Just wondering if anyone could give me some info on the pricing of such things. I am looking to make a little money on the side shooting some weddings and some training videos for a local business, but have no idea how to figure up total charges. Can anyone point me to some sites that offer these services so I can get a baseline? I'd appreciate it. BTW, sorry if this is the wrong forum for this. None of the others seemed to fit. Thanks!
What to charge? wedding/corporate training videos
- Thread starter seantree
- Start date
Barry_Green
Moderator
Re: What to charge? wedding/corporate training vid
Re: What to charge? wedding/corporate training vid
There are two totally different categories there, and you have to approach them differently. For weddings, one thing you should probably do is look up what other businesses are charging in your area. Wedding business will probably be very competitive, it seems like most DV shooters who earn money with their cameras do so by shooting weddings, and it can be downright cutthroat. I've seen people advertise (and get) $3500 for a wedding, all the way down to guys who do it for free ("if you like the tape, then buy it from us for $200"). Seems like people want to charge $500 to $800 for a baseline wedding, and add "packages" on to that -- they piece together a wedding love story, or a photo montage, or cover the rehearsal dinner or whatever, and for each piece they add to the budget. (but what do I know, I've shot exactly two weddings in my life, both were personal favors, and I hope never to have to do it again!)
Definitely go over to www.WEVA.org and check out their forums. WEVA has a big convention here every year (here = Vegas) and it's a great place to go see equipment and stuff, and it looks like they're THE place to go to discuss wedding videos.
For corporates, I don't "charge", per se... I ask the client what their budget is. I never give a price quote, I never break down a budget, I never make a written proposal, and I never have to. (once they agree to a budget I work up a written contract, of course, but there's no "bid" process... as far as I'm concerned, if they're talking to me, I've already got the job, and I act that way, and 95% of the time I get the job, so that method works, at least for me.)
From experience, I always know pretty much what it'll cost me to do a project, and when in doubt you can go by the old standby of $1,000 to $2,000 per finished minute.
But when bidding a job, I just talk to them and say "what did you have in mind for a budget?" They always hem and haw, and they ask "what will it cost?" And I always say "When people say that, I ask 'What does a house cost?" That usually gets a smile, and I go on and say "You could get a five-million-dollar mansion, or a one-room log cabin... they're both 'houses' but they're obviously very different and they obviously cost very different prices. Same with this video project: we could do it at many different levels, and I need to know what level you want to do it at." From that point, they'll say "er... well, I really don't know, I mean, you're the expert..." at which point, I have them! So let's say it's a little two-minute corporate profile video, one day of shooting and some post work, and I know I can do the video for, say, $3000 and they'll be thrilled with what I can do on that budget, right? So I'll say "Well, we can do something on as little as $3,000, or $5,000, or $15,000 -- what level do you want to do this production at?" Almost every time, they pick the middle number. Nobody wants to appear "cheap", and they like the middle ground. A few times I've had somebody pick the big number, and that makes for a happy day! ;D
So anyway, you have to have enough experience to know what it *really* costs you to do the job. You have to be able, on the fly, to know how many days it'll take you, what equipment you'll need to rent, and then build in some profit for yourself. If you don't know those numbers yet, then go back to the "$1,000 to $2,000 per finished minute" rule. And do NOT go cheaper than that -- you'll just hurt yourself and everyone else who's trying to compete in the video business.
Anyway, that's what I do. Anyone else want to chime in?
Re: What to charge? wedding/corporate training vid
There are two totally different categories there, and you have to approach them differently. For weddings, one thing you should probably do is look up what other businesses are charging in your area. Wedding business will probably be very competitive, it seems like most DV shooters who earn money with their cameras do so by shooting weddings, and it can be downright cutthroat. I've seen people advertise (and get) $3500 for a wedding, all the way down to guys who do it for free ("if you like the tape, then buy it from us for $200"). Seems like people want to charge $500 to $800 for a baseline wedding, and add "packages" on to that -- they piece together a wedding love story, or a photo montage, or cover the rehearsal dinner or whatever, and for each piece they add to the budget. (but what do I know, I've shot exactly two weddings in my life, both were personal favors, and I hope never to have to do it again!)
Definitely go over to www.WEVA.org and check out their forums. WEVA has a big convention here every year (here = Vegas) and it's a great place to go see equipment and stuff, and it looks like they're THE place to go to discuss wedding videos.
For corporates, I don't "charge", per se... I ask the client what their budget is. I never give a price quote, I never break down a budget, I never make a written proposal, and I never have to. (once they agree to a budget I work up a written contract, of course, but there's no "bid" process... as far as I'm concerned, if they're talking to me, I've already got the job, and I act that way, and 95% of the time I get the job, so that method works, at least for me.)
