How to Secure Leadership Buy-In for Photography & Videography Projects
Ely Hemnes • June 9, 2025
A Guide for Internal Marketing & Communications Teams
Visual content is one of the most powerful tools for branding, storytelling, and audience engagement. However, getting leadership approval for videography and photography projects can be challenging. Executives often hesitate due to concerns over cost, ROI, messaging alignment, or production logistics.
This guide breaks down how internal marketing and communications teams can overcome these obstacles—and how The Unfound Door can support you every step of the way.
1. Build a Strong Pre-Production Strategy
Why It Matters:
Executives want clarity before approving a project. A well-prepared pre-production plan ensures leadership understands the scope, objectives, and expected outcomes, reducing hesitation and securing buy-in.
What Marketing & Communications Teams Should Do:
- Develop a Clear Project Brief:Outline why the project is being done and what business goals it supports (e.g., recruiting top talent, showcasing projects, elevating brand storytelling).
- Include key messaging, deliverables, and project milestones to set clear expectations.
- Anticipate Leadership Concerns:Be ready to address common executive objections, such as cost, time investment, and ROI expectations.
- Prepare data or competitor examples to show how similar content has driven engagement and business growth.
- Provide Visual References & Examples:If leadership struggles to visualize the outcome, show examples of past successful projects.
- Share a proofing gallery or visual storyboard to give decision-makers a preview of what’s possible.
How The Unfound Door Can Help:
- Supportive Documentation: We create custom creative briefs, proposal options, and accompanying documents with all the necessary details to make the case to leadership.
- Getting on the Visual Page: Our team can develop visual mock-ups, shot lists, and concept galleries to help executives envision the final product.
- Discovery + Pre-Production Meetings: We offer consultation sessions to refine project objectives and address stakeholder concerns early.
2. Establish Clear Usage and Business Value
Why It Matters:
Leadership needs to see why this project is worth the investment and how it aligns with business objectives. Many executives hesitate because they don’t fully understand how the content will be used or its long-term value.
What Marketing & Communications Teams Should Do:
- Connect Content to Business Goals:Show how photography and video will support recruitment, investor relations, brand awareness, internal communications, or marketing efforts.
- Explain how one production session can generate multiple assets (e.g., social media clips, website banners, internal presentations).
- Clarify Usage Rights & Licensing:Ensure leadership is comfortable with how and where the content will be used.
- Address any concerns around intellectual property, confidentiality, or distribution rights before production begins.
- Share costs and rights with other project partners.
- Prepare a Distribution Plan:Outline which platforms (website, LinkedIn, YouTube, advertising, internal training, etc.) the content will be used on.
- Show/Discuss examples of how multi-purpose assets can stretch the budget further (e.g., a single video interview can be repurposed into short clips for multiple platforms).
How The Unfound Door Can Help:
- Custom Contracts: We can customize usage rights agreements based on client needs to eliminate concerns about licensing or content restrictions. This includes adding confidentiality clauses, if needed, cost splitting rights with other partners, or limiting our external usage of the content. We are open to modifying our agreements for the project.
- Return On Investment: We provide expert recommendations on how to maximize the ROI of the content across different platforms.
- Varied Assets: Our multi-deliverable approach ensures each shoot produces a variety of assets for long-term use. We also archive client content for future use that will reduce costs.
- What Are Shorties (Short Listed Exports)? At The Unfound Door, we provide Shorties—professionally edited, ready-to-use video clips—so clients can take control of their content without needing us for every update. ‣
- Why Shorties?Polished & Ready to Use: For interviews, we remove filler words, enhance color and audio, and ensure a smooth, professional final cut. For B-roll, we select the best shots, apply color grading and stabilization, and add cinematic slow motion for a polished, high-quality look.
- Multiple File Formats: Delivered in 4K and 1080p .mp4 files, optimized for websites, social media, and presentations.
- No Editing Required: Clients get fully polished clips, making it easy to post, share, or integrate into any project.
- Flexible & Reusable – Pre-edited content can be repurposed across marketing, internal comms, and brand storytelling. With Shorties, clients save time, stay in control, and maximize their content’s impact—without needing a video editor every time.
3. Maintain Transparent Communication with Leadership
Why It Matters:
Executives don’t like surprises. Keeping leadership informed at every stage builds confidence in the project and reduces the likelihood of last-minute rejections or changes.
What Marketing & Communications Teams Should Do:
- Set Up Regular Checkpoints:Provide brief but informative updates on key project milestones.
- Offer curated choices instead of overwhelming leadership with too many decisions.
- Involve Leadership in Key Approvals:Identify the critical areas where leadership input is needed (e.g., finalizing the script, approving interviewees, reviewing key visuals).
