Your Whole Marketing Team, Without the Full Time Payroll
Your Whole Marketing Team, Without the Full Time Payroll
How a flexible retainer with Steffen Studios gives you strategy, photography, video, marketing, and branding for less than one full time hire, with more real world experience than most senior leadership teams.
You know you need better marketing. You can't afford to get it wrong.
Maybe your website photos are five years old. Maybe your social feeds go quiet for weeks at a time. Maybe you have a great product, a great team, and a great story, but nobody outside your building is hearing it.
Almost every growing business hits this wall. The usual answer is "let's hire a marketing person." At Steffen Studios, we believe there is a smarter path: a flexible marketing retainer that puts a seasoned creative team in your corner, ready when you need us, without the overhead of another salary.
We've got you. And we can help at a cost that actually makes sense for your business.
Why a full time hire often costs more than it gives
A full time marketing hire looks simple on paper. In reality, the salary is only the beginning. You also pay for benefits, payroll taxes, paid time off, software subscriptions, and months of onboarding. Then you find out they need cameras, lenses, lighting, editing computers, and somewhere to shoot.
Even after all that, you've hired one person with one skill set. A great social media manager is rarely a great cinematographer. A great photographer is rarely a great brand strategist. Here's how it really compares.
| What you get | Full time hire | Steffen Studios retainer |
|---|---|---|
| Cost structure | Salary, benefits, payroll taxes, paid time off | One predictable monthly retainer, starting at only $1,700/mo |
| Skill sets | Usually one specialty | Strategy, photo, video, editing, ads, SEO, and branding |
| Equipment and studio | You buy it, store it, and replace it | Included, plus our studio in Excelsior |
| Experience | Often learning on your dime | Years of work for local businesses and Fortune 500 brands |
| Flexibility | Same cost in slow months and busy months | Use hours when you need them, scale up or down |
| Risk | Hiring, training, turnover | No hiring risk and no training curve |
Three ways to work with us
Every business is in a different season. Your retainer hours bend to fit yours.
Strategy Only
You have people to execute. You need a clear plan and an experienced eye.
- Brand positioning and messaging
- Content and social media planning
- Ad strategy for Google and Meta
- SEO and landing page direction
Full Marketing Support
You want a team that plans it and builds it, so you can run your business.
- Social content created and scheduled
- Google Ads and Meta Ads campaigns
- SEO landing pages and website content
- Ongoing reporting and adjustments
Photo, Video, Marketing and Branding
The full engine. One partner who makes you look and sound like the leader you are.
- Commercial photography and team headshots
- Brand films, ads, podcasts, and short form video
- Logo, brand look, and visual identity
- Strategy and execution under one roof
More experience than most senior leadership teams
Since 2016 we've been behind the camera and inside the strategy for local Twin Cities organizations and national brands alike. That means we've already seen what works, what wastes money, and what actually brings in customers. You get that experience on day one.
Marriott · Verizon · Amazon · NASCAR
"We don't just make pretty content. We help you grow, and we treat your brand like it's our own."
How our flexible retainers work
Instead of a rigid monthly contract, you get a flexible monthly retainer and spend your hours on whatever moves the needle. One month might be a headshot day and a brand video. The next might be ads, a landing page, and a strategy session. You decide.
We also keep costs lean by design. On most shoots, one experienced operator captures photo and video at the same time, so you aren't paying for a crew of two when one will do.
- Discovery call
We learn your goals, your audience, and where marketing is falling short.
- Pick your retainer
Choose the level of support that fits your season and budget.
- Build the plan
We map out strategy, shoots, and content for the months ahead.
- Create and grow
We execute, track your hours, and adjust as results come in.
Starts at only
Strategy, photo, video, marketing, and branding. Scale up or down as your business needs.
Call (952) 248 8230Frequently asked questions
Is a marketing retainer cheaper than hiring a full time marketing employee?
For most small and midsize businesses, yes. A full time hire brings salary, benefits, payroll taxes, software, and equipment costs. A Steffen Studios retainer starts at only $1,700 per month and includes the camera gear, lighting, editing, and studio space.
Can I hire Steffen Studios just for marketing strategy?
Absolutely. Your hours can go entirely toward strategy, such as brand positioning, content planning, ad planning, and SEO direction, while your own team handles execution.
What can retainer hours be used for?
Commercial photography, headshots, video production, editing, social content, ads, landing pages, SEO, branding, and marketing strategy. You decide how the hours are spent each month.
Who has Steffen Studios worked with?
We work with local Twin Cities organizations and Fortune 500 brands including Marriott, Verizon, Amazon, and NASCAR, and we have over 200 five star reviews.
Where is Steffen Studios located?
Our studio is at 19905 MN 7 in Excelsior, Minnesota. We serve Lake Minnetonka, the west metro, Minneapolis, Saint Paul, and clients nationwide.
We've got you.
Whether you need a strategy, a full marketing partner, or the complete photo, video, and branding package, a flexible retainer gets you there for less than a single hire.
Steffen Studios · 19905 MN 7, Excelsior, MN 55331 · Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM