In today’s digital era, a professionally taken and edited video is essential for capturing important moments and effectively selling a product.
Videography is the art of taking raw footage and turning it into a high-quality video.
Cost is one of the most critical factors that affect video production. Hence, it is essential to understand the cost of videography services to establish a budget for your project or event.
Videography packages can vary due to factors such as the project’s complexity, location, equipment required for the job, and the level of expertise of video production companies or freelancers.
If you are considering hiring a videographer, here is a guide to the average videographer cost, the differences in pricing, and other key considerations. Let’s dive in!
Common Budget Components
Every video production budget includes the following components:
- Pre-production costs: This includes expenses for location scouting, planning, concept development, and script writing.
- Production cost: This includes the expenses for equipment rental, set design, logistics related to filming, and staff wages.
- Post-production costs: These include the expenses associated with the video editing process, sound design, color grading, and visual effects.
- Marketing and distribution costs: This includes the cost of promoting the video.
Average Videographer Cost
When hiring videographers, you can opt to hire freelancers or a video production company.
Freelance Videography Package Cost
On average, most freelance videographers charge a daily rate for filming and an hourly rate for post-production editing.
Here is a breakdown of the usual rates for low-end, average, and high-end videographers.
For a low-end videographer, the usual day rate ranges from $300 to $400, and the editing rate is $30 per hour.
For average videographers, the day rate typically ranges from $600 to $ 1,000, and the editing rate ranges from $60 to $90 per hour.
Lastly, for high-end videographers, the day rate ranges from $2,000 to $3,500 per day, and the editing rate is $100 or more per hour.
Please note that additional expenses, such as pre-production requirements and voiceovers, can significantly increase the overall cost.
Hence, be sure to be upfront with freelancers about their rates so you can prepare your budget accordingly.
Video Production Company Cost
Video production agencies or companies typically charge higher rates than freelancers because they have a large team composed of multiple videographers.
Hence, companies can give you more peace of mind, knowing that you are hiring a reliable team to achieve better results.
In contrast to freelance videographers, agencies typically charge a flat fee per project rather than by the hour or day.
Some agencies even require a retainer fee in addition to the project fees and have a minimum engagement cost.
Hence, you should clarify the cost during the discovery call and determine if the agency aligns with your budget and needs.
Here is a simple breakdown of the average cost of video production companies.
For small projects, which are typically one-day shoots with a minimal crew, the cost ranges from $5,000 to $20,000.
For medium projects, which include a one-day shoot with a large crew or a multiple-day shoot with a small crew, the cost ranges from $15,000 to $40,000.
Lastly, for large projects that involve paid actors and a large crew, the cost typically exceeds $40,000.
Internal Videography Team Cost
If your company regularly creates video content, having an internal team will help mitigate the cost.
Here is a breakdown of the average cost of building an in-house video team in your company.
The average annual cost of hiring videographers as part of an internal team is $70,000.
The average annual cost of hiring a video editor as part of an internal team is $60,000.
Lastly, the average cost of equipment ranges from $20,000 to $30,000.
Although having an in-house team within your company will reduce your costs for video production, it still presents its own set of challenges.
For example, you need to take additional time to train and manage the team.
Another challenge is the equipment cost. This includes the procurement of new equipment and maintenance.
One of the issues you may face also includes the difference in skill, which can affect the quality of your results.
However, if you can find exceptionally talented individuals, creating an in-house videographer team will save costs and effort compared to hiring a team every time you need to shoot.
Videographer Cost for a Corporate Event vs. Wedding
Here are the differences in cost between corporate event and wedding videographers:
Corporate Event Videography Cost
Companies create various types of videos, including promotional videos, training videos, internal communications, and product demonstrations.
That being said, the average rate for a professional corporate videographer ranges from $1,000 to $5,000 per day.
The exact amount will vary depending on the project’s complexity and the level of expertise required.
