Why We Fired Our Video Agency (And What We Learned the Hard Way)
- admin
- September 1, 2025
- Video Production
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We didn’t start by hating them.
We were actually excited.
New rebrand. New product.
We needed a video production company in Dubai to help us make something powerful. Something that would stick.
We found one. Nice portfolio. Big promises. Great pitch deck.
They said all the right things.
And then… it all went wrong.
Red Flag #1: The First Call Was a Sales Pitch
We expected questions about our goals. Target audience.
Messaging.
What we got?
A pre-made package. With price tiers. And drone footage in every one — even though we didn’t need a drone.
It felt like ordering from a menu, not building a strategy.
Red Flag #2: They Sent a Team — Not Their Team
The people we met in the first Zoom call? Never saw them again.
On the shoot day, we got a different crew. Junior editor. A freelancer cameraman.
Nice people. But clearly… not in sync.
The lighting setup took forever. The audio was questionable.
They missed half the talking head’s lines. And we were already over schedule.
Red Flag #3: The Edit Looked Nothing Like the Moodboard
We sent them references — clean, modern, Apple-style editing.
What we got?
- Stock music
- Stock transitions
- Zero story arc
- And some weird zoom-ins that felt like 2010
We politely asked for changes.
They told us it was already “polished.”
We Paid for Premium. Got Stuck with Average.
That’s when it hit us:
We weren’t the client.
We were a slot in their system. One of ten projects being handled in parallel.
They weren’t a video production house in Dubai — they were a content conveyor belt.
So We Let Them Go. Here’s What We Changed.
We took a step back.
Started looking for a team that didn’t just “film stuff,” but actually cared.
What we found was a boutique agency that worked differently:
Fewer clients
Weekly updates
Editing style tailored to our brand
Fast, responsive communication
And best of all — strategy before the shoot
That single decision changed everything.
What We Learned (The Hard Way):
1. Good video isn’t about gear. It’s about vision.
The last team had better cameras. But the new one had better questions.
2. Ask who’s actually doing the work.
Agencies love to flex big names — but who’s editing your footage? Ask upfront.
3. A proper video editing company in Dubai will send you first drafts that feel 90% done.
Not 60%. Not a “rough cut.” Real editors don’t need 5 revision rounds.
4. Events need speed, not just style.
Our new team delivered our launch event teaser within 48 hours.
The old one took 9 days for a highlight reel. (Too late — the buzz was gone.)
Here’s What You Should Ask Any Video Agency Before Hiring
- How many clients are you handling this month?
- Who’s on the crew — and will they be the same from start to finish?
- Can you show me before-and-after edits from raw to final?
- Do you handle strategy or just production?
- What happens if I don’t like the first draft?
Ask those. Watch their reaction. That’s your answer.
Final Thought: The Right Agency Feels Like a Team Member — Not a Vendor
Looking back, I don’t blame the first agency.
They were built for volume, not vision.
But we weren’t looking for “more content.”
We wanted the right message, for the right audience, in the right voice.
That’s what good corporate video production in Dubai should be about.
Not transitions. Not templates. Not trendy background tracks.
Impact. Clarity. Strategy.
And now that we’ve found the right team?
We’re finally seeing results — not just footage.
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