What to charge? at DVinfo.net

Lisa Bennett · September 3rd, 2007, 07:10 PM

PROJECT NUMBER 1:

I have a doctor client that develops health products. He wants to add a short video clip Bio of himself to his website. This we can film at his office.

He also wants to add a video clip on each of his health products (approximately 7-10 products). The clips would be testimonials from his clients, tell the benefits of the products, etc. I would like to have the person in the testimonial sitting down talking about the products, how it helped them, etc. and edit in footage of them doing tasks/activities that they like to do to make the clips more interesting. Show the benefits of the products and not just a talking-head type of project.

I don't want to under price myself because it's going to be alot of work. On the other hand I don't want to over price it either.

If he wanted talking-heads on the testimonials then that would not be so difficult to complete but boring and cheaper for him. Videotaping the testimonials to make them more interesting will cost him more upfront but I believe it would keep a website visitor's interest, and hopefully in the long run sell more products

Anyway, I'm just not sure what to charge for this project. I know it can be very beneficial to his website. In addition, he is interested in having the videos available on his site in different languages. This of course takes the price another step up. Right now I have to quote him a basic price for the project, without the language translations and then I can do this part on the next stage of the project.

PROJECT 2:
The 2nd client wants me to make them a dvd to market their company. They do ultrasounds with the latest equipment. I thought it would be nice to show their office as a friendly atmosphere and follow a patient from coming in, then to the procedure and until they are done so that new patients will know just what to expect. This is just one idea. The client said they want to have a patient in the video and then use the dvd to for marketing purposes.

If you have some tips on quoting out these 2 projects, let me know. I'm curious to know the approximate price range to compare my prices.

Thank you
Lisa

Mike Cavanaugh · September 5th, 2007, 12:38 PM

Lisa,
The answer to "what to charge?" is as variable as the number of people on this site. A "rule of thumb" for good quality production is $1,500/finished minute of video. A lot will depend on your experience, effeciency setting up shots, speed at editing, ability to make interviews look and sound interesting etc. If you are just getting started with paid gigs, a few words of advice...

1) DETAILED shot list, story flow and working script will help both you and your client understand the amount of work in the project.

2) Estimate your time to set-up, shoot, tear down, travel, digitize footage, rough edit, finish edit and output to master. Factor in time to meet with the client, make the zillion phone calls to set up interviews, locations, get directions, check facts with the client etc. After you figure all that - add 20-30% because you won't have found it all! Multiply that by how much per hour you wish to pay yourself.

3) Figure your out-of-pocket costs, tapes, DVDs, rental of lights etc. Add a bit to those costs to cover yourself also. Factor in the last minute purchases (stingers, water for the talent, roll of gaffers tape etc.)

4) Keep very accurate track of all the time you spend on the project - even if you don't actuallly bill the client for that time. This will help with future estimating.

Good luck

Mark Bournes · September 5th, 2007, 12:46 PM

Sent you an email

Lisa Bennett · September 5th, 2007, 12:59 PM

Hi Mike,

Thanks for the info.

I'm definitely planning out the project with shot lists and all details. The more planning the smoother it will go. I was curious as to what others were charging for projects to see if I was in the ball park.

Thanks for the help.
Lisa

Eric Shepherd · September 5th, 2007, 03:57 PM

I sent you an email too :)

Robert Ducon · September 6th, 2007, 02:16 AM

I'd love to get those e-mails too! I wish I had read this thread.. oh, 2 months ago. Drat. But thank goodness for good hearted souls on DV Info!

Good luck Lisa!

Eric Shepherd · September 6th, 2007, 02:39 AM

I can send you an email if you want? :)

..and a cookie. ;)

Lisa Bennett · September 6th, 2007, 02:56 PM

Thanks for the emails. Also, was good to hear from some FL people.
Lisa

Reid Bailey · October 14th, 2007, 09:02 AM

Is it possible to get the info that's in those emails as well.

Lisa, can you let us know what you ended up charging. I'm running in to the exact same questions.

One problem I'm facing is that some people don't put as much value on internet content as oppossed to a training video or a commercial spot.
Maybe because it's "smaller" or because the internet is practically free, I'm not sure.

But I hear "gosh, that's a lot for just something I'm going to throw up on my web site". I don't know why they think it would cost me less to produce. Granted, things like color correction aren't as critical as they would be for a national broadcast spot, but work is work...

Jim Montgomery · October 14th, 2007, 10:32 AM

Lisa

I charge $1,400 per day to shoot, $500 to travel, plus expenses. That includes all equipment, Sony XDCam, Z1, lights, 4 wireless mics, boom,......etc. $800 per day to edit.

