12/30/2023
A customer asked me how much it cost to make them a video…
I answered him: $3000 -$5000
He said: So expensive for a video?
I asked: How much did you think it would cost you?
He answers me: $500 maximum... That's a pretty simple video right?!"
- For $500 I invite you to do it yourself.
- But.... I don't know how.
- For $500 I'll teach you how to. So besides saving you $2500, you'll get the knowledge for the next time you want a video
- It seemed right to him and he agreed.
- But to get started: you need tools: A camera (or two, maybe a drone), lights, microphones, tripods, headphones, gimbal, light stands, light modifiers, batteries, cables, memory cards, a powerful computer with expensive professional software to edit high quality files, ect... ($XX,000s worth of equipment)
- But I don't have all this equipment and I can't buy all of this for one event .
- Well then for another $1500 more I'll rent my stuff to you so you can do it. But you will also have to put down a $1000 deposit in case of damages.
- Okay, he says.
- Okay! For $500 Tuesday I’ll teach you how to use my equipment. Do you know how to edit the video?
-No. Can you teach me that too?
-Sure, for $500 I can get you started.
- Oh, But I can't on Tuesday I only have Saturday
- I'm sorry, but I'm only available Tuesday to teach you. Other days are busy with other customers.
- Okay! That means I'm going to have to sacrifice my Tuesday, give up my tasks.
- I forgot. To do your job yourself, you also have to pay for the nonproductive factors.
- What is that?”
- Insurance, fuel etc.
- Oh no!... But to accomplish these tasks, I'm going to spend more money and waste a lot of time!
- Okay!
- Make sure to be at the house 2 hours prior to event to load up the equipment in the trailer. Don't forget to be on time to avoid traffic jams and be on time. And you’ll need a couple hours to set up all the lights cameras and do sounds checks once you get the gear to your location.
- That’s 4 hous hours early??? Nope! I don’t have that extra time…
- And don’t forget you’ll need to spend a lot of time (maybe 20ish hours) doing your edit.
- You know, I've been thinking. Y ' all better shoot the video. I'd rather pay you the $3000. If I had to, it wouldn't be perfect and it would cost me a lot more.
When you pay a for a video, you pay not only for the equipment used, but also:
- Knowledge
- Experience
- Study
- Services
- Time for transport, set up and breakdown
- punctuality
- Accountability
- Professionalism
- Accuracy
- Guaranteed
- Quality
- Sacrifices
- Safety and security
And more!
No one can denigrate other people's work by judging prices.
Only by knowing all the elements necessary for the production of a video can you estimate the actual cost.
I did not write this dialogue, I got it from a DJ and changed the appropiate parts. But I am sharing it to support Videographer