You know you need video production services, but getting an exact number as to how much production companies charge could feel like an uphill battle. You need the right product that aligns with your business needs but have no idea where to place your bets. We get it, the world of cinematography can be bewildering; big cameras and lots of zeroes on quotes. It's a whole new type of venture.

You’ve heard numbers from £500 to £50,000. The truth is, video production costs can vary dramatically depending on the project's complexity, location and the services requested. Of course, every project like every person, is its own unique thing, and the costs associated reflect that distinctiveness.

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Not to worry, this article is here to help you understand what you get for your money and how to get the result you are after. Consider it your tour guide to the world of video projects. From explainer videos and action sequences to interviews, we cover everything.

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So let’s start with the things that affect the price of a video production (there’s a lot, so we’ll stick to the most significant).

Factors Affecting Video Production Costs

1. Time

When you hire a video production agency, you usually pay them more the more time they spend on the project.

Wow. Great insight I hear you say.

But lots of clients often forget that it’s not just time on set filming that counts in the scope of such a project. It’s time spent by the production team in meetings, producing ideas, scriptwriting, storyboarding, performing a recce, recording voiceover, motion graphics, animation, audio, video editing and post-production.

Striking a balance with time is the best way to achieve the most bang for your buck.

Try shooting all your interviews back to back (Netflix binge style) instead of splitting them over multiple days. Any time you can reduce the length of your shoot and its associated costs can result in significant savings.

(remember time spent traveling is a cost, so is fuel and setting up/packing down)

If possible, arrange for your shoot locations to be close together, reducing travel, fuel cost, and the length of shooting. A little foresight can save you considerable resources, and as they say, time is money.

Have all decision makers in the meetings that matter, so they do not need to be repeated - your time is a precious ingredient that doesn't need to be squandered beyond necessity.

You get the idea. Be a great client and don’t waste time on factors that don’t improve the end result.

The cost of time will vary by crew and agency size and experience.

Expect prices to start from £250 per day for an inexperienced freelancer right up to around £1000 for a 2 man team. If you need a bigger crew for your video production it will cost you £2000+ per day of shooting. These prices are relevant from September 2024.

The quote for a film production can spiral pretty quickly dependent on the requirements of the project.

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Do you need a specialist camera operator? Director of photography? Composer of music? What about a lighting team, producer, or a teleprompter operator? The roster you need to assemble purely depends on the type and calibre of end product you are after. It's worth noting that part of what you are buying is the  video production companies expertise in assembling such teams, and it’s their job is to ensure you receive top quality service from specialists.

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Need help pricing up your video production brief or looking to hire a London video production company? Chat with us here!‍