Vanilla Video
Vanilla Video was a Chicago-based video production company that provided professional 4K videography, editing, motion graphics, and creative services to more than 4,000 businesses, families, artists, and organizations across the United States from 2011 to 2026.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Vanilla Video does
Vanilla Video was a Chicago-based, privately held video production company operating from December 2011 to June 2026 under the legal entity Vanilla Video LLC. The company provided professional videography and post-production services to a distributed customer base of more than 4,000 clients over its operating life, including businesses, families, artists, organizations, wedding and personal event customers, and corporate clients. Service delivery relied on professional 4K camera equipment supplemented by teleprompters, sliders, stabilizers, lighting kits, drones, and audio mixers, with videographers dispatched nationwide and worldwide from the company's Chicago base.
The company structured its offering as a four-tier service architecture: Level 1 raw footage capture, Level 2 capture and edit, Level 3 scripted production with teleprompter and voice-over support, and Level 4 end-to-end brand concept production with pre-production consulting. Adjacent services included a la carte video editing at $400 per hour, motion graphics starting at $1,600 per project with US-based artists, and full creative services starting at $5,000. Core videography was sold as project-based engagements at published price points of $2,099 (3-hour partial day), $3,299 (3-5 hour half day), and $4,199 (up to 8-hour full day), with add-on equipment rentals for lighting, extra cameras ($500), and drone services ($2,000 up to 3 hours).
The go-to-market motion was direct-to-consumer via a public-facing website with transparent pricing, automated price estimates, and self-serve order management. The company deliberately limited client load to maintain quality and accepted orders nationwide with manual verification before approval. No external institutional investment was identified beyond two small undisclosed rounds totaling approximately $60,000, and the business was independently operated by founder and CEO Corey Olson until it ceased accepting new work in June 2026.
Vanilla Video firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Vanilla Video
- Legal name
- Vanilla Video LLC
- Website
- https://vanillavideo.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Closed
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Vanilla Video was a Chicago-based video production company that provided professional 4K videography, editing, motion graphics, and creative services to more than 4,000 businesses, families, artists, and organizations across the United States from 2011 to 2026.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Vanilla Video industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Video Production Services
- NAICS
- Motion Picture and Video Production (51211), Postproduction Services and Other Motion Picture and Video Industries (51219)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Video Production & Post-Production (BPAFAIAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Content Production (Video, Design, Copy, Studio) (BPAFAAAF)
Keywords
Where Vanilla Video is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Vanilla Video business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Videography Services: Project-based video production services with tiered pricing based on coverage duration - 3-hour partial day ($2,099), 3-5 hour half day ($3,299), and up to 8-hour full day ($4,199). Includes raw footage delivery and 4K camera kit.
- Video Editing: A la carte post-production editing services billed at $400 per hour for existing footage provided by customers.
- Motion Graphics: Animation services with motion graphics created by artists in the United States, starting at $1,600+ per project.
- Creative Services: Full-range production capabilities including sourcing actors, locations, concepting through pre-production, starting at $5,000+.
- Equipment Add-ons: Additional equipment rental including lighting kits, extra cameras ($500), and drone services ($2,000 up to 3 hours).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | 3-Hour Partial Day Videography - $2,099 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | 3-5 Hour Half Day - $3,299 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Up to 8 Hour Full Day - $4,199 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | 2-Crew Video Production |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Video Editing - $400/hour |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Motion Graphics - Starting at $1,600+ |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Creative Services - Starting at $5,000+ |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Drone Services - $2,000 up to 3 hours |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Lighting/Extra Camera Add-on - $500 |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels3 records
Vanilla Video product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Vanilla Video provided professional video production services delivered by equipped 4K videographers sent to customer locations nationwide and worldwide. Its offering spanned four standardized service levels — from raw footage capture, through capture-and-edit and scripted production, to end-to-end brand concept work with pre-production consulting — supplemented by a la carte video editing, US-based motion graphics, and full creative services including actor and location sourcing.
