What's your day rate?

P

Phil1076

Well-known member
I'm really trying to get an idea as to what people charge these days. Do you base your rate on the amount of gear needed, or do you just have a set of gear that you bring to every shoot regardless? Is your date rate 8 hours, 10, or 12?

No need to get specific if you don't want to, but I'd like to know the ballpark (also, what gear do you bring to the table for that price?).
 
Without giving out numbers, the most logical way is to price gear and your labor separately. Gear is always a fixed rate regardless of day length (that's how a rental house would do it, right? Well, when your client hires you, they are also renting your gear). I simply itemize everything separately, within reason. Camera/tripod/batteries/etc. is xx$. One mic is xx$. Another mic is xx$. Light kit is xxx$. If you choose to compromise on those rates (better to take a discounted rate sometimes than to not work that day), that's up to you. Day is divided into day (5-10 hours) and half day (0-5 hours). This starts on arrival at location at call time (if you're early, that's on you) and ends when you leave location. Generally, folks seem to charge 2/3 of their full day rate for their half day, as opposed to literally halving the rate. Overtime is 1.5x THE LABOR PORTION of the day rate/10 (i.e. gear doesn't get overtime, people do), per hour after 10 hours.

This is how many people in my area (HOuston TX) do it. If someone insists on an hourly rate 'cause the shoot will only be two or three hours, instead of day/half day, I can come up with one but it is significantly higher then actually hourly rate as determined by the day rate. This is 'cause, for instance, if you charge 300/day (30/hour), and someone only wants you for two hours, you're looking at making $60 for a day which is ridiculous. You have to guard against having to turn down other gigs for way more money.

On those rare occasions I edit, I charge hourly if at home, since I can work on my own schedule, and a day rate/half day rate if I have to go to someone else's facility.
 
It largely depends on the client and the type of project they want you to shoot.

I charge a lot more when I'm working for a pharmaceutical company than when I'm shooting for a small charity.

Occasionally I will take on small projects at cost if I think the footage might be useful for the portfolio.

I also try to price myself out at full day and half-day rates.
 
Even the ballpark is considered confidential, to many. I for one, won't talk about my rates to anyone not a client/potential client. Too much competition out there that could use that info.
 
Like Doc said, and this I've had to learn the hard way, keep even the ballpark confidential. The most important thing though, is to stick to em. No matter what. You could get dry spells, but stick with em, the minute you compromise for this guy you're gonna have to for everyone. I dunno how much this contributes to the post, but once you figure out your rate, stick with it.
 
I'd be curious to know what other people are charging for an hourly editing rate these days. But yeah, what they said. ^^

For me, it's what the market will bear. and there's usually a little back and forth involved.
 
I'm pretty much a straight hourly guy. For that, you get me and any equipment I own. If I have to rent something, then that will be additional cash. My editing rate is the same as my shooting rate.
 
Please do tell me what all the Fuss is about? I publish my rates: here, on my Website. No likey? Keep walking. And yet I've not had anyone ask me to work for them based on those rates. They always write or call and we go from there. So tell me, why not be transparent?
 
It not whether the client likes the rates or not. It's information your competition can use against you (if you have much competition where you are). "Oh he charges xxx.xx, we can step in and undercut him by 10% and still be profitable"
 
Thanks for the reply DB. Well until I figure out something different, color me blind. If you're hiring me based on price, you got the wrong guy! If you're hiring him/her because She's $10, $100 or $500 hundred cheaper I say go for it.

My thoughts are and will remain that we as ( insert biz profile here) are in our canoes together. If ya bad mouth me, undercut me to simply undercut, then that will eventually backfire on ya. I get it, but just seems to me, I win if I have a price and you don't. Perhaps the client becomes scared to inquire about pricing figuring, "wow. He must REALLY be expensive!" But really the bigger deal to me is simple: Hire me because you want my work.
 
tom_wise said:
Thanks for the reply DB. Well until I figure out something different, color me blind. If you're hiring me based on price, you got the wrong guy! If you're hiring him/her because She's $10, $100 or $500 hundred cheaper I say go for it.

My thoughts are and will remain that we as ( insert biz profile here) are in our canoes together. If ya bad mouth me, undercut me to simply undercut, then that will eventually backfire on ya. I get it, but just seems to me, I win if I have a price and you don't. Perhaps the client becomes scared to inquire about pricing figuring, "wow. He must REALLY be expensive!" But really the bigger deal to me is simple: Hire me because you want my work.
Click to expand...

Yeah those were my thoughts for the most part. If I want to hire someone but their posted rates are a little higher than I expected, we can always talk and see if they're flexible -- If I want to hire someone then I want to hire them for their work.

Tom, what do you bring to the table for that rate?

Your prices are kind of what I was expecting if you're bringing a pro camera, lenses, lights, mics, etc etc...
 
Way I see it.... if you can't afford my rate without flnching...

You won't be able to afford the camera package I want, gaffer, key grip or lighting order either...

My rigid adherence to this philosophy has led to a calming, stress free existence. Everyone does their job, efficently, quietly, quickly, and with amazing quality.....
 
Phil1076 said:
Yeah those were my thoughts for the most part. If I want to hire someone but their posted rates are a little higher than I expected, we can always talk and see if they're flexible -- If I want to hire someone then I want to hire them for their work.

Tom, what do you bring to the table for that rate?

Your prices are kind of what I was expecting if you're bringing a pro camera, lenses, lights, mics, etc etc...
Click to expand...

Sorry for the late-ish reply! Nothing pro, 5DMk2, back up, lights, lights and lights, simple shotgun mic/boom/grip. It's a fairly generic day rate, and low at that.

I have all sorts of gear, but to me it isn't about the gear as much as several key things: Do you communicate well? Do you Show up? Do you do what you say you will do?

I just finished a Short for the local University. it is all of 190 seconds in length and if we'd have went off of my posted rates I'd have totally lost my A**. So fortunately the past work I've done appears to be bringing in more work at this juncture, and not my effort at pricing. I was paid right at $4 per second of delivered video. I'd really like to have about an hours work like that every couple of weeks.

Cheers,
 
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