The question “how much does a video cost?” is timeless, and many clients are looking for a quick answer. So, it’s time to solve the mystery.
Maybe you expect us to give you a number, but the only thing we can say to you is: it depends!
Video production costs vary from a few thousand to tens of thousands of Euros. Yes, it varies, because there are a lot of factors that go into the final cost, like:
- TEAM’S NOTORIETY
- TEAM’S EXPERTISE & EXPERIENCE
- PROJECT COMPLEXITY:
- concept
- the quality or level of production
- shooting days
- equipment needed
- length of the video
- screenplay
- editing
- sound design
- color grading
- music license
- locations
- actors
- construction & set design
- make-up & hair
- wardrobe & stylist
- props
- travel costs, etc.
All details matter to establish a video cost.
As we already said in the last article, where we talked about the difference between videos and effective videos, all details matter. Every project is unique, so it’s impossible to make a general statement on how much a video will cost without knowing all the details.
We believe that giving a price based on a piece of information (ex: the length of the video, a similar idea, etc.) is not the best approach, nor a professional one.
To clarify, videos are like building a house. Everything is created around a budget.
You don’t go to an architect and say: I want a house, make me an offer, or I want a house with four rooms, make me an offer, etc. It’s too vague. The same is with video.
Also, there will be some people out there who will give you a specific budget based on where the wind blows. But, you will never get a specific budget for a request like “I want a 1-minute video with a girl walking” from a team of experts. Instead, you will get a bunch of questions to discover your need.
Why are some videos more expensive than others?
Why a Renault is cheaper than a Mercedes, and why are some dentists more expensive than others? You know why? Because again, all details count in setting the final budget:
- TEAM’S NOTORIETY
- TEAM’S EXPERTISE & EXPERIENCE
- PROJECT COMPLEXITY:
- concept
- the quality or level of production
- shooting days
- equipment needed
- length of the video
- screenplay
- editing
- sound design
- color grading
- music license
- locations
- actors
- construction & set design
- make-up & hair
- wardrobe & stylist
- props
- travel costs, etc.
But, the most important aspects of the list above are the team’s notoriety, expertise, and experience. This way, it doesn’t matter if the project is simple and anyone can do it. Do you want Martin Scorsese to say “action” when a cat walks through the frame while a child is filming on the phone or at least tries? Okay, then be prepared to pay tens of thousands of dollars just to hear Scorsese say “action!”
Not the same.
Even it might seem that some providers sell the same kind of product or service, we can assure you that the only thing that’s the same is the word that describes the product or the service. In our case: video. In other cases, it can be shoes, laptops, social media services, cars, etc.
On the other hand, if you think a 500€ video is the same as a 5.000€ one, or a 10.000€ video is the same as a 100.000€ one, maybe you should think twice. In the video industry, as in many other fields, you get what you pay for.
So, in the end, we can conclude that a video will cost how much you can afford and how much you are willing to pay, and for sure, you will find a team that fits your need and budget.
Good luck!
