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Think you can’t afford a video? Think again
OK, I won’t taunt you with lines like, “But you can’t afford NOT to make a video.”
When you don’t have enough money, you don’t have enough money.
However, you may just have enough money. Although it often costs $15,000-$25,000 for a typical corporate video, you can get a perfectly good 5:00 (five-minute) video (nothing very fancy, few if any actors and other bells and whistles but still perfectly respectable) for $8K-$9K — if you know how to shop.
So I’ll help you plan a video that won’t break the bank. Here are five steps to a video production you may be able to afford.
- First, you’ll get a script, probably $2,000 if your topic doesn’t require additional research.
- Then, you’ll hire a producer and ask for three days — one preproduction, one production, and one post-production day. $1,500-$1,800. This producer will guide your video through each step.
- You’ll only use one shooting day with no more than two primary locations not far from each other. On that day, your camera crew (a videographer, an audio technician, and a producer) will get footage and interviews. That will cost you around $2,100, including meals and snacks during the day. (Be prepared to have your producer work with you to streamline the script so that you only need that one shooting day.)
- You’ll have the project edited, which will include any additional graphics, music, photographs, and so forth. Let’s say two days at $1,200 a day. $2,400.
- Narration will cost around $350.
If all goes as planned (and, really, I have to say that every video is different!), you will have great video for $8,650. That’s a bargain.
There are ways, obviously, to spend more money on a production, and there are a few ways to spend less. Plus, there are ways to stretch your footage, so that you’re creating several videos instead of just one.
Remember: you can afford a video if it pays for itself and then some.
If you think you have enough money for a video, get in touch. We’d be happy to chat about your ideas and how we can stick to the budget you have. Call Susan Branch Smith @410.404.5559.
Related articles
- 6 Steps to making your own corporate video – for under £200 [Alan Stevens] (ecademy.com)
- TFTD: Should my CEO narrate the video? (basecamppro.com)
- Video pricing: what many producers don’t want you to know (basecamppro.com)