Picture this: It’s 4:30 AM, and the alarm buzzes like an over-eager PA. The day starts early when you're on a location shoot, but that's just part of the adventure. Today, we’re flying out to film a high-energy brand campaign in a new city—because storytelling isn’t confined to one zip code. We rely on ATXJetsetter to give us the best tips and help keep travel smooth.
From tips on which planes are the most comfortable and include seatback IFE (In Flight Entertainment) to hotel, lounge and trip reviews, ATX Jetsetter is a go-to for travel tips. They go to all kinds of lengths to work the credit card travel point system (six flights in one day y’all) and bring you reviews of not just the planes, but the airports and lounges. The trip reports they provide will have you itching to book the trip they just took - or not if it was a bad experience.
Do Video Production Agencies Travel for Work?
Bennett Creative Video Production does the majority of our shoots in Austin, Texas or surrounding areas such as Houston, Huntsville, and San Antonio, but we do travel beyond the great state of Texas as well. We travel for big productions, events, or to capture content for clients’s social media and websites. Be it Hawaii, Savannah, Fresno, Nashville, New York City, or military bases in Florida, we love the adventure and challenge of a shoot in a new city.
A great shoot starts with great planning. Booking flights that balance cost, convenience, and equipment logistics is an art form. Direct flights are golden, but when layovers are inevitable, we aim for airports that won’t have us sprinting across terminals like action heroes.
Packing for a shoot is nothing like simply throwing black clothing and toiletries in a suitcase and calling it good. Packing is strategic: cameras, lenses, lighting gear—everything carefully padded and checked. A few essential carry-ons? A laptop for last-minute edits, noise-canceling headphones, and enough caffeine to fuel a production team. Which, let’s be honest, there’s never enough caffeine for that.
Sometimes it is more beneficial to rent out equipment instead of taking our own. If it’s a big production, often it is better to rent gear and travel a bit lighter. Everything hinges on getting the schedule down for the entire trip and shoot. Travel time, in air and/or by car, and hotel location to the shoot plays a huge role. Planning to pick up rental gear can also play into that schedule. There are many moving parts to traveling for a shoot and organization is key.
What is Scouting in Film?
Once we land, it's all about efficiency. The crew checks into a hotel that’s both comfortable and close to the shoot location—because no one wants an hour-long commute before sunrise. A quick gear check, some local coffee (our favorite part), and we’re off to scout locations.
Scouting is where the magic starts. Whether it’s a bustling downtown, a scenic coastline, or a cozy café with the perfect golden-hour lighting, we make sure every shot tells a story. A local fixer or guide can be a lifesaver, tipping us off to hidden gems and must-know logistics (like when the best food trucks roll in). The team at Bennett Creative are huge fans of Mexican food, so we always have an eye out for the local favorite.
What Does a Producer Do on a Video Shoot?
Shoot day is a mix of structured chaos and creative magic and always starts very early. Mostly our team just takes the breakfast route of grab and go. Call times are set, schedules are tight, and every piece of gear has its job. Our fearless leader and director Andrew Bennett calls the shots (literally), while Bennett Creative’s producers keep everything moving. There’s always a curveball—maybe a change in weather or unexpected street noise—but problem-solving is part of the thrill. We’ve come to expect a few things won’t go right and we’ve gotten incredibly talented at finding quick solutions.
In between takes, we soak in the local vibes. A quick stop at a family-owned taco stand? Yes, please. Grabbing B-roll of a stunning skyline? Absolutely. We often pack a drone to get city shots and these can really add some drama and mix up the content in the production.
One of our favorite shoots that we have traveled for was the FIBA World Cup in San Antonio. Traveling was easier since we could load up our tricked-out Bennett Creative van and drive the hour and some change south. The shoot had a huge budget. We had a blast at the locations, University of the Incarnate Word Gym and La Margarita, in downtown San Antonio with NBA star Jordan Clarkson.
For some projects we have followed around attorneys in Hawaii and Florida, capturing content of them in action. Being interviewed by the press, talking to clients, and hosting town hall meetings. Other projects include working events, like we did in Nashville this past fall. We filmed speakers, took photos of the attendees, and even held a headshot station where people could get a professional headshot taken.
At times our entire team is traveling and other times CEO Andrew Bennett might be venturing out solo. One of our clients keeps a very fast-paced schedule to get everything in on location, and we often hit the ground running and don’t stop. Because the attorney’s clients have sued the US government over a jet fuel leak into the Hawaiian water system and the firm is working on a mold-infested military base case, things can often get intense. Were we chased off a military base and nearly searched at the airport for the footage taken on base? Maybe, maybe not, we can’t divulge that information. There’s never a dull moment for a video production company!
That's a Wrap!
After a successful shoot, there’s nothing like a team dinner to celebrate. Whether it’s poke in Hawaii or shrimp and grits in Savannah, sharing a meal is the perfect way to wrap up the day and reflect on the footage captured and chat about how things went. Plus we’re usually starving, ready to relax, and enjoy a new city.
When it's all wrapped, gear is returned, hotel checkouts complete, and flights back to Austin are boarded. Hard drives are full, memory cards are backed up, and another incredible story is in the making. And we’re usually exhausted. This is where that backseat IFE comes in handy! Sometimes we work, sometimes we catch a nap or get caught up on shows. If the turnaround for a project is quick (which more than often than not, it is) or a client’s social media account needs updating ASAP, the flight can be a great time to do some quick editing and posting.
Traveling for video production is more than just getting the job done—it’s about capturing the essence of a place, meeting new people, and embracing the unexpected. And honestly? We wouldn’t have it any other way.
Need photo or video content and your company isn't based in Austin, Texas? Contact us! We love traveling to capture your story and help you tell it.
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