Shooting prices?

H

hooked08

Member
Hey all,

I'm about to embark on my first profitable trip with my HVX200. I'm going to the Keys to shoot 3 days of sailfishing for a DVD pilot in DVCPROHD. What rates should I charge my client for 3 full days of shooting and post pro? All my expenses will be paid for and all so I'm figuring I'd give him a break.

thanks all
 
The question is basically unanswerable.

Ask yourself what your wage should be for a month based on experience and your locale.

Divide that into days, and the shoot and edit into how many days.

Multiply.

Or ask for the client's budget.

But what works in Great Falls isn't what works in NYC.
 
All expenses paid sail-fishing and shooting footage of it in the Keys?!?!

Drive hard-line negotiations and hold out for the free beer.:beer:

... or, give him my email address and I'll pay him so I can shoot it, edit it and even score the thing.
 
How much to charge is very subjective. I thought I'd be charging less for my HVX SD shoots then my Beta shoots. 1/3 inch CCD's, so much smaller cam/support gear etc.
For my first mini-DV shoot I threw my normal rate at our client. He didn't flinch. So I kept my rates the same for either camera.

My clients and I are content at $225.00 per hour for myself, my lighting director and all gear included.
I do some stuff at a slightly lower rate and some for a slightly higher rate.
I'm also getting into doing one man, minimal lighting gigs for $175.00 to $200.00 per hour.
I often add an extra PA for $25.00 per hour if we have multiple set-ups. It makes my life easier and usually the client will not pay more because the extra hand for all those set-ups and teardowns save an hour or two by the end of the day.

Our post rate is also $225.00 per hour for an editor and a GFX operator together or $175.00 to $200.00 for just the editor.

I almost never do a gig for a "set price" because the client will usually be less prepared and almost always make you work longer and harder. This often results in you and the client being frustrated with each other by the end of the project. That's never a good way to leave the relationship.

Lastly, make sure you and your gear are worth the price you charge, but don't sell yourself cheap. You'll have a hard time raising your rates later and you'll be ruining the market you hope to make a living in.

Really lastly, Don't ever let your client hear you complain, always be on the ball and prepared, and NEVER NEVER SAY NO when a client asks "Can you do something". Just tell him how much more that will cost. :beer:
Good luck.
 
I would charge ~$800/day shooting; estimate the editing time and charge around ~$50-60/hr.

Ask for as much as you are comfortable asking for. If you prostitute yourself for free when you know you can get some money...that makes you 'cheap,' and in this biz, that ain't good.
 
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