A £1,234 example, line by line
This is a made-up scope for explaining our current rates, not an advertised package, national average or previous client invoice. Assume one location, one operator for six consecutive booked hours, approved interview topics and a modest edit requiring ten hours. The final quote would confirm whether those allowances suit the actual brief.
| Work | Calculation | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| First on-location hour | 1 × £249 | £249 |
| Further five booked hours | 5 × £99 | £495 |
| Assumed editing allowance | 10 × £49 | £490 |
| Subtotal | Production + editing | £1,234 |
The calculation matters more than the round number: six on-location hours cost £744, and ten editing hours add £490. No VAT is currently added to our prices. Add the agreed travel and any external or specialist costs before treating the subtotal as a project total. Check the current pricing page when commissioning; rates here were checked on 13 September 2026.
Editing time cannot be inferred reliably from filming time. Two short extracts may be straightforward if they are selected sections of an approved interview, or substantial work if each needs a new argument, graphics and a different crop. Describe them before asking for an estimate.
Which changes move the budget most?
More people and places
A second operator attending the same six hours adds another £744 in standard production costs. That can be valuable for simultaneous activity, but is unnecessary if there is no second job to do. Several cameras in one controlled interview setup do not automatically mean several operators.
Another location adds travel, access and setup dependencies. A short contribution at a distant site can consume more time than a much longer interview at the main location. Grouping compatible scenes can save money without reducing their quality.
Creating the message from scratch
Normal brief review, calls and straightforward coordination are included in our standard approach. Detailed scripting, storyboards, significant research or complex scheduling may be separately scoped at £49 per hour. An agreed two-hour planning allowance would add £98; it is not charged merely because an email was sent.
Unresolved messages also affect the edit. If three departments disagree about what the film is for, more footage will not settle the argument. A clear production brief is a budget control, as well as a creative document.
Specialist capture and finishing
Drone coverage, a teleprompter, animation, extensive dialogue repair, location hire, performers or licensed assets can all be legitimate additions. They should solve a named requirement and appear in the quote. A dramatic aerial shot is not a substitute for explaining the product.
Different language versions, vertical reframing, captions and display-system exports also need specification. They are easier to estimate before filming than after somebody asks for “just one more version”.
How to compare two quotes without pretending they are identical
Take the lower quote and mark anything unspecified. Then ask both suppliers to confirm the same five outputs: the final films and formats; the crew and booked coverage; editing and review allowance; delivery dates; and rights or third-party costs. Do not fill gaps with optimistic assumptions.
One quote may include a producer, location research and several edits while another covers an operator and camera files. Both can be reasonable for different needs. A price comparison becomes meaningful only once you know which responsibilities your own team must take on.
At our current rates, quoted editing includes two reasonable review rounds within the original agreed brief. New deliverables or a major change of direction are additional scope. Source-file handover is also not standard finished-film delivery; ask for it separately if your organisation needs a working archive.
Spend where a mistake would be costly
Protect the unrepeatable part first. An interview with someone available only once needs dependable sound and enough time to record a complete answer. An exhibition film needs a tested playback file. A product demonstration needs the correct sample and a clear view of the action.
If the budget is tight, reduce locations, optional versions or decorative sequences before cutting those essentials. A smaller film that answers one question clearly is often a more useful purchase than a broad brief spread too thinly.
This article covers producing the assets. Advertising spend, your staff’s time and measuring the campaign are separate decisions; our video-marketing budget guide covers that wider plan. For event-specific crew and timing examples, see event videographer costs.
