Cost of doing a wedding?

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Peter_Gaudry

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I'm the proud owner of a DVX100a and with my partner we have begun shooting various things, holy communions, baby showers, music videos etc, and have now been invited to shoot a wedding.

Here's the scope of the project, basically a DVD containing:

- 'Love Story' (you know the deal, a look at the couples history, interviews, cute shots of them in the park) around 30-40 mins

- Filming the Wedding from start to finish: pre-ceremony, ceremony, and reception

- A few slide shows of the photos they've taken over the years, maybe 5 mins each.

Believe me I'm no stranger to the amount of shooting and editing this will be, my main question however is how much i should be charging. The wedding is a year away, and I've volunteered to shoot their love story over the course of the next 12 months, so this will take a lot of my time also.

I was thinking of charging $3500 for everything, which includes a couple of copies on DVD. What do you guys think, is that a fair price?
 
Re: Cost of doing a wedding?

That price seems low if you're going the be shooting "over the course of the next 12 months". My advice is to get everything scheduled for shooting within the space of a couple of weeks and set a firm deadline for having them deliver you all the materials. Bang, bang, bang--you shoot the interviews and the B-roll--edit, and deliver. If you're intent on capturing their love through the changing seasons--you'd better triple that price.
 
Re: Cost of doing a wedding?

[quote author=Peter_Gaudry link=board=Offtopic;num=1090810028;start=0#0 date=07/25/04 at 19:47:08]The wedding is a year away, and I've volunteered to shoot their love story over the course of the next 12 months, so this will take a lot of my time also. [/quote]

Whoo boy... better get some up front money. A lot can happen to the 'happy' couple in a year.
 
Re: Cost of doing a wedding?

That's a great point. We're thinking of charging them 25% upfront, then 25% halfway through, then the balance on delivery of the final dVD. Comments on that structure would be most appreciated.
 
Re: Cost of doing a wedding?

(*) 50% up front. The "half way" point in this case is a long time (6 months), lot of work there.

(*) Contract: Makes everyone feel better, makes your business look better.

(*) Progress report schedule: Explain up front what you're willing to offer in regards to progess, you don't want to spend a lot of time on on-going edits/mock ups. A lot of frustration can be avoided there, weddings involve a lot of people who are not familiar at all with 'film/pro-DV' productions so expectations of progress run the gambit. Also, I've seen cases where clients bolt on the final product (and back end) after they've received a close-to-final edit.

(*) Re-edit clause: Everyone can have different opinions on the final product and in the case of wedding videos it has a very personal impact. Offer (in the contract) a set amount of re-edits AFTER you receive the back end (final 50%). There's got to be a cut off.

Just my opinion, even if it were 3 days I'd go 50% up front. The contract makes your client less apprehensive to terms that clearly favor your company since you're liable if you back out, opens the table a little more. Good luck!  :)
 
Re: Cost of doing a wedding?

I charge $500 upfront and the remaining balance 2 weeks prior to the day (non-refundable). you never know if the bride will show. And you've lost that day for any other shooting. Also $3500 is a good price I've looked and looked and seen people charging anywhere from $1500 for a complete (check there equipment, sounds good to a novice but we know it's low end) to $6500 for a complete ( I think this is overkill on the price ) I see the high price from bigger companies as they take a cut pass it on to another guy who takes a cut and so on. ( example: my cousin is wedding videographer, he works for a large photo studio who takes and bunch of cash sends the bussiness to his company and if he's booked he passes it onto some other guy to film for like $300-500) if I was the wedding couple I'd be pissed. but yeah alway's get some cash upfront so you're not wasting your time.
 
Re: Cost of doing a wedding?

But remember, there isn't really any overhead other than tapes and gas, so what your charging is what you feel your time and talent are worth.

(I'm alway's bombarded with stupid people saying that uncle joe will film and then I can edit it on my new computer cause it came with windows moviemaker) Thats bull, it cost's what it does cause you provide results not obtainable from a cheap cam and program. and we've already invested time in learning and cash in proper equipment.
 
Re: Cost of doing a wedding?