- Give them structured choices, such as “Option A” vs. “Option B” rather than an open-ended request.
- Establish a Feedback Process:Define when and how feedback will be collected without derailing timelines.
- Offer a structured review framework (e.g., leadership reviews content only at predefined approval stages).
How The Unfound Door Can Help:
- We set up structured review checkpoints to ensure leadership has input without slowing down production.
- We handle all logistics and coordination so internal teams can focus on getting approvals.
4. Address Leadership Concerns Around Safety, Compliance, and Reputation
Why It Matters:
Executives need reassurance that the production process won’t cause compliance risks, brand damage, or operational disruptions.
What Marketing & Communications Teams Should Do:
- Ensure Compliance with Safety & Privacy Regulations:If filming on a worksite, ensure leadership knows all proper safety protocols will be followed. If available, have a safety team members on site with our team!
- If capturing employees, have clear consent and release forms.
- Demonstrate How Content Aligns with Company Values:Ensure the project reflects company and brand initiatives.
- Show leadership how authentic storytelling will enhance brand reputation.
How The Unfound Door Can Help:
- Insurance + Certifications: We provide full insurance documentation including Certificate of Insurance (with Additional Insured, if desired) and Workers Compensation as well as safety certifications such as FAA 107 Drone Certifications. We can also provide WBE, DBE, WOSB, and other certifications.
- Talent Releases: We handle employee consent forms and privacy concerns so legal teams have peace of mind.
- Our Speciality: We specialize in capturing unique workforce imagery that aligns with corporate values. We work primarily with AEC professionals and know the best direction to provide.
- Safety For Over a Decade: Owner, Ely Hemnes, has been on active jobsites nationwide for over a decade. She and her team are well versed in OSHA standards, PPE requirements, and other safety protocols. We have worked on many highly confidential job sites with propriatary information as well as dangerous hazards.
5. Encourage Employee Participation for More Authentic Content
Why It Matters:
Leadership often hesitates to approve projects if they believe employees won’t engage. A strategy to ensure participation helps remove this roadblock.
What Marketing & Communications Teams Should Do:
✔ Educate Leadership on the Importance of Employee Involvement:
• Explain that authentic employee representation boosts engagement and trust.
✔ Make Participation Easy & Enjoyable:
• Offer incentives like professional headshots or internal recognition for participating employees.
How The Unfound Door Can Help:
✔ We create comfortable and engaging environments to put employees at ease during shoots.
✔ We strategize with internal teams to make participation feel natural and rewarding.
6. Optimize Post-Production for Leadership Approval
Why It Matters:
Executives need to feel in control of the final content while ensuring efficiency.
What Marketing & Communications Teams Should Do:
✔ Curate Select Options for Leadership Review:
• Instead of sending raw footage, present shortlisted, high-quality selections.
✔ Ensure Final Quality Checks:
• Confirm branding, messaging, and legal approvals before final delivery.
How The Unfound Door Can Help:
✔ We deliver structured review rounds with clear options for leadership.
✔ Our post-production team ensures polished, on-brand content with leadership’s needs in mind.
Final Thoughts
By following these strategies, internal marketing teams can secure leadership buy-in, streamline approvals, and create high-impact content.
💡 Need help convincing leadership? The Unfound Door provides strategy consultation, professional production, and leadership-friendly deliverables to ensure a smooth approval process.
