OUR CHIL PROCESS

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Getting Started

Goals & Needs

Before we begin, it’s important that the Chil Team fully understands your goals, vision, and specific needs. This ensures our creative approach is tailored to your project and that success can be measured effectively.

To kick things off, we’ll ask you to complete a brief intake form outlining your objectives, target audience, key deliverables, and any existing brand materials. This information helps us clarify the project scope, timeline, and what success looks like to you — whether that’s a refreshed brand identity, a new website launch, or ongoing social media strategy.

The more context you provide upfront, the better we can align our work with your expectations and deliver results that feel intentional and cohesive.

Communication

Clear, consistent communication is key to a smooth process. Depending on your preferences, we’ll set up a shared communication platform — whether that’s email, Slack, or text — to keep everything centralized and accessible.

Please let us know as soon as possible which platform you prefer so we can get your workspace or thread set up and the project moving right away.

All creative requests, file deliveries, and feedback should flow through this shared channel to maintain alignment and transparency. You’ll also receive regular updates — typically weekly or at key project milestones — so you’re never left wondering where things stand.

Our project managers are your point of contact to ensure every detail is tracked and nothing slips through the cracks.

Inspiration & Moodboards

Every project begins with a strong creative foundation. Before we build your custom moodboard, we’ll ask you to share your inspiration — the brands, campaigns, color palettes, or design references that capture the tone and aesthetic you’re envisioning.

These references help us understand your style preferences and serve as the starting point for developing a cohesive creative direction. From there, our team will translate your inspiration into a curated moodboard that reflects your brand identity and sets the tone for all future deliverables.

This visual reference becomes our shared guide, ensuring both teams stay aligned on look, feel, and messaging throughout the process.

1. How It Works

Step 1:

Client submits a request

Step 2:

Project Manager reviews scope and assigns creatives

Step 3:

Design/Photo/Video Team executes work

Step 4:

Creative Director (CD) reviews for quality & brand alignment

Step 5:

Client review & feedback

Step 6:

Final delivery

2. Why it’s Worth it

We’re transparent about our process so you understand where your investment goes.

Each request passes through several layers of review — project management, creative, and quality control — ensuring consistency and excellence.

That’s why our hourly rate reflects the professional time, collaboration, and quality assurance that go into every project.

3. Review & Approvals

Clients are given clear review rounds for each project.


Timely feedback helps us stay on schedule and meet deadlines efficiently.

Deliverables & File Types

  • We do not provide raw footage or raw image files, unless specifically requested and paid for in advance.

  • Final design files are shared via Canva, allowing you to make small text or image updates internally if desired.

  • Video and photo deliverables are shared as optimized exports for web, social, or print.

Production Process

  1. Pre-Production

Before each shoot, we confirm all key details including:

  • Location permissions and property manager approvals

  • Shot list — must be provided or confirmed by the client

  • Model coordination

2. Models

Models are NOT included in the budget.

We recommend using friends, family, or co-workers for shoots.

If professional models are needed, clients should expect to budget at least $50-75/hour per model for every shoot.

Outsourced Services

For specialized requests, we may partner with trusted professionals to deliver the best results.

These services include:

  • Custom design animation

  • Long-form copywriting

  • Certified drone operations

How Chil & Co. Uses Hours

We structure our work into billable hours to cover:

  • Time spent creating deliverables

  • Communication & planning

  • Production + post-production

  • Revisions

  • Final delivery

Every project is broken into phases, and each phase uses hours.

Common phases include:

  1. Pre-Production / Planning

  2. Production / Creation

  3. Post-Production / Editing

  4. Account Management & Communication

  5. Revisions

  6. Delivery / File Prep

Below is exactly how hours tend to break down for typical creative deliverables.

  • Total: 2–4 hours per reel
    Breakdown:

    • Pre-production / planning: 0.5–1 hour
      (concept, shot list, reference gathering)

    • Filming: 1–2 hours

    • Rough cut edit: 1-1.5 hours

    • Basic Color, sound, motion graphics: .05 hours

    • Revisions: 0.5–1  hours

    • Final formatting & export: 0.25–0.5 hours

    More complex reels (multiple locations, actors, scripts, or voiceover) = 5–10+ hours.

  • Total: 1–3 hours per post
    Breakdown:

    • Concept / brainstorming: 0.25–0.5 hour

    • Graphic design or photo selection: 0.5–1 hour

    • Copywriting: 0.25–0.5 hour

    • Client review + revisions: 0.25–1 hour

    • Export & upload prep: 0.1 hour

    Carousel posts: 3–5 hours depending on number of slides.

  • Total: 1–3 hours per batch
    Breakdown:

    • Shoot planning: 0.5 hour

    • Onsite shooting: .5- 1 hours

    • Culling & selecting images: .5 -1 hours

    • Editing & retouching: 1–2 hours (depending on style & volume)

    • Exports + delivery: 0.5 hour

    • Revisions (if requested): 0.5–1 hour

    Larger albums (100–200 images) = 4 - 8+ hours.

  • Total: 6–14 hours
    Breakdown:

    • Pre-production: 0.5–1 hour

    • Filming: 1–2 hours

    • Editing (reel): 2–5 hours

    • Design (static post): 0.5–1 hour

    • Copywriting: 0.5 hour

    • Revisions: 0.5–2 hours

    • Export + delivery: 0.25 hour

  • Total: 2–6 hours per email
    Breakdown:

    • Concept + offer planning: 0.5–1 hour

    • Design: 0.5–2 hours

    • Copywriting: 0.5–1 hour

    • Testing + segmentation: 0.25–1 hour

    • Revisions: 0.25–1 hour

  • Total: 2–8 hours per month
    Breakdown:

    • Strategy: 0.25 – 1 hours

    • Content planning: 1 hours

    • Writing captions: 0.5-1 hours

    • Designing / editing posts: 1–3 hours

    • Scheduling: 0.05 -1 hours

    • Engagement: 1-3 hours

    • Reporting: 0.5 - 1 hours

    • Client communication: 3–6 hours

What Clients Don’t Realize Uses Hours

We often spend time on:

  • Email + Slack communication

  • File management & exporting

  • Revising concepts

  • Driving to locations

  • Reviewing brand guidelines

  • Meetings

  • Uploading content

  • Preparing content calendars

  • Coordinating with multiple stakeholders

These hours ensure the final product is polished and aligned with brand standards.

Billing Expectations

We operate transparently with all billing.

  • Invoices are typically issued at project milestones or on a monthly retainer basis.

  • Any additional costs (e.g., credit card fees, models, rentals, custom animation) are communicated before work begins.

    Overdue invoices will be subject to a $100 late fee.