As a video production company, we've been blessed to work with a wide spectrum of clients, from non-profits to large corporations, from businesses with teams of two to teams of too many to count. However, no matter their size, style, or mission one thing remains true- they always have a budget they’re sticking to (it’s all about the benjamins, amirite?). This inevitably leads to the question most clients come to us with,
“What will it cost to Make our video?”
A fair question, but one that doesn’t have a one-size-fits-all answer. There are many factors that go into producing a high-quality video, which results in a wide variety of costs associated with video production.
We know many of you may be thinking, “wait a sec, I came to this blog to find out how much producing my video would cost”. All is not lost! While we would need to know your specific needs to give you a price estimate (if that’s what you’re really after, look no further and schedule a call with us here 😉 or fill out our creative brief here), instead we want to help you understand what goes into making your video and determining the price so you can budget accordingly
Below we have created a list of key factors to consider:
Clarifying Your Message: This is a foundational first step in the video production process. You will find that without coming up with a plan and a strategy before you begin will likely end in a frustrating and difficult process- possibly with more costs than were necessary. Think of it this way, if the foundation of your house was built on sand, the investment that you put into your home will be worthless. Our clients will tell you that clarifying their message not only helped them achieve the video they needed but also provided an opportunity to better define their business. Want some help getting a kickstart on clarifying your message? Check out our previous blog for a couple of tips.
Length of Video: After clarifying your message, consider the length of your video—hint: typically, shorter is preferable when considering the short attention spans of humans (we all have places to be!). However, shorter does not always mean more affordable depending on the production value.
The Script: All good videos, much like all good school papers, begin with a solid outline and, in most cases, a script. The outline and script are essential to your video because it’s the blueprint that dictates all aspects of production including: equipment, location, talent, style of editing, and graphics.
Equipment: The right equipment makes a huge difference in producing a high-quality video. Equipments costs will always vary depending on the scope of production. When working on a production that is larger in scale, a crew might need to rent film equipment such as cameras, lighting, stands, mics, etc. The majority of production companies will charge you directly for these rental costs and treat them as an expense, others (like us) have 90% of this equipment on hand and rarely need to outsource which saves on overall expenses. Just be on the lookout if they put a helicopter rental in there, drones work just fine these days.
Location: When considering location for filming you might decide your video calls for more than one location. You’ll need to think through what it’ll take to move locations: cost of transporting equipment and people, logistics of transportation and timing, as well as any necessary special arrangements like permits, equipment, or rental fees. Multiple locations can really spice up a video but keep in mind it can come with added costs.
Talent: Most videos will need people in front of the camera, which could include you or your team, your clients, volunteers or paid actors. Hiring an actor can be a great addition to your video as they can professionally and clearly represent your audience on camera. Prices for actors vary depending on amount and level of expertise.
Editing: Like equipment, editing makes a huge difference in producing a high-quality video. There is more that goes into editing than one might think. First, there is the equipment such as editing software, music licensing, etc. then there is the time. As good ole Ben Franklin once wrote “time is money”. Whether it is someone on your team or you outsource there will need to be a good amount of time spent editing the video to make the video right.
Graphics: Graphics can be a helpful tool in clarifying your message. You have the option of either supplementing your video with graphics or making a video that consists solely of graphics; however, do not assume that using only graphics will reduce the overall cost of your production. The cost of creating custom graphics will be comparable to the cost of having a full production on set.
Distribution: You have your video- now what? It’s important to take into consideration the costs of marketing your video. In order to get your video to the masses you may need to think about creating ads or posting videos on various platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Google, YouTube or TikTok. In order to get your video out there you will likely need to create shorter social media versions of your video. Here is a video on Facebook marketing basics to get you started:
Now that you have a general understanding of some of the costs you can start to think through what type of budget you might need and whether you need to out-source or do things in house. No matter what you choose, keep in mind that your video is an investment. So while the costs could seem daunting the return you will find from a well-produced, well-distributed video will prove worth it.
We hope this was helpful to you as you begin your video marketing journey! If you have any questions or want to find out more information about the production services we provide feel free to set up a call with us here. If you aren’t ready for a call but want to start clarifying your message, fill out our creative brief here.
