Cinematography and Videography Investment FAQs
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On a practical level, cinematography is about creating the look of a narrative project and often operating the camera for the visionary (you).
Videography includes that cinematography aspect (unless it's a documentary), as well as editing and designing the rest of the vision in post-production. This could include sound design and color grading work.
It's on you to determine your needs and wants to bring that idea to life. Do you already have an editor, or are you going to do it yourself? Then you just need a Cinematographer (me).
Is this your first project, or are you busy with all the other aspects of the project that you want to hand the cinematography and post-production off to someone else? That's a Videography service I can provide.
There are tiers to each main investment that breakdown what's included. Each one crafted to make sure you get the most out of it.
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Yes, I have my own camera, lighting kit, and other essential gear to handle most production scenarios. You can see a list of my gear here and examples of my work created with these tools in my portfolio.
Alternatively, if you prefer to provide your own equipment for the project, the cost for my services will be reduced. In this case, you would only need to pay my Director of Photography (only) Rate and travel fee.
So whether you need a complete package with my equipment or just a skilled cinematographer/camera operator, I can accommodate your needs. Let me know what works best for your project, and we can discuss your investment accordingly.
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The two Cinematography starter packages include the following:
1 Day of Shooting (Cinematography Rate)
Complimentary color grading for the first 15 minutes of your project
The Director of Photography (only) package is for productions that already have or are planning to rent their own gear for the shoot. I bring additional lighting as a supplement.
The Director of Photography + Gear package includes a single camera package with lighting gear. The pricing includes a flat rate for the entire shoot, no daily rental pricing here.
All three of my Videography starter packages include the following:
1 Day of Shooting (Cinematography Rate)
1 Day of Editing/Color Correction and Grading (Post-Production Rate)
Camera, lenses, lighting, sound equipment, camera peripherals (tripod, gimbal, etc.), and video editing gear
Travel within a certain range
The pricing for these packages increases based on:
Multi-Day Production
Multi-Day Post-Production (with an additional increase based on the length of the video)
Travel exceeding the initial range of a specific package
After our initial consultation, I draft an estimate based on the actual number of days needed for production and post-production.
If we only require 1 day of shooting and editing for a final video that will be less than 15 minutes long, the starting rate shown on the previous page will be the subtotal with taxes and processing fees added in the finalized invoice.
If you opt for one of the three starter packages, you're guaranteed a discounted cinematography and post-production day rate ($75 off each day rate) for multi-day work.
The key difference between the packages is the level of service, along with other features. Let me know if you have any other questions!
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For videography, if you decide you only need someone to do cinematography and editing, not capture sound, I can draft a custom package that only includes those two aspects.
For cinematography, if you have a Grip & Electrical crew who can handle lighting, but still need a camera, a custom package will be drafted for your consideration.
The best approach is to consider your specific needs:
Cinematography Services ($150/day) + Travel ($0.67/mile)
If you have the gear and only require a cinematographer - someone to handle the camera operating and visual style - I would charge my standard Cinematography Day Rate for the necessary production days. Complimentary color correction and grading is included on videos that are 15 minutes or less.
Video Editing Services ($125/day)
If you only need a video editor - someone to organize your media and put the pieces of the puzzle together - I charge my standard Editing Day Rate for the necessary post-production days.
Post-Production Consultation ($65/rough cut)
If you're tackling the edit yourself, but need a fresh set of eyes to help shape it even more, I can provide the guidance to get it ready for audiences. After over a decade of trial-and-error, I've learned that a final cut needs to strike a balance between the director's vision and what will be palatable for everyone else. The rate is based on each new cut of the film that needs to be reviewed.
Gear Rate ($400/flat)
If you want me to shoot but also need me to use my equipment, please refer to the "Director of Photography + Gear" package.
Full Videography Services
For a complete videography service, including editing, I recommend one of my three Videography Starter Packages, as it does include discounted day rates for cinematography and editing for multi-day shoots and a discounted Gear Rate.
The key is identifying your exact requirements.
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For narrative short films, as an example:
Production Schedule
A full day of production, or
Two half-days of production
Either minimal travel between locations or the production providing a rental car or driver.
Videography that does NOT include sound recording
Budget Considerations
For micro-budget projects, I understand the need to cut corners, and I will not deliver a poor-quality product, however, my level of effort (i.e. resources I'm willing to include on the project) will match the resources committed to the rest of the production.
Gear and Rates
If you have your own gear and can invest in my full Cinematography Day Rate, I'm able to provide the level of service the project requires.
The key is finding the right balance between budget constraints and the production value I can deliver. I'm happy to work with you to find a solution that works for both of us.
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Footage is only transferred for cinematography services or as part of the Plus or Ultra videography package.
For cinematography services, footage is transferred after the final payment is made. I retain the footage on my end for my reels and advertising, but archival in case you lose the footage is not guaranteed unless paid for.
For the Plus and Ultra packages, in addition to receiving the footage, you also get the project file after project completion and the final payment is made. As part of either the Plus or Ultra investment, I retain a copy of the project file and footage on my end for reels and advertising and for you as a backup.
