What does a video cost for my non-profit or business?
How much does a 3-minute video cost? How much should I pay to have someone shoot a video at my event? What would it cost to produce a short documentary about my nonprofit? These are all common questions around video production cost. And the most common answer is: it depends.
First things first, if there’s just no time to dive into detail and you just want a straight answer? A way-too-simple, “industry”-people-will-yell-at-me answer is that a simple shoot and 3-minute video will cost about $4,000.
Can it cost less? Definitely. More? Oh yeah! But that’s a number to get you started. If you’re interested in more detail, keep reading.
Before we dig too deep, you should know the standard phases of production: pre-production, production and post-production. Each plays a pivotal role in producing your video project and each comes with varying costs. Every freelancer, small company, and large company approaches pricing differently, but the overall phases are generally the same.
Pre-Production - This is all the planning and work ahead of time to get the project off the ground and run to the end. A few different areas that could be part of pre-production–
Planning meetings
Script writing & revisions
Location scouting
Hiring a crew
Project scheduling & management
Gathering props
Renting gear
Technical and decor diagrams
Production - This is where the cameras/gear, on-camera talent, hired crew, and shoot location are involved. Basically everything that happens on shoot day!
Before the cameras roll—
Setting up all the furniture, backgrounds, and decor
Testing audio
Setting up cameras
Running and securing cables
Setting up lighting.
Action! Cameras roll—
Conducting the interview
Shooting the supplemental shots (called “b-roll”)
Following a script, including multiple takes of certain shots or parts of the script
Packing it all up and removing it from the site.
Post-Production - Now for everything after all the video elements have been captured on camera.
Loading the footage into an computer for editing
Compiling the interview into a cohesive storyline
Pulling the best shots from the b-roll (“selects”)
Creating graphics
Selecting background music
Editing the b-roll to match the storyline and music
Exporting all the elements (a-roll, b-roll, graphics, music) into a finished video
Review stage—where revisions and changes are made through discussion by the project team (client included!).
The goal and type of project you’re looking to do likely won’t have everything above, but parts of each. And that variance is precisely why “what does it cost?” is often such a murky question. HOWEVER, the purpose of this article is to pull back the curtain and allow you to “estimate” what it might cost and understand what key items will cost you more or less.
So a slightly more informed cost range for a simple shoot and 3-minute video breaks down the three phases:
Pre-production - $400-$1,500
Production - $600-$900
Post-production - $1,500-$3,000
Simple shoot and 3-minute finished video
Total Cost Range - $2,500-$5,400