Hope that helps.

Jim

Eric Shepherd · October 14th, 2007, 12:12 PM

Is there work in Vero? Ugg, I lived there for 2 months, it felt like a ghost town. :)

Is your day rate for 1 person? And is the travel separate from the day rate? Where does the travel fee get you to (car, plane, hotel, etc)?

Eric

Lisa Bennett · October 15th, 2007, 07:57 AM

Actually I am still waiting for the clients products to come in and him to make a decision on what he wants to do...web video or an infomercial.

For the FL guys in this thread, if renting equipment, where do you rent your lights from?

Lisa

Jim Montgomery · October 15th, 2007, 09:49 AM

Lisa

Get your own. Home Depot/Lowes has those dual work lights on a stand for around $50 I think.

Lisa Bennett · October 15th, 2007, 11:04 AM

Hi Jim,

I've been looking into the worklights to use temporarily. I'm needing 2 - 500 watt, 1 - 200 watt and a 1-2 k softlight. If I recall the work lights are 500 watt and might fit the bill for the 2 that I need. I was going to go this past weekend to Lowes to get some ideas and put my own kit together. Hopefully they will balance ok for video.

Thanks,
Lisa

Eric Shepherd · October 15th, 2007, 11:08 AM

You'll just need to make sure they're all 3200k, or at least all match each other, and then white balance to them without using any additional light. :)

You can probably get replacement 3200k's at a lighting outlet somewhere if the bulbs aren't quite right.

I've seen worklights up to 750 watts. A pair with a stand runs $80 or $100.

I use the Lowel DV Creator 44 kit (designed by Josh from dvcreators.net) and that seems to work well for most my stuff. I could always use a bit more of a variety, but it was a great package to start out with, because it covers just about everything.

Eric

September 3rd, 2007, 07:10 PM	#1
Lisa Bennett Major Player Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Central, FL Posts: 397	What to charge? PROJECT NUMBER 1: I have a doctor client that develops health products. He wants to add a short video clip Bio of himself to his website. This we can film at his office. He also wants to add a video clip on each of his health products (approximately 7-10 products). The clips would be testimonials from his clients, tell the benefits of the products, etc. I would like to have the person in the testimonial sitting down talking about the products, how it helped them, etc. and edit in footage of them doing tasks/activities that they like to do to make the clips more interesting. Show the benefits of the products and not just a talking-head type of project. I don't want to under price myself because it's going to be alot of work. On the other hand I don't want to over price it either. If he wanted talking-heads on the testimonials then that would not be so difficult to complete but boring and cheaper for him. Videotaping the testimonials to make them more interesting will cost him more upfront but I believe it would keep a website visitor's interest, and hopefully in the long run sell more products Anyway, I'm just not sure what to charge for this project. I know it can be very beneficial to his website. In addition, he is interested in having the videos available on his site in different languages. This of course takes the price another step up. Right now I have to quote him a basic price for the project, without the language translations and then I can do this part on the next stage of the project. PROJECT 2: The 2nd client wants me to make them a dvd to market their company. They do ultrasounds with the latest equipment. I thought it would be nice to show their office as a friendly atmosphere and follow a patient from coming in, then to the procedure and until they are done so that new patients will know just what to expect. This is just one idea. The client said they want to have a patient in the video and then use the dvd to for marketing purposes. If you have some tips on quoting out these 2 projects, let me know. I'm curious to know the approximate price range to compare my prices. Thank you Lisa

September 5th, 2007, 12:46 PM	#3
Mark Bournes Major Player Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Jupiter, FL Posts: 565	Sent you an email __________________ Mark www.sharkvp.com

September 6th, 2007, 02:16 AM	#6
Robert Ducon Major Player Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Victoria BC Posts: 400	I'd love to get those e-mails too! I wish I had read this thread.. oh, 2 months ago. Drat. But thank goodness for good hearted souls on DV Info! Good luck Lisa! __________________ Mac + Canon HV20

October 14th, 2007, 10:32 AM	#10
Jim Montgomery Major Player Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Vero Beach Posts: 392	Lisa I charge $1,400 per day to shoot, $500 to travel, plus expenses. That includes all equipment, Sony XDCam, Z1, lights, 4 wireless mics, boom,......etc. $800 per day to edit. Hope that helps. Jim __________________ http://www.billfishadventures.com \| http://www.sfgmedia.com \| http://vimeo.com/2015915

