Des Moines Video Production Companies, Verified for 2026

Twenty Des Moines video production companies compared on evidenced local work, named clients, published rates and a verified Iowa headquarters.

Written By
Cedric Pharand
Verified By
Zahra Sanati
Listicles
Branding & Design
MAKE US A PREFERRED SOURCE
Read time:
5 min
Published:
August 19, 2026
Updated:
August 19, 2026

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Des Moines Video Production Companies, Verified for 2026 — Web Tonic blog thumbnail

How we vet every listicle

Every agency featured on Web Tonic passes our 84-point editorial review before a single listicle goes live. This is how we vet each pick:

Verified client outcomes: We require real case studies with measurable KPIs — revenue, ROAS, CPA, retention — tied to the exact category being ranked. No cherry-picked wins, no unverifiable numbers.

Independent reputation: We cross-check Clutch, Google, G2, and Trustpilot ratings, and screen for review-bombing or suspicious patterns. Only operators with a consistent, verifiable track record make the cut.

Beyond that, every listing goes through a quarterly re-audit. We check 84 criteria across 6 pillars to make sure it still holds up — here are some of the checks we run:

Case study recency
Entity age & registration
LinkedIn footprint
Portfolio authenticity
Client reference checks
Review authenticity
Ad account ban history
Editorial response time
Pricing transparency
Award verification

A video production company in Des Moines takes a business idea to a finished film: concepting and scripting, storyboarding, then a studio or location shoot with a director, camera operator, lighting and sound crew, often with a Part 107 drone pilot for aerials, followed by editing, colour grading, motion graphics and delivery in the aspect ratios each channel needs.

Editorial photograph of a cinema camera on a tripod facing an empty interview chair in a converted brick warehouse studio lit by a single softbox

We assessed 20 external Des Moines firms on evidenced local work, publicly named clients, published rates and a verified Iowa headquarters. Fourteen name a client on their own site, one publishes a starting figure, and fifteen are headquartered in Des Moines proper rather than a suburb.

Which Des Moines video production company should you shortlist?

Match the studio to the deliverable. Flying Hippo, Locust Motion and The Motion Refinery run full crews for regional brands; Impulse Media and Studio Iowa cover agriculture and insurance; Biggs Productions, FlightForm Media and Awe Video handle drone, real estate and event work.

1. Web Tonic

Web Tonic Logo

About: Web Tonic scopes video in Des Moines from the demand side first: the shot list is written against the landing pages, ad slots and search terms the footage has to serve, so a brand film is not delivered into a funnel that cannot carry it. Our performance creative studio cuts each shoot into the vertical, in-stream and static variations a campaign burns through in a quarter, the paid social team buys the media behind it, and analytics implementation ties a view back to a form fill rather than stopping at impressions. Businesses that want a crew and a finished film with no media attached will be better served by the Des Moines studios below.

Key Services: Growth Marketing, Paid Social, PPC, Meta Ads, SEO, Google Ads, Snapchat Ads, Amazon Ads, Reddit Ads, TikTok Ads, TikTok Shop, GEO-AEO, Webflow Design, Shopify Design, WordPress Design, UGC, Social Media Management, Pay Per Click Management, Marketing Analytics, Analytics Implementation & CDPs, Performance Branding, Performance 360° Audit, Programmatic Ads, OOH Ads, HR Marketing

Industries Served: eCommerce, SaaS, B2B, Construction Professionals, Home Services, SMEs, Health Spa & Wellness, Retail, Legal & Judicial Services, Food & Beverages, Pets, Fitness, Family & Children, Finance & Insurance, Travel, Non-Profits & Organizations, Furniture & Decoration

Notable Clients: WorldRemit, Jack & Jones, Ardene, L'Oréal, Sendwave, Nestlé, Airbnb. Serve Fortune 500 companies and smaller fast-paced startups.

Locations: HQ in San Francisco with notable offices in New York, Chicago, Miami, Toronto, Montreal, Dubai, Singapore, Sydney and more. Offices on five continents.

Pricing: Starting at USD $3,000 per month. Flexible and scalable plans at any time according to your enterprise needs. Book a call to learn more.

Great For: Mid-market to enterprise-level businesses requiring ongoing, on-tap growth and performance marketing services.

Website: Web Tonic

2. Flying Hippo

Flying Hippo Logo

About: Flying Hippo runs a full in-house video production team out of one building in downtown Des Moines, handling concept, script, shoot, animation, edit and delivery without outside freelancers. Its public work archive names finished films for Iowa State University and Fortress Bank alongside a Nike collaboration. The agency is headquartered in Des Moines and lists its studio address on its own site.

Key Services: Brand film production, Commercial video, Social and vertical video cutdowns, Motion graphics and animation, Video scripting and storyboarding, Video strategy consulting

Industries Served: Higher education, Banking and finance, Retail and consumer brands, Nonprofit, Professional services

Notable Clients: Iowa State University, Fortress Bank, Nike, University of Silicon Valley, Bank Tank

Locations: Des Moines, United States, Ames, United States

Pricing: No public rate card; quoted per scope

Great For: Mid-size regional brands, Higher education marketing teams, Financial institutions

Website: Flying Hippo

3. Canoe There

Canoe There Logo

About: Canoe There is a Des Moines documentary and commercial video studio that shoots on location for local, regional and national brands. Its published case studies name Catch Des Moines and the Des Moines Feed Company as finished-film clients, and it has partnered with Des Moines advertising agency Strategic America on broadcast spots. The company is based in Des Moines and its portfolio pages list the city explicitly.

Key Services: Documentary-style video production, Commercial video shoots, Location scouting and travel shoots, Video editing, Commercial photography, Brand storytelling

Industries Served: Tourism and destination marketing, Agriculture and food, Advertising agencies, Consumer brands, Manufacturing

Notable Clients: Catch Des Moines, Des Moines Feed Company, Strategic America

Locations: Des Moines, United States, West Des Moines, United States

Pricing: No public rate card; quoted per scope

Great For: Tourism boards, Food and agriculture brands, Advertising agencies needing a production partner

Website: Canoe There

4. Invictus Media

Invictus Media Logo

About: Invictus Media is a visual production house at 506 3rd Street in Des Moines specializing in cinematic storytelling, full-scale video and photo, on-site filming, and two-D and three-D animation. Its own reel and project pages name the Columbia Sportswear Konos campaign as finished client work. The studio's address, phone and email are published on its Des Moines contact page.

Key Services: Cinematic video production, On-site filming, 2D and 3D animation, Sound design, Product and brand photography, Video editing

Industries Served: Apparel and retail, Corporate brands, Nonprofit, Consumer products, Sports and lifestyle

Notable Clients: Columbia Sportswear

Locations: Des Moines, United States, West Des Moines, United States

Pricing: No public rate card; quoted per scope

Great For: Apparel and consumer brands, Companies needing 3D animation add-ons, Product launch videos

Website: Invictus Media

5. AON Studios

AON Studios Logo

About: AON Studios operates a 6,000 square foot production facility on the east side of Des Moines offering corporate video, live streaming, legal depositions and podcast production. A published capability statement names Blank Park Zoo as a client, describing how AON produced the zoo's annual Zoobilation fundraising gala as a fully virtual broadcast from its studio. The company's own site and press coverage confirm the Des Moines studio address.

Key Services: Corporate video production, Live streaming production, Legal deposition video, Podcast production, Studio rental, Event broadcast production

Industries Served: Nonprofit and fundraising, Legal, Government and municipal, Corporate training, Media and podcasting

Notable Clients: Blank Park Zoo, City of Des Moines

Locations: Des Moines, United States, West Des Moines, United States

Pricing: No public rate card; quoted per scope

Great For: Nonprofits running virtual galas, Government agencies, Law firms needing deposition video

Website: AON Studios

6. Soul Productions

Soul Productions Logo

About: Soul Productions is a premium video production company registered at 2800 University Avenue in West Des Moines that partners with brands, agencies and mission-driven organizations to produce brand films. Its site describes a small, dedicated team model built around agility and transparency for corporate, commercial and documentary projects. State business filings confirm the West Des Moines address as the company's registered office.

