why are videographers charging so low?
- Thread starter Blade777
- Start date
Bro Agetan >>> Thanks for the pointers.
Glad it works for you.
All the best.
Regards,
Hart
First of all, don't hate me...
In the past years we will hire a pr company to manage our annual joint publicity campaign with our clients. It is not cheap but the results are there.
Last year we decided to DIY since we learned from hiring the specialists in the previous years. We looked for videographers and photographers and so my secretary hire freelancers here and google search. The responses were overwhelming, so much that it's tedious to even choose. Majority were cheap and well within our comfortable budget and many even offered to do pro bono work. There were more photographers than videographers offerings. It's hard for us to tell the differences so we went with a few free ones building portfolio. Results were very good. We were happy and the people doing enjoyed working with us too. The budget we reallocated to better FnB and hiring part time helpers.
From this year onwards we will allocated no budget for videos and photos. We don't mind paying for videos if need to. Photos; no.
Again don't hate me or businesses like me, we logically went for good deals to maximise our dollar. We did not ask for cheap or free, but was given.
In the past years we will hire a pr company to manage our annual joint publicity campaign with our clients. It is not cheap but the results are there.
Last year we decided to DIY since we learned from hiring the specialists in the previous years. We looked for videographers and photographers and so my secretary hire freelancers here and google search. The responses were overwhelming, so much that it's tedious to even choose. Majority were cheap and well within our comfortable budget and many even offered to do pro bono work. There were more photographers than videographers offerings. It's hard for us to tell the differences so we went with a few free ones building portfolio. Results were very good. We were happy and the people doing enjoyed working with us too. The budget we reallocated to better FnB and hiring part time helpers.
From this year onwards we will allocated no budget for videos and photos. We don't mind paying for videos if need to. Photos; no.
Again don't hate me or businesses like me, we logically went for good deals to maximise our dollar. We did not ask for cheap or free, but was given.
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Bamboopictures
Senior Member
Alfred, thanks for sharing. For that, you're a generous person. A lot depends on what your competitor is doing. So if their marcomm budget goes up, you may have to up your game.
No, I don't hate you,
in business, business is business, I understand that.
photographers hear ye hear ye,
you guys dig your own grave.
This is why:
http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/phot...-free-wedding-videography-church-wedding.html
When you have people trying to enter your industry with sub standard work, unable to get jobs, then they start offering senseless prices or free work - all the while claiming they are professionals with extensive experiences.
These people, or rather this practice is going to cause clients to form a certain impressions:
1) Videography works in general are mostly lousy despite hiring professionals, be careful with spending your money on these services.
2) Videography works are cheap and often free, don't be hire expensive ones, there are cheap and free ones around, look for those.
Not trying to shoot new comers and young blood down but what we need is people who are really talented and have the right attitude and tenacity. If one cannot find work first thing is to look at your own work and ask what's wrong, should I improve my product or my marketing and sales? Am I spending enough time to build relationships and bridges?
INSTEAD OF jumping in to give free services, undercutting each other, destroying relationships and burning bridges. This industry needs some self love and fiscal responsibility. Build, not burn. JMH2C.
http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/phot...-free-wedding-videography-church-wedding.html
When you have people trying to enter your industry with sub standard work, unable to get jobs, then they start offering senseless prices or free work - all the while claiming they are professionals with extensive experiences.
These people, or rather this practice is going to cause clients to form a certain impressions:
1) Videography works in general are mostly lousy despite hiring professionals, be careful with spending your money on these services.
2) Videography works are cheap and often free, don't be hire expensive ones, there are cheap and free ones around, look for those.
Not trying to shoot new comers and young blood down but what we need is people who are really talented and have the right attitude and tenacity. If one cannot find work first thing is to look at your own work and ask what's wrong, should I improve my product or my marketing and sales? Am I spending enough time to build relationships and bridges?
INSTEAD OF jumping in to give free services, undercutting each other, destroying relationships and burning bridges. This industry needs some self love and fiscal responsibility. Build, not burn. JMH2C.
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I just received PM from a member who responded to threads in service wanted section,
one particular thread was seeking for PRO videographer.
but the TS claim receive PM from some other members offer to shoot for FREE.
so asking this member to match the offer, aka SHOOT FOR FREE.
do you guys know what this sound like?
Shooting for free is already bad enough,
now the so call "customers" going around asking others pros to shoot for free as well!!
People who willing to shoot for free, See how the "customers" treat you now? "You Free I also don't want you!"
one particular thread was seeking for PRO videographer.
but the TS claim receive PM from some other members offer to shoot for FREE.
so asking this member to match the offer, aka SHOOT FOR FREE.
do you guys know what this sound like?
Shooting for free is already bad enough,
now the so call "customers" going around asking others pros to shoot for free as well!!
People who willing to shoot for free, See how the "customers" treat you now? "You Free I also don't want you!"
received another PM from a member,
He was asked:
OMG!! better than free?? how to??
Like I pay you and you let me shoot your wedding??
He was asked:
OMG!! better than free?? how to??
Like I pay you and you let me shoot your wedding??
Hi Seniors,
Seriously, for a beginner like me, how much do I have to quote for my time and equipments ?
I have been offered $20.00SGD per hour for a wedding job. Since I am new, I would not mind the rate. This brother have been kind enough in assisting my learning. Furthermore, I am able learn from a real person and who is an experienced freelancer in the Malay wedding videos market. I have been told that nobody would want to take chance with a newbie like me as I have nothing to put on the table for "hirer".
I got another offer to video shoot a conference. A 2 hour conference for 2 separeate days and one hour interview.
The "hirer" asked for my rates. I replied that the normal rate for a videographer is $80.00SGD per hour (info I got from this thread).
The "hirer" mentioned "Wah, so ex ah. You are a rookie, you know. I am offering you an opportunity for you to learn".
I replied back "I do know I am a rookie. But you have to compensate for my time. I have to edit and produce the hardcopy for you. This include producing cost."
End up, he would pay me $50.00SGD per hour.
I am totally new in this videography rates and kinda. As much as I want to learn, I would not mind to earn a little bit to aid my learning journey.
Rates is subjective to individual videographers. Rates also have to take considerations in terms your time, equipment, editing time, hardcopies and any other costs. What would be the best and the most advisable solution ?
Pardon for my ignorance if in any way, I have caused inconvenience.
Seriously, for a beginner like me, how much do I have to quote for my time and equipments ?
I have been offered $20.00SGD per hour for a wedding job. Since I am new, I would not mind the rate. This brother have been kind enough in assisting my learning. Furthermore, I am able learn from a real person and who is an experienced freelancer in the Malay wedding videos market. I have been told that nobody would want to take chance with a newbie like me as I have nothing to put on the table for "hirer".
I got another offer to video shoot a conference. A 2 hour conference for 2 separeate days and one hour interview.
The "hirer" asked for my rates. I replied that the normal rate for a videographer is $80.00SGD per hour (info I got from this thread).
The "hirer" mentioned "Wah, so ex ah. You are a rookie, you know. I am offering you an opportunity for you to learn".
I replied back "I do know I am a rookie. But you have to compensate for my time. I have to edit and produce the hardcopy for you. This include producing cost."
End up, he would pay me $50.00SGD per hour.
I am totally new in this videography rates and kinda. As much as I want to learn, I would not mind to earn a little bit to aid my learning journey.
Rates is subjective to individual videographers. Rates also have to take considerations in terms your time, equipment, editing time, hardcopies and any other costs. What would be the best and the most advisable solution ?
Pardon for my ignorance if in any way, I have caused inconvenience.
Sam wants to help car owners so he built and maintains a carpark out of his own blood sweat and toil. So that cars need not park in the mud anymore but on nice floors. He rightly charges people a fee to use it. Sunday he gives free as courtesy.
One day a stingy man persuaded him to give alternate saturday free. He agreed out of kindness. Soon, people demanded to know why not all saturday free. He bent to pressure and so now sat and sun all free parking. Then came the holidays must be free. Then certain hours everyday must be free. Soon, he is starving. He tried to reinstate weekdays parking all chargeable pay, but was accused to be a greedy evil man who preyed upon car owners.
The people who never bled, sweat nor toil in building and maintaining that carpark do not know how hard it is. They only think that it was supposed to be a free thing but this Sam wants to make money out of car owners. He died of hunger and yet is still blamed for trying to make a living. His peers, Wilson and friends, also suffered. Because people demanded that since Sam gives free, so must Wilson and friends.
One day a stingy man persuaded him to give alternate saturday free. He agreed out of kindness. Soon, people demanded to know why not all saturday free. He bent to pressure and so now sat and sun all free parking. Then came the holidays must be free. Then certain hours everyday must be free. Soon, he is starving. He tried to reinstate weekdays parking all chargeable pay, but was accused to be a greedy evil man who preyed upon car owners.
The people who never bled, sweat nor toil in building and maintaining that carpark do not know how hard it is. They only think that it was supposed to be a free thing but this Sam wants to make money out of car owners. He died of hunger and yet is still blamed for trying to make a living. His peers, Wilson and friends, also suffered. Because people demanded that since Sam gives free, so must Wilson and friends.
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Optodexine
New Member
I have to disagree with you there about "middlemen" who exploit people. Being one such middle man, I regularly deploy photographers and videographers to shoots that I cannot manage on my own. There are many factors that we have to factor in when we do something like that.
1- The sales process takes time and money. To meet the client, follow up, close the deal etc etc. This all takes time and the sales person has to be compensated for this.
2- The company/person who closes the deal also has the responsibility to make sure that the work is good, and gets delivered on time. All liability is on them. If the photographer screws up, the company gets in trouble.
3- The final delivery and collection of payment is also on the middle man.
My recommendation is to work with several reliable middle men and negotiate a fair rate, according to how many jobs they can pass you and how fast is their payment.
1- The sales process takes time and money. To meet the client, follow up, close the deal etc etc. This all takes time and the sales person has to be compensated for this.
2- The company/person who closes the deal also has the responsibility to make sure that the work is good, and gets delivered on time. All liability is on them. If the photographer screws up, the company gets in trouble.
3- The final delivery and collection of payment is also on the middle man.
My recommendation is to work with several reliable middle men and negotiate a fair rate, according to how many jobs they can pass you and how fast is their payment.
Not all middlemen as nice as you to pay fairly mah. Maybe they are talking about the bad ones.
engr
Senior Member
I guess we all have to start somewhere. I started out shooting a relative's wedding with no price tag as well. Back then the couple was briefed that it was an experiment and i wasn't sure what i could deliver. I gota nice ang pow and they were happy with the work. When I got more serious I got proper equipment and did 2 friends wedding at low pricing too. I never advertised my services until I was confident of delivering. I guess shooting a friend's event/project would be good start. After a short while I wa able to price my work and increased my rates along the way as things got more expensive to produce.
hamanoshun
Senior Member
I like this way this was put across.
I think the main point that people can extract from this reply is:
Don't advertise your services unless you know clearly what your worth/rate is and you are confident of what you can deliver.
I think the main issue is that amateurs start advertising their services trying to get some jobs but are clueless as to what the normal rates are and are hence not confident about what to charge and subsequently become confused with what to deliver to the clients. It all goes hand in hand.
Which is why I have arrived at the same conclusion as I have expressed before, know your worth and you will know what to charge. If you're going to succumb to clients asking for cheaper rates, then honestly you are not confident that you are worth what you are asking for.
And as engr has stated, shooting a friend's project/event would be a good start. I started with that as well.
bowwow
Senior Member
there's a VG charging $1000 for Wedding AD VG plus AD PG. That's really called spoil market - now, everybody else is considered "expensive".