3500 sounds good for all that, minus a 12-month shoot. The "Love Story" can be shot in a few days, with the couple talking about stories, etc. Try averaging out your costs to an hourly rate...then decide what works for you (how much you're willing to go for) You may be surprised but I'd bet that if you shot something over the course of a year, you'd be working for less than minimum wage...
 
Re: Cost of doing a wedding?

You guys rock :)

This is a stretch, but is there a boilerplate contract going around out there for filming wedding videos? Would anyone be willing to share?

No worries if not. The advice has been absolutely amazing. I'll report back with frame grabs and updates. We're meeting this Sat to propose what we'll do in writing, and offer the price. If they don't like it we'll cut back on the price and also the number of times we'll come out to them over the next 12 months.
 
Re: Cost of doing a wedding?

I have one you might like.. I spent weeks on it taking ideas from dozens of contracts.. I could send it to you in word format and you could put your own names and logos on it..

Im in sales and would call myself a pretty good salesperson.. i have made a living at it for 10 years. i also have some marketing background.

What is unique about my contract is that i use it as a sales tool.. It is designed to start small but no one wants the small package.. Then upsell to the demo video they saw.. If you see it youll see what i mean.. It is more of a salestool on top of a contract.. It is designed to steer the customer into a 2,500 or 3,000 contract.. I designed it so the customer is always dropping $495.. always $495... lol.. So if you start getting lots of customers and they are always dropping 495$ or more on ya.. then your doing good ;)
 
Re: Cost of doing a wedding?

The "Love Story Video" should be no longer than 20 minutes. We usually interview them and then the last five minutes we run the growing up montage with them talking about the pictures, with music in the background. The "Love Story" can also be featured at the Wedding Reception, this actually secured us another wedding for the Bride's sister.

It's fun and exciting. If there is anyway i can help, you can e-mail me.

mboda@comcast.net

Depending upon how busy you are with projects, give them 4-6 weeks minimum for the final product. You have to get several different people to look throgh it to make sure there are no mistakes. At that price it has to be perfect.

We take an initial 25% non-refundable deposit. Payment to be made in full 30 days prior to wedding except the final $250.00 that they pay when picking up the final product.

Take charge at the reception and be in the thick of the action. Don't worry about the uncle Joe and Aunt Sue. Develop a good relationship with the photographer and try to find out how they work, so you can work around each other. It is ok if the photographer is your shot, unless he is right in front of the camera, but try to stay out of his shots. I am in business with a photographer so we work really well together.

Building a good relationship with a photographer, will only bring you referrals. Ask the photographer if they would be willing to give you some of the wedding photos to add into the video as a montage, and you would give a credit in the video. I did that with another photographer and he has referred two of his brides to us already.
 
Re: Cost of doing a wedding?

What would be a good age to start shooting wedding videos for couples?

I mean, although I am but 15, people often mistake me for 19, and that could help im sure, however, would it be good to show them a demo reel or something similar so they can pay with confidence?
 
Re: Cost of doing a wedding?

Any age! As long as you are talented and know what you are doing. Get a demo reel together and start showing off some of your talents. Good luck Monte!
 
monte said:
What would be a good age to start shooting wedding videos for couples?

I mean, although I am but 15, people often mistake me for 19, and that could help im sure, however, would it be good to show them a demo reel or something similar so they can pay with confidence?
Click to expand...



Remember Monte

It's the end result people want, they're not buying the photog...LOL

Put your reel out, if they like what they see, ****and you can produce a good pro product**** , remember, if you screw up the wedding video, brides are vicious AND have friends...you can't hide.
 
30- 40 minute love story?

That is AT LEAST 35 hours of editing and it is not robot editing. People are really touchy about that stuff, and especially if you show it at the reception. it is not only their story, but it is on your shoulders to make it funnier and interesting. it takes a LOT of time just to figure out how to tell their story, THEY WAY THEY WANT IT TO BE...

how much to charge? depends on way too many things..but one thing you are probably not thinking of is the cost of the video storage you are going to dedciate to them for what looks to be over a year..$3500 seems way to low.

if I were you, I'd try to bat down that love story to 8 minutes max. less work for you.
 
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