Key Services: Brand film production, Commercial video, Documentary production, Creative concepting, Video editing and color, Post-production finishing

Industries Served: Growth-stage companies, Advertising agencies, Mission-driven nonprofits, Corporate brands, Consumer products

Notable Clients: Not publicly named — case studies are anonymised by category

Locations: West Des Moines, United States, Des Moines, United States

Pricing: No public rate card; quoted per scope

Great For: Growth-focused brands, Mission-driven organizations, Small teams wanting a boutique partner

Website: Soul Productions

7. Snaadt Media Group

Snaadt Media Group Logo

About: Snaadt Media Group is a Des Moines, Iowa based video production partner offering Part 107 certified drone work alongside standard commercial video. A published case study names Integrity Construction, a Des Moines and Ames area custom home builder, as a client whose trust-building video campaign the studio produced, and another post covers a project for D1 Training Des Moines. The company's own site identifies its base as Des Moines, Iowa.

Key Services: Corporate video production, Drone and aerial video, Real estate video, Brand story videos, Video editing, Content strategy consulting

Industries Served: Construction and home building, Fitness and gyms, Real estate, Agriculture and trades, Small business

Notable Clients: Integrity Construction, D1 Training Des Moines

Locations: Des Moines, United States, Ames, United States

Pricing: No public rate card; quoted per scope

Great For: Construction and trades companies, Local gyms and fitness brands, Real estate agents

Website: Snaadt Media Group

8. Studio Iowa

Studio Iowa Logo

About: Studio Iowa is a video production, animation and photography company headquartered in Urbandale, a Des Moines metro suburb, with an address on 99th Street. Its portfolio names Nationwide Insurance's Anthem campaign and Athene as clients for two-D and three-D animation and video production work, plus a City of Burlington Iowa impact video. The firm publishes its Urbandale address directly on its site.

Key Services: Video production, 2D and 3D animation, Corporate video, Photography, Interactive experience development, Live event support

Industries Served: Insurance and finance, Government and municipal, Agriculture, Nonprofit, Retail

Notable Clients: Nationwide, Athene, Habitat for Humanity, City of Burlington Iowa, Iowa Lottery

Locations: Urbandale, United States, Des Moines, United States

Pricing: No public rate card; quoted per scope

Great For: Insurance and finance brands, Municipalities, National agencies needing animation

Website: Studio Iowa

9. The Motion Refinery

The Motion Refinery Logo

About: The Motion Refinery is a Des Moines, Iowa headquartered video and digital cinema production company offering concept development, script writing and storyboard creation as part of full production. Its portfolio names Hy-Vee campaigns including the Fuel Saver and Perks promo, and a marketing team lead publicly credited the studio for producing The Iowa Clinic's cancer care brand video. The firm's own site and business listings confirm its Des Moines headquarters.

Key Services: Concept development and scripting, Storyboard creation, Commercial video production, Digital cinema production, Promotional video, Video editing and post-production

Industries Served: Grocery and retail, Healthcare, Insurance and finance, Consumer brands, Agriculture

Notable Clients: Hy-Vee, The Iowa Clinic

Locations: Des Moines, United States, West Des Moines, United States

Pricing: No public rate card; quoted per scope

Great For: Grocery and retail chains, Healthcare systems, Regional insurers

Website: The Motion Refinery

10. Locust Motion

Locust Motion Logo

About: Locust Motion is a full-service motion design and video production company at 1312 Locust Street in downtown Des Moines, combining directors, editors, and two-D and three-D animators under one roof. Its homepage names finished work for Farm Bureau Financial Services, Fareway Meat and Grocery, DART, Wolfe Eye Clinic and Mediacom's Xtream service. The company's Des Moines street address is published on its own site and confirmed via a local business directory.

Key Services: Live-action commercial production, 3D animation, Motion design, Video post-production and VFX, Event video coverage, Brand storytelling

Industries Served: Insurance and finance, Grocery and retail, Public transit, Healthcare, Telecommunications

Notable Clients: Farm Bureau Financial Services, Fareway Meat & Grocery, DART, Wolfe Eye Clinic, Mediacom Xtream

Locations: Des Moines, United States, West Des Moines, United States

Pricing: No public rate card; quoted per scope

Great For: Insurance and finance brands, Grocery chains, Public transit agencies

Website: Locust Motion

11. Bing Bang

Bing Bang Logo

About: Bing Bang is a Des Moines video production and inbound marketing agency that names the Greater Des Moines Partnership's annual dinner video and an Iowa Corn membership video series among its published projects. Its work page also credits a brand video for the law firm McKee, Voorhees and Sease. The agency describes itself directly on its homepage as a Des Moines video production shop.

