Frequently Asked
Questions
Why? What? Who? How? When?
We’ve tried
to cover as much as we can on this website, but if you need to know more, here
are some useful questions - and some even more useful answers.
50 Pictures FAQs
Why is storytelling more effective than
traditional marketing?
Our brains are wired for stories. Unlike ads that push messages at us, stories pull us in - making us feel, engage, and remember. Stories are proven to build emotional connections and drive actions way more effectively than facts or figures alone.
What makes a story compelling and memorable?
A Damn Good Story...
Our brains are wired for stories. Unlike ads that push messages at us, stories pull us in - making us feel, engage, and remember. Stories are proven to build emotional connections and drive actions way more effectively than facts or figures alone.
What makes a story compelling and memorable?
A Damn Good Story...
- is character-driven - people connect with people
- creates tension and resolution - something changes
- feels authentic and original - no one else can tell your story the way you can
Isn’t storytelling about creativity
rather than a structured process?
It’s undoubtedly true that any notions of foolproof story formulas or models for guaranteed story success are nonsense. But it’s also true that many of the most creative people stick to rigorous structures, regimes, and ways of doing things. They eat the same food at the same time every day, they don’t have too many options in their wardrobe, and they don’t overcomplicate their daily lives with too many choices. This leaves plenty of brain space for creativity.
That’s what our StoryFINDING-to-StoryTELLING Process is all about. It creates a structure that enables creativity to thrive. It frees up creative time and energy. The less brain power and effort you spend wondering what to do, when to do it, and in what order, the more space and momentum you have to create something remarkable.
What if no great story emerges? Honestly, I don’t know that we’ve got much of a story to tell.
Don’t be so hard on yourself! Most of our clients start with no idea of the story they could tell, and almost all of them underestimate the powerful stories hiding right under their noses. There are always multiple stories to tell. Yours already exist, and new ones are being created all the time.
We just need to bait the hook and reel the best ones in.
Going through our StoryFINDING process together, we’ll find the best stories hidden within your organisation - stories that will resonate with your audience and align with your business goals. You just have to trust the process.
Do you only make videos?
Nope. Videos are often the most powerful way to tell a story - sound and vision together usually pack the biggest punch - but it’s not always the best way.
Some stories work as a podcast. Some as a deck. Some need to be printed, shared, posted, or played with. Some work as cards or pocket-sized picture books. Some might even work best live on a stage.
We’re not here to sell you a format. We’re here to help you tell the right story in the right way - and we’ll work together to choose whichever formats will do that best for you.
It’s undoubtedly true that any notions of foolproof story formulas or models for guaranteed story success are nonsense. But it’s also true that many of the most creative people stick to rigorous structures, regimes, and ways of doing things. They eat the same food at the same time every day, they don’t have too many options in their wardrobe, and they don’t overcomplicate their daily lives with too many choices. This leaves plenty of brain space for creativity.
That’s what our StoryFINDING-to-StoryTELLING Process is all about. It creates a structure that enables creativity to thrive. It frees up creative time and energy. The less brain power and effort you spend wondering what to do, when to do it, and in what order, the more space and momentum you have to create something remarkable.
What if no great story emerges? Honestly, I don’t know that we’ve got much of a story to tell.
Don’t be so hard on yourself! Most of our clients start with no idea of the story they could tell, and almost all of them underestimate the powerful stories hiding right under their noses. There are always multiple stories to tell. Yours already exist, and new ones are being created all the time.
We just need to bait the hook and reel the best ones in.
Going through our StoryFINDING process together, we’ll find the best stories hidden within your organisation - stories that will resonate with your audience and align with your business goals. You just have to trust the process.
Do you only make videos?
Nope. Videos are often the most powerful way to tell a story - sound and vision together usually pack the biggest punch - but it’s not always the best way.
Some stories work as a podcast. Some as a deck. Some need to be printed, shared, posted, or played with. Some work as cards or pocket-sized picture books. Some might even work best live on a stage.
