How much does a camera crew cost?
How much does a camera crew cost? Simply put, the cost of a camera crew is going to depend on what your project entails. Are you going to require one camera operator who can do the work you need in half a day? Or do you need 3 or more camera operators filming footage for the entire day?
Camera crew pay rates depend on your project’s needs. Video length, necessary angles, location, equipment, and specialized services will affect the price of a camera crew. When paying for a crew, you’re paying for more than the cameraman. A director of photography and other additional technicians are also used to bring video productions to life. They do the tough work for you. Basically, you get what you pay for, and what you pay for depends on what you’re looking to include in your project!
WHAT ARE CAMERA CREW RATES?
Camera department prices will depend on what type of video you’re creating. For example, you may want aerial shots of your business with a drone, or b-roll filmed with a high-definition Sony camera utilizing top-notch lenses. These two types of equipment are vastly different and may require separate crew members to operate. The price of camera crew rates will vary depending on how long the crew will need to fully complete your production. Camera crews typically charge half-day and full-day rates.
HALF DAY/FULL DAY
When you hire a professional camera crew, you can expect to hire in either a half day, or a full day. A half day is anything under 5 hours. A full day is anything over 5 hours up to 10 hours. Typically anything over 10 hours is considered overtime (time 1/2). Generally, hiring a camera crew for half of a day will cost more than half of their day rate. This is due to the crew making up for lost time and money for not scheduling a second gig that day. So, no matter the size of your production, it’s usually better to hire a crew for an entire day. This ensures a high-quality production with hours of time to film, make adjustments, and overall generate your best video.
WHAT ARE VIDEOGRAPHER PRICES?
Videographer prices vary depending on the type of equipment you’re using and how long the team will be using them. All members of a camera crew play extremely important roles in building a quality video. The director of photography, also known as the DP, manages all of the departments. While camera operators operate different types of cameras, digital image technicians do on-site image quality control. Gaffers are responsible for lighting the set and handling anything electric, grips are responsible for set safety (crane operation, dollies, etc.), and swings are available to do jobs for both the camera and lighting departments. Without one of these crew members, your video would be impossible to create. You can find averages of camera crew pricing, such as cameramen hire costs, below.
PRODUCTION CREW RATES:
(The following rates do not necessarily reflect what our company charges, please call for specific pricing)
- Director of Photography Day Rate: $1,500 to $2,500
- Camera Operator Day Rate: $850 to $1250
- Digital Image Technician Day Rate: $500 to $750
- Gaffer/Key Grip Day Rate: $500 to $600
- Grip/Electric Day Rate: $400 to $500
- Swing Day Rate: $350 to $500
- Sound Recordist Day Rate: $900-$1200
HOURLY RATES FOR A CAMERA CREW
In the end, what you pay is going to depend on what your project entails. Generally, hourly rates for a camera crew range anywhere between $25/hour to $300/hour depending on the service. In order to complete your project, you’ll need to budget everything from crew members, to equipment type, to additional technicians. Your project might require one cameraman and half a day’s work, but it could also require two cameramen and varying types of equipment.
Whatever your camera crew uses will change with whatever is needed to make your video. With how many people are in a camera crew, there’s a lot to take into account. This is an understandably intimidating task. Not to worry ¾ We’re here to do the hard work for you! We’re so excited to discuss the details of your project and contribute to a video your business deserves. It his article didn’t fully answer your question how much does a camera crew cost? contact Beverly Boy to hire a camera crew and we will be happy to consult you on your project.
