To request a price quote, email us at - alhowel@triad.rr.com , or call us at (336) 202-5472
SPI Pricing Guide
Pricing Info...Cha-Ching! (aka Requesting a Price Quote)
Every project has different production requirements, budgets, and expenses. It's our goal to give you what you want at a price you can afford. In order to give you the most accurate pricing quote, and the highest level of production quality possible, we estimate production expenses by the details you supply us about your project. If we receive a quote only stating - "we need you to film a large wedding" - that can mean 100 people in a small church in Greensboro, or 1000 people in a European cathedral. The logistics, lighting, audio and cameras required would be completely different for each one, as would production expenses.
When requesting a price quote by email on any of our services, you can use this pricing guide for providing the basic production details of your project. (If you're unsure of all the creative details, no worries. Simply call us and we'll help design the project according to your needs).
Video Pricing
For example, $75 an hour would be as a secondary camera operator, without editing. A short wedding video may start at $750, and a full production HD music video may start at $35K.
For each day of shooting, we charge a $50/per day 'booking/prep' fee (for 30 mile radius). This covers holding that date open for you, our driving time, gas/food/etc., prep time (battery charging/tape striping/monitor calibration/set up/breakdown/gaffing/camera and filter adjustments and cleaning,etc.) Booking fees are non-refundable once date is booked and/or contract is signed.
Our quotes are based partially on the estimated editing time for the amount of raw footage for a particular video style. (Wedding, event, documentary, ENG, etc.)
Production features we can offer your video...
- lighting equipment
- sound/audio equipment
- extra production assistants
- format conversions, widescreen letterboxing
- custom music soundtrack
- motion graphics
- special effects, animation
- text, logos, credits
- special filters, color correction
- sound sweetening, narration
- chapter/menu points, and remote control sync
- DVD custom menu, DVD cover design, DVD face design
Pricing factors include -
- Location logistics- Company video budget constraints
- Number of cameras (and camera operators) required.
- Video format (Beta cam, film, Standard definition Video (SD), or High Definition Video (HD)
- Amount and type of lighting required (tungsten, daylight, filtered, strobes, etc)
- Power sources available
- Number and type of audio sources required. (Shotgun mics, lavalier mics, remote recorders)
- Size of shoot location (indoors)
- Amount of extraneous noise (planes, pets, crowds, RF interference, windy locations, etc.)
- Equipment risk factors (wind/water, busy streets, high altitude, underwater, amorous bridesmaids, etc etc.)
- Amount of graphics (motion animations, text, logos, credits, chapter transitions, etc.)
- Number of models/actors/narrators and other talent, or crew required
- Number of production assistants (PA's)
- Music sync licenses for commercial music/scoring. (from $50-5K per 30 seconds/per song)
- Shoot permits (city, government, national parks, private locations, etc.)
- Travel expenses (number or days, distance, food, etc.)
- Prep and consumables (batteries, tapes, discs, etc.)
- Number of hours/days required for editing
- Final product (packaging, duplication/replication, delivery)
Example -
An example of a typical video price quote request would be -
"Hi SPI,
I would like a price quote and information on video for our corporate event on Saturday, June 15th 2008 at 1pm. The location is at our company location, 4365 Industrial Park Rd. in Richmond, VA in a large 100' by 75' conference room. We have our own PA system and microphone and the lighting is regular fluorescent office lighting . We need to interview our company president and office manager, then show our new training techniques. The video should be at least 15 minutes in length, with a couple different camera angles, and will need to show our company logo. Some upbeat music would also be nice to give an uplifting feel. This video will be meant to inspire new staff members and clients, as well as show our training techniques. We'll need the video on both standard DVD format, and also converted into small web clips to put on our company website.
Please contact me at customer@company.com or (555)230-5555 at your earliest convenience.
Thanks,
Customer A. Client"
Photography Pricing
For each day of shooting, we charge a $50/per day 'booking/prep' fee (for 30 mile radius). This covers holding that date open for you, our driving time, gas/food/etc., prep time (battery charging/calibration/set up/breakdown/gaffing/camera and filter adjustments, cleaning,etc.) Booking fees are non-refundable once date is booked and/or contract is signed.
Photography quotes are based on the estimated processing time for the specific shoot style, (wedding, fashion event, documentary, technical product shots, etc.), or for the number of images requested.
[Special retouching or editing may require an extra processing fee. Standard Professional Retouching-editing rates are $15 for formal portraits, and $5 per candid photo.*Formal portraits are posed, professionally lit, and/or enhanced angles.]
For example, a small wedding shoot may run $500 for 2 hours, whereas a high risk/underwater photojournalism project may be $2000/per hour.
Pricing factors include -
- Location logistics- Company budget constraints
- Number of cameras, and camera operators required.
- Size of shoot location (indoors)
- Amount and type of lighting required (tungsten, daylight, filtered, strobes, etc)
- Power sources available
- Equipment risk factors (ice/saltwater, busy streets, high altitude, underwater, amorous bridesmaids, etc etc.)
- Number of photographers and assistants (PA's)
- Shoot permits (city/governmental buildings, national parks, private locations, etc.)
- Travel expenses (number or days, distance, food, etc.)
- Prep and consumables (batteries, tapes, discs, etc.)
- Number of hours/days required for Photoshop editing (skin retouching, patchwork, added graphics, etc.)