We’re not here to sell you a format. We’re here to help you tell the right story in the right way - and we’ll work together to choose whichever formats will do that best for you.
What’s with the name 50
Pictures?
A great story stays with you in pictures, not bullet points and facts.
Sometimes those pictures live on screen. Sometimes they’re shaped through sound, speech, or the page. And sometimes, the most powerful stories play out in your imagination, which is why it’s often said that the best pictures are on the radio.
“50” has become a shorthand for how we approach storytelling:
So, we make stories that create pictures - whether that’s on screen, page, stage, or simply creating images in people’s minds through the power of sound and the spoken word.
A great story stays with you in pictures, not bullet points and facts.
Sometimes those pictures live on screen. Sometimes they’re shaped through sound, speech, or the page. And sometimes, the most powerful stories play out in your imagination, which is why it’s often said that the best pictures are on the radio.
“50” has become a shorthand for how we approach storytelling:
- 50 pictures per second: a common frame rate for slow motion - often used to heighten emotion, it slows things down, draws you in, and makes moments more powerful.
- 50mm lens: the closest visual match to the human eye - honest, intimate, unfiltered.
- 50-minute calls: the length of our What’s Not Working? and Character Snapshot calls - long enough to go deep, short enough to stay sharp, and with a handy 10-minute buffer built into every hour.
So, we make stories that create pictures - whether that’s on screen, page, stage, or simply creating images in people’s minds through the power of sound and the spoken word.
What makes 50 Pictures different from
other content production companies?
We’re storytelling specialists first.
While a lot of what we make is video - and that’s usually the most powerful story format - we don’t just script, shoot, and leave. We help organisations solve real problems through story, in whatever form it needs to take: video, audio, decks, internal tools, or something more unexpected.
Other companies rush to get their cameras and microphones out, we start with a story stethoscope – taking the time to listen to you and fully understand who you are and what you’re about, and what problem your story is setting out to solve for you.
How do I start working with 50 Pictures?
We begin with a free 50-minute What’s Not Working? Call, where we:
Do I need to be in the story?
Not if you don’t want to. And, even if you do, you might not be the best person for the story. We craft stories around what works best for your organisation - whether featuring you, your team, or your customers, or using more dramatic techniques featuring other contributors or characters.
How involved should my team be?
While we handle all technical aspects, your team’s input is essential for:
StoryFINDING: Helping uncover key insights.
StoryTELLING: Providing creative input and feedback.
Don’t worry. We make the process efficient and collaborative to fit your schedule.
Can you work with our existing brand and marketing strategy?
Yes! We integrate with your brand guidelines and marketing efforts to ensure consistency while enhancing your existing content.
We’re storytelling specialists first.
While a lot of what we make is video - and that’s usually the most powerful story format - we don’t just script, shoot, and leave. We help organisations solve real problems through story, in whatever form it needs to take: video, audio, decks, internal tools, or something more unexpected.
Other companies rush to get their cameras and microphones out, we start with a story stethoscope – taking the time to listen to you and fully understand who you are and what you’re about, and what problem your story is setting out to solve for you.
How do I start working with 50 Pictures?
We begin with a free 50-minute What’s Not Working? Call, where we:
- understand you and what you do
- diagnose the problem you need to solve
- clarify your objectives
- identify key storytelling opportunities
- explore what success looks like for you
Do I need to be in the story?
Not if you don’t want to. And, even if you do, you might not be the best person for the story. We craft stories around what works best for your organisation - whether featuring you, your team, or your customers, or using more dramatic techniques featuring other contributors or characters.
How involved should my team be?
While we handle all technical aspects, your team’s input is essential for:
StoryFINDING: Helping uncover key insights.
StoryTELLING: Providing creative input and feedback.
Don’t worry. We make the process efficient and collaborative to fit your schedule.
Can you work with our existing brand and marketing strategy?
Yes! We integrate with your brand guidelines and marketing efforts to ensure consistency while enhancing your existing content.
What kinds of businesses do you work
with?
