Bringing Marlborough into Focus: A Visual Storytelling Project with MEDC

Lake Williams boardwalk in Marlborough, MA - Photo by Ideal Video Strategies.

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At Ideal Video Strategies, we’re always excited to use our visual storytelling skills to showcase communities and help them grow. That’s exactly what we had the chance to do when we partnered with the Marlborough Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) on a wide-ranging photography and video project right next door to us in Marlborough, Massachusetts.

This collaboration came about thanks to our relationship with the Hudson Business Association, where a referral connected us to the MEDC team. Their mission? Refresh Marlborough’s library of visual assets to better reflect the energy, opportunity, and appeal of the city. With the goal of attracting new businesses and residents, they needed updated images and footage that captured both the vibrancy and the potential of the area.

A City Worth Showcasing

Marlborough is home to a dynamic mix of innovation, recreation, and community. From global corporations to family-run storefronts, lush parks to new housing developments, the city has so much to offer—and MEDC wanted to highlight it all.

They gave us a comprehensive list of over 100 key sites across the city they wanted to feature. This included everything from well-known landmarks to hidden neighborhood gems. Our job was to bring it all to life through ground photography, aerial drone footage, and video content.

Strategy, Coordination, and Timing

Over the course of about eight weeks, we carefully planned and executed the project. Timing was everything—we had to coordinate around weather, traffic, lighting conditions, and the availability of each location. Working closely with MEDC and local business owners, we mapped out the most efficient routes and ideal times of day to capture each shot in the best light—literally and figuratively.

In the end, we delivered a full package of creative assets:

• Over 100 fully edited images

• A comprehensive set of raw photos and drone video clips

• Cinematic visuals of Marlborough’s most important commercial, cultural, and residential spaces

  
  

Discovering the Unexpected

What stood out most about this project was how much we learned about the city. Even though I live right next door, I was blown away by the variety and richness of the locations we visited. There were places I’d never seen before—quiet trails, scenic overlooks, vibrant small businesses—that showed just how much Marlborough has to offer.

This wasn’t just a shoot—it was an exploration. And it reminded us how powerful visual media can be in helping people see their surroundings in a new light.

Visual Storytelling Accomplished

We’re proud to have supported the MEDC in its mission to grow Marlborough’s economy and community presence. Helping cities tell their stories is what we do best, and this project was a perfect example of how strategic, high-quality visuals can play a role in shaping a city’s future.

If your organization or municipality is looking to elevate its visual presence, we’d love to help.

The Apex Entertainment Center in Marlborough, MA. Photo by Ideal Video Strategies.