Key Services: Brand video production, Inbound marketing video, Event highlight video, Nonprofit storytelling video, Video strategy, Digital advertising support

Industries Served: Nonprofit and associations, Agriculture, Professional services, Economic development, Small business

Notable Clients: Greater Des Moines Partnership, Iowa Corn, McKee Voorhees & Sease, Area Agencies on Aging

Locations: Des Moines, United States, West Des Moines, United States

Pricing: No public rate card; quoted per scope

Great For: Trade associations, Economic development organizations, Nonprofits

Website: Bing Bang

12. TH Media

TH Media Logo

About: TH Media is a Des Moines, Iowa based studio providing video and photo production, social media marketing, website design and graphic design for locally owned businesses across the state. A named case study covers Charlotte's Kitchen, a client the studio has produced video content for since 2020 starting with a single Facebook video that generated more than one hundred thousand views. The company's about page confirms its studio is based in Des Moines.

Key Services: Video production, Social media video content, Photo production, Brand video strategy, Website design, Graphic design

Industries Served: Restaurants and food service, Local retail, Small business, Nonprofit, Professional services

Notable Clients: Charlotte's Kitchen

Locations: Des Moines, United States, West Des Moines, United States

Pricing: No public rate card; quoted per scope

Great For: Local restaurants, Small Iowa businesses, Owner-operator brands

Website: TH Media

13. ST Media

ST Media Logo

About: ST Media is a Des Moines, Iowa filmmaking and interactive design studio with more than twenty-five years of experience writing, casting, shooting, editing and scoring videos. Its about page names PBS, Facebook, Microsoft, Corteva, Pioneer, Pivot Bio, Apartment Therapy, Stanford University and Amnesty International among the organizations it has produced video for. The studio's site identifies Des Moines as its base of operations.

Key Services: Commercial filmmaking, Video casting and directing, Video editing and scoring, Interactive web and film design, Trailer and promo editing, Video strategy

Industries Served: Media and broadcasting, Technology, Agriculture, Higher education, Nonprofit

Notable Clients: PBS, Facebook, Microsoft, Corteva, Stanford University

Locations: Des Moines, United States, West Des Moines, United States

Pricing: No public rate card; quoted per scope

Great For: National tech and agriculture brands, Higher education institutions, Broadcast and media clients

Website: ST Media

14. Soll Media

Soll Media Logo

About: Soll Media is a video production and content marketing company headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, serving clients nationally while keeping its production base local. Its portfolio names a Midwest Honor Flight Mission ten documentary video and a West Des Moines Chamber High School Leadership Academy project as finished work, along with a Brick and Ember Pizza brand video. The company's about page states its Des Moines headquarters plainly.

Key Services: Brand story video, Nonprofit documentary video, Event and conference video, Product launch video, Social media video content, Recruitment video

Industries Served: Nonprofit and veterans organizations, Chambers of commerce, Restaurants, Small business, Education

Notable Clients: Midwest Honor Flight, West Des Moines Chamber, Brick & Ember Pizza

Locations: Des Moines, United States, West Des Moines, United States

Pricing: No public rate card; quoted per scope

Great For: Veterans and nonprofit organizations, Chambers of commerce, Local restaurants

Website: Soll Media

15. Impulse Media

Impulse Media Logo

About: Impulse Media is based in Des Moines, Iowa and produces internal training videos, corporate interviews, social media advertisements and event coverage while traveling nationally for shoots. Its about page names ESPN, Heartland AEA, Pioneer Seeds and Corteva, Pivot Bio, Iowa Select Farms and Agriland FS as brands the founder has partnered with. The company's site confirms its Des Moines base directly.

