August 23, 2026
How Much Does Photo & Video Production Cost for Your Brand
This is usually the very first question we get, and it's a completely fair one to ask — but we're not going to pretend there's a single number that works for every brand. A price that's honest has to come after we understand what you actually need, not before. What we can do instead is walk you through exactly what makes a production cheaper or more expensive, so the number — whatever it ends up being — makes sense to you.
What actually drives the price
- Pre-production and planning. A shoot that needs a concept, a shot list, location scouting and a schedule takes more work before anyone picks up a camera than one that's straightforward and familiar.
- Crew size and roles. A photographer working solo covers different ground than a crew with direction, a dedicated camera operator, sound and lighting — and each role adds cost, but also adds a different level of finish.
- Equipment. Specialized gear — extra lighting rigs, gimbals, multiple camera bodies, drones — costs more to bring on set than a standard kit, because it also means more setup time.
- Location and logistics. A studio session is easy to plan and price. Filming on location, across multiple sites, or somewhere that needs permits or special access adds real complexity.
- Number of deliverables. A single hero video is priced differently than a full set of cutdowns, verticals and photo stills coming out of the same shoot day.
- Editing and post-production. Color grading, motion graphics, sound design and multiple rounds of revisions all add time on the back end, after the shoot is already done.
- Turnaround time. A tight deadline compresses the schedule for everyone involved, which usually comes at a premium.
Why we don't quote a number upfront
Two brands can ask for "a video for Instagram" and mean completely different things — one wants a 15-second product clip filmed in an afternoon, the other wants a fully art-directed campaign with a crew, a location and a week of editing. Quoting a price before we know which one we're talking about would either be meaningless or misleading. What actually determines your cost is the complexity of the brief, not the category of "photo" or "video" on its own.
How to get a number that actually applies to you
The fastest path to an accurate estimate is to tell us what you're picturing — even roughly. What's it for, where will it run, how many deliverables do you need, and is there a deadline we should know about? You can start with our Build your content request tool on the homepage, or simply get in touch and we'll come back with a proposal that's actually built around your brand, not a generic price list.