Want to discuss a project? Let’s chat! 🚀
How to Stand Out When Applying for Creative Jobs: Lessons from the Hiring Side As a creative professional—whether you're a photographer, videographer, designer, or multi-hyphenate—it’s easy to think your portfolio should speak for itself. But after reviewing dozens of applications for a recent role, I realized there are consistent oversights that hold talented creatives back from getting interviews. If you're currently on the hunt or plan to apply for creative positions, here are some must-follow tips to help you stand out—for the right reasons. 1. Read the Full Job Posting—Then Follow It Exactly This might sound basic, but it's critical: always read the full job listing, including how and where to apply. For our recent LinkedIn post, we specified two very clear requirements: You must be based in Colorado. Applications must be submitted via email and include a resume, cover letter, and portfolio. We received many applications from people out of state or who only submitted a resume through LinkedIn. Ignoring directions is a red flag. It tells us you either didn’t read the posting thoroughly or don’t follow instructions—neither of which instills confidence. 2. Customize Your Resume and Cover Letter Your resume should speak directly to the role you’re applying for. That means it might need a redesign, a reordering of experience, or highlighting specific projects more relevant to the job. A generic resume shows minimal effort. If you want the interview, show you understand what the role requires and that your experience aligns. As for the cover letter, it’s not just a place to list accomplishments. Show who you are and strike a balance between confidence and curiosity. Highlight what you bring to the table—but also express a willingness to learn, grow, and adapt to the company’s culture and processes. Even with experience, joining a new team means being a sponge. 3. Prepare for Screening Interviews Like You Mean It When you get a screening call, it’s your chance to show you're not just capable, but also invested. Here's how: Research the company—beyond their homepage. Know what they do, who they serve, and what their values are. Be ready to answer: "Why us?" and "What do you know about our work?" Make it personal and specific. Practice a succinct, clear summary of your experience. Prepare examples of challenges you've faced and how you handled them—especially those relevant to the role. Always, always bring thoughtful questions. Not asking anything signals disinterest or a lack of preparation. 4. Your Online Presence Matters—A Lot If you're applying via LinkedIn or referencing a portfolio site, make sure both are polished and up to date. That means: A professional (but authentic) photo on your LinkedIn profile. A clear headline and summary of who you are and what you do. If you’re open to work, activate the “Open to Work” banner. Ensure your portfolio represents your style and the kind of work you want to do. Curate it. Show your best, not just everything. 5. Creatives: Let Your Visual Work Speak—But Don’t Forget the Words Many creatives find it challenging to “sell themselves” in writing. We’re often visual thinkers, not marketers or salespeople. But remember: your resume and cover letter are your first impression. Make them count. If words aren’t your strong suit, consider working with a friend or mentor to tighten them up. Your visuals show what you can do—but your application materials show that you care, pay attention, and are ready to be part of a team.
Shortlisted Exports: Why Quality Content Matters At The Unfound Door, we’re passionate about creating high-quality video content that truly reflects the essence of your brand. One of the most impactful ways we do this is through our “Shortlisted Exports” – or, as we like to call them, “Shorties.” These curated, professional snippets are crafted to be versatile, visually captivating, and effortlessly shareable, perfect for both interviews and B-roll. What Are Shortlisted Exports? Simply put, Shortlisted Exports are professionally edited snippets from your raw footage, condensed into polished, usable clips. Whether it’s an interview or dynamic B-roll, these short, purpose-driven videos are designed to enhance your marketing, communications, and storytelling. Shorties go beyond just cutting down footage. They are thoughtfully edited to maintain narrative flow, highlight key moments, and present your content in the most engaging way possible. Our team leverages multi-camera angles, high-quality audio, color correction, and precise cutting to make sure your Shorties are visually and audibly flawless. Why We Provide Shortlisted Exports Our goal with Shorties is to make your video content work harder for you. By delivering polished, compact clips, we make it easy to incorporate high-quality content into your social media, presentations, and internal communications. Here’s why they’re essential: Efficiency in Storytelling: You don’t always need the full-length video to make an impact. Shorties allow you to convey important messages or captivating visuals in a fraction of the time. Easy Integration: Whether you’re updating your website, creating social media posts, or enhancing a presentation, these high-quality snippets are ready to use without the need for further editing. Enhanced Engagement: People’s attention spans are short. Presenting the most engaging moments first helps capture your audience right away. Versatile Format: Delivered in both 4K and 1080 HD mp4 files, our Shorties are compatible with a variety of platforms and editing software, including user-friendly tools like iMovie and Canva. Professional Quality: We ensure that each Shorty is visually consistent, crisply edited, and professionally balanced in audio, giving your brand a polished, reliable presence. Empowering Marketers: We know that marketers don’t always have the time, bandwidth, video editing expertise, or computer processing power to open massive raw Premiere files. Shorties are designed to empower you by being easy to use in basic programs like iMovie, Canva, and others. Why Shorties Matter: Don’t Let Quality Footage Go to Waste Not all the beautiful footage and sound bites we capture make it into the final edited deliverables. It’s Just the nature of video production – not everything fits the storyline or project goals. However, that doesn’t mean the other great content should go to waste. That’s why we create Shorties – to give you access to all the best moments that didn’t make it into the final cut. These are long, quality clips without music or fast transitions, perfect for other types of marketing. Whether it’s an extended shot of a project site, a particularly thoughtful interview excerpt, or captivating B-roll, we make sure you get the full value from the footage we’ve captured. Shorties for Interviews: Showcasing Authenticity Interviews are often rich with insightful content, but long, unedited takes aren’t always practical for every use case. Our Shortlisted Interview Exports address this by focusing on the highlights – the most authentic, relatable, and impactful moments – and presenting them in a concise, shareable format. We take special care to eliminate filler words, awkward pauses, and background noise while also using secondary angles to create smooth transitions and keep the visuals dynamic. The end result is an engaging, professional clip that communicates your message clearly and effectively. Shorties for B-Roll: Visual Storytelling with Impact B-roll footage can beautifully capture the atmosphere, setting, and essence of your story. However, raw footage can be lengthy and unfocused. Our B-roll Shorties are expertly curated to showcase the most visually compelling moments, allowing you to highlight your environment, team, or project without losing your audience’s interest. These B-roll Shorties can also serve as moving backgrounds for website banners or tradeshow booths – a perfect way to add a dynamic, professional touch to your visual presence. The Value of High-Quality Shorties We believe that high-quality video content is an investment in your brand’s reputation. By creating Shortlisted Exports, we ensure that your footage doesn’t just sit unused or get overlooked because of its length. Instead, you have impactful, professional content ready to use whenever and wherever you need it. With The Unfound Door’s Shorties, you’re not just getting video clips; you’re getting purposeful, powerful storytelling tools that enhance your brand’s visibility and message. A Standard in Our Video Packages Shorties are included in all Full Day Videography Project Scopes at The Unfound Door. We believe in providing our clients with as much value as possible, and including Shorties ensures that you can use the footage we capture in versatile, creative ways long after the main project is completed. B-Roll and Interview Shorties Samples:
A great logo tells a story. An animated logo brings that story to life.