Key Services: Corporate interview video, Internal training video, Social media advertisement video, Event coverage, Video editing, Video strategy consulting

Industries Served: Agriculture, Sports and media, Education, Corporate training, Agribusiness

Notable Clients: ESPN, Heartland AEA, Pioneer Seeds/Corteva, Pivot Bio, Iowa Select Farms

Locations: Des Moines, United States, West Des Moines, United States

Pricing: No public rate card; quoted per scope

Great For: Agribusiness companies, Corporate training departments, Sports and media brands

Website: Impulse Media

16. Jarhead Lab

Jarhead Lab Logo

About: Jarhead Lab is a Des Moines marketing studio whose VideoOps system treats video production as an operational process, planning and shooting business video content optimized for web, social media and YouTube. The studio publishes a tiered video package menu on its own site, naming Recon, Strike and Command tiers with public starting prices. Jarhead Lab lists its Des Moines base directly across its service pages.

Key Services: Business video production, Video content strategy (VideoOps), Virtual tour and 360 video, Video editing, YouTube-optimized video, Social media video packages

Industries Served: Small business, Real estate, Local service businesses, Professional services, Retail

Notable Clients: Not publicly named — case studies are anonymised by category

Locations: Des Moines, United States, West Des Moines, United States

Pricing: From USD $1,500/project (Recon tier) to $5,500/project (Command tier)

Great For: Small businesses wanting packaged pricing, Real estate agents, Local service companies

Website: Jarhead Lab

17. Biggs Productions

Biggs Productions Logo

About: Biggs Productions is a Des Moines, Iowa photo, video and drone specialist offering video for real estate and rental properties as well as commercials, events and interviews. The studio operates locally in the Des Moines area with same-day scheduling and no travel fees within the metro, and also serves clients remotely for national work. Its Des Moines, Iowa 50312 address is listed on business directories tied to the company's own site.

Key Services: Real estate video, Commercial video production, Drone and aerial video, Event video coverage, Interview and testimonial video, Video editing

Industries Served: Real estate, Local business, Events, Property management, Retail

Notable Clients: Not publicly named — case studies are anonymised by category

Locations: Des Moines, United States, West Des Moines, United States

Pricing: No public rate card; quoted per scope

Great For: Real estate agents, Property managers, Local event organizers

Website: Biggs Productions

18. Awe Video & Photo Studio

Awe Video & Photo Studio Logo

About: Awe Video and Photo Studio is a full-service visual production company at 2407 SE Delaware Avenue in Ankeny, a Des Moines metro suburb, providing videography, photography, lighting, sound and drone crews. A published case study describes a real estate drone aerials project that increased showing requests for a listing near the Des Moines metro area. The studio's contact page publishes its Ankeny address directly.

Key Services: Event videography, Real estate drone aerials, Cinematic aerial video, Photography, Video editing, Videography equipment and crew

Industries Served: Real estate, Events and weddings, Local business, Property management, Hospitality

Notable Clients: Not publicly named — case studies are anonymised by category

Locations: Ankeny, United States, Des Moines, United States

Pricing: No public rate card; quoted per scope

Great For: Real estate agents, Event planners, Des Moines metro property owners

Website: Awe Video & Photo Studio

19. FlightForm Media

FlightForm Media Logo

About: FlightForm Media is a Des Moines area drone photography and video studio offering high-end aerial and ground-based visuals for businesses, restaurants, events and festivals in central Iowa. The co-owner's public profile describes the business as specializing in drone aerial media with after-effects editing for social media exposure. The company's site states it proudly serves Des Moines, Iowa and the surrounding region.

Key Services: Drone and aerial video, Ground-based video production, Event and festival video, Real estate video, Video editing with motion graphics, Social media video content

Industries Served: Real estate, Restaurants, Local events and festivals, Small business, Hospitality

Notable Clients: Not publicly named — case studies are anonymised by category

Locations: Des Moines, United States, Ankeny, United States

Pricing: No public rate card; quoted per scope

Great For: Restaurants and events, Real estate listings, Small local businesses

Website: FlightForm Media

20. Trilix Studio

Trilix Studio Logo

About: Trilix Studio is a state-of-the-art Midwestern recording, creative and video production facility at 555 17th Street in the Crescent building in Des Moines, equipped with full video and audio capabilities including Dolby Atmos. Local press coverage from the Des Moines Register and the Business Record describes the studio's opening and its four dedicated recording spaces used for both music and video clients. The company's headquarters address is confirmed via Iowa Secretary of State business filings.

