How to Make Video Production More Affordable

The Quote for Your Video Project is Higher than you Expected

What can we do to make it more affordable but still fit your aims?

First things first:

The start-up cost will always be high.

If you’re unfortunately sticker shocked by a quote we have provided, even for a bare-bones project, shaving off 30-seconds from your desired length of a 1-minute video, will not halve the cost. We’ll still have to do all the upfront work no matter the length. It will reduce the cost some but not in ratio to its length of time. In other words:

A $5,000 5-minute video is not priced at $1,000 per minute.

If a quote is a bit out of reach, talk to us! We can always let you know what options are available to you for a slight reduction in cost. First, we’ll suggest removing any of the “bells-and-whistles” discussed above. Then we’ll ask what is a budget you can you work with. Lastly, we’ll advise on how we can produce an efficient production within your budget, if possible. It doesn’t hurt to ask!

Limit the Extras

Bells and whistles are items that can add a lot to a cost. These are typically extras that will certainly enhance the story and make it more high-end, but not strictly necessary. Examples are professional actors, drone footage and 3D animations.

Be Efficient

Another way cost can get added on is if we’re being inefficient. For example, say we had to shoot subject A one day, and subject B a week later. That is two separate shoot days. It’s far more efficient and therefore cost effective, if we can shoot our interviews with both A and B the same day and place. So extra shoot days and locations will add to the cost as well as situations that require additional crew. For instance, if you are trying to capture as much footage as you can in a limited window of time, then two videographers will obviously capture not only twice as much footage, but more angles, and more chances of getting great shots.


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The above example with subjects A, B, and C is fairly straight forward but you can extrapolate that thinking to more complex projects. For instance, we had a client in the past who had wanted 20+ short training videos made, with multiple locations and several actors performing various different training acts. To be cost effective, we had proposed keeping the number of locations down to four, and the number of actors down to three (a “spokesperson” narrator, and two subjects acting out the scenes) and that everything should be scripted and storyboarded, or at least shot listed.

We further created a scheduling planning for our shoots to take just two full days. First half of the day at one location, then a second location for the second half of the day. Repeat the next day for two more locations. This would require extensive planning and preparation up front but would pay dividends in the long run.

Learn more about you can control costs on your video production by reading our blog on this topic, “How Efficiency Saves Money in Video Production

As you can see, there are many ways you can approach video production capably.  Fortunately, here at Kohlitz, we have 13+ years figuring this out so you don’t have to!

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