Any advise on how to go about negotiating freelance videography rates? and ways to go about charging? (by the hour/day) Thanks!
Client has given me an example of what style and length the videos should be (2-3 min short form documentary) and asked me how much I charge to make a video like this. I'm trying to gauge their expectations before disclosing a fixed rate.
Replies12
- Lots of great advice below. I'd def ask for more detail about the timings of the shoot and edit (as you can then scope the days your needed), ask if there be additional needs for promo like cut downs etc also as this will increase the scope.A good client PM should walk you through how they propose the shoot will go, the days needed and post time. If your doing everything shoot, selects, edit, post..then do add some contingency in.
- @Ross McClure Hi Ross, this is great advise. Thank you so much! :)
- Hi Candice, it's always tricky trying to work out rates, especially when you're just starting out as a freelancer.I think that Matei-Alexandru has a good approach outlined below. I would have a cost for the shoot day and then a cost for the edit.250pd is a good starting point for an editor and having made lots of 2-3min long editorial/doc pieces before I think 3x days is a good target to aim for. It might only take you 2x days to do the edit but the third day is for amends and anything else that comes up, like the client requesting major changes or wanting to add in extra elements, etc.Also think about music and graphics. Is that something you need to include? You should be charging for that too if you have to purchase music or get a designer or animator involved.Good luck!
- Never charge on a project basis. They will run you into the ground with editing revisions.
- @Candice Jiang I'd rationalise 400 GBP based on around 2 hours of work for 3 days for this kind of project, have they sepcified locations, editing? + what equiptment you have factors in
- @Matei-Alexandru Mocanu It's a lifestyle documentary short video, so post is definitely part of the deal! The client didn't give any specific time frames, just the type of video they want. Seems like they give quite a bit of creative freedom. Do you think I should give a flat rate for the shoot itself and give an hourly rate for the post separately?
- @Michelangelo Torres Thanks for the advise, super useful :) I'm in charge of the whole production process, so I need to gauge the client's budget and their expectations and see if I need to delegate some of the process to more parties!
- @Bhav Sonigra For sure! Thank you for the feedback :)
- @Angelica Colucci Super helpful thanks! is the 400+ GBP day rate??
- I would base it on- the kit your using- the time frame-the extent of the editing processFrom what i've seen from friends who've had similar comissions, it's usually 400+ GBP rate
- Rather than changing by hour or day, look at charging based on the project you are producing.That project rate should include everything like pre-production, the shoot, post-production and any expenses like equipment rentals, crew etcSo even though the final video will be 2-3 minutes, the amount of time it takes you to produce it and the talent/skill required needs to be considered.
- The advice I can give you is to consider these factors:- your level of experience: junior, mid or senior- the type of equipment you will use- if you need to rent equipment- trip- any collaborators during filming (for example, boom operator)- if you have to do everything by yourself (filming, editing, grading and sound) or you have to delegate some phases of post-production to others- how many days will you need for delivery
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