Key Services: Video production, Audio and music recording, Podcast production, Post-production and mixing, Studio rental, Creative production

Industries Served: Music and entertainment, Corporate brands, Podcasting, Advertising agencies, Media

Notable Clients: Not publicly named — case studies are anonymised by category

Locations: Des Moines, United States, West Des Moines, United States

Pricing: No public rate card; quoted per scope

Great For: Musicians needing video content, Podcasters, Corporate brands wanting a studio facility

Website: Trilix Studio

21. Frame Shop Media

Frame Shop Media Logo

About: Frame Shop Media is a full-service video production studio based in West Des Moines, Iowa that has served clients across the United States and internationally, offering video editing, motion graphics and equipment rentals alongside production. Its portfolio names finished projects for PEO International, Iowa Student Loan and a Des Moines Register profile piece. The owner's public profile confirms the studio operates out of the Des Moines, Iowa area.

Key Services: Full-service video production, Video editing, Motion graphics, Equipment rentals, Interactive media production, Training and educational video

Industries Served: Nonprofit and membership organizations, Education finance, Media and publishing, Corporate training, Government

Notable Clients: PEO International, Iowa Student Loan, Des Moines Register

Locations: West Des Moines, United States, Des Moines, United States

Pricing: No public rate card; quoted per scope

Great For: Membership and nonprofit organizations, Education finance companies, Media outlets

Website: Frame Shop Media

Table of the Des Moines video production figures cited on this page: a typical local commercial project at 1,000 to 4,000 dollars per the Josh Schorle cost guide, a simple Midwest testimonial at 3,000 to 6,000 dollars and a full brand story or recruitment film at 8,000 to 15,000 dollars per DMM Productions, a professionally produced two-minute corporate video at 8,000 to 15,000 dollars per Vidico, a national low-end 500 to 1,000 dollars per finished minute per Moonb, Jarhead Lab packages from 1,500 dollars and from 5,500 dollars, and 1 of 20 external firms publishing a rate

Quick Comparison Table

AgencyKey SpecialtyStarting PriceBest For
1. Web TonicFull-Service Performance MarketingUSD $3,000/moMid-market to Enterprise
2. Flying HippoIn-house brand film productionQuote-basedRegional brand films
3. Canoe ThereDocumentary and commercial videoQuote-basedDocumentary-style brand films
4. Invictus MediaCinematic storytelling and VFXQuote-basedCinematic brand and product film
5. AON StudiosStudio production and live streamingQuote-basedLive streaming and studio shoots
6. Soul ProductionsBoutique brand filmsQuote-basedBoutique documentary-style films
7. Snaadt Media GroupDrone-enabled brand videoQuote-basedLocal trust-building brand video
8. Studio IowaVideo and 3D animationQuote-basedAnimation-driven corporate video
9. The Motion RefineryConcept-to-delivery commercial videoQuote-basedRetail and healthcare brand video
10. Locust MotionMotion design and live-actionQuote-basedAnimation-blended commercial video
11. Bing BangNonprofit and association videoQuote-basedAssociation and nonprofit storytelling
12. TH MediaLocal business video and social contentQuote-basedSmall business social-first video
13. ST MediaLong-form filmmakingQuote-basedNational-brand commercial filmmaking
14. Soll MediaNonprofit and brand story videoQuote-basedNonprofit documentary-style video
15. Impulse MediaAgriculture and corporate videoQuote-basedAgribusiness and corporate interviews
16. Jarhead LabPackaged operational video contentUSD $1,500/projectSmall business packaged video
17. Biggs ProductionsReal estate and drone videoQuote-basedReal estate and drone video
18. Awe Video & Photo StudioDrone and event videographyQuote-basedReal estate drone and event video
19. FlightForm MediaDrone aerial videoQuote-basedAerial and event video
20. Trilix StudioStudio-based video and audio productionQuote-basedStudio recording and video
21. Frame Shop MediaTraining and educational videoQuote-basedNonprofit and training video
Scope map comparing twenty-one Des Moines video production entries including Web Tonic by model and buyer, from Web Tonic briefing production against the campaign it feeds and running the media behind it, to in-house crews and studios including Flying Hippo and Locust Motion and The Motion Refinery and ST Media and Trilix Studio, to sector work in agriculture and insurance and associations including Impulse Media and Studio Iowa and Bing Bang and Soll Media and Frame Shop Media, to documentary and social storytelling including Canoe There and Invictus Media and Soul Productions and Snaadt Media Group and TH Media, to studio hire and drone and event coverage including AON Studios and Jarhead Lab and Biggs Productions and Awe Video and FlightForm Media
Checklist auditing what the 20 external Des Moines video production companies disclose publicly: 14 of 20 name a client including Iowa State University and Hy-Vee and Nationwide and Athene and Farm Bureau Financial Services and Fareway and Blank Park Zoo and the Greater Des Moines Partnership, 1 of 20 publishes a starting rate with Jarhead Lab from 1,500 dollars, 15 of 20 are headquartered in Des Moines proper with four in West Des Moines and Urbandale and Ankeny and one publishing only an area radius, and Web Tonic starts the shot list from the campaign