The Standard package does not include a copy of the project file or footage for your use, nor footage archival.
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To reserve your date and lock in the services, a signed contract and a non-refundable 50% Initial Payment prior to the shoot or the start of the edit is required. No exceptions.
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The final payment must be received before you can download your completed video(s).
If I’m only providing cinematography services, final payment is due prior to footage transfer.
No exceptions.
After our initial consultation, I draft a project plan with a timeline for completion to provide an idea of when to anticipate payments.
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Electronic payments are made through my website, using the latest and greatest online payment methods, including Apple Pay! This ensures a streamlined process, from you contacting me, receiving a proposal, estimate, contract, and an invoice all from the same place.
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Cash is fine for in-person payments.
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The timeline for completing a video project can vary depending on the scope of work:
For a full, end-to-end service (from concept to final delivery), the process could take anywhere from one week to several months.
A proposed schedule is always included as part of the service agreement, ensuring both parties have a clear understanding of the expected timeline.
The specific duration will depend on factors like:
The complexity of the project
The amount of pre-production, production, and post-production work required
Any revisions or changes requested during the process
I'm happy to provide a detailed project timeline estimate once we've discussed the specifics of your video needs. This will help set realistic expectations and keep the project on track from start to finish.
Please let me know if you have any other questions about the typical timelines for my videography services.
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I typically factor in at least 2-3 days when developing an estimate for the editing process on a video that’s less than 15 minutes long. The number of days needed is determined by the following steps:
Media Management: Labeling and organizing footage and audio.
Revisions for each cut of the film:
At a minimum…
Assembly Cut: Includes all dialogue shot during production.
Editor's Cut (aka Rough Cut): I provide suggestions for improvement, typically narrowing the focus.
Director's Cut: You provide additional notes for improvement, if any, before picture lock.
Color Correction and Grading
At a minimum…
Colorist’s first attempt at establishing the overall look of the film
Director’s notes for improvement
Sound Design
Beginning/End Titles for the project
The duration of the editing process can vary depending on the complexity of the project (i.e., adding subtitles) and the number of revisions required.
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For production days, the project schedule will be adjusted for inclement weather. Due to the “50% prior, 50% later” payment plan, the final payment will simply be adjusted for when the production picks up again and concludes.
This will also be applied to post-production services, in case inclement weather prevents us from meeting to deliver footage in-person or if the weather cuts power and internet usage.
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No need to worry if you accidentally delete or lose the final video product.
My Standard, Plus, and Ultra Videography packages all include Lifetime Archival of the final cut on my end.
This means you can simply download another copy if you ever need it, at no additional cost. The video files are securely stored, so you don't have to stress about permanently losing the final deliverable.
Consider it a built-in backup solution as part of your videography investment.
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I backup all finalized projects across at least two different storage methods - cloud and external drive - for as long as I'm in business. If I ever go out of business, I'll notify you and provide one final copy of your project.
If the cloud storage service I use changes, I'll let you know and send you a new download link.
For custom videography projects, Project Archival is available as an optional add-on service. This ensures your project files are securely stored and accessible even after the work is complete.
Let me know if you have any other questions about my backup and archival processes. I'm happy to provide more details to give you peace of mind about the safety of your video assets.
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For a full video production project, I can archive the entire project, including:
Project files of the edit
Raw footage
Color-graded footage
Sound effects
Music (subject to licensing terms)
This archival service can be applied to any project we work on together, whether it's a full production or just the footage (without any editing on my end), or a post-production-only collaboration.
The optional cost for this archival service ensures you don't have to worry about losing any of the assets. I'll have everything stored securely, and can provide you with the files whenever you need them.
Let me know if you have any other questions about the archival process. I'm happy to discuss the details and ensure you have a comprehensive backup of your project materials.
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If archival services are not included in our custom package, project assets will only be stored on my end until the completion of the project.
I may add any necessary materials to my editing/color grading reels, and then I will delete the assets once I've exported an updated version of my demo reel.
This is to ensure I have the necessary storage space for future projects. I will send a courtesy email a few days before the files are deleted, in case you need copies. However, after the deadline, those copies will no longer be available.
Unless our agreement includes Limited or Lifetime Archival services, I will not have ongoing access to the project assets. The responsibility for retaining those files will be on your end.
Please let me know if you have any other questions about the archival process and what is included in our custom package.
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For my Standard Videography Package and Custom Post-Production package, I edit exclusively using Adobe Premiere Pro.
However, for the Plus and Ultra packages, you have the option to choose your preferred NLE software:
Premiere Pro
DaVinci Resolve
Final Cut Pro
We can discuss the pros and cons of each option during our consultation to determine the best fit for your project.
The reason I offer these choices is to accommodate clients who may already edit using a specific software, and want the working files. Otherwise, if you have no preference, I'll use the most efficient option for me.
Let me know if you have any other questions about the editing software I use and how it aligns with the different videography packages.
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No problem! Contact me with your question and we’ll sort it out.