How Much to Charge for Freelance Videography Work?

Honestly, there isn't enough information here to be able to answer that question. You're worth what someone will pay you and in this case, you're worth what you think they'll pay you. What is the quality of your work? Do you have a reel to show the prospective client as an example of your work and the work that you would be doing for them? Have you worked with the client before? Are there other producers in the area that could do the same project? What do you think they would charge? A client like a ski resort is not going to accept an hourly and then pay you for the completed project. They're going to want a fixed price for the episode or series up front.

Usually the client tells me their estimation on filming time, i add an hour to that cuz they always underestimate. I then multiply that number x2, then multiply x$50. So if a client says 2 hours of filming for a 3 minute video, i give them an up-front fee of $300.

it all depends you and how much you are worth.

Also, when it comes to ski companies, they usually are pretty cheap when it comes to video work. You could charge 50-100 an hour outside of the ski industry but there is no way a ski company is gonna give you like 2 grand for 6 videos. I'd say figure out a nice flat rate per video (100-200) and go from there.

i pretty much do the same thing - it works pretty well!

Damn that is a long video

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minuet

Work for skis.

Sounds about right

It's a paid position and the company has plenty of cash to throw around

Wow there big haus. All I was saying is that it's not a work for gear position...Thanks for the advice though

I make videos to cover events at my local hill and they pay me 175 to film and edit them, not sure if thats low or high, It seems pretty generous for doing something I really dont mind doing especially in high school.

I agree with everything you say but asking for half the money up front. If this is a gig that OP doesn't think he can handle/make the client very happy, I don't even think he should take the work. With new customers it's really important to make them feel very confident with how the final product is going to turn out. Personal opinion, but I think that it seems a bit cheap to ask for half of the money before starting the project.

If you're doing something professionally, money up front is standard practice in this industry.

I meant get your shit together in a friendly sense, not a FUCK YOU GET YO SHIT TOGETHER DIPSHIT or something lol.

You don't know where to look then....It's out there.

To OP.

What is your setup?
What are you looking to get out of the work?
What previous experience do you have?

You can charge as much as you want.  You set the rate.  Obviously sometimes that rate won't get you work, but a poor mindset in skiing and other sports right now is that there is no money, and that you have to take every job.  Sure there is less then other places, but the economy has hit everyone.  I have ski jobs I get paid market value on.  You set your value, and if people know what your worth they'll pay it.

If you have no experience, sure do it for gear.  But realize how your setting yourself up in a way.  Companies that I worked with when I started often would offer me gear or very little money.  That was a mistake sometimes.  Those companies see how hard you will work for little to nothing.  And the hire, is usually eager and willing to give 100% and more.  They will then set that as your rate, even if you say, hey remember this in the future....they rarely do, because the fact of the matter is, there is another person around the corner with a t4i also willing to do it for free.

It's worth the experience, but don't sell yourself short either.  Lot's of variables to your value to keep in mind it's different for everyone.  Just be mindful of other shooters out there, and your own future.  Obviously you'll have to give some time to get the experience and knowledge.  Just make sure you get the most out of it without selling yourself short, or over promising to only get burned.

matt/micah, you need to provide these guys some more info. a lot of them would be able to give some good info. also work on the grammer guys... haha.

Oh, I know where it is.

Haha, don't want to share it...i get ya.

Without schmoozing your way around Summit County? It seems slim.

Also, rates are a very diverse, personal, and at times contradictory thing. You can't just ask someone what to charge because only you can determine that after careful consideration.

First you need to calculate overhead in order to see how much you need to make in order to break even, and then turn a profit. Once you determine how much you'll charge, you need to be able to justify it and stick by it. Nobody is going to take your rate seriously if you won't.

I should also note that day rates don't have to be so static. I personally dislike universal day rates because every job is different, and people like getting static quotes because they're lazy (for lack of a better term). If my day rate is, say, $500 a day and the client is a small business who can only afford $300 a day, I won't tell them to take a hike. Instead I'll inform them that I can give them a promotional deal, or give them a product that has had less work put into it in order to match their $300 budget. Of course, this depends on where you price floor is; some people's are higher than others'. I am not willing to cut someone a deal for $100 because that's too low to make it worth my time, but other people might. You might miss out on work, but you need to resist the temptation to take unprofitable jobs (and I mean that in the philosophical sense). If you lose a $200 job because you deem it too low, then you'll have no problem missing out on that work as long as you are truly confident that it isn't worth your time, which is why you need to be honest with yourself regarding what you're worth.

I could write more paragraphs here but I have to get back to work. Sorry I couldn't answer your Facebook question, dudes. School/"work" (i.e. shooting skiing) has been bogging me down. If you have anymore questions, I'll try to give you some more advice, but in the meantime I'll leave this here:

http://nofilmschool.com/2013/01/determine-day-rate-ryan-e-walters/

Threads.

Thanks for the advice dude! I'm trying to get down to SLC this spring. We should link up for some skiing/shooting or head to timberline in May!

I more so just got really lucky this year. when it comes to just doing random shit for ski companies, its hard to get justifiable money since most ski companies are on pretty low budgets in the first place and most of them don't understand the video process and the benefits of video for their company. Oh well though, I'm still doing it aren't I? Can't be that bad

In Jeff Schmuck's pocket ;)

Not what I do, but whatever works for ya!

Whoops, didn't mean to insinuate that that's what you personally do... but I know that it is certainly a thing.