Most people picture a 360 video as a normal shoot with a rounder camera on top. It doesn’t work like that. A 360 project is a pipeline, and every choice you make early either saves you later or costs you days. Put the camera in the wrong spot? You pay for it in editing. Hide the crew badly? Same deal.
Here’s the good news. With the right team a 360 video turns into a real business tool. It drops a client inside your factory, retail store, mine, vacant commercial real estate or your rig without them leaving their desk. That’s why the companies leading their market keep reaching for it. It shows instead of tells and showing wins deals.
So let’s walk through how one gets made, start to finish.
We use the same techniques and workflows as a Hollywood production
The 6 Steps at a Glance
Brief
Decide the goal, the audience, and where people will watch it.
Storyboard
Our artists sketch out framing, actor blocking and camera movements, collaborating with you throughout the process.
Capture
Viewport XR artists set our specialty 360 camera on site and shoot.
Stitch
Join every lens into one smooth 360 video.
Post and VFX
Edit, grade, clean up, then add sound and graphics.
Host and deliver
Send it to a headset, a website, or social.
The Full Process, Explained
Step 1: The Brief Defines the Budget
Every 360-video project starts with the brief, and this stage has the biggest influence on the overall budget. A video designed for a Meta Quest headset requires a different production approach from one intended for a website, so the brief establishes the fundamentals from the outset. It identifies the target audience, clarifies the desired outcome, and determines where and how the video will be viewed.
Most importantly, the brief answers the question that influences cost more than any other: does the project require true stereoscopic 3D or standard 360 video? Stereoscopic 3D creates realistic depth that makes viewers feel as though they are physically present in the environment, but achieving that effect demands additional equipment, expertise, and production time. The right choice depends on the project’s objectives rather than on what appears more technically impressive. Defining this correctly at the beginning prevents costly revisions and potential reshoots later in the process.
Step 2: Storyboarding for an Environment Without Frames
Traditional filmmaking relies on framing to control what the audience sees. In 360 production, that approach no longer applies because the camera captures every direction simultaneously. As a result, the planning process shifts from controlling the frame to directing the viewer’s attention.
Production teams guide viewers through movement, lighting, and directional sound rather than through camera angles alone. During storyboarding, they determine the camera’s placement typically at eye level and carefully plan where crew members, equipment, and production elements will remain hidden. Whether positioned behind structures, removed during post-production, or kept outside key viewing areas, every detail requires consideration. Teams that overlook this stage often produce 360 videos that feel unstructured and distracting, which becomes immediately noticeable in the final experience.
Step 3: Capture Requires Precision and Discipline
The production phase brings planning to life. A 360 camera rig records through multiple lenses simultaneously, making it difficult for the production team to hide lighting equipment, microphones, or crew members. As a result, the discipline established during pre-production becomes critical on shoot day.
Audio plays an especially important role in immersive content. Directional and spatial audio capture sound from different directions, allowing the soundtrack to respond naturally to the viewer’s movements during playback. Production crews must also monitor stitch lines, where footage from multiple lenses overlaps. If subjects move directly across these seams, editors face significantly more work during post-production. They typically use longer and more stable shots as well, giving viewers the freedom to decide where to focus their attention rather than forcing attention through rapid edits.
Step 4: Stitching Transforms Footage into a 360 Environment
Each camera lens captures a separate section of the scene. During stitching, software combines these individual perspectives into a seamless spherical environment that viewers can explore freely.
Although modern stitching software automates much of the process, quality footage remains essential. Cleanly captured scenes stitch together quickly and accurately, while poorly planned shots can lead to time-consuming manual corrections. Subjects positioned on seam lines or objects placed too close to a lens often create visible distortions that require frame-by-frame adjustments. Successful stitching reflects the quality of the planning and capture stages; the effort invested earlier consistently reduces editing time and improves the final result.
Step 5: Post-Production Turns Footage into an Experience
Post-production is where the project evolves beyond simple video content. Editors colour-grade the footage, remove visible equipment such as tripod mounts, and fine-tune spatial audio to create a seamless immersive experience.
For many projects, the process extends beyond traditional editing. Developers integrate the footage into custom-built software environments that introduce interactive features such as clickable hotspots, guided virtual tours, training assessments, and branching pathways. These additions transform passive viewing into active participation. While a standard video allows viewers to observe a location, an interactive 360 experience enables them to engage with and explore it, creating far greater value for training, education, marketing, and operational applications.
Step 6: Delivery Shapes the User Experience
The delivery platform plays a strategic role in determining how users experience the finished product. YouTube and Vimeo provide broad accessibility and audience reach, while web-based players allow users to access immersive content through standard browsers without requiring a headset. Dedicated applications for devices such as Meta Quest deliver the highest level of immersion and presence.
Each platform requires different export specifications and offers different capabilities. Delivery decisions also determine what performance data can be collected. Production teams often integrate analytics that track viewer behaviour, revealing how long audiences engage with the content, what areas they explore, and how they interact with specific features. These insights transform the project from a creative asset into a measurable business tool.
Why Perth Makes 360 Video Production More Challenging and More Valuable
Many of Western Australia’s most valuable 360 video opportunities exist in environments that are difficult, expensive, or impossible for visitors to access directly. Mine sites, offshore facilities, and restricted operational areas often present significant logistical and safety challenges. These same challenges increase the value of immersive experiences because they allow stakeholders to explore locations remotely without the cost and complexity of physical travel.
Because access to these locations requires extensive preparation, project planning must begin long before filming starts.
Mine Site Inductions
Filming on Western Australian mine sites requires site-specific safety inductions. Unlike some industries, certifications from other states do not always transfer. For example, Queensland’s Standard 11 induction does not automatically apply in Western Australia.
Major operators such as BHP, Rio Tinto, and Fortescue maintain their own induction systems. Every crew member must complete the relevant training before arriving on site, often alongside general safety requirements, White Card certification where applicable, and fitness-for-work assessments such as drug and alcohol testing. Mining operators retain responsibility for site safety and therefore treat film crews as contractors subject to the same compliance requirements. Production schedules must account for these processes, as inductions can add several days before filming can begin.
Offshore Access Requirements
Western Australia’s offshore energy sector introduces additional compliance requirements. Crews working on offshore platforms typically need BOSIET certification, which includes helicopter underwater escape training. They also require a current offshore medical assessment and a Maritime Security Identification Card (MSIC), which involves a background screening process.
Because personnel usually travel offshore by helicopter, operators must verify all certifications before mobilisation. Arranging these requirements takes time and investment, making early planning essential for successful offshore productions.
CASA Regulations for Aerial 360 Content
Drone-based 360 filming falls under the authority of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Commercial drone operations require a Remote Pilot Licence (RePL) and must operate under an organisation that holds a Remote Operator Certificate (ReOC).
Standard regulations require operators to fly below 120 metres, maintain visual line of sight, remain at least 30 metres from people, operate during daylight hours, and stay clear of controlled airport airspace unless authorised. These restrictions are particularly relevant around Perth Airport and Jandakot Airport. Some immersive aerial productions require exemptions or specialised approvals to operate closer to people or within controlled airspace. Only properly certified operators can apply for these permissions, making it essential to verify qualifications and approvals before production begins.
The Takeaway
A successful 360 experience delivers far more than immersive visuals. It gives people access to places they could not otherwise visit, creates meaningful engagement, and provides measurable business outcomes. The footage is only the beginning—the real value comes from the planning, production expertise, and interactive technology behind it.
Want to explore how 360 video can support your business goals? Get in touch with the Viewport XR team to discuss your next project.