Understanding Raw Footage
By Ryan Spanger | Last updated: October 2025
Approx. 8-minute read
Corporate Video Production Melbourne | Dream Engine | Australia
The corporate video production company for communication and marketing departments in Melbourne.
By Ryan Spanger | Last updated: October 2025
Approx. 8-minute read
At Dream Engine, where possible, we provide clients with raw footage from their shoots. We know it can be valuable if you plan to create future edits or archive every shot we captured.
Before we share the files, it’s essential to understand what you’ll be receiving and what’s involved in handling it. Raw footage isn’t like a finished video that plays easily on your laptop. It’s professional material created for post-production, and there are a few things you should know before requesting it.
Table of Contents
ToggleRaw video files occupy a substantial amount of storage space. A single project can easily reach hundreds of gigabytes.
This means:
You’ll need a fast and stable internet connection to download it.
The download process can take many hours, or even days, depending on your internet speed.
You’ll need ample hard drive space to store and back up your data.
If your team plans to work with the material, use large-capacity drives and reliable backup systems.
When you first open the files, you might notice that the images look pale, flat, or washed out. This is intentional. We shoot in a professional colour profile called LOG, which captures a broader range of detail in both bright and dark areas.
Shooting in LOG enables us to achieve the polished, cinematic look you see in our finished videos.
If you or your team plan to edit the raw footage, you’ll need to:
Apply a LUT (Look-Up Table) to restore colour and contrast.
Use an editing program that supports LOG footage, such as Adobe Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, or Final Cut Pro.
Without applying a LUT, the footage will continue to look grey and flat, which can be confusing if you haven’t worked with LOG before.
We record using professional video codecs that deliver excellent quality and flexibility in post-production. To view and edit these files properly, your computer must be sufficiently powerful and correctly configured.
Make sure your setup includes:
Up-to-date video codecs installed on your system.
A graphics card and processor capable of handling 4K or higher resolution footage.
Plenty of storage space and fast drives such as SSDs or RAID arrays.
If you’re unsure whether your system can handle the files, we can advise you before we transfer them.
We’re happy to supply raw footage whenever you need it. However, please note that technical support and troubleshooting are not included in the standard delivery.
If you’d like help setting up your editing system, installing codecs, or working with LOG footage, we can provide this as an additional service. Our team can also prepare the material in a more accessible format for an extra fee.
If downloading isn’t practical, we can purchase a hard drive on your behalf and have it couriered directly to you. This avoids long download times and ensures you receive the full-quality files quickly and securely.
Please note that this service is beyond the scope of the original project and is charged separately. If you’d like us to handle this for you, contact us for a quote, and we’ll provide the most efficient option for your needs.
We want to help you get the most value from your video production. Understanding what’s involved in working with raw footage will help you decide whether it’s the right option for your team.
Ryan Spanger is the founder and managing director of Dream Engine, a Melbourne-based video production company established in 2002. With more than two decades of experience, Ryan has helped leading Australian businesses, government departments, and non-profits communicate their message with clarity and impact through video. He’s known for his strategic approach, reliable process, and commitment to producing videos that deliver measurable results.
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Ryan Spanger is the founder and managing director of Dream Engine, a Melbourne-based video production company established in 2002. With more than two decades of experience, Ryan has helped leading Australian businesses, government departments, and non-profits communicate their message with clarity and impact through video. He’s known for his strategic approach, reliable process, and commitment to producing videos that deliver measurable results.
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Dream Engine is Melbourne's most trusted and experienced corporate video production studio. We create compelling brand videos, testimonials, educational films, engaging website clips, live event streaming and conference videos for online distribution. Our crew has produced content for many leading brands. Get in touch today to discuss your sales, marketing or internal communications strategy.
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Dream Engine PTY LTD
40 Porter Street
Prahran VIC 3181
Australia
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