Delivering Consistent, High-Quality Photography Services Nationwide While Upholding Your Brand Standards
Build Trust Through Authenticity.
Why You Should Invest in Professional Photography for you Company.
Allow us to provide clarity on the topic of copyright in the creative industry. This area is often complex and clients frequently have questions and concerns. Copyright refers to the legal right that a creator has over their original work. In terms of photography or videography, the photographer or videographer holds the copyright as the creator of the work. Think of it in terms of a painter and their artwork. The painter holds the copyright as they created the piece, regardless of who owns it. In the same manner, the photographer or videographer holds the copyright as the creator of the photo or video. As a client, you are granted specific rights by the creator through agreement. These rights typically include exclusive use of the work. This would be equivalent to owning the painting and having the ability to display it in your home, office, or business. In some cases, the creator may also use the work for their marketing purposes, which is often reflected in the contract. However, we understand the desire for confidentiality and are happy to accommodate if the client requests that the work not be shared. This complex system is a common practice in the creative field, providing protection for both the artist and the client. The end result is a beautiful work of art that is enjoyed by all. If you have any questions regarding the distinction between copyright and usage rights, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. Understanding the intricacies of these rights is a crucial aspect of our services, and we are committed to ensuring that all of our clients are informed and confident in their rights. Let's work together to navigate this complex topic and ensure a clear understanding for all involved.
Before scheduling your photography session, we would like to provide some recommendations and considerations to help you get the most out of your headshots. Here are our top three tips... 1. Consider the style and look you want to achieve with your headshots. Do you want to convey a corporate and professional image, or would you prefer to show the individual personalities of your team? This will help guide the type of backgrounds, poses, and other details that will be included in your headshots. 2. Consider the backgrounds you'd like to utilize for your session. We offer two options: a solid color backdrop or an environmental background. The solid color backdrop provides a clean and consistent look, while the environmental background can add visual interest and a sense of place. You can also choose to have both options for added flexibility! 3. Consider how you want your team's photos to look together. Do you want each person's headshot to be cropped and framed in the same way, or do you prefer a more varied and unique look? We can work with you to find the right balance of consistency. Check out some recent examples below, and email us at ely@theunfoundoor.com to inquire about booking a shoot for yoruself or your team!
There is no greater storytelling tool for your business than video! We recently had the pleasure of creating a series of videos for Fransen Pittman Construction to tell the story of one of their team members, Saeed Saeed. His history and journey to Fransen Pittman is inspirational, and it was an honor to get to showcase his story, and how much the construction industry and Fransen Pittman mean to him. Saeed’s personal experience serves as the perfect example of Fransen Pittman Construction’s culture, and their mission to help everyone succeed. This video is a short take on the culture at Fransen Pittman, but you can head to our blog to view the longer version as well as some additional footage the team plans to use for their website, trade booths and more. Check out all the videos in the playlist, and some photos from our time together below!
This was another fun project f or Iron Woman Construction & Environmental Services ! Iron Woman Construction works hard to create opportunities for their current, contract, and new employees to grow within the company. They provide a multitude of unique benefits that help not only themselves but their family's health and happiness. This video was created to help potential hires hear what current team members believe are the most impactful perks of working with this company. We know how challenging it can be to find new team members that match your company's culture and expertise, but we are here to help! Check out the full video below!