Product overview
Vanilla Video was a video production company offering a tiered service model with four levels of production: Level One (Raw Footage capture only), Level Two (Capture & Edit with in-house editors), Level Three (Scripted Production with teleprompter and voice over support), and Level Four (Brand Concepts with full pre-production consulting and creative services). Core services included videography with 4K cameras at various pricing tiers ($2,099 for 3-hour partial day up to $4,199 for full day), supplemented by add-on modules for video editing ($400/hour), motion graphics ($1,600+), and creative services ($5,000+). The company was based in Chicago, operating from December 2011 to June 2026.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Videography Services Professional video capture delivered by a single senior videographer equipped with a 4K camera kit, with raw footage delivered online. Coverage durations range from 3-hour partial day to up to 8-hour full day shoots, with 30-60 minute early arrival included. Available nationwide and worldwide from the Chicago base.
- Video Editing A la carte post-production editing service for customers who supply their own existing footage, billed at $400 per hour and handled by Vanilla Video's in-house editors.
- Motion Graphics Animation services created by US-based motion graphics artists, featuring attention to detail and polished feel, with project pricing starting at $1,600+.
- Creative Services Full-range production capabilities covering concepting through pre-production, including sourcing of actors and locations, with project pricing starting at $5,000+.
Quantifiable outcome
- 25,000+ videos produced across 5,000+ projects for 4,000+ customers
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Vanilla Video
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Vanilla Video technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Vanilla Video partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators5 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights1 record
Vanilla Video competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Demo Duck: Video production agency focused on explainer videos, brand content, and animated production for SMBs and enterprise; comparable as a mid-sized production company offering creative services and motion graphics.
- Casual Films: Global video production company with structured creative services for brand storytelling, event coverage, and corporate video; comparable business model with tiered service offerings and brand-focus similar to Vanilla Video's Level 4.
- VeracityColab: Video production and post-production agency offering brand films, event coverage, and creative services; comparable as a full-service boutique production firm targeting businesses.
- Lemonlight: Full-service video production company offering end-to-end creative services from concepting through post-production for brands and businesses; directly comparable to Vanilla Video's Level 3-4 tiered offering.
- Sandwich Video: Creative video production company producing brand films and commercials for digital marketing; comparable as a brand-focused production house with an emphasis on cinematic commercial content similar to Vanilla Video's Level 4 brand films.
- IGM Creative Group: Video production and creative agency offering corporate videos, commercials, and event coverage; comparable as a mid-sized boutique production firm with multi-tier service offerings.
- Wyzowl: Video production agency specializing in explainer videos, animated content, and corporate video production for SMB and enterprise clients; comparable in vertical focus and customer segment.
Regional players
- Bizmedia Services: Chicago-based video production and live event streaming provider serving corporate, healthcare, and nonprofit sectors; directly comparable as a Chicago-anchored production company with similar SMB and corporate customer mix.
Emerging players
- Veedii: Video production company offering corporate video, brand content, and animation services; comparable in target customer segments and service scope, though typically more concentrated in tech/SaaS buyers.
- Pencil One / Eqopp: Smaller branded video production studio offering brand storytelling, event capture, and motion graphics; comparable in tiered offerings and SMB-to-mid-market positioning.
Market position
Strengths3 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Vanilla Video social profiles
Digital presenceVanilla Video financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Vanilla Video leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Vanilla Video funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Vanilla Video M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Vanilla Video
What does Vanilla Video do?
Vanilla Video provided professional video production services delivered by equipped 4K videographers sent to customer locations nationwide and worldwide. Its offering spanned four standardized service levels — from raw footage capture, through capture-and-edit and scripted production, to end-to-end brand concept work with pre-production consulting — supplemented by a la carte video editing, US-based motion graphics, and full creative services including actor and location sourcing.
Is Vanilla Video a public or private company?
Vanilla Video is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently closed.
When was Vanilla Video founded?
Vanilla Video was founded in 2011. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Vanilla Video based?
Vanilla Video is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does Vanilla Video make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Videography Services are the primary driver. The others are video Editing, motion Graphics, creative Services and equipment Add-ons.
Who are Vanilla Video's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Demo Duck, Casual Films, VeracityColab, Lemonlight, Sandwich Video, IGM Creative Group and Wyzowl. Bizmedia Services is listed as a regional player. Emerging players are Veedii and Pencil One / Eqopp.
Does Vanilla Video have an API?
No public API is recorded for Vanilla Video.
What industry is Vanilla Video in?
Vanilla Video's product category is Video Production Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAFAIAB, Video Production & Post-Production, with a secondary code of BPAFAAAF, Content Production (Video, Design, Copy, Studio). Its NAICS code is 51211 and its SIC code is 7812.