Question for the professional videographers. « Videomaker Community Forums

jramos
Member

I have worked in the private sector for over 7 years mostly doing training videos, and I just got and offer to make an online virtual tour for the university. I never done a freelance videography, so I am not sure what to charge.
The project consists in creating 10 - 5 minutes video clips, encode them for Windows media, QuickTime, Real and Flash. The script is about 10 pages long, mostly narration with images and video. I will have to travel to several locations around the state to do the videotaping.
I will film talking heads using portable green screen. I will also have to get some B-roll. I may have to do some voice over recording.
It will take around seven days to drive from location to location doing the filming, setting equipment, and breaking down the set.
I think that most of the time I am going to be driving from location to location. The longest distance to drive time will be 6 hours. Here are the questions:

How much should I charge for filming only?
Should I charge per day or per hour?
Should I ask them to pay for food, rental car and hotel?
Should I charge for the time that I am driving from location to location the same
price like if I was filming?

How much should I charge for the editing part?
Should I charge per day or per hour?
When I do a photo shoot I charge $1000 a day, or $150 per hour with a minimum of two hours.
Would it be too much to ask for $1000 a day for filming?
I know for fact that doing video takes longer then a photo shoots. One day
of video equals One day and half of photos.

Thank you very much for your comments in advance.

Posted 5 years ago #
;0)
Member

Interesting question. I too am new at video, but old hand at photo.
My view is to charge the same rates, but recognize that video editing takes more time than photo editing....and bill accordingly for the extra time.
I feel my pricing is somewhat on the bargian end of the spectrum, but in line with my experiance and the actual cost of adding the video to my existing service.
Hope you get the answers you're looking for and I'll be watching too...

Posted 5 years ago #
jramos
Member

I hope we can find a professional in this forum to guide us to the right path!

Thanks

Posted 5 years ago #
compusolver
Member

Too many intangibles. Depends also on what the economics are in your region. I do mainly weddings, so I don't get a lot of stuff like this, but we do get some deals in the off-season. Last week, I bid five thousand dollars for a four day event shoot, 3 cams, 6 mics, 2 operators. I didn't bother the client with motels, travel (it's four hours away), editing time, or anything else (how can they clock my editing time?) - just five grand, period for a finished, edited job and several copies. (I figure three days to edit).

They called back and said the only other demo DVD they saw that was on a par with mine was from an outfit that bid twice what I did. That outfit was from a metropolitan area.

Well, that means if I'd bid seven grand, I probably would have still gotten it. If I'd bid eleven, I'd lose. In between - who knows? You could say my bid was bad and I "lost" two thou or more. Heck, I'm happy to have the work - wedding season won't get really rolling until late April or first of May (May is already filling up).

The right bid is one where everyone's happy.

Posted 5 years ago #
dfwsphotog
Member

I'm glad to see so much conversation on this subject. It's very important that as a community, the video production industry present a more united front on pricing. I am very up front about my rate card on my web site: http://www.dfwvideography.com. There is some information you're seeking that is not on the site. If I travel for a client on one day and not shoot. I charge 50% of my lighting videographer rate and don't charge for equipment rental but do charge mileage. If I travel and shoot on the same day, I charge for a full day with gear regardless of how long the shoot plus mileage and other expenses such as lodging, meals, parking, tolls, etc.
I worked for a large production company in Dallas for several years, hiring local crews and crews to shoot for our producers all over the country. My rates are very much in line with what I refer to as the "industry standard."
I make very few exceptions, but will always try to work with-in a clients budget. Sometimes I can and sometimes, not.

Posted 5 years ago #