Wedding Videography - contract work

[uhrgl]

I saw a posting looking for local videographers for weddings.

Basically, the job pays 50/hr for about 4 hours (I figure an extra two hours unpaid for commuting and set up). All I have to do is film the wedding and hand in my masters -- the guy said he films an average of 90 minutes a wedding.

I realize the $$$ is in dubbing the masters, but I'd rather not bother with it.

I'm curious if this is a standard arrangement? I'd appreciate any advice or anecdotes.

[Barry_S]

For being an assistant, $200 is about right, but if you're the sole videographer, than $200 is really low--at least for a big city. If, you're providing the equipment, I think it's completely ridiculous. Why not find a partner to handle postproduction and split the marketing work?

[uhrgl]

Thanks, Barry. Low $ is the feedback I've gotten from friends too.

[Alexa]

Basically, the job pays 50/hr for about 4 hours (I figure an extra two hours unpaid for commuting and set up). *All I have to do is film the wedding and hand in my masters -- the guy said he films an average of 90 minutes a wedding.

I realize the $$$ is in dubbing the masters, but I'd rather not bother with it.

Where are you located?

Are you paying for the tapes? If so- you should be getting a lot more. The amounts i wrote below do not consider the tapes.

Are you planning on re-purposing the masters--I would be very careful about that. YOU do not have releases from the people. and they are not expected YOU to be doing anything with those tapes.

If you are doing this ALONE and with your own equip. $50/hr is not enough. Rock bottom should probably be $90/hour, if you live in at least a semi- major metropolitan area.

- if you have insurance, how much does it cost you to go out? *It costs me ~$30 a shoot, I think.
-you are putting wear on YOUR video heads, etc. scratching up your tripod.
- your car insurance, transportation expended

IF you assisting and using your own equipment, then $50-$70 would be better.

$50/hour to assist with THEIR eq. is not bad.

THE JOB DOES NOT PAY FOR "SET UP TIME?" in other words, starts at the start of the ceremony? that's ridiculous. *they want you their ready and on time? *If you are going to be responsible about it, you will be at that location MORE THAN AN HOUR AHEAD OF TIME. *I go for 1.5.

[Alexa]

I'll add to that again and ask you about insurance.

if you are not insured, what about the person who is contracting you?

Let's say you knock over a candle and the place goes up in flames? who is to blame? who will pay?

Let's say, some little kid runs into your tripod and everything topples on to aunt suzy. who wil she sue? *your contractor, probably not, the answer is YOU.

Being covered $ hundreds of thousands of dollars to $2M is not unusual and some consider it necessary.

This is not to scare you, but to save you some trouble.

you need production insurance for on the job and transporation ( if you get into an ax while going to the job and back)

You also have to figure the time it takes to prepare and check your equipment before going out the door..and for you to put it away properly afterwards.