

• Strong opening hook
• Clean composition
• Consistent lighting
• Clear audio
• Intentional camera movement

Intentionality gets you measurably better results.

3. Forgetting about distribution

Teams spend hours filming... then realize they never planned where it would live or how it would be used.

Before you shoot, answer:

• Is this for LinkedIn? Instagram? Your website?
• Do we need horizontal, vertical, or square?
• Will we cut this into multiple clips?

The destination determines format, pacing, and style.

Avoid these three pitfalls, and your in-house content immediately gets better.

When you're ready for brand films, anthem videos, or longer storytelling, that's where production partners like the team at Pollen Productions make all the difference.

What's your biggest challenge with in-house video?