We partner with ambitious organisations - those with big ideas, clear goals, and a desire to connect with their audience through the power of storytelling. Our process works best for teams who see stories as a long-term investment in building trust, engaging customers, and growing their organisation.
What industries have you worked with in the past?
Our process is designed to work across industries where human connection and emotional engagement matter most. We’ve worked with:
We partner with ambitious organisations - those with big ideas, clear goals, and a desire to connect with their audience through the power of storytelling. Our process works best for teams who see stories as a long-term investment in building trust, engaging customers, and growing their organisation.
What industries have you worked with in the past?
Our process is designed to work across industries where human connection and emotional engagement matter most. We’ve worked with:
- Professional Services - Client journey documentaries and thought-leadership content.
- Technology & Innovation - Product showcases and explainer videos.
- Charities & Non-Profits - Emotional, impact-driven stories to inspire donations and engagement.
- Government & Public Sector - Community initiatives, public awareness campaigns, and impact-driven stories that engage local audiences.
- Sports Teams & Brands - Content that drives fan engagement, showcases team culture, and promotes connections.
- Healthcare & Education - Case studies, recruitment videos, and research stories.
- Manufacturing & Craft - Behind-the-scenes processes and transformation stories.
How do you price your
work?
At 50 Pictures, we use a Hybrid Pricing Model that combines an initial Kickstart Fee with optional Retainer or Performance-Based Commissioning. This means we align the cost of our services with both the strategic ambition of your story and the results it’s designed to deliver.
So if your project is geared toward measurable business outcomes (like increased conversions or lead generation), the Results-Based Commission model ensures we’re just as invested in your results as you are. If we’re producing and evolving a story for your teams, perhaps a series of training modules, then the Retainer Model enables us to develop and finesse that story over time, if required.
In many cases, the Kickstart Fee covers the end-to-end creation of your story - from StorySTRATEGY to StoryFINDING to StoryTELLING - including planning, scripting, production, and delivery.
The format might be a brand film, a podcast series, an onboarding pack, or something hybrid. What matters is that it works, and we build every element with that outcome in mind.
Why don’t you list fixed prices?
Because we’re not selling off-the-shelf content.
Every project we take on is custom-built to solve a specific problem or seize a particular opportunity - whether that’s generating leads, driving brand awareness, or attracting talent. A social campaign video with conversion tracking will be priced differently from a long-form internal story or a culture-driven training podcast.
Our hybrid model allows us to tailor the approach and the investment to your business goals, audience, and ambitions.
At 50 Pictures, we use a Hybrid Pricing Model that combines an initial Kickstart Fee with optional Retainer or Performance-Based Commissioning. This means we align the cost of our services with both the strategic ambition of your story and the results it’s designed to deliver.
So if your project is geared toward measurable business outcomes (like increased conversions or lead generation), the Results-Based Commission model ensures we’re just as invested in your results as you are. If we’re producing and evolving a story for your teams, perhaps a series of training modules, then the Retainer Model enables us to develop and finesse that story over time, if required.
In many cases, the Kickstart Fee covers the end-to-end creation of your story - from StorySTRATEGY to StoryFINDING to StoryTELLING - including planning, scripting, production, and delivery.
The format might be a brand film, a podcast series, an onboarding pack, or something hybrid. What matters is that it works, and we build every element with that outcome in mind.
Why don’t you list fixed prices?
Because we’re not selling off-the-shelf content.
Every project we take on is custom-built to solve a specific problem or seize a particular opportunity - whether that’s generating leads, driving brand awareness, or attracting talent. A social campaign video with conversion tracking will be priced differently from a long-form internal story or a culture-driven training podcast.
Our hybrid model allows us to tailor the approach and the investment to your business goals, audience, and ambitions.
How long does a project
take?
At 50 Pictures, we’re not in the business of quick-turnaround content. We’re in the business of crafting stories that generate measurable results.
While we work efficiently, our focus is on getting the story right, not just getting something out quickly. That’s why we’re rarely the right partner for last-minute projects from scratch.