- Final product (packaging, duplication/replication, delivery)
Example -
An example of a typical photography price quote request would be -"Dear Star Path Images,
I would like a price quote for our wedding photography. It will be held at Woodland Park on Greenhill Rd. in Charlotte on June 14th at 2pm. The reception will be at our church on 1310 Bradbury Rd., also in Charlotte. The reception location is a little dark and has no windows for sunlight, so we may need extra lighting or flash. We will be taking a limo from the park to the church and we would like some fun candid shots taken on the way to the church. We're expecting 200 guests, and there will be 14 family members in the formal portraits after the ceremony. We would like the photos put on a CD, and 8x10 prints of the formal photos, plus 3 extra copies of the disc.
Please contact me at bridezilla@yeehaw.com or (555)230-5555 at your earliest convenience.
Thanks,
Jennifer B. Bride"
Consulting and Training
We provide consulting and training on digital imaging and photo software, video editing software, and audio programs. We charge a standard rate of $75 per hour for basic consulting or training sessions (up to 4 students per session).
F.A.Q.'s
A: As with most everything, you get what you pay for. Putting the most important day of your life in the hands of an amateur will always end with bad results, and major disappointments. The difference in professional media compared to amateur results is more than just fancy graphics and a higher price. The professional has invested thousands of dollars in reliable equipment and years of technical training for both filming and post production editing to insure your satisfaction. What good is your wedding video if you can't hear the vows, or the video is so shaky it makes you dizzy? What good is spending $100 when the photos are blurry, yellow, and improperly exposed? Will they bring a backup camera and batteries....or worse, will they miss your most cherished moments? These moments can't be replaced or redone...in the hands of an amateur, they'll simply be gone forever.
Q: I read the pricing factors for video, but still don't understand why video might cost $1K per finished minute...what gives?
A: Often misunderstood, video production is not just pushing a camera button and then transferring the video to a VHS tape. Although we use cutting edge, state of the art video editing computers, it may take 2 weeks of editing to go through every second and every frame of video for color correction, sound mixing, add graphics, text, video speed, image exposure/sharpness, and sync narration or voice-overs to the video. We may have to score custom music to your video, or request music 'sync licenses' for commercial artists, (as using music off your favorite CD is copyrighted). We may have to create custom animations or logos, and even with super fast computers, each animation may take hours to render for each rough draft, and into the finished product.
Once the video is completed, it requires a professional DVD authoring system/software to get the video onto DVD. Using generic software, such as Windows or 'Nero' will result in a DVD that may play in only 50% of home DVD players, or lock up your DVD player halfway through the video. Professional DVD authoring also involves creating custom menus and chapter points that link to your home DVD player's remote control...just like your favorite blockbuster movie!
Q: Man, you're crazy...I can't pay $1000 for my daughter's wedding video! I'll do it myself...where can I buy a decent videocamera?
A: No problem. Go online and search for 'professional 3 ccd video camera' and you'll find exactly what you need. Expect to pay $2,000-$25,000 for the camera. You'll also need at least $5,000-$125,000 more for the editing computer and software, music scoring software and equipment, video lights, wireless microphones, transmitters, receivers, batteries, tapes, tripod, cables, discs, and lots of aspirin because you'll be banging your head on the desk in frustration learning how to use it. Hopefully you have at least 2 years of training before your daughter's wedding. Or, you can call us and save a few G's.
Here's what our clients say about our services....
“Star Path Images truly is a class act. Alan helped us in 2008 create our Ambassador Family video for our black-tie gala event, The Signature Chef’s Auction. Alan worked directly with me and the Ambassador Family and spent countless hours filming, editing, and producing a beautiful video for this event. The final product was a perfect depiction of our organization, the family’s story, and added that “Midas Touch” of greatness that we needed for this event. His blend of music, photos, voice-overs, and film clips fit our exact need. I recommend Star Path Images to anyone needing a special event captured on video, beautiful photographs, or short documentary type video for an event like ours. Alan is great to work with and am positive he can cater to your specific event needs!”
- Katie Garrett
Community Director of Greensboro, March of Dimes Foundation
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I found SPI online as I was looking for just the right company to assist me with making a video for us for our 2009 pageant. Alan emailed me back promptly and was a breathe of fresh air to work with. He was professional, and articulate, as I spoke with him about my vision for the pageant filming.
Alan and his team arrived to our event to set up in plenty of time, and worked with the contestants and staff members and made everyone feel their very best. I know I speak for the delegates and staff members of the North Carolina International Pageant when I say that we all tremendously enjoyed the professionalism and flexibility of Alan and his staff as they dealt with 16 stressed out women and at least 5 half crazy staff members including myself, in preparing to put on a show and compete!
I cannot say enough about Alan, his staff, and SPI. I am already setting up negotiation with Alan for our 2010 pageant, and I am excited to work with SPI again for filming and photography! Oh, and yes, he is a fabulous photographer!
Joy Pfister
Executive Director
North Carolina International Pageants
http://www.northcarolinainternationalpageant.com
We hope you'll take the time to really give a good look at our gallery images. We hope the quality and creativity of our work will help you decide on choosing us for your project.
To request a price quote, email us at - alhowel@triad.rr.com , or call us at (336) 202-5472
Use our pricing guide for your quote request.
We appreciate your business and we look forward to hearing from you!
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