What to charge?

There's no such thing as a "half day." If a client wants me to work for 2 hours, I charge a full day rate.

If he's making a decent amount on the project ($2k-$5k), then he should be able to afford paying you minimum wage, which is $500/day.

If you were assisting/2nd angle then don't worry about half/full day. Regardless of the time spent at the shoot, I always bill the client the same rate for my assistants. The guy you're working for most likely added you into the estimate at a set rate, so just ask him what that rate is. Depending on the client/size of the production you're most likely looking at $250-$500 for your average 2-3 crew shoot. More if you're actually working with real clients, but unfortunately most clients aren't willing to pay the real rates.

I'd charge a little less than he expects - that way he won't hesitate to ask you again. If you can land a job shooting second angle for him every so often it's a really nice income!

This, but as your work gets better don't be afraid to talk about a raise. There is a big difference between asking what you'd need to do to get a raise in a few months and demanding one.

I'd do this as well. Also if he is paying others to do the same job don't hesitate to ask what he is paying them. He might not tell you exactly what he's paying but it gives you a good ballpark of what to expect. Even though the industry "standard" is 500 a video I wouldn't hesitate to settle for 300ish. Also like many others said, there's no half-days involved; so ask for a full day price regardless of the hours

im going to be straight forward with this...

either you guys suck at what you do ( this sounds like the least possible option)

Or you are cutting yourself cheap, and the industry is getting killed because of you.

Dont make him call you back because your cheap, make him call you back because you do a fucking amazing job. And to who ever talked about not hesitating to ask for a raise.... NO GOD NO! who in their right minds would agree to give a raise to someone who never changed their quality. Thats like saying hey, im getting by at what Im worth, lets see if I can go get more. It may not be the case but this is what your client reads. BECAUSE YOU UNDERCUT YOURSELF!



Now the question about pricing: first off why oh why did you film without arranging payment. he can give you 20$ and tell you to fuck off. Do you have the footage or does he have it? if you only do, keep it until payment is done, its your only security right now.

Did you shoot with your gear or his? complex camera work or not?

With your gear I would charge 400 absolute minimum depending on what you have. without, go bottom price at 300. only you know what you did and how much your worth so go accordinly but dont undersell yourself. also dont be arrogant but stick to your price or else you just show him that your worth very little and you only boosted your price.

what are you helping shoot?

This isn't my issue, it's the OP's. Like I said 300 for a day's filming isn't terrible. I'm getting paid pretty decent right now, the pay could be better-- but in the back of my head is that I'm doing something that I love while gaining lots of experience. At some point in the future I'll feel a lot more comfortable setting a price and sticking to it. But, when you're starting out you need the experience and even though the pay isn't "industry standard" the more experience you gain in the field and on shoots the close you are to getting the price you're looking for.

This is a shining example of what not to do.

Thats not what I was trying to say at all, like did you even read my post? I said, and I quote, "As your work gets better!" What I was trying to say is that it's okay to go to your employer and say look, I'm doing well right now, but where would YOU want me to be in 6 months? After those 6 months if you improve dramatically based on your agreed a pon terms that's when you can mention a raise. "There is a big difference between asking what you'd need to do to get a raise in a few months and demanding one." Basically, if you get hired as a $300 cinematographer, that company isn't going to come back in six months and say, wow, this guy would make a great $3000 cinematographer. Don't under-sell yourself, thill will kill you in the long run.

Also TD: I'd charge a little less than he expects - that way he won't hesitate to ask you again. If you can land a job shooting second angle for him every so often it's a really nice income!

NO NO NO NO NO NO, JUST NO.



This is totally applicable, I highly recommend you all watch it, it is long but it dramatically changed my perspective on how to run a business.

This is exactly what I'm doing. I don't ever plan to be a professional filmer but it's a fun job to do on the side that pays for my gear. My main income (shitty job at dq) is all going towards my schooling once I graduate. My friend and I do weddings in our town, he plays guitar and I film. We charge 500 and split 250 each. As a HS student I could care less about the industry standard. Being young, clients are hesitant, even if our work is good enough for what they want. So charging a low price and giving good results has been working well for us. It gives the couple security knowing that they didn't blow there budget on something they possibly don't even need.

thanks for sharing that^ zb. im half way through and loving it. answers so many questions i didnt know i had haha

haha, lil bit. The one thing about having a video job doing shoots and post work is that if you have your own machine and the projects continue to pile up. There's no down time, no 9-5-- instead you end up staying up till 10 or 11 everynight editing or exporting out. Sure many jobs are paid by project, which is great incentive to get it done, but it can be overwhelming at times when deadlines are coming up

You have no idea how much this video changed my life and how I aproach video contracts especialy.

I agree with what you said about the salary increase for a normal job or a fixed salary job.

for an hourly rate, tell a client your now more that you were 6 months ago, he will say this...Why? easy as that, why.

two options:
A: I am now better skilled: To this he will respond with something in the lines of, what I ask and what I receive from you has not changed. lets be honest unless its a full year of doing the same thing over and over, there will be a little improvement but you wont be able to justify an increase of several hundreds of dollars. it is possible but most people will think they are paying for the same person and same thing as last time so why pay more now.... because your ripping him off ( what he thinks)

B: I am realy worth that much and what I was giving you was a deal: then he responds with something in the lines of. you are giving me the same thing as last time but for a different cost... are your costs just invented off the top of your head?

They probably wont say any of this but they will almost always think it. This is why you will lose those clients and you will call them cheap. In part they are, but biggest thing is you didnt play your cards right.

I hate people who undercharge but thats an other issue, all I want to say is charge cheap or expensive.... just stick to your prices. No hoping for increase, no short term prices no promotion discussions.

whatever you do, don't undercut yourself. even if you think you are overpricing your work as you are filming...you are not. for every hour you spend filming is another 3 or 4 to edit, render, and export.