A client asked me last month what a straightforward corporate video would run them. I gave a real number, somewhere in the three to five thousand dollar range depending on scope, and they went quiet for a second, then said that’s actually less than they expected. That happens more than you’d think.
Here’s the thing about video pricing, everyone assumes it comes down to length. Thirty seconds equals cheap, five minutes equals expensive, right? Not really. A thirty second spot with one location and no talent can cost more than a ten minute doc, because cost follows complexity, not runtime. Nobody explains that part though, so people end up guessing, and guessing badly makes people nervous to even ask for a quote in the first place.
So here’s how it actually breaks down, no vague “it depends” answer.
A single shooter for a half or full day in the DC area runs eight hundred to fourteen hundred dollars. That covers one person, one camera, and everything that comes with running a shoot solo, gear, time, and the judgment to get the shot without a big crew standing around. Add a second camera, an audio tech, or a full crew for something like a conference, and that number moves up from there, since you’re now paying for more hands and more coordination, not just more hours.
A full corporate video project, the kind an association or nonprofit hires us for start to finish, typically lands in the three to five thousand dollar range. That covers pre-production (the planning, scripting, and logistics that keep shoot day from turning into a scramble), the shoot itself, and post-production, which is the part almost everyone underestimates. Editing a three minute video isn’t a few hours in a timeline. It’s a rough cut, a round or two of revisions, color, sound, and graphics if the project needs them. Skipping that part is how you end up with a video that looks rushed even when the footage was good.
Travel, a rented location instead of your own office, props if the story needs them, none of that is padding. It’s just real, and a vendor who doesn’t mention it upfront is going to surprise you with it later.
If you want an actual number instead of a range, that’s what a quote is for. Tell us what you’re trying to make and we’ll break it down the same way we just did here, no guesswork on either end. Check out our video production packages for a starting point, or reach out directly.
Working on a video project in the DC area?
8 Media Group is a video production company in Washington, DC. We produce corporate video for associations, nonprofits, and federal contractors across DC, Maryland, and Virginia. See our video production packages or how we handle event videography.
