Why mid-market brands are choosing Chicago for video creation

Rubina
1 year ago・5 min read

When brands think about where to shoot professional video, New York and Los Angeles dominate the conversation. But a growing number of mid-market companies have discovered what Chicago creators have known for years: the city offers world-class talent, iconic locations, and significantly lower costs than either coast.

Chicago’s deep talent pool spans directors, cinematographers, and editors. Many cut their teeth in one of America’s most competitive advertising markets. For brands that want polished, professional video without coastal overhead, Chicago is the smart choice.

World-class talent without coastal markups

Chicago has powered the advertising industry for over a century. Major agency headquarters, a thriving independent creative scene, and top film schools all call the city home. Creator Partners here bring the same calibre of skill you find in New York or LA, at rates that reflect Midwest economics.

For a mid-market brand with a $5,000 to $15,000 video budget, that difference matters. In New York, that budget covers a basic shoot with limited post-production. In Chicago, the same budget stretches further: better locations, more shooting time, and higher production value.

This is not about cutting corners. Talent costs vary by geography. Chicago sits in a sweet spot of quality and value.

A city that looks like everywhere (and nowhere else)

Chicago’s visual diversity makes it a strong production asset. Gleaming downtown architecture, gritty industrial neighbourhoods, lakefront vistas, lush parks, and residential streets that could double for any mid-American city. Brands can shoot a range of content types without leaving the metro area.

For corporate video, the options are particularly strong. Modern offices, co-working spaces, restaurants, rooftops, and cultural landmarks all provide authentic backdrops. A customer testimonial shot at a Chicago restaurant carries more visual weight than a studio setup. A brand film against the skyline feels grounded and real.

90 Seconds has completed hundreds of shoots in Chicago. The platform’s local Creator Partners know which locations work for each content type. That saves brands the research and scouting time that adds cost to every project.

The Midwest advantage for B2B brands

Chicago is not just a production location. It is a business hub. Dozens of Fortune 500 companies and thousands of mid-market firms call it home, across finance, manufacturing, healthcare, technology, and professional services. If your customers or partners are in the Midwest, producing video here makes strategic sense.

A customer story filmed at your Chicago client’s office beats a generic studio shoot. An employer brand video featuring your actual team at your real headquarters tells a more compelling story than stock footage with talking points. Audiences can tell the difference.

For B2B brands, Chicago offers a professional environment with visual character. The city feels substantial without feeling flashy. That aligns with mid-market positioning: credible, professional, and grounded.

What to produce in Chicago

Customer testimonials lead the list of popular content types for Chicago brands on 90 Seconds. A two-minute video of a real customer describing how you solved their problem outperforms any sales deck. Shot on location at their Chicago office, it adds credibility a Zoom recording cannot match.

Corporate interviews and thought leadership pieces are a strong fit too. Chicago’s business community is full of subject matter experts. Putting them on camera builds authority for both the individual and the brand. These videos work across LinkedIn, websites, sales enablement, and investor communications.

Event coverage rounds out the top three. Chicago hosts major industry conferences and trade shows year-round. A well-produced recap extends the value of your attendance for months.

How to order video creation in Chicago

The process is straightforward. Choose the type of video you need, provide a brief, and the platform matches you with vetted Creator Partners in Chicago. A dedicated Concierge manages the project from brief to final delivery. No agency retainer. No RFP process. No surprise invoices.

The platform scales with your needs, whether that is a single customer testimonial or a series across multiple Midwest locations. And because 90 Seconds operates in 100+ countries, brands that start in Chicago can extend to New York, San Francisco, or any other market without changing workflows.