Which Is Better: In-House Post-Production or Outsourcing Video Editing Professionals?
Outsourcing video editing is the most common practice among SMEs, big corporations, and medium-sized companies, but some still opt for hiring an in-house video editor or AI creator.
Content creation isn’t just about texts and pictures anymore.
These days, no industry can go without a product promo looped at playback at the reception desk or two-minute staff interviews posted weekly on LinkedIn.
Both methods have advantages and drawbacks, and in this blog post, I'll list what my clients have shared with me over the years.
In-House Video Production and Who It’s For
There are two major pros to having a salaried video editor on staff: they know your brand and goals inside and out, and you can communicate with them directly, especially if they work on site.
Also, an in-house editor will have intimate knowledge of your products, values, and internal dynamics, which will show in the editing style.
Having a staff editor is a common practice among news media and broadcasting companies.
Cons of Having a Salaried Editor
❌ Limited resources can hold back in-house video production. Whether it’s equipment, expertise, or workforce, your content plan and release schedule depend on how well-organized and self-sufficient the editing department is.
❌ There's always a chance of bias. Internal video editors have a hard time being objective because they’re part of the team. A salaried editor may not want to call out a problem in the footage or graphic design to avoid stepping on toes.
❌ Video content gets stale real quick. When an in-house editor does the same thing day in and day out, their reels or shorts can start to feel repetitive, which can kill engagement and increase website bounce rates.
❌ Downtime is costly. If projects are slow or even seasonal, keeping an in-house editor on the payroll might not be the smartest company decision.
❌ As for audiences, it's been noted that social media users value regular updates more than one-off, ad hoc posts. This means vacation coverage will need to be planned for in advance within the content plan.
Outsourcing Video Editing Services
To outsource video editing, you have to review various portfolios and recommendations, check the terms and conditions of the service agreement, and familiarize yourself with the service’s workflow. But once it’s all behind you, there are four advantages to benefit from:
✅ Fresh Perspective
Outside agencies bring a fresh set of eyes and a ton of experience from working with all kinds of clients. Outsourcing video editing to a studio ensures your social media content will easily take off, and your marketers can shoot for bigger things.
Vilka Agency, for instance, works with clients from various industries, from fashion and beauty products to engineering and manufacturing.
✅ Expert Skills
Professional post-production studios have skilled editors and designers who can create compelling content. VFX, sound design, 2D animation, or color grading—there’s no limit to what an expert editor can do to turn footage into a cinematic masterpiece.
Studios offer high-resolution output and high-quality corporate stories, commercials, brand films, and social reels. This is largely because they have professional hardware and licensed software to edit your footage. Plus, they’ve got the skills and know-how to back it up.
For example, at Vilka, all editors are experienced professionals who can work even with low-quality footage and enhance its appeal using diverse software and AI upscaling tools.
✅ No Equipment or Software Costs
Outsourcing post-production services eliminates the need for investment in expensive equipment and software. You won’t ever be charged any maintenance, repair, or update fees.
Whatever the client's goal and audience, a pro team will manage Premiere, Final Cut, Resolve, After Effects, or CapCut on their behalf.
However, to outsource video editing, you have to clear a couple of hurdles: you’ve got to spend time vetting, and finding the right studio takes effort. Second, onboarding may also be time-consuming, and it may take a little while for an external video editor to fully grasp your brand identity.
Is Outsourcing Video Editors for You?
If you want to outsource YouTube video editing services or any other type of audiovisual content production, ask yourself these three questions:
1. Do I need a reel that both delivers my message and has a stylish and suitable design?
2. Can I share my vision for the video in a brief or explain it well enough that someone outside the company gets what I’m going for?
3. Will I be able to review the project once the editor delivers it to ensure it aligns with my brief?
If you answered “yes” to all of these, you’re good to go and hire a video editor for your project. We should note that writing a brief for social media, event, or real estate video editing outsourcing isn’t as tough as you might think. Just explain what you’re trying to achieve with the video and how you see it happening, and our editors will take it from there.
Need help producing a corporate video or commercial? Let's talk about finding the video solution that's right for your brand.
