Eluvie Blog
How to price video and filming services
Learn how to price video production and filming services. Covers day rates, project packages, equipment costs and how to present quotes to clients.
Video production pricing is complex because every project is different: location, crew size, equipment, edit length and usage rights all affect the final number. This guide helps you build quotes that are thorough, defensible and profitable.
The full cost breakdown of a video project
| Phase | What it includes | Common billing approach |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-production | Planning, scripting, location scouting, casting | Fixed fee or hourly |
| Production | Shoot days, crew, equipment rental, travel | Day rate x number of shoot days |
| Post-production | Editing, color grading, sound design, motion graphics | Fixed fee per deliverable |
| Delivery | File formats, usage rights, revision rounds included | Included or add-on |
Missing any of these phases in your quote is how projects become unprofitable. List them all, even when some are low cost.
Day rate vs project rate
Day rates work well for commercial shoots where scope can shift during production. Project rates work better for branded content and social video where deliverables are defined upfront. For longer projects, split payment in milestones: 50% upfront, 25% on first cut delivery, 25% on final delivery.
Equipment and licensing: never absorb these costs
List equipment costs separately in every quote: camera rental, lenses, stabilizers, lighting, drone permits. This protects your day rate and shows the client exactly where their money goes. Absorbing equipment costs into your rate makes you look cheaper but destroys your margin.
Usage rights and licensing
| Usage scope | Relative value |
|---|---|
| Single social media account, 30 days | Base price |
| Brand website and social, 1 year | 1.3x to 1.5x base |
| National TV or streaming campaign | 2x to 4x base or more |
| Unlimited, perpetual | Negotiate separately |
Define usage rights clearly in the contract: platforms, duration and territory. This is a legitimate additional charge, not a bonus for the client.
How Eluvie helps
Once a project is closed, Eluvie helps you manage the financial side: active clients, linked contracts, cash flow and project metrics organized in one place.
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