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Home: Video University Forums: Wedding & Event Videography:
Poll: What is your average price?

X-Rick_K
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Nov 14, 2002, 5:34 PM

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Poll: What is your average price?	Can't Post

What is your average price for a wedding? Let's say, what would you charge for a package that includes:
-Pre Ceremony/Photographer session
-Ceremony Coverage with 2 (or more) cameras
-4 hours Reception Coverage
-Your own style of Editing (whatever that may be)
-DVD

X-Bill_Mitchell
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Nov 14, 2002, 9:36 PM

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Re: Poll: What is your average price?	Can't Post

$1495
: What is your average price for a wedding? Let's say, what would you charge for a package that includes:
: -Pre Ceremony/Photographer session
: -Ceremony Coverage with 2 (or more) cameras
: -4 hours Reception Coverage
: -Your own style of Editing (whatever that may be)
: -DVD
:

X-Eric
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Nov 15, 2002, 12:53 AM

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Re: What is the purpose of the poll? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi Rick,
Are you trying to compare your prices to others?
If so, you need to take into account other factors like location, market size, avg wedding cost(s), experience levels, etc.
You question is like asking for home prices... a $200,000 house in a little midwestern town may be a mansion while the same house in California may be a small family home.
Eric

X-Rick_K
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Nov 15, 2002, 8:02 AM

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Re: What is the purpose of the poll? [In reply to]	Can't Post

You are right.
I was just trying to get a feel for what the average wedding video costs. Lately, on this site, everyone has been talking about "cheap" weddings. When they say this, they are referring to sub-$1000 weddings. Our average wedding price for the above mentioned package is $800.00. We recently raised our prices to that level. We have been doing wedding videos in Minneapolis/St Paul for 2 years. In researching other companies in our area, I see a broad range of prices from $500 to $5800 (for various packages).
I guess I just wanted to to see what average price everyone is charging WITHOUT taking into account the market they are in or their experience level. Out of curiousity mostly. I doubt I will act upon the results by changing my prices.
If this poll is not relevant on this site, I appologize. No need to reply.
Rick
: Hi Rick,
: Are you trying to compare your prices to others?
: If so, you need to take into account other factors like location, market size, avg wedding cost(s), experience levels, etc.
: You question is like asking for home prices... a $200,000 house in a little midwestern town may be a mansion while the same house in California may be a small family home.
: Eric

X-Eric
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Nov 15, 2002, 9:02 AM

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Re: What is the purpose of the poll? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi Rick,
Polls are great here. I thought it might make the numbers more relevant to you if you could make a fair comparison to your actual market size.
I would say (in general) for a large metropolitan area prices would avg around $2000 for the package you listed. Now that same package in a smaller market would obviously get less based on different market conditions.
WEVA was in Dallas 3 years ago (town mtg) and they took a poll with your same question and the avg price was $1600. I don't think that included a dvd though it may have included a small photo montage.
The real question is (from a business standpoint) are you making a reasonable profit from your market pricing? How much time do you spend on the above package vs your market price?
Client calls interested in your above package...
How much time do you spend trying to book her? Do you send out a demo? Does she come to you for an appt to watch demos?
Do you go to the rehearsal?
How early do you arrive at the church before you start shooting your package?
How many videographers are included?
How much time do you spend editing?
How much time to make the dvd?
How much time spent getting the product ready for delivery? (labels, cover, etc)
Do you mail it our or does she come pick it up?
Any other amounts of time you spend on the project?

Now add up all the individual labor hours spent and divide it by your package price? Are you making a reasonable profit? After you pay yourself... is there money left over for the company to invest in itself?
To get the higher prices... you have to have the raw talent and skills, know how to network with the right people to get those prices, and market yourself to the right brides!
It's all about marketing and networking ;-)
Eric Noble

X-Rick_K
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Nov 15, 2002, 9:18 AM

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Re: What is the purpose of the poll? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi Eric,
Thanks for the reply. I appreciate your insight. I would say that we definitely are not getting a good return on our prices right now, but we are still relatively new so I don't necessarily feel we have the "right" to charge what the package is worth. We are just getting to the point where our product is approaching a level of quality that Uncle Charlie can't touch, but it is tough to have enough confidence in ourselves and our product to make our prices reflect the amount effort we are putting forth...
Thanks for your interest Eric.
Rick

X-Coleman
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Nov 15, 2002, 1:30 PM

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Rick,
So after four hours at the reception do you pack up your stuff and leave? I never leave until the reception ends unless the bride tells me I can. If they run way over there scheduled time I will charge $75 per hours but this only happened once.
I have been very unimpressed with photographers who limit their hours and leave before the bride does.
My package is similiar to yours. I arrive at the church 1 and a half hours before the ceremony and stay until the reception ends. If this is more than 9 hours I charge extra. With a DVD my package cost $1100

X-Eric
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Nov 15, 2002, 1:44 PM

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Re: What is the purpose of the poll? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi Rick,
Don't sell yourself short! Most videographers when they are new... underprice themselves. If you do good work... then have confidence in yourselves and SELL YOURSELF! I think you said you've been doing this for 2 years? I bet your work is better than you think and probably worth a lot more than $800, especially in the Minneapolis market ;-)
A key to getting higher prices is to network with other wedding vendors such as coordinators, reception halls, and photographers. Promote your work and get your demo out to as many people as possible!
Eric

X-Scott_Brooks
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Nov 15, 2002, 3:50 PM

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Re: What is the purpose of the poll? [In reply to]	Can't Post

We've had a couple of rough days on this forum, so it's not my intention to start something new ... BUT ... I can't remember the last time I spent 4 hours at a reception. I'm sure I must have, but it's been a few years ago. If they want me for 8 or 10 hours then that's what they pay for.
Actually I don't have packages. Instead I have a starting point and we build upon it. My basic coverage is for two cameras and 6 continuous hours. So if a wedding is at 2:00 and they eat at 6:00 they're paying for time in between. Of course most of that time is used to cover photo shoots and do a few interviews if they have requested them.
If a wedding is local it's two cameras, six hours (continuous), a one song music video, DVD, and unlimited VHS copies (within reason) for $1750. If I travel more than 90 minutes away that same package is $2000. Additional hours is $200 per hour, which covers the two of us.
Scott Brooks