The cost for corporate videographers usually includes the planning stage during the pre-production, filming, and video editing.
Wedding Videography Cost
According to Zola, the average cost of a wedding in the US is $30,000 in 2024.
However, some brides and grooms do not have a lot of budget for their big day. Hence, they cut back on some expenses.
That being said, a professional wedding videographer should be one of the things that any couple should splurge on.
Capturing your most important moments without the stress of recording them on video can make the wedding even more enjoyable and memorable.
The average wedding videographer cost in the US ranges from $1,000 to $2,000.
Wedding videographer pricing varies due to factors such as experience, equipment, and the size of the crew.
Wedding videography packages may include a highlight reel of your wedding, multiple videographers capturing shots from every angle to capture your special moments, full-length wedding videos featuring key moments, a wedding film, and more, depending on the package you choose.
However, each videographer has their own pricing model, which should also be taken into account.
Here are some factors that affect wedding videography prices:
- Time
- Videography experience
- Number of crew
- Deliverables
- Transportation
- Additional costs
Hence, before hiring a videographer for your wedding, conduct thorough research to ensure you are making the best decision for your wedding day.
How to Create a Video Production Budget
Video production can be daunting, but it can get easier once you follow a step-by-step approach.
Here are some tips on how to create a video production budget:
Step 1. Determine Your Goals
The first step in any project must be determining your goals.
What is the target audience? What is the content about?
Having clear goals can help you determine what to look for when hiring a videographer.
To maximize your budget, ensure that the videographer aligns with the goals of your project.
Step 2. Define Your Needs
Once you have determined your goals, the next step is to identify the necessary actions to achieve them.
Your needs may include the type of video, size of the crew, equipment, location, travel requirements, and special effects or animations.
Determining your needs will give you an idea of the cost of each element.
Step 3. Estimate Your Costs
Once you have determined your needs, you can now research to get a better idea of what to expect from your budget.
During the research stage, you can contact videographers for their quotes and visit locations to make accurate estimates.
Your budget will be more realistic if you provide more detailed line-item estimates.
Step 4. Create a Budget
Once you have an idea of the cost, you may now create a line-item budget.
At this stage, you need to break down your costs into three parts: pre-production, production, and post-production.
Ensure that each content item aligns with your overall goals for the video production project.
To track your costs effectively, consider creating a spreadsheet or using budgeting software.
Step 5. Distribute Your Budget
After creating a budget plan, the next step is to allocate the budget to the different stages of production.
During your research, determine which aspects require a larger budget.
For example, when creating a music video, a higher budget is required for directing and scriptwriting, as well as equipment such as high-quality cameras and lighting.
DIY vs. Professional Videography Cost
Some people with a limited budget opt for a DIY approach to their video production. However, is it worth it?
Professional video production involves using the services of highly experienced videographers with professional-level equipment.
This is hard to compare to DIY video production.
Your output will depend on your own expertise, which may be sufficient for personal events but may be lacking for professional videos.
Hiring a videographer will also lift the burden of shooting off your shoulders, which is essential for special events like weddings, wherein everything should be perfect.
Although hiring a professional videographer can be expensive, it yields high-quality results because you are paying for their expertise and professional equipment.
However, DIY video production is unbeatable as a budget-friendly option.
If you want to create videos on your own, you can do so using your smartphone and free editing software such as CapCut.
However, DIY video production can result in low-quality output, which can make your videos appear less polished than those produced by professionals.
Hence, hiring a videographer is essential if you want a professional-looking video. DIY video production can be less costly but may lead to lower-quality results.
The Bottomline
Hiring a professional and seasoned videographer can make or break your project. Similarly, it can also significantly impact your budget.
Hence, it is necessary to find a videographer within your budget.
If you want to outsource your video editing needs, look no further! At Vidpros, we are dedicated to lifting the burden of editing off your shoulders.
To learn more about our services, book a free consultation call with us today!