From experience, I always know pretty much what it'll cost me to do a project, and when in doubt you can go by the old standby of $1,000 to $2,000 per finished minute.
But when bidding a job, I just talk to them and say "what did you have in mind for a budget?" They always hem and haw, and they ask "what will it cost?" And I always say "When people say that, I ask 'What does a house cost?" That usually gets a smile, and I go on and say "You could get a five-million-dollar mansion, or a one-room log cabin... they're both 'houses' but they're obviously very different and they obviously cost very different prices. Same with this video project: we could do it at many different levels, and I need to know what level you want to do it at." From that point, they'll say "er... well, I really don't know, I mean, you're the expert..." at which point, I have them! So let's say it's a little two-minute corporate profile video, one day of shooting and some post work, and I know I can do the video for, say, $3000 and they'll be thrilled with what I can do on that budget, right? So I'll say "Well, we can do something on as little as $3,000, or $5,000, or $15,000 -- what level do you want to do this production at?" Almost every time, they pick the middle number. Nobody wants to appear "cheap", and they like the middle ground. A few times I've had somebody pick the big number, and that makes for a happy day! ;D
So anyway, you have to have enough experience to know what it *really* costs you to do the job. You have to be able, on the fly, to know how many days it'll take you, what equipment you'll need to rent, and then build in some profit for yourself. If you don't know those numbers yet, then go back to the "$1,000 to $2,000 per finished minute" rule. And do NOT go cheaper than that -- you'll just hurt yourself and everyone else who's trying to compete in the video business.
Anyway, that's what I do. Anyone else want to chime in?
Z
Zoomforce
Guest
Re: What to charge? wedding/corporate training vid
Re: What to charge? wedding/corporate training vid
I love the house analogy Barry.. heh heh leave it to you to come up with brilliant ideas.
Re: What to charge? wedding/corporate training vid
I love the house analogy Barry.. heh heh leave it to you to come up with brilliant ideas.
Re: What to charge? wedding/corporate training vid
Re: What to charge? wedding/corporate training vid
Hey Barry, that "house" analogy isn't copyrighted is it Hmmm, maybe I could substitute a car in its place.
That was a great way of putting things, and very true, I hope to use it sometime.
Re: What to charge? wedding/corporate training vid
Hey Barry, that "house" analogy isn't copyrighted is it
Hmmm, maybe I could substitute a car in its place.That was a great way of putting things, and very true, I hope to use it sometime.
Z
Zoomforce
Guest
Re: What to charge? wedding/corporate training vid
Re: What to charge? wedding/corporate training vid
Yes... maybe Barry should recieve a commision off us when we use it to woo our clients
Re: What to charge? wedding/corporate training vid
Yes... maybe Barry should recieve a commision off us when we use it to woo our clients
Barry_Green
Moderator
Re: What to charge? wedding/corporate training vid
Re: What to charge? wedding/corporate training vid
No, I'm sure I stole it from somewhere... I just don't remember where.
Re: What to charge? wedding/corporate training vid
No, I'm sure I stole it from somewhere... I just don't remember where.
Re: What to charge? wedding/corporate training vid
Re: What to charge? wedding/corporate training vid
Thanks for the reply Barry. I've looked around my area(Maryland) and there isn't a single business that deals in corporate training videos. I guess they go to Hagerstown and frederick to have the work completed , so I'd like to jump on the market locally. As for the weddings I was looking at the $800 mark so I think that is where I will start. I appreciate the help.
Re: What to charge? wedding/corporate training vid
Thanks for the reply Barry. I've looked around my area(Maryland) and there isn't a single business that deals in corporate training videos. I guess they go to Hagerstown and frederick to have the work completed , so I'd like to jump on the market locally. As for the weddings I was looking at the $800 mark so I think that is where I will start. I appreciate the help.
bodaphoto
Well-known member
Re: What to charge? wedding/corporate training vid
Re: What to charge? wedding/corporate training vid
Sean,
We do weddings and it depends on several things. 2 cameras and 6 hours of coverage we charge $1,000. 3 cameras $1500.00. We also don't advertise but will a do a ceremony only shoot for $600.00 (and will cover reception if it is in the same location.)
We also work with Ocean City Weddings and there weddings are usually 15-20 minutes. We charge $450.00.
Bo ;D
Re: What to charge? wedding/corporate training vid
Sean,
We do weddings and it depends on several things. 2 cameras and 6 hours of coverage we charge $1,000. 3 cameras $1500.00. We also don't advertise but will a do a ceremony only shoot for $600.00 (and will cover reception if it is in the same location.)
We also work with Ocean City Weddings and there weddings are usually 15-20 minutes. We charge $450.00.
Bo ;D