At the start of every project, we’ll agree on a clear timeline that balances creative ambition, business goals, and practical deadlines. Depending on complexity and scope, most projects take between three weeks and three months.
Here’s how it works out:
StorySTRATEGY - We begin by clarifying your goals, audience, and what success looks like. This phase aligns the business case with the creative direction and usually occurs over a series of What’s Not Working? Calls and face-to-face planning sessions.
StoryFINDING (typically 1 to 4 weeks) - This is the research and development phase. We uncover the real human story behind your message - gathering source material, interviewing stakeholders, shaping the narrative structure and developing the W.O.R.K.S. Focus Words.
StoryTELLING (typically 2 to 6 weeks) - This is where the scripting, production, editing and delivery take place. Timelines vary depending on the number of deliverables, formats, and approval stages.
Note: If your project includes additional platform-specific edits, multi-format series, or commissioned results-based elements, the schedule will reflect that complexity, and we’ll map it out together at the start. We focus on telling the right story in the right way, not getting a story out quickly.
What do I get at the end of the project?
We tailor every project to your needs, but typical deliverables might include:
How do you measure the success of a story?
Success is about whether the story does its job.
Whether we’re making a single video, an audio series, a training tool, or a story-led slide deck, we measure success by what shifts:
We’ll track performance through dashboards, reports, and strategic check-ins where needed.
At 50 Pictures, we’re not in the business of quick-turnaround content. We’re in the business of crafting stories that generate measurable results.
While we work efficiently, our focus is on getting the story right, not just getting something out quickly. That’s why we’re rarely the right partner for last-minute projects from scratch.
At the start of every project, we’ll agree on a clear timeline that balances creative ambition, business goals, and practical deadlines. Depending on complexity and scope, most projects take between three weeks and three months.
Here’s how it works out:
StorySTRATEGY - We begin by clarifying your goals, audience, and what success looks like. This phase aligns the business case with the creative direction and usually occurs over a series of What’s Not Working? Calls and face-to-face planning sessions.
StoryFINDING (typically 1 to 4 weeks) - This is the research and development phase. We uncover the real human story behind your message - gathering source material, interviewing stakeholders, shaping the narrative structure and developing the W.O.R.K.S. Focus Words.
StoryTELLING (typically 2 to 6 weeks) - This is where the scripting, production, editing and delivery take place. Timelines vary depending on the number of deliverables, formats, and approval stages.
Note: If your project includes additional platform-specific edits, multi-format series, or commissioned results-based elements, the schedule will reflect that complexity, and we’ll map it out together at the start. We focus on telling the right story in the right way, not getting a story out quickly.
What do I get at the end of the project?
We tailor every project to your needs, but typical deliverables might include:
- A Core Story - a flagship video or audio piece, or a hero narrative
- Cutdowns or companion formats - short social edits, podcast excerpts, speaker decks, or story-led internal tools
- Supporting Assets - captions, stills, transcripts, metadata, and campaign-ready files
- Ownership & Archiving - full access to final assets, with optional storage of raw materials for future reuse
How do you measure the success of a story?
Success is about whether the story does its job.
Whether we’re making a single video, an audio series, a training tool, or a story-led slide deck, we measure success by what shifts:
- Engagement - Are people watching, responding, sharing, using it?
- Action - Are people buying, signing up, aligning, or changing behaviour?
- Impact - Has it clarified the message, solved a problem, or sparked a shift in thinking?
We’ll track performance through dashboards, reports, and strategic check-ins where needed.
What do I do now? I still have
questions!
Let’s have a chat.
Book a free 50-minute What’s Not Working? Call, walk through the process and discover how finding and telling better stories could help you achieve your objectives.
Let’s have a chat.
Book a free 50-minute What’s Not Working? Call, walk through the process and discover how finding and telling better stories could help you achieve your objectives.
“A
year from now, you’ll wish you had started today.”
-
Karen Lamb, author and motivational writer