Video Production Costs: How to Make the Most of Your Budget

Whether you are creating video for a marketing campaign, a corporate presentation, or just for fun, you’ll quickly realize one thing: Video production costs can vary wildly.

The price tag for producing a high-quality video depends on a variety of factors, like the complexity of your shoot, the number of crew members, and where and how it will be seen.

Of course, all of that also has to be taken into account through the lens of your video production budget.

In this post, we’re going to take a look at what video production costs look like across three different budget ranges: $1,000, $10,000, and $100,000. We’ll consider costs like equipment, crew, talent, locations, post-production, and video production software at every level — ensuring that you’re set up to deliver professional results at every budget.

$1,000: Making the most of it

If you’ve got a budget of $1,000 for video production, you're working in the DIY territory. But don’t worry, with a little creativity, this can still go a long way. At this level, you’re focused on keeping things simple but professional.

Equipment 

With a $1,000 budget, you’re likely working with what you already have — most likely your smartphone, or maybe a budget DSLR camera if you’ve got one. While these tools may not have all the fancy features of high-end cameras, don’t underestimate them. With a bit of know-how and some basic accessories like a tripod or ring light, your smartphone or budget camera can still produce high-quality video.

The key to maximizing your gear is good lighting, clear audio, and smooth camera work. For example, consider using your smartphone on a tripod with manual focus or exposure settings for more control over your shots. 

Crew

At the $1,000 level, the crew will most likely be you and maybe a few helpers — think friends or colleagues who can assist with lighting, camera operation, or sound. You can get away with a minimal crew, but you’ll need to wear many hats, from director to cameraman to sound tech. This is where planning ahead will save you a lot of time and effort.

Talent

If you’re looking to hire talent, your options might be limited at this budget. However, this is a great opportunity to use in-house talent — whether that’s you, your employees, or even some willing friends or family. After all, the charm of your video may come from its authenticity, not the perfect acting.

Location

Keep it simple. You’ll likely be shooting in an easily accessible location like your office, home, or an outdoor setting. If you’re shooting at a public space, just make sure you check for any permits or restrictions. Many outdoor settings are often free, and shooting in familiar environments cuts down on location costs significantly.

Post-production

With your $1,000 budget, you’ll likely be doing the editing yourself. Luckily, there’s a range of affordable video editing software available that’s perfect for a tight budget, like iMovie, Adobe Premiere Rush, or DaVinci Resolve. If you want to take your editing a step further, consider using Switcher’s live editing features, which allow you to record, switch between multiple camera angles, and apply graphics during the video shoot, reducing your post-production time and effort.

$10,000: Balancing quality and budget

With a $10,000 budget, you’ve got some flexibility to invest in professional equipment, a skilled crew, and higher-quality talent. This is where things start to take on a more professional look, but as Voltaire once said (or Uncle Ben, depending on your literary influences), “With great power comes great responsibility.”

Equipment

At this level, you can rent higher-end video cameras, like DSLRs, mirrorless cameras, or even entry-level cinema cameras. You could also consider renting stabilizers or sliders for smooth, cinematic shots, and bringing in professional lighting options and sound equipment. These upgrades significantly raise the production value, ensuring that the final video is polished and professional.

If you’re working on a live production, there’s also handy software tools like Switcher’s Accsoon SeeMo integration, which allows you to use any device with an HDMI output in your Switcher live video production app for iOS. Tools like this are a great way to level up your production without requiring significant additional costs.  

Crew

Now, you’ll probably want to hire a small crew. Depending on the complexity of your shoot, this could include a director, camera operators, a sound technician, a lighting expert (known as a gaffer in the biz), or others, depending on what you need. Even with a small team, having the right people in place can make a huge difference in terms of efficiency and quality. A skilled crew will help execute your vision while letting you focus on the bigger picture.

Talent

At this budget, you can likely afford to hire professional talent. Whether you’re looking for an experienced actor for a corporate video or a host for an explainer video, this budget allows you to cast skilled professionals who can bring your script to life. You may also want to consider hiring a makeup artist or wardrobe stylist if your video requires additional polish.

Location

With $10,000, you can rent a professional studio space or book a location with more production value specific to the look and feel of your project. Or, you might consider props and other elements of production design to enhance the look.

Post-production

A larger budget also gives you the opportunity to bring in a skilled post-production team. Professional video editors can bring new life to even the most thought-through of projects, and specialists in motion graphics, special effects, color grading, and sound design can all bring tremendous value to the final product.

It’s important to note — you most likely can’t get all of the things listed above (unless you’re the world’s savviest negotiator and deal finder). But it at least gives you an idea of the access that this budget allows.

$100,000: Big budget, big results

When you’re working with a $100,000 budget, you’re in the big leagues. This budget is typically reserved for higher-end commercials, large-scale corporate videos, or maybe some independent feature films. At this level, you can expect a full production crew, high-quality equipment, and top-tier talent.

Equipment

A $100,000 budget means you can rent or purchase the absolute best equipment. Think top-of-the-line cinema cameras, professional lighting rigs, and extensive audio equipment. You might even look into specialized equipment like camera cars or motion rigs depending on the subject matter.

Crew

A production of this scale requires a team of professionals. You’ll likely have a director, cinematographer, gaffer, grip, production designer, sound engineer, script supervisor, hair and makeup, and more. An experienced crew will work together to execute every detail of the production, ensuring that everything on a production of this magnitude runs as smoothly as possible. 

Talent

With a $100,000 budget, you can definitely look into a larger talent pool of working actors and/or influencers to appear in your video. You may also bring in professional voiceover artists or musicians to add additional layers of quality to your production depending on the need.

Location

A high-end video shoot can often require multiple locations, which could range from private estates to elaborate studio sets. Along with that, you may also have to pay for travel and accommodations for talent and crew if you’re filming in multiple locations, so make sure you work with a skilled producer to make things as efficient as possible.

Post-production

Post-production for a $100,000 video will involve a team of editors, motion graphic artists, sound designers, and colorists. The expectation at this level for the final product is very high, and depending on the agreed-upon final deliverables, you’ll need to assemble the right team to ensure the wheels don’t fall off at the very end.

Again, same as the $10,000 level — not all of the above, but the options are much more versatile at this level. Admittedly, the six-figure budget is a huge step in a filmmaker’s journey, but on a large-scale production with lots of moving parts, don’t be alarmed when the money goes faster than you think!

Video production costs are simply one piece of a much larger puzzle

As you can see, video production costs vary greatly depending on the scope of your project and the size of your budget. From a DIY $1,000 production to a high-end $100,000 commercial shoot, there are ways to produce quality videos at every budget level. Regardless of budget, though, it’s your vision that will have the biggest impact, so stay diligent and have a voice!

And whether you’re working with a small or large budget, using tools like Switcher can help you achieve professional results without breaking the bank.

With its multi-cam features, live editing capabilities, versatile integrations, and seamless incorporation with video platforms, Switcher allows you to create high-quality content in a streamlined workflow while keeping production costs in check.

So, no matter where you land on the budget scale, there’s always a way to make your video production a success! See for yourself and try Switcher free for 14 days.