October 15th, 2007, 09:49 AM	#13
Jim Montgomery Major Player Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Vero Beach Posts: 392	Lisa Get your own. Home Depot/Lowes has those dual work lights on a stand for around $50 I think. __________________ http://www.billfishadventures.com \| http://www.sfgmedia.com \| http://vimeo.com/2015915

September 5th, 2007, 12:38 PM	#2
Mike Cavanaugh Major Player Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Albany NY Posts: 311	Lisa, The answer to "what to charge?" is as variable as the number of people on this site. A "rule of thumb" for good quality production is $1,500/finished minute of video. A lot will depend on your experience, effeciency setting up shots, speed at editing, ability to make interviews look and sound interesting etc. If you are just getting started with paid gigs, a few words of advice... 1) DETAILED shot list, story flow and working script will help both you and your client understand the amount of work in the project. 2) Estimate your time to set-up, shoot, tear down, travel, digitize footage, rough edit, finish edit and output to master. Factor in time to meet with the client, make the zillion phone calls to set up interviews, locations, get directions, check facts with the client etc. After you figure all that - add 20-30% because you won't have found it all! Multiply that by how much per hour you wish to pay yourself. 3) Figure your out-of-pocket costs, tapes, DVDs, rental of lights etc. Add a bit to those costs to cover yourself also. Factor in the last minute purchases (stingers, water for the talent, roll of gaffers tape etc.) 4) Keep very accurate track of all the time you spend on the project - even if you don't actuallly bill the client for that time. This will help with future estimating. Good luck

September 5th, 2007, 12:59 PM	#4
Lisa Bennett Major Player Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Central, FL Posts: 397	Hi Mike, Thanks for the info. I'm definitely planning out the project with shot lists and all details. The more planning the smoother it will go. I was curious as to what others were charging for projects to see if I was in the ball park. Thanks for the help. Lisa

September 5th, 2007, 03:57 PM	#5
Eric Shepherd Major Player Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 404	I sent you an email too :)

September 6th, 2007, 02:39 AM	#7
Eric Shepherd Major Player Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 404	I can send you an email if you want? :) ..and a cookie. ;)

September 6th, 2007, 02:56 PM	#8
Lisa Bennett Major Player Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Central, FL Posts: 397	Thanks for the emails. Also, was good to hear from some FL people. Lisa

October 14th, 2007, 09:02 AM	#9
Reid Bailey Major Player Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Fredericksburg, Va Posts: 220	Is it possible to get the info that's in those emails as well. Lisa, can you let us know what you ended up charging. I'm running in to the exact same questions. One problem I'm facing is that some people don't put as much value on internet content as oppossed to a training video or a commercial spot. Maybe because it's "smaller" or because the internet is practically free, I'm not sure. But I hear "gosh, that's a lot for just something I'm going to throw up on my web site". I don't know why they think it would cost me less to produce. Granted, things like color correction aren't as critical as they would be for a national broadcast spot, but work is work...

October 14th, 2007, 12:12 PM	#11
Eric Shepherd Major Player Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 404	Is there work in Vero? Ugg, I lived there for 2 months, it felt like a ghost town. :) Is your day rate for 1 person? And is the travel separate from the day rate? Where does the travel fee get you to (car, plane, hotel, etc)? Eric

October 15th, 2007, 07:57 AM	#12
Lisa Bennett Major Player Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Central, FL Posts: 397	Actually I am still waiting for the clients products to come in and him to make a decision on what he wants to do...web video or an infomercial. For the FL guys in this thread, if renting equipment, where do you rent your lights from? Lisa

October 15th, 2007, 11:04 AM	#14
Lisa Bennett Major Player Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Central, FL Posts: 397	Hi Jim, I've been looking into the worklights to use temporarily. I'm needing 2 - 500 watt, 1 - 200 watt and a 1-2 k softlight. If I recall the work lights are 500 watt and might fit the bill for the 2 that I need. I was going to go this past weekend to Lowes to get some ideas and put my own kit together. Hopefully they will balance ok for video. Thanks, Lisa

October 15th, 2007, 11:08 AM	#15
Eric Shepherd Major Player Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 404	You'll just need to make sure they're all 3200k, or at least all match each other, and then white balance to them without using any additional light. :) You can probably get replacement 3200k's at a lighting outlet somewhere if the bulbs aren't quite right. I've seen worklights up to 750 watts. A pair with a stand runs $80 or $100. I use the Lowel DV Creator 44 kit (designed by Josh from dvcreators.net) and that seems to work well for most my stuff. I could always use a bit more of a variety, but it was a great package to start out with, because it covers just about everything. Eric