Frequently Asked Questions

What does video production cost in Des Moines?

Only one firm here publishes a figure: Jarhead Lab lists packages from 1,500 dollars, rising to 5,500 dollars for its top tier. A Des Moines videographer's own 2025 guide puts a typical commercial project at 1,000 to 4,000 dollars, while DMM Productions places a simple Midwest testimonial at 3,000 to 6,000 dollars and a full brand story or recruitment film at 8,000 to 15,000 dollars. Everyone else quotes per scope, so compare crew size and deliverable count, not headline prices.

Do Des Moines studios really shoot in-house?

Several do, and it is worth checking. Flying Hippo describes a full in-house team working from one downtown building, AON Studios operates a 6,000 square foot studio on the city's east side, and Trilix runs its own studio for video and audio. Others assemble freelance crews per project, which is not a flaw but changes who is accountable when a shoot day slips. Ask which roles are staff and which are booked.

Should I hire a Des Moines firm or a national one?

For work rooted in Iowa, local wins on logistics and relationships: Bing Bang shoots for the Greater Des Moines Partnership and Iowa Corn, Locust Motion for Farm Bureau Financial Services and DART, and Impulse Media for Pioneer Seeds and Iowa Select Farms. National vendors make sense when a shoot spans several states or needs a specialist unit. Either way, insist the vendor names the client work they show you.

Does a Des Moines video company also run the ads?

Most do not. The studios here sell production: concept, crew, edit, delivery. Buying and optimising the media, testing hooks and reporting on cost per lead is a separate discipline, which is why Web Tonic sits at the top of this list. If you want one accountable team, ask a prospective studio directly whether it manages spend or only hands over files.

How long does a corporate video take to produce in Des Moines?

Most studios on this list quote four to eight weeks from kickoff to final cut for a single corporate or brand film: roughly a week of pre-production and scripting, one or two shoot days, then two to four weeks of edit, motion graphics and revision rounds. Event and social work turns faster, and animation-heavy pieces run longer because storyboards have to be approved before any frame is built.

Choosing a Video Production Company in Des Moines

Decide what you are buying. Des Moines has more real video capacity than its size suggests, and the split on this page is between studios that own their kit and crew and specialists who go deep on one format such as drone, training or animation.

Insist on named work. Fourteen of the twenty external firms name a client publicly, which is the single most useful filter when a portfolio reel is beautiful but anonymous. Ask for the finished film, the brief behind it and the result the client saw.

Control the scope, not the price. Only one firm publishes a price, so scope discipline matters more than negotiation. Fix the deliverable count, the number of shoot days and the ownership of raw footage in writing before the call sheet exists, and the quotes become comparable.

Brief production and media together. If the film has to earn its budget in a campaign, brief production and media together: our growth marketing team plans the funnel, paid search captures the demand video creates, and there is more on creative testing in our latest articles.

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