Pricing for Clients (music videos)

yahisterpro

New member
Hi Guys!

I am a budding freelance video specialist and I'm starting to quote clients on my prices for creating music videos. I am in between cameras at the moment (saving up) and so I am currently shooting videos with my phone and then editing them in post (where the magic tends to happen for music videos) any tips on the price ranges to charge? Would appreciate the responses thank you and have a great day everyone!
 
The real issue with shooting on your phone is that clients expect a price commensurate with your equipment - the ONLY bit they see. My iPhone takes great pictures, but as everyone has one, a four figure quote produces the standard retort "Why is so expensive, I could have done the same on my iPhone?" Clearly as you say, they can't do what you do ....... after! I've often used go pros AND a real camera and found the GoPro material the most useful - BUT - the clients see a big camera, a huge tripod, or a jib and it comes in a van. They equate this to quality and quality to price. One client I knew well always had this attitude, and on one job for him, the simplest solution was my old, small AVCHD Panasonic SD9 that takes really nice video and decent audio. The job involved virtually no editing. I mounted the SD9 on a old Betacam camera, on the handle slide in mount. I put this on a full size broadcast tripod and head. Mainly because it was the closest to the store door to be very honest. I did have a much more lightweight tripos somewhere, but couldn't find it.

After the job, the client praised us on using pro equipment - not a silly photo camera one of our staff said they could use much more cheaply than using you. Appearance really does = quality. Totally silly - but in real life .........................

Price for the time it takes and how much you need vs how much the client is willing to pay.
 
Thank you so much for getting back to me on this! I agree with your points hence my awkward situation at the moment. For now I will offer only my post/production services until I get my gear. Funny story by the way but so true the visuals do make a huge impact. Cheers and thanks again.
 
a couple of minutes worth of a staged promo for a band, by somebody good around here costs between 500 and 1000 pounds. I've been quoted the 500 rate for one I can't do myself, and will probably got with it - a lot of work for not much margin.
 
So, I'm gonna come to the defense of 'pro-gear' here.

If I'm hiring someone for a video shoot, and they show up with a phone, no lights, and no stabilizing gear; I don't want to pay them $500-$1000 for it.

Yeah, phone cameras these days are pretty amazing, but the reason they're paying you is because you're bringing in something they can't.

So if you're doing a phone shoot, and the band is providing the set, lights, etc. You'll probably have trouble getting more than 2 or 3 hundred for a day's shooting.
If you're bringing lights and backdrops and things like that, you can get into the upper hundreds.
 
If I were to shoot and edit video for a band or artist using my phone, I'd be inclined to base my pricing on the time of the final product. Say maybe $15 - $20 per video minute. a 4 minute song would yield $60- $80. If I were to supply set props, lighting, location, etc, the price would go up. If i had to come up with the idea for the video, I would add in more cost.

If my skills and equipment set were to improve, I might move my pricing base from final product to production time and costs....

...and raise my price. :)
 
Give them at price what you feel you will deliver. If your finished product is $500 then that is your price, if $250 that is your price....If $100 then price accordingly.

If you are talented you may be able to create magic with just an iphone. Just make the price worth it...Oh, & maybe don't ask for payment until project is compleyed?
 
Thanks guys! it's always a bit awkward starting out and figuring out prices but your responses are extremely helpful!
 
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