So tell me –
How much does it cost?
Understanding the cost of video production is crucial as you plan your project. You might be asking, “What will be my investment?” or “How much does a video production typically cost?” The truth is, the answer varies.
Much like constructing a house, organizing a wedding, or purchasing a car, numerous factors contribute to the final price of a video production. The cost can fluctuate based on your specific needs and the complexity of the project.
Let’s delve into the elements that shape the pricing of a hight quality video production.
Video Production Pricing
Each business and projects are unique, thus require a different approach in developing the right message and captivate your audience. Just like a wedding or building a new house, we can not offer one size fits all prices.
Below are some typical prices range for different production types; this way it’ll give you a sense of what to expect in term of budget and investment range.
- 1 day of production
- Location to be sourced by the client
- Post-processing with licensed music
- Output in Full HD
Professional
- Everything in Foundation Kit
- Pre-production of Scripting
- Motion graphics
- Content re-purposing for 2 social media platforms
- Output in Full HD
Supreme
- Everything in Professional Kit
- Pre-production of Scripting & Storyboarding
- 3 days of Production
- Animation
- Marketing strategy for ROI
- Actors, Models sourcing
- Output in 4k
How do we calculate
video production costs?
Ask several video production companies about their pricing, and you’ll notice multiple answers and conflicting results.
Some charge by the minute, some on a per-project basis. Nonetheless, 10 common factors will bring the budget up or down. As video professionals, we know there are more than 30 factors when we plan a shoot, but those are the most influential.
We’ll empower you with honest and reliable information on this page.
1. NUMBER OF SHOOTING DAYS
One of the main things that can change the price is how long it takes to film your video. Can we finish it in an afternoon, or will it take weeks or even months? It might seem simple, but some ideas are more complicated than others and can really change how much you need to spend.
For example, filming an interview is much quicker than filming a construction project over several months. To save money, it’s often smarter to do several shoots in one day instead of spreading them out over time.
Things to consider in pricing:
– Number of cameraman and cameras
– Equipment used
– DOP (Director of Photography) and Directors
– Team experience
2. LENGTH OF THE VIDEO
Editing is another big part of the cost of making a video. Even if a video is only 30 seconds long, it might not be cheaper to edit than a 1-hour documentary. It all depends on how detailed the editing needs to be and what kind of special effects are needed.
That’s why TV commercials, which are usually only 30 seconds long, can cost a lot of money to make. Also, editing a video that was filmed with one camera is quicker than editing a video filmed with three cameras. But a video filmed with three cameras can look more exciting. It’s all about finding the right balance.
Things to consider in pricing:
– Length of the final video(s)
– Amount of videos (single or series)
– Delivery formats and conversion
– Editing style and VFX
3. TALENTS
For most business videos, we suggest using your own team as the stars. This not only saves money but also helps build trust with your audience by giving a face and personality to your business. For videos like case studies or testimonials, your clients are the best choice, not actors.
If you do want to use actors, there are different ways to go about it. You can hire union or non-union actors. Some projects, like TV commercials, usually need union actors. But for web projects, you have more options. Also, keep in mind that the actor’s experience and fame can affect the cost.
Things to consider in pricing:
– Union or Non-union
– Casting fees & auditions
– Agents
4. FILMING LOCATION
Usually, filming at your own office or building is cheaper than hiring a film studio. But it’s not always that simple. For example, if filming at your company office or factory will slow down work for the day, you need to think about how much that’s worth. If it won’t cause any problems, then it’s great to use real footage of your place! It’s important to talk about these things before we start filming.
Filming at your own place can help build trust and show what your business is really like. For interviews, we can film in a hotel lobby, a quiet space, restaurants, or anywhere really. If we film in public places, we might need to get permits, which can take more time to plan.
Things to consider in pricing:
– Location popularity
– Permits
– Possible production disruption or not
5. ACCESSORIES & MAKEUP
Don’t you want your team to look their best on camera? You can hire a professional makeup artist or even a wardrobe stylist for your shoot. This is more common for advertising or creative projects like music videos, but it’s still something to think about for corporate videos too.
Things to consider in pricing:
– Experience of the makeup artist
– Makeup style – Interview or Cirque du Soleil?
– Accessories and styles
6. VFX & ANIMATION
For high-end projects, you might need visual effects (VFX) and animation. This can have a big impact on your total budget and it’s also one of the hardest things to price. Some VFX specialists charge by the day, some by the minute, and some by the hour. The cost can vary a lot depending on what you need, from simple tasks like hiding a license plate to complex scenes like technical drawings or even alien invasions.
Things to consider in pricing:
– Experience of provider
– Complexity of project
– # of scenes to work on
7. STOCK FOOTAGE, MUSIC AND B-ROLLS
Stock footage is used a lot these days. It can help when you’re missing some parts of your video, but it can also make your video less unique because other video makers can use the same footage. If getting your message across is more important than having a unique video, then stock footage can be a great addition.
The same goes for music – you can use music that’s free to use from well-known music libraries, which is much cheaper than making your own music.
B-Rolls are extra clips of your business or product, or of people using it. These clips help to show your message, not just tell it.
Things to consider in pricing:
– License type (web use, TV, national, international)
– Resolution (720p, 1080p, 4K or more)
– Rarity of footage
8. EQUIPMENT
Filming with a DSLR camera is a lot cheaper than using a high-end camera like a RED or ARRI. But these days, what you’re saying in your video is often more important than the camera you use. Especially since many cameras now have really good quality. The cost of video equipment can add up quickly, especially if you want to use more than one camera.
For example, if you want to film an interview with three cameras and you decide to switch from DSLRs to ARRIs, the cost won’t just triple – it will go up nine times. You also need to think about the cost of lighting and camera movement systems like gimbals, jibs, and dollies. And don’t forget about sound equipment like lavalier and shotgun microphones. There’s a lot to consider, and we could write a whole article just about this!
Things to consider in pricing:
– Sensor Quality (resolution, color rendition)
– Lens kit (prime and/or zoom)
– Light kit
– Sound kit
9. DISTRIBUTION & TRACKING
Making a great video is just the start. You also need to think about where to share it. You can put it on your website, but you can also share it on social media or pay to have it shown on other websites. Depending on where you want to share your video, it could cost more money. After you’ve shared your video, you need to keep track of how it’s doing so you can see if it’s worth the money you spent.
There are different tools you can use to do this, and they can cost anything from nothing to thousands of rupees a month. For example, you could use these tools to see who’s watching your video on your website, then use that information to help your sales team decide who to sell to.
Things to consider in pricing:
– Platform type – free/paid
– Martech price (CRM/CMS/Analytics/SEO)
– Reach and audience
– Your desired monthly budget
10. TRAVEL COST
Where the filming happens can change how much it costs. Some people need to fly the filming crew to a special place to film interviews or buildings, while others can film close to where we are.
Sometimes it’s cheaper to hire a filming crew from another place and have them send the footage to us to edit. There are lots of options. The cost can also go up if we need to travel to the filming location more than once.
Things to consider in pricing:
– Travel distance
– Lodging
– Car or Truck rental
– Plane tickets